Tippeligaen (after the main sponsor Norsk Tipping) is the Norwegian professional league for association football clubs.
At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien (English: The Elite League), although the name has never been official.
The name of Norwegian football's top league has been subject for sponsoring since 1991 and Norsk Tipping has been the main sponsor of the League since then - hence the official name of the league.
Between 1963 and 1990 the name of the league was 1. divisjon (English: 1st Division), a name that the second level league of the Norwegian football system 'inherited' in 1991. (In 2005 the second level league was officially named Adeccoligaen after its sponsor Adecco.)
From the fall of 1948 to 1962 the top division of Norwegian football was called Hovedserien (English: The Main League), and between 1937 and the summer of 1948, it was called Norgesserien (English: The League of Norway).
The league has enjoyed tremendous popularity in Norway.
Viking Stavanger won the first year the league bore the name Tippeligaen, followed by Rosenborg of Trondheim, claiming 13 consecutive titles (1992–2004).
During the first years Rosenborg won with a substantial margin, only partly challenged by Bodø/Glimt (1993), Molde, Lillestrøm and Brann.
However, this was streadily narrowing down towards a dramatic finish in 2004, where the Trondheim team tied with Vålerenga of Oslo in game points, but finished ahead on goals scored. However, in 2005 the winning streak came to an end as Vålerenga clinched the title, one point ahead of Start of Kristiansand.
Rosenborg was never in contention that season and would finish only 7th.
In 2006, Rosenborg returned to the top of the league, coming back from 10 points behind Brann at the halfway point to clinch the title with a match to spare.
Brann won the league in 2007, and Stabæk won their first-ever title in 2008. Rosenborg then returned for a two-year winning streak in 2009 and 2010.
The league has been professional since 1992.
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