The 2013 season is Aalesunds's 6th consecutive year in Tippeligaen, it was Kjetil Rekdal's fourth full season as the club's manager. Aalesunds competed in the Tippeligaen, finishing 11th and the 2012 Norwegian Football Cup, where they were knocked out at the Fourth Round stage by Sandefjord. They also competed in the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League qualifying stages, defeating Tirana of Albania in the Second Round and then losing to APOEL of Cyprus in the Third Round.