Keep an eye on: Marco Larsen

By Harbo on 05:43

Name: Marco Larsen
Age: 21 (15-05-1993)
Position: Attacking midfield/striker
Club: FC Midtjylland
International Caps:

Denmark U21

4 matches
0 goals

Denmark U19

9 matches
0 goals

Denmark U18

4 matches
1 goal

Denmark U17

9 matches
2 goals

Denmark U16

7 matches
2 goals

Value: £440.000

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?

0 kommentarer

Keep an eye on: Nicklas Søgaard

By Harbo on 02:00

Rif 1900 Presseservice Henrik Olesen

Name: Nicklas Søgaard
Age: 21 (09-06-1992)
Position: Right Back
Club: Ringkøbing IF
International caps: None
Value: None

Once named one the of the greatest talents in Denmark, injuries ruined a promising career. However, this talent is not letting injuries stop him and is taking one step back to take two forward. This week we keep an eye on Nicklas Søgaard.

41 goals in 39 matches as a youth player in Randers Freja, Søgaard was offered a place on the FC Midtjylland academy when he was only 14-years old. Here, the goal machine was repositioned as a right back, despite his amazing goal history.

“The reason I was repositioned as a back was because it was there I, when I initially started playing football, played. I was a defender throughout most of my youth years, but as I was a bit faster and a bit bigger than some of the other players, one of my coaches wanted to use me up front. I found out that you got more attention when you were the one scoring goals rather than defending, so I became a striker,” the talent says about his youth years.

The change from the amateur club Randers Freja to a highly professional youth environment was a big step for the defender; suddenly he didn't have to wash his own training clothes or buy new boots - it was all taken care of by the club. Furthermore, he was now under the guidance of full time coaches and surrounded by some of the greatest talents in Denmark. After four years on the academy Søgaard was offered a one year contract and place in the Superliga squad. However, after just six months the 19-year old decided to end his stay in Midtjylland and look for first team football somewhere else. An extreme hard decision, but a decision he had to take.

“Of course, I am disappointed I didn’t get a Superliga match for Midtjylland, but it was the manager who decided who played and I couldn’t convince him during training," Søgaard says about leaving Midtjylland.

The time after Midtjylland didn't go as planned for the talent. Shortly after signing a contract with the Danish 1. Division club Skive, the defender, ran into an injury hell:

“I’m not happy about the period of my career, as I was meant to take one step back and two forward, but I was unlucky and got tow fibre explosions. I came back and was finding my form when I during a training match broke my leg four different places, so it was a hell for me.”

After recovering from the broken leg, Søgaard had the opportunity to get back in the Danish 1. Division right away, but the defender decided to take a step down to the Danish 2. Division and find his form with Ringkøbing IF. In fact, Søndergaard asked the club if they would give a young player with ambitions for more, a chance to get back in shape. Luckily, they said yes. Now, the plan is to get back in shape and find the form he had when he left Midtjylland, and the talent has one particular goal:

“I hope to play in the Superliga one day and is eager to show that Midtjylland was wrong not giving me a chance," Søgaard ends the interview.

0 kommentarer

Keep an eye on: André Rømer

By Harbo on 00:41

Name: André Rømer
Age: 20 (18.07.1983)
Position: Centre Back
Club: Esbjerg FB
International Caps

Denmark U20

4 matches / 0 goals

Denmark U18

2 matches / 0 goals

Denmark U16

3 matches / 0 goals

Value: £125.000

“We have talked about it for years; how fun it could be if not playing on the same team, then meeting each other." This week we keep an eye on one of the Rømer brothers, André; another talent from the FC Midtjylland academy.

André Rømer was only fifteen when he decided to leave not only his parents and brother, but also his youth club to follow a dream of becoming a professional football player. The talent had the opportunity to move to Brøndby, a nearby club, but the fact that he had to spend time on travelling back and forth as well as two of his teammates was heading to Midtjylland made him chose the FCM Academy. However, the transition from being a star in Køge to becoming one of many talents in Jutland was not easy:

“It is a great upheaval moving from the safe settings home with your parents and being one of the best on your team, to suddenly have to compete for a place in the starting line-up. It was hard for me not playing in the first three to four matches before I managed to get on the team [In Midtjylland],“ Rømer says.

And the centre-back surely managed to get on the youth teams in his new club. In fact, when he thinks about his years at the academy he says: "most of the time it was only going one way, and it was up." But as any other footballers have experienced in the past: What goes up must come down. The talent ran into an injury sending him off the pitch for six months:

"It was almost in the worst period possible as it was just around the time where you would be given a contract or told to find another club.

“I was close to heading home as football wasn’t really working for me at the time," Rømer says.

However, the talent stayed in Midtjylland and convinced the staff that he is worth giving a contract. In the 2012/13 season, he was promoted to the Superliga squad, and the plan was for Rømer to be send on loan in Hobro as many other FCM-talents had been in the past. There was only one problem: Hobro had no intentions of letting the defender play as a regular and instead he agreed with Midtjylland to stay as a reserve for the season. It wasn't until just the last match before the Christmas break Rømer was handed his debut against AC Horsens when he was given the last couple of minutes. So far the talent have played 20 matches, 12 of them this season, but not in the central defends as he has been used to during his youth years:

"Since I was promoted to the senior squad I haven’t played a minute on that position. As it looks now, I will be playing somewhere else in the future.

"I prefer to play on the central midfield where you're a part of everything", the 'all-rounder' says.

While André has been a part of a Superliga club for some years now, his brother Marcel Rømer signed with newly promoted Viborg before this season. The first meeting between the rivals ended in a draw while FCM won in Viborg. This means André has the right to mock his brother; however only Marcel played in the two matches:

“If I say too much he will say ‘I played, and you didn’t’ so I can’t mock him before I play," the FCM talent says.

Rømer started the season with an injury and has more or less been a substitute so far this season. However, he hopes to play more after the Christmas break. He is determined to make a breakthrough in the club, currently leading the Danish league and is willing to stay as a reserve for this season. However, the talent dreams of someday playing in Holland, France, Belgium or the Premier League. However, he can settle with being a profile in the Danish Superliga:

“It is a dream to play abroad, but if I stay in FC Midtjylland I will not be disappointed," Rømer ends.

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Friday Five: The 5 best football mascots

By Harbo on 02:03

All football clubs with respect for themselves have a mascot, whether it is a young boy carrying the ball or a dressed up man. This week we take a look on the five best mascots.

5. Ever heard the story of the Wolf and the three little pigs? Well, I don't know if the story was on Wolverhampton Wanderes' mascot Wolfie's mind when he started fighting with the Bristol City Pigs.

4. The Danish team FC Midtjylland have a mascot named Lupus the Wolf. Lupus was once feared by the other mascots in the Danish Superliga as he "raped" and beheaded the mascot of Viborg, so the Danish football show Onside decided to send a frog to fight Lupus.

3. Most boys would be thrilled to shake hands with Steven Gerrard.... but not this young man.

2. The same matters for this young man, who takes it a step further

1. End then we have this Newcastle legend... He most be the son of a footballer... or spend too much time playing FIFA.

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Keep an eye on: Pione Sisto

By Harbo on 11:25

Name: Pione Sisto
Age: 18 (04.02.1995)
Position Left and Right Wing
Club: FC Midtjylland
International Caps: None
Value: £275.000

He might only be 18-year-old and already a more or less established player in FC Midtjylland, but this talent keeps both his feet on the ground. This week we keep an eye on Pione Sisto.

This guy is not one of the typical Danish talents you have read about earlier on this blog; no, this guy has a history behind him, coming to Denmark along with his parents only two months old, escaping the war in Sudan. After a living seven years in the Danish town Skive, the family moved to Herning where Sisto started playing football for Tjørring.

"We managed to get to Denmark, where there was no war. We then moved to Skive for the first seven years, and then moved to Herning. As far as I know my family is happy to be in Denmark where there is a great system and things are just better," Sisto says and thinks back on his time in the small club Tjørring IF:

"Generally, I was happy in Tjørring, and I knew almost everybody, both the players and their parents and I lived closed to the club. I was always happy at the club and loved to play football, so I remember it as a fantastic period."

When he was 13-years-old FC Midtjylland, became Pione Sisto's new club when the talent decided that it was time to take a step towards a more professional career, and joined the academy. However, the winger has not always been sure that football should be his career move. In fact, he played several sports before deciding on football. When the talent joined FC Midtjylland, he learned the life as a professional youth player through the hard training - harder than he had been used to in Tjørring.

"You learn how it is to be in professional football in Denmark, and the way they [FC Midtjylland Academy] work with the players already from U15, helps the players to develop, and it also this that have helped me make my breakthrough in the senior squad," Sisto says.

And the hard training paid off with more than a place in the Superliga squad, when Sisto was announced as the Academy player of the 2012/13 season.

"I was extremely happy to receive the prize, and I am not trying to cover that it was a target for me, even though I did not tell many about my plan. It tells where you stand among the other talents at the academy, and obviously I want to be one of the best, and by winning the trophy it shows that I have worked hard to become one of the best," the award winning talent says.

Despite his young age, Pione Sisto has got a few starters earlier in this season, and after scoring a goal against AGF Aarhus in the first league match, he was suddenly on everyone's lips. However, his manager, Glen Riddersholm, is not afraid that his talent will lose his firm grip on the ground.

"Because of injuries earlier in the season, we couldn’t give him the breaks that are natural for a young player. We can do that now. It is no problem for him as he knows he shouldn’t say yes to everything so there will be created a hype about him," Riddersholm says and describes his player:

"He is a specialist in the way we like to develop our wings with some quick feet with the ball, good acceleration and good dribbling skills, as well. He is a player that we believe has a high potential, and a crowd favourite because they never know what will happen when he is on the ball.

"There is no doubt that he is a player that other clubs are keeping an eye on, and when he has developed, I am sure he will appeal to many leagues," Riddersholm says.

The talent welcomes the kind word from his manager, and acknowledges that Riddersholm has a great share in his current success. A success that is felt on the entire team, currently 1st in the Danish Superliga. Pione Sisto is sure that he and his teammates can bring metal to Herning this year:

"I think we have a chance of winning it as we have a good team player by player, and we have proven both for the manager and for the club as well as everyone else that this squad can go far.

"But the season is long, and the competition is hard, so we just keep looking at ourselves and keep developing," Sisto says.

One target for the talent is the Championship, but another and perhaps more important is to get a Danish passport. He has already passed the test and is only waiting for the passport and then, hopefully, a spot on the Danish national team. A big target for a young player, but not impossible if your name is Pione Sisto, the African-soon-to-be-Danish starlet.

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Keep an eye on: Nicolaj Ritter

By Harbo on 05:10

              Name: Nicolaj Ritter
               Age: 20 (8-5-1992)
          Position: Wing
              Club: Silkeborg IF
International caps: Denmark U20: 1 Match(es)
                                  0 Goal(s)
                    Denmark U19: 5 Match(es)
                                  1 Goal(s)
Denmark U18: 11 Match(es)
0 Goal(s)
Denmark U17: 15 Match(es)
1 Goal(s)
Denmark U16: 4 Match(es)
0 Goal(s)
             Value: £175.000 (Transfermarkt.co.uk)

”He is an aggressive, offensive player who loves to interfere in every situation of the match, even when he is not near the ball. He is a player who lives in the game and the type of player who can make things happen”

- Keld Bordingaard, Coach of Silkeborg IF

Nicolaj Ritter moved around between minor clubs in North Jutland, before joining Aalborg BK. However, before his youth career was even started he joined the FC Midtjylland Academy, where he played together with last week’s talent Mads Hvilsom.

“It was a difficult choice to leave Aalborg. I was doing fine and thought that it was the club for me. However, after seeing the concept in FC Midtjylland, with the academy, the school and the pitches I fell in love with the idea. It seemed so professional at the Academy”.

Ritter joined Midtjylland at the age of fifteen, and thereby had most of his youth in the club. Here, he won two Danish youth Championships and participated in several international cups. It was also in Midtjylland Ritter found his way to the Danish youth national team. However, his senior debut was to be in another club. Last summer, the winger joined Silkeborg IF:

“My time in Midtjylland was the best and I believe that it is the best place to be as a young player. However, I felt that I wouldn’t have any game time on the senior team. To develop I needed some senior game time and I felt that Silkeborg could give it to me”.

In the new club, Ritter went from being nobody to be in the starting XI. His debut in the best Danish league came, ironically, in the 2-1 win against his former club FC Midtjylland. However, the break trough is still to come, but one of the team mates in Silkeborg – former Bolton striker Henrik Pedersen – is sure this is the season for Ritter. The young winger is happy for the trust in him:

“I feel that I am getting better and better from every match I get, and I am proud and happy that a great player as Henrik, trust in me. I just hope I can live up to the expectations”.

Silkeborg coach Keld Bordingaard ensures that the break through is not impossible for Ritter, but he can’t “promise either Henrik or Ritter that it will happen.”

Since his transfer to Silkeborg, Nicolaj Ritter has been a part of the Danish U19 national team as well as the U20, where he had his debut this year. It is a dream for the young player, to play for the Danish senior national team, however; it is not something he worries about at the time. Instead, Ritter dreams to transfer to a foreign club one day:

“If I have the chance in a couple of years, it is defiantly an opportunity. I would really like to experience life as a Dane in a foreign club.”

Ritter would prefer to play in the Dutch or Spanish league, and has Real Madrid as his favorite team. However, right now the talent keeps his feet on the Danish ground, and his coach urges him to stay there:

“Right now there is plenty of challenges for Ritter, in the Danish Superliga.”

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Keep an eye on: Mads Hvilsom

By Harbo on 03:24

              Name: Mads Hvilsom
               Age: 19 (23.11.92)
              Club: FC Midtjylland
          Position: Striker
International Caps: Denmark U20: 3 match(es)
    0 goal(s)
Denmark U19: 10 match(es)
4 goal(s)
Denmark U18: 11 match(es)
4 goal(s)
Denmark U17: 17 match(es)
8 goal(s)
Denmark U16: 4 match(es)
4 goal(s)
             Value: £275.000 (Transfermarkt.co.uk)

This week’s talent is a lean mean goal machine! The name is Mads Hvilsom and he has, throughout his youth years been a guarantor for goals.

At the age of fourteen, Mads Hvilsom joined the FC Midtjylland academy in 2006. Before he signed with the club, he had been on a trial in Norwich where his friend Dario Dumic, played. However, after some consideration Midtjylland became the next location for the boy from Hvidovre.
When Hvilsom joined FC Midtjylland, he was seen as one of the greatest Danish talents, by the Academy’s director. However, Hvilsom keeps his feet on the ground:

“It meant I had a pressure on me from the start, but a pressure that very football player has to deal with. Everybody dreams of being the best and it might not have the gone the way as it looked like from the start. However, I am trying to keep developing.”

Mads Hvilsom quickly became an important part of the youth teams in FCM, where he teared up on defends after another. Not only at club level, but also for Danish international youth teams, where he has played regular since he was sixteen. After scoring fifteen goals in eleven matches for the FCM U17 team, he was promoted to the Superliga squad for the match against AC Horsens. Here, Hvilsom had his debut as he got the last couple of minutes on the pitch and became the youngest debutant in the league [second youngest today]. However, the early debut might not have been good for the player. FC Midtjylland coach Glen Riddersholm said:

“Perhaps he had the debut a little too early at the age of sixteen. When he had the debut, the former coach should have given him a few more matches to take some of the pressure of Mads.”

Mads Hvilsom himself agrees with his coach:

“It was a great experience, but I am not sure it was the right decision to let me play. I was only sixteen, and as I look back, I would have done something different.”

The young striker ended the season on the U17-team, winning the national championship and the topscorer price. Hvilsom scored not less than twenty five goals in 22 matches!

Last year, Hvilsom was on loan in Viborg FF where he scored a hattrick in his first match. After returning to FCM he won the Danish Reserves league with the club, before going on a trial with Sogndal in Norway. However, playing in a foreign country is not a must for the striker:

“It is not a goal for me to play in the Premier League, I would be happy just to become topscorer in the Danish Superliga. Off course I dream of playing in a great league, but it is not as I am longing for it.”

The talented striker turned down the offer from Sogndal, and instead he went on a loan with the Danish 1. Division club Hobro. Unfortunately, Hvilsom became injured in his first match with a Cruciate ligament injury, that will keep him out for the rest of the year. However, both his coach in Midtjylland, and Hvilsom himself belives that he will come back. Riddersholm said:

“It gives him the possibility to reflect on how much he likes to play football, and at the same time he can strengthen his mentality and tactics. Given Mads’ character, I am sure he will come back with new strength.”

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Keep an eye on: Mathias Wichmann

By Harbo on 23:34

Name: Mathias Wichmann
Age: 21 (06.08.1991)
Position: Midfield
Club: Aalborg BK
International Caps:
Denmark U21: 4 Match(es), 1 Goal(s)
Denmark U20: 2 Match(es), 0 Goal(s)
Denmark U19: 4 Match(es), 1 Goal(s)
Denmark U18: 3 Match(es), 1 Goal(s)
Value: £400.000 (transfermarkt.co.uk)

At the age, of 15 Mathias Wichmann became the youngest player who has signed a contract with Aalborg BK. Back then, the directors of Aalborg feared to lose the player as clubs as Herenveen, Charlton, Werder Bremen and league rivals FC Midtjylland has announced their interest. According to Aalborg coach, Kent Nielsen Wichmann is one of the greatest talents in the squad:

“Mathias Wichmann is a young, creative and technical player and one of the best in the squad to keep a flow in the game and find the passing in some difficult situations.”

After haven trained with the first team squad for six months, the 18-year old midfielder announced to the local paper that his ambitions were to play regular on the best team in Aalborg. Injuries in the squad gave Wichmann the chance to show what he was capable of, and the young playmaker made his breakthrough. However, 2011 the former captain of Aalborg Thomas Agustinussen joined the team once again and Wichmann lost his position on the central midfield. The gifted player said:

"I have played a lot for the first team, so you might say that I succeeded. However, I am not playing regular yet but am hoping for it in the future."

When Augustinussen returned to Aalborg, Wichmann was used on the right wing for a time. Coach Kent Nielsen is happy to have Wichmann as a central midfielder, as well as a right wing; however the player himself is most happy to play on the central midfield as he feels that it is the best position for him to “contribute to the offensive play”.

Wichmann is not an unknown name on the Danish national youth teams, with more than ten matches in the red shirt. And according to the player the ambition is to bring more caps to the statistic:

"It is a dream to play for your national team, but to get there you has to play for your club team and do it well."

Wichmann has only played ten minutes in the first four matches of this season. A situation that does not fit the talent, who will “do the best to be a part of the starting XI”. However, earlier this year, Wichmann announced that if did not get more games he would have to leave the club. However, when Great Dane Football Blog asked about the current situation the midfielder said it was something he had to discuss with his agent, but that he was more than happy to play in Aalborg. Kent Nielsen’s recipe to Wichmann is clear:

“Wichmann has to train hard and do well on the training ground, which he does; he has a really great discipline. He has to show his strength in the reserves matches as well as when we get bans or injuries.”

At the same time, the coach insures that Wichmann and his qualities are going to be important for the team sooner or later.

Even though the Aalborg player earlier in his career rejected a move to Hereenveen, Charlton and Werder Bremen a career in a foreign country is still a dream. If he can chose himself, Manchester United would be the club for him, simply because he has always been a fan.

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Keep an eye on: Sune Kiilerich

By Harbo on 02:14

Keep an eye on: Sune Kiilerich

Age: 21 (18-12-1990)

Position: Right Fullback

Club: Silkeborg IF,

Danish Superliga

Debut: 31-07-11

against SønderjyskE

International caps: Denmark U19: 1 match(es)

0 goal(s)

Denmark U18: 2 match(es)

0 goal(s)

Value: £100.000 (transfermarkt.co.uk)

He describes himself as a “tall player, who is great in the air”, but also as a “strong technical player” due to his past as an attacker. This week’s profile is Sune Kiilerich.

Kiilerich started playing football aged five and spent most of his youth in Ikast FS, before joining the FC Midtjylland Academy aged fourteen, in 2004. Here he quickly became an essential part of the youth department, with whom he played against clubs as Monaco and Chelsea.

In 2007, the defenders hard work for the academy resulted in a contract with FCM. 2009, turned out to be a fantastic year for the talented Dane, as he was part of the team winning the Danish U19 Championship as well as selected for the Danish U19 squad playing in the NI Milk Cup. After some great performances for FC Midtjylland in the Italian cup Viareggio Cup, Parma was reported interested in the player. However, it was Sampdoria who invited him on a trial, before buying him in 2010. Sune Kiilerich described his transfer as a “dream coming through” but was fast aware of the difference between the two cultures:

“In Denmark you are used to be in safe surroundings and you can always talk with the Director or the coach. You couldn’t do the same down there [Italy]. In Sampdoria, they had one hired as a connection link between the players and the coach.”

Kiilerich started as planned on the Sampdoria youth team, in the Primavera Division, where he was to play in a year before joining the first team squad. The fullback’s Italian career started with success as he managed to take over the position as right fullback, sending the captain of the team on the bench. Despite the success, the board of Sampdoria decided that Kiilerich needed to go on a loan in another club, in order to get some first team experience. However, it turned out that the defender had played his last match for the club:

“I just think I was unlucky. I played well for the Primavera team and my agent talked with the directors who said there were ninety-five percent chances for me to be playing in the first team squad the season after.”

Unfortunately for the defender, Sampdoria had a remarkable season, and the board was hired by Juventus:

“It was bad for me, because it was those directors who brought me to the club, and when the new ones came I was sidetracked. They wanted me to go on a loan with a Serie B club, but after talking with some team mates I refused.”

After a month with the new directors, Sune Kiilerich and the club agreed with Viborg, to take him on a six months loan.

Kiilerich experienced some personal success with Viborg, and decided to go back to Denmark, where joined the Danish Superliga club Silkeborg IF after his contract ran out. Manager Troels Bech is happy to have brought the player to the club:

“He is gifted with an unusual physic, in the form of his size, range and speed and he have had the possibility of making some experience in a young age, through his stay in Italy.”

At the moment, the defender is not a regular part of the starting eleven and he acknowledges that “there is a hard competition about my position on the team” and that he “must keep fighting, and hope that I can play myself in to the starting eleven”.
Kiilerich is hoping one day to play in English football, and if possible for Liverpool. Troels Bech believes that player has what it takes to play in England, but stresses that the player needs to breakthrough in Silkeborg before he will start guessing on where Kiilerich will play in the future.

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Follow up: Alexander Ludwig - five shot shootout

By Harbo on 22:34

In relation to last weeks talent profile, Alexander Ludwig answers 5 questions from the twelve yard spot.

Who is your idol?

My idol is Carlos Puyol. As a defender, he is cynical in his duels and at the same time a leader, who controls his defends. He is also great handling the ball and a kind of all-round player.

What is your favorite club?

It is Barcelona. I like to watch, the way they play football.

What is your greatest experience as a football player?

Definitely to go on the pitch at Aalborg Stadium and have my Superliga debut.

Where is Alexander Ludwig in 10 years?

In ten years, I will be playing in either German or English football. If I could choose a club myself, it would be Werder Bremen. Not too big a club, but of course, one of the top English clubs could be fantastic to play for, but it is only a dream and not something I think about.

How far is Denmark going during the 2012 Euro?

No longer than the group stages.

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Keep an eye on: Alexander Ludwig

By Harbo on 02:11

Keep an eye on: Alexander Ludwig

               Age: 18 (30.06.1993)
          Position: Central Defense
              Club: FC Midtjylland,
                    Danish Superliga
             Debut: 30-04-2011
                    against Aalborg BK
International Caps: 0
             Value: Unknown

He was meant to start in FC Copenhagen’s youth department, KB, but FC Midtjylland gave him an offer he could not refuse. This week’s talent is the defender Alexander Ludwig.

The defender started playing football in the Danish club Fremad Amager aged five, before moving to Tårnby BK, and further on to the FCM Academy in 2008. The eighteen year old player describes himself as a:

“Strong defender who is great in his duels in the air as well as on the ground, and with a strong left foot. A player who is joining the offensive play.”

A statement, Glen Riddersholm, Manager of FC Midtjylland can agree on. He describes the young talent as a “solid defender, who is strong in his defensive duels” and a “reasonable passing defender” stamping him as a “complete defensive player.”

Ludwig experienced success already in his first year in FCM, when he was part of the team, winning the Danish Cup for U17, against Silkeborg in 2008. The title was followed up by a U17 league win in 2009 and 2010. Despite the success on the club level, the Midtjylland-player has never played a match for the Danish national team. However, Glen Riddersholm, who has had a past as U17 national coach for Denmark, does not see this as a future problem for the player:

“As a national coach, you make a lot of choices, and you cannot choose all players. It is simply impossible. No one says that the national coach chooses the right player every time, so it is not always a stamp of quality to have played national youth matches. On the other hand, it is not a drawback to have played international matches and got the experience.”

Instead, Ludwig has gathered international experience with FC Midtjylland through different cups. In 2009, he was part of the team playing in the Trofeo Beppo Viola, against the Italian teams Sampdoria, Lazio and Parma. Here, FCM ended as number two, next after Lazio in the group stages.

He was also a part of the team winning the Tournoi International U17 Les Chapeaux, in France, where FCM met St. Andre and Genoa in the group stage. After qualifying for, and winning the quarter final and semi final against Marseille and HJK Helsinki, they met LOSC Lille in the final. After draws in regular and extra time, the match had to be decided in penalties. Here, Alexander Ludwig was one of the decisive players, with his goal, bringing the cup victory to the Wolves. The defender said about the tournaments:

“It is always a fun experience to play against international clubs and players with a high tempo, which you are not used to in Denmark. It is always god to play matches on a higher level, and I feel that I can use it when I have play in Denmark.”

In 2011, Ludwig has his debut in the Danish Superliga against Aalborg BK, aged 17. Even though FCM lost the match, the talent described the debut as “something special to be playing in the best league, in a young age”. The debut was followed up with a nomination as Development player of the year in 2011. However, none of this was enough to secure a new contract, which means that Alexander Ludwig will be on a free agent from the summer 2012.

Manager Riddersholm said that “We have had trouble saying goodbye to the player”, as he “is an incredible loyal and energetic player, who you, as a coach love to have in your squad”. The FC Midtjylland coach continued by explaining the reason why Alexander Ludwig would not have his contract extended by saying:

“We have evaluated that he will have some problems with our high defensive play.”

However, the manager believes that the player has potential to play in the Danish Superliga and perhaps could return to the club at some point in his career. Alexander Ludwig himself said about his new situation that he “don’t know where I will be playing next year” but that there were interested clubs. In the same breath, he did not reject that a club abroad could be a possibility:

“Never say never... If I should get a great offer, in a club where I can develop, I would definitely consider it.”

Both Danish Superliga and 1. Division teams has shown interest, according to the player.

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Keep an eye on: Morten Brander Knudsen

By Harbo on 01:00

Keep an eye on: Morten Brander Knudsen

Fcm.dk

              Name: Morten Brander Knudsen
               Age: 16 (28-4-1995)

          Position: Center Midfield
              Club: FC Midtjylland,
                    Danish Superliga
    Official debut: Still to come
International caps: Denmark U17: 8 match(es)
                                 1 goal(s)
                    Denmark U16: 5 match(es)
                                 1 goal(s)
             Value: Unknown

Morten Brander Knudsen started playing football in the Danish club Hellerup IK aged six and was on a trial with Chelsea FC before joining the FC Midtjylland football academy in the summer 2010, aged 15. Later that summer he had his debut for the Danish U16 national team in the 0-1 loss against Italy in the Citta di Latina tournament. At the end of the Citta di Latina Morten Knudsen was honoured as the tournament’s most valuable player.

“I’m a box-to-box player. I’m capable of kicking with both legs and have a good drive with the ball.”

– Morten Brander Knudsen to FCM.dk

The great performance both in FC Midtjylland as well as for the national team was followed up by a trial-offer from Stoke City FC, where Knudsen was seen as a future academy-player. However, the Director of Sports in FCM Jens Ørgaard declined.

Morten Knudsen was chosen to play for the Danish U17-team in the Scandinavian InterNordic Cup by national coach Thomas Frank, where he had his debut in the 3-3 draw against Finland. Later that year he was reselected to play in the Syrenka Cup in Poland, where he scored his first ever international goal against Belarus. The performance on club as well as national level also gave him a spot in the squad for the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship Qualifications which Denmark won and advanced to the elite round. Danish U17 national coach said:

“He plays - what we call a number 8 sometimes a number 6 – one of the two back players in our triangle midfield. Morten has some very good competences and a really fine quality of passing both short and long, which is one of his strengths in the game. He is also very good at keeping a flow in the game.”

But the most exciting and interesting competence for the national coach is Mortens drive with the ball which makes him capable of going past his direct opponent. Frank also put weights on Knudsen’s “fantastic kick with both right and left foot.”

The Italian sports paper Gazetta dello Sport reported in December 2011 that Morten Knudsen had signed with FC Internazionale Milano after he had been on a trial with the club. The story was untrue according to FC Midtjylland, however, the club revealed to the Danish sports paper Tipsbladet that the club was in dialogue with Inter.

Italy looks like the next stop for the young player but asked if he could see Morten Brander Knudsen in The Premier League, Thomas Frank predicted:

“It is an immense step... It is the best league in the world where class players are bought for the exact position, but I believe that he has the physique to play in The Premier League, he has the speed and not the least some amazing skills with his feet – A Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard type of player.”

Brander Knudsen has been elected for the U17 friendlies against Switzerland and has been promoted to the FC Midtjylland Superliga squad doing the winter preseason.

      Special thanks to: Thomas Frank - D.B.U, Thomas Andersen - D.B.U, FCM.dk

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