He left family and friends behind and moved across the country to follow his dream of becoming a professional football player. This week we keep an eye on FC Midtjyllands attacking talent Marco Larsen.
"Moving to FC Midtjylland, was a natural next step in my career. It wasn't a hard decision because I knew that it i needed to do it if I wanted to become a professional football player," says Marco Larsen with a strong voice. There are no regrets in his voice.
At the age of 13, while still playing in the Danish 1. Division club Køge, he was signed by the Superliga club
FC Midtjylland. There was only one problem; Midtjylland were not allowed to sign players under the age of 15, and the media were quick to make a story out of the controversial signing. The main man in the whole story hardly remembers what the whole controversy was about.
“I don’t think there was anything in it, then what the media made of it. The papers blew it out of proportion, and all that happened was that I got a new and legal contract," Larsen says.
By the age of 15, Marco moved from Zealand to Jutland and joined the FC Midtjylland Academy, along with other talents from across the country. And the talent didn't take long to prove he was worth his contract. In fact, he did so well that Manchester City started following him, and it resulted in a trial at Carrington Training Ground.
“Of course I hoped to make an impression that would make them want me at the club, but it was also just a great experience for a young player.
“The technical and physical level is much higher in Manchester City, but the players we trained with were also brought in for the occasion. We then had one training session with their team, and it was clear that they had better physics and were faster when it comes to reading the game," he says.
Unfortunately for Larsen it only came to one visit in
Manchester City and the career continued in Midtjylland where he kept impressing. At U19-level he was the top scorer and was promoted to the senior squad where he had his debut in the Danish Cup against Jægersborg from the fourth tier.
“When I heard that I was to play that match I was full of joy. It was another step towards becoming a professional and as I remember I scored, so that just made it even better. Especially because my family was there to witness it. I will always remember that experience."
Since then, Marco Larsen have proved himself to be one of the next great talents of the FC Midtjylland Academy. After making his debut in the Danish Superliga in 2012, he has been a regular part of the senior squad playing 19 matches from start last season.
However, a thigh injury set him back in the start of the season and with FCM leading the Danish Superliga it has proven hard for the talent to make his way to the starting line-up. There is simply too hard competition for the position as attacking midfielder.
“It’s obvious that it is harder for me to get in the starting line-up when the team plays as well as it does. I have always said that when a team plays well, it is hard to make any changes, and we have won a lot of matches, so it has been hard to get time on the pitch,” the talent acknowledge.
“The team is the most important and I always congratulate my teammate when he does well, even if it means he will be playing instead of me. Obviously I want to play, but in the end I have to be able to look in the mirror and like what I see. If a player in my position is better than me, then there isn’t much I can do about it, other than just keep on training and wait for my chance,” Larsen says.
The next chance for Marco Larsen might come tomorrow when FC Midtjylland faces the rivals from Aalborg BK at home in Herning. However, should he not get his chance in Midtjylland he has no problem leaving the club.
“All football players needs to play, and if I can’t play in Midtjylland I have to move on, but it is not something I think about at the moment. I’m still young and have the time in front of me," says Larsen before ending the interview telling about his dream club,
Liverpool:
“Steven Gerrard is an amazing football player, and Liverpool is a great team. My entire family are Liverpool fans, so they are my favorite club.
“I would love to play in Liverpool, but anywhere abroad will do. It is something I hope to achieve someday.”
Who knows? Gerrard is moving towards the end of his career, and Daniel Agger has left the club. Maybe it is time for Liverpool to bring in a new Dane?
Thierry Henry is what Barney Stinson from the American tv-series How I Met Your Mother would call legen - wait for it - dary! Now, the French striker has tied the boots for the last time.
