Most of their unknown players work or study on the side to make ends meet, but following their promotion to the Superliga, Hobro IK now find themselves sensationally leading Denmark’s top league.

Brøndby and OB have fallen to the spirited minnows from north Jutland and FC Copenhagen’s Lions were trounced 3-0 in their own den on Sunday.

But despite the incredible start this year, coach Jonas Dal and his players have remained humble and are eager to continue doing so.

Stay grounded!
“My task is to keep us grounded,” Dal told Bold.dk. “We must continue to work with humility, as we did last year. Fortunately, the lads know what it’s all about.”

Based in the town of Hobro, which sports a meagre population of just over 11,000, the team were losing to the likes of Aarhus Fremad and Vendsyssel FF in Denmark’s third tier just five years ago. 

The club’s stadium, DS Arena, didn’t even have lighting until 2013 and has a capacity of 7,500 (record attendance is 4,716).

One game at a time
The last team to win the Superliga the season after being promoted was Herfølge back in 2000. And it’s unlikely that Hobro will replicate that with 29 rounds yet to be played, but the team believes.

“All last season people said ‘Hobro can’t keep it up much longer.’ But we kept on going and reminded one another that this base is large and stable enough to endure. Even against Brøndby and FCK. And, against Nordsjælland next,” Dal said.

Pride in the Lions’ den
At the end of the game the FCK’s fans began cheering on Hobro’s players while jeering their own in a display of respect to Hobro’s efforts and disdain for their own team.

They may be a long way from winning the league, but they’ve already won the hearts of many Danish fans.