Great Dane Football Blog - UK Edition: FCN

Keep an eye on: Mathias Nielsen

Age: 21

(02-03-1991)

Position: Center Back

Club: Viborg FF,

Danish

Betsafe Liga

(on loan from

FCN)

Debut: 05-04-2012

against AB

International Caps: Denmark U20:

1 Match(es)

1 Goal(s)

Value: £125.000

(transfermarkt.co.uk)

Mathias Nielsen started playing football in Herfølge Boldklub (Now known as HB Køge) aged four and signed a contract with the youth department in 2007. After being on contract for three years, Nielsen, joined FC Nordsjællands U19 squad in the summer 2010.

Then, coach of FC Nordsjælland, Morten Wieghorst said:

"Mathias is a development player, which we are given the opportunity to take the next step here [FCN]. He has given us the impression of, being a player, who is willing to do what it takes to make it. Mathias has areas [in his play] he needs to work hard on. He will without a doubt has the opportunity to do so, here with us, and there from it is up to himself and his will, how far he wants to reach."

Asked what he thought his strengths and weaknesses were, Mathias Nielsen said:

"My strengths are my heading, and when I have the ball, while me weaknesses could be that I sometime have some problems with defending because I am very impatient. Furthermore, I tend to be a bit rough in my play."

A month after he signed with FC Nordsjælland, Nielsen had his debut in the Europa League match against Sporting Lissabon as a substitute during the second leg. The debut was followed up by a selection for the Danish U20 national team. Mathias Nielsen, here had his debut and, so far only match in the red national shirt, against USA in the NI Milk Cup Semifinal, where Nielsen scored his first goal.

"I want to represent my country, but I am not focusing on that right now, Nielsen said."

FC Nordsjælland was quick to sign a new two year long contract with the defender, when Italian clubs Napoli and Parma were reported interested in Mathias Nielsen. However, Nielsen was not ready to join a club abroad, anyways. The player said:

“I am taking on step at a time, and right now my focus is on Viborg. I would like to play in Holland or Germany or England, no doubt about it. It is three great football countries.”

The defensive football player joined Viborg FF on loan in February 2012 after four appearances in FC Nordsjælland, but is ready to return to the club by the end of this season. The most important for the player right now is to “play some matches and get some routine.”

Keep an eye on: Andreas Retz Laudrup

Age: 21 (10-11-1990)

Position: Striker - Left Wing

Club: FCN (FC Nordsjælland),

Danish Superliga

Debut: 23-04-2009

against Brøndby If,

Danish Superliga

International Caps: Denmark U21:

6 Match(es)

2 Goal(s)

Denmark U20:

1 Match(es)

0 Goal(s)

Denmark U19: 2 Match(es)

0 Goal(s)

Denmark U18: 3 Match(es)

0 Goal(s)

Denmark U17: 5 Match(es)

0 Goal(s)

Denmark U16: 2 Match(es)

0 Goal(s)

Value: £450.000 (transfermarkt.co.uk)

Andreas Laudrup had his youth career in Boldklubben Søllerød-Vedbæk before joining Lyngby BK in the 2006/07 season. Laudrup was invited on a trial to the Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam twice in his first year in Lyngby, and it was reported that Barcelona and Real Madrid also were interested in a tryout for the young player.

When Andreas Laudrup’s father, the Danish football legend, Michael Laudrup was hired as manager for the Spanish La Liga team Gestafe, Andreas joined Real Madrid. As Andreas Laudrups father is a well known name in Spanish football, the player decided to use his mother’s maiden name, Retz, to avoid attention around his personality. Danish U21 national coach Morten Wieghorst why the player chose to use another name:

“As soon as the name Laudrup is being mentioned, you think of especially Michael and Brian. People, conscious or unconscious, compare Andreas with his father and uncle. It is a heavy burden for a young player, but Andreas is aware of how it is and has become much stronger as well as a lot better in tackling this than he was before”.

The former FCN-coach also said that Andreas Laudrup was “beginning to make a name of himself”, and that it was “the best thing he could do, as people at some point will associate the name with him and not his father and uncle”.

During his time in Real Madrid’s youth department, the Spanish club was very eager to get him on a full time contract. Real Madrid’s youth coach, Juvenil A Alejandro Menéndez Garcia, said to the Danish newspaper B.T:

“What I have seen from Andreas Laudrup is very positive. He has the right ingredients to become a star player”.

When Michael Laudrup signed a contract as manager for Russian Spartak Moscow, the club tried to sign Andreas, as well. However, they younger Laudrup rejected and instead transferred back to Lyngby on a free contract, to play as an amateur.

Three months after his transfer to Lyngby, the young attacker, was about to sign with a new Dutch club Heerenveen, according to the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet. Asked if Laudrup is too good to Danish football, Morten Wieghorst said:

“Andreas is still a young player, and he is in a good club [FC Nordsjælland] at the moment, with a great environment, where they are good at developing young players. He has already of first team experience in the Danish Superliga, and he needs more of it before he can take the next step”.

In January 2009, Laudrup transferred to his current club FCN where he signed a contract for 3 years. He had his debut against Brøndby IF 3 months after he joined the club. Great performances for his club resulted in a place in the Danish U21 squad, where he had his debut in the 1-0 victory against Mexico. Morten Wieghorst, who at that time was Laudrup’s manager in Nordsjælland here, gives his view on the players’ strengths and weaknesses:

“He has his best forces in the offensive play. When he has players around him whom he can play combination plays with, then he is really dangerous for the opponent because he has quick feet and at the same time he knows where his teammates are. What he is working a lot with and what he is putting in his play is to be more decisive in the matches and thereby bringing himself or his fellow player in a position to finish at goal”.

Andreas Laudrup signed a new contract with FCN last year, keeping him in the club for at least 2014. 

Andreas Laudrup scores a goal for Lyngby (Youth match)