After 34 long years, Viking FK have finally reclaimed Norway’s top football crown—and the city of Stavanger is losing its mind in celebration. But what sparked this long-awaited triumph, and how did a club once battling relegation climb back to the summit of the Eliteserien?
Sunday’s emphatic 5–1 victory over Valerenga sealed Viking’s return to glory, edging them one point clear of reigning champions Bodo/Glimt despite their own dominant 5–0 win against Fredrikstad. For Viking, it marks their first league title since 1991—a monumental moment for a club that was playing second-tier football as recently as 2018.
Local fan and podcaster Lars Risan captured the mood perfectly. “Everyone’s been nervous and excited lately—I’ve never experienced anything like this,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. A schoolteacher by day, Risan even suggested everyone in Stavanger should get Monday off to join the celebrations. “It brings the city together. You never know when you’ll feel something like this again,” he said, describing the electric atmosphere sweeping through town. “If we could just gather at the stadium for one big party, that would be amazing.”
But how did Viking FK rebuild themselves to become champions again after decades in the wilderness?
A brief look at Viking’s storied past
Viking FK stands among Norway’s footballing giants, now boasting nine league titles. However, most of that dominance came in their golden era between 1972 and 1982, when they secured six championships in just a decade.
The club’s story has always had a strong British connection. Legendary figures like Manchester United’s Bill Foulkes, a survivor of the 1958 Munich air disaster, managed the team in 1985. Later, future England boss Roy Hodgson took the reins from 2004 to 2005. Over the years, Viking also became a launching pad for several Norwegian talents who went on to shine in the English Premier League, including Brede Hangeland, Erik Nevland, Egil Ostenstad, and Thomas Myhre. Interestingly, Nevland—once a Manchester United forward—has served as Viking’s sporting director since 2021.
Their European adventures also gave fans unforgettable moments. Perhaps the most iconic came in 2002, when Viking shocked Chelsea by eliminating them from the UEFA Cup in a thrilling 5–4 aggregate victory. But not everything was rosy; by 2017, the club had hit rock bottom, suffering relegation for the first time in 31 years. Risan recalls that frustrating season: “They spent too much on players who weren’t good enough. Everything went wrong. In the end, though, it turned out to be a blessing.”
The road back to the top
After that painful drop, Viking made a bold move by bringing back Bjarne Berntsen as head coach for 2018. A true Viking veteran, Berntsen had worn nearly every hat at the club—from player and manager in the 1990s to caretaker and even chief executive. His return proved inspired. Viking immediately bounced back, winning the second division title at the first attempt.
“They went back to their roots,” explained Risan. “They rebuilt with local players, reignited pride in Stavanger, and invested heavily in youth development. It wasn’t about quick money—it was about stability and belonging.”
The revival gained momentum quickly. Viking won the Norwegian Cup in 2019, their first major trophy in almost two decades. After a respectable sixth-place finish during the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, Berntsen stepped away, replaced by then-assistants Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen as joint managers. The decision raised eyebrows at first, but the duo’s shared vision—and deep roots in Stavanger—proved transformative. Under their guidance, Viking finished third in both 2021 and 2024, before their relentless push finally delivered the crown this season, capped by a stunning run of seven straight victories.
The heartbeat of the team: Captain Zlatko Tripic
At the center of Viking’s incredible journey stands captain Zlatko Tripic—a player whose loyalty and skill symbolize everything the club has become. Turning 33 on December 3, Tripic joined Viking after their 2017 relegation, despite having already won league titles with Molde and experienced European football with Sheriff Tiraspol. His arrival shocked many fans at the time. “We thought he was just here to stay fit,” Risan recalled. “But he wanted to help rebuild Viking—and he has.”
Tripic’s leadership has been nothing short of transformative. He scored the winning goal in the 2019 Norwegian Cup Final and later returned from a brief spell in Turkey with Goztepe to continue leading the club’s resurgence. For the past three seasons, he has reached double digits in both goals and assists—something no Viking player had ever accomplished before.
Fittingly, Tripic scored from the penalty spot in Sunday’s 5–1 title-clinching win, etching his name into Viking history as the first captain in over three decades to lift the Eliteserien trophy.
Some say Viking’s success is proof that embracing local identity beats chasing money. Others argue their model might be hard to sustain in modern football. What do you think—does Viking’s rise show that tradition still matters in the sport, or is this just a rare fairytale that’s hard to repeat? Let’s hear your take in the comments.
