Stavanger Erupts as Viking FK Claim First Crown Since 1991

A 5-1 victory on the final day has sealed a historic triumph for Viking FK, ending a title drought that stretched across generations in Stavanger.

A long wait ends with a five goal flourish

Viking’s emphatic final day win over Valerenga, combined with Bodo/Glimt’s 5-0 victory at Fredrikstad, confirmed the margin to be just one point, but the celebrations were anything but narrow. This is Viking’s first league title since 1991, a gap that included relegation in 2017 and a period in the second tier as recently as 2018.

Local podcaster and lifelong supporter Lars Risan captured the emotion of the moment on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying,

“A lot of people have been very nervous and excited about what’s going on these days. I’ve never experienced it before. It’s a big deal. It brings us all together and we can celebrate as a city.”

The mood across Stavanger reflected the magnitude of the achievement. Fans poured toward the stadium and through the city streets as years of frustration dissolved into jubilation.

The rebuild that turned crisis into a platform for glory

After relegation, Viking turned to former player and ex coach Bjarne Berntsen for guidance. His return in 2018 sparked immediate success, bringing the second tier title and promotion. Investment in youth, patience with development and a commitment to local identity rebuilt trust between club and community.

Berntsen led Viking to the 2019 Norwegian Cup before surprisingly departing the following year. Assistants Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen stepped up as joint managers, a move that initially met scepticism but gradually proved a masterstroke. Third place finishes in 2021 and 2024 set the foundation, and this year’s run of seven straight wins carried the club to the summit.

Tripic, the captain and catalyst

No figure symbolises Viking’s resurgence more vividly than captain Zlatko Tripic. The winger arrived in 2018, immediately after relegation, surprising supporters who never expected a player of his calibre. Risan recalled the shock factor, saying,

“It was a big surprise when Zlatko turned up. He was a profile, someone we didn’t think we could sign. But he really liked the idea of taking the club to something great.”

Tripic scored in the 2019 cup final, departed for Goztepe in 2020 and returned 18 months later. He has since recorded double figures for goals and assists in each of the past three seasons, a feat no Viking player had achieved before. His penalty against Valerenga added the third goal in the decisive 5-1 win, sealing his place in club history as the captain who lifted the Eliteserien trophy after a 34 year wait.

Viking’s achievement is both a culmination and a beginning, a reminder that even fallen giants can rise again with the right structure, belief and connection to their community.