His coach describes him as a ”fast and physical strong defender, with all the tools to be a defender.” This week’s talent is Mads Fenger Nielsen.
Mads Fenger joined Randers FC, from the Danish minor league team Skovbakken in 2007 and signed his first contract with the club in 2008, aged 17. The young defender fast became a regular part of the clubs 2. Division team, and earned his way to the Danish U19 national team, playing in the EURO qualifications.
In 2008, Fenger signed his first fulltime contact with Randers, aged 18, and soon after had his debut in the Danish Superliga against Odense Boldklub. Here, the defender replaced for the injured Robert Azumanian in the last minutes of the first leg.
Already a month after, Fenger, was in the starting XI for the first time against Brøndby IF, and soon after in the Europa League against Linfield FC. Randers FC’s European adventure ended, however, against the German team HSV, after one victory and one loss. Again, Fenger was in the starting XI. In the home league, Randers was struggling in the lower part of the table. Even so, Mads Fenger was selected for the Danish U21 playing a tournament in France.
Randers barely saved them a year in the Danish Superliga in 2010, however, in 2011, there were no more luck left. Mads Fenger and Randers FC was relegated to the Danish 1. Division, after a draw in the last match of the season. However, Fenger experienced personal success as he was selected for the Danish U21 team playing the EURO 2011 in Aalborg, Denmark.
After a year, in the Danish 1. Division, with Mads Fenger as one of the profiles, Randers is now looking to be promoted to the Danish Superliga. Coach Michael Hemmingsen says about Fenger’s future that:
“Mads have five years left of his contract, and I am sure that – if he wants to – he will be staying in Randers longer than those five years. However, Mads are so skilful that at some point the club has to find out if they will keep him or another club will take over, but I am sure that Mads will have a great future in Randers.”
The young Brøndby talent joined the club from Fremad Amager in 2004 and have since played his way up through the youth department. Brøndby U17 coach, John Ranum said about the player:
"We [Brøndby] hope and believes that he can go all the way. He is a very creative player, with an eye for the other players. From his position as a 10’er, has he made a couple of goals, and at the same time, he is one of the players with most assists on the team.”
Andrew Hjulsager was a part of the Brøndby team which won the U17 Danish Championship in 2011. The team completed the season with twenty one victories in twenty six matches, and with a total of fifty eight goals – four of the scored by Hjulsager.
The midfielder was in an early age on a trial with the German 1. Bundesliga club Hamburger Sports Verein. Andrew Hjulsager said about the trial:
“It started with a camp in Flensburg, where we were several players gathered together. After this, we went to Hamburg where we played a few matches and saw how things were in the club.”
Even though, the player has been on a trial abroad, he is not ready to leave Brøndby IF. Hjulsager revealed that his next step was to have his debut on the senior team, “within two years time”. Brøndby coach John Ranum advice the player to stay in the club:
“I would never advice anyone to go abroad, because we have as good conditions here. If he has the talent as we are counting on, then he is good enough to get a breakthrough here and then the interest will still be there. He will then later have the opportunity to go abroad.”
A goal for the player is to play in the Spanish league as “it fits my style of play”, he said.
Andrew Hjulsager has so far played for the U16 and U17 Danish national team. He was part of the Danish U17 team that ended as number two in the Internordic cup, after losing the final against Iceland as well as the national team that was ranked as number two in the Syrenka Cup after losing the final against Poland. National coach, Thomas Frank, said about the player:
“Andrew is a very intelligent player who is fantastic good at making decisions in small spaces and in a short time. Furthermore, has he a fantastic kick, with both feet actually, but especially his right, where he is one of the few Danes who can shoot from distance.”
The Danish U17 team missed the chance to qualify for the European Championship, and therefore, Hjulsager has played his last match. Thomas Frank is not in any doubt on what impact the player has had on for the Denmark U17:
“He is one of our bearing players and has a fantastic mental intake of things around him. He performs under a lot of pressure, almost every time, often with a stabile performance and at times a super performance. He has had a great importance for the team with his creation of chances and at the same time, finishing himself.”
Both Andrew Hjulsager and Thomas Frank are convinced that the Danish U18 team is the next step for him.
Andrew Hjulsager and Brøndby U17 are currently positioned as the number one in the Danish U17 league, where he has scored seven goals. Hjulsager is also a part of the Brøndby reserves where he has played a couple of matches, latest against Aalborg BK, where he scored the only Brøndby goal in the 2-1 loss.
Since his change from Hellerup Idrætsklub to Lyngby BK in 2006, Uffe Bech has become another product of the clubs fantastic youth department. The talented striker, who can play several offensive positions, signed his first contract with Lyngby aged 15. Back then he had just won the national championship for U16.
Uffe Manich Bech describes himself as a player who is “quick on his feet” and believes that he “thinks fast and is playing in a high tempo”.
The player also said: “I am good in the offensive play and in creating chances both for myself and my teammates.”
The description is backed up by Danish national U19 coach Per Andersen:
“Uffe is a player with a very high intelligent for the game. It means he is great at reading the game. He is tactical clever, and a technical great player, as well. He is very creative and good at finding the openings and he can be used on several positions.”
In 2009 Uffe Bech, was invited on a trial in Blackburn Rovers where they, according to Sky Sports, had the chance of a permanent stay if they could impress the club. Bech said about his stay in Blackburn Rovers:
“Blackburn was the first trial I had, and it was a fan experience. It was instructive; we played against some players that were physical bigger than me, and I think it went well.”
However, the talented player returned to Lyngby but was soon invited on another trial. This time in Heerenveen. Once again, Bech returned to Lyngby, but this time to have his debut for the first team squad six months after.
Uffe Bech had his first appearance in the 2-2 draw against Silkeborg IF in August 2010 and later that month he signed a new contract with Lyngby BK. In February 2011, the player was invited on a trial in German club HSV. However, Niels Frederiksen, Manager of Lyngby made it clear that Uffe Bech would return to Lyngby. Asked what he would suggest as the next step for Uffe Bech, Per Andersen said:
“He is in a good development in Lyngby, and I would suggest that he stays in the club and becomes a regular part of the Superliga squad. That is the first thing he should have as a goal for his future.”
Uffe Bech is willing to develop in Lyngby, but also said that:
“I want to play abroad at some point. I believe I have the talent and will for it, and then we will see how far it reaches. It is my goal.”
The first goal in the blue shirt came in April 2011 when the 18-year old striker was sent on the pitch in the 72nd minute against FC Midtjylland. Three minutes later had he smashed the leather in the back of the net and made himself matchwinner. An experience the striker sees as one of his biggest moments.
In December 2011, Uffe Manich Bech was awarded the Danish Football Associations U19-talent price. A price that have been awarded to some of the most influential players in Danish football, as Jon Dahl Thomasson, Jesper Grønkjær and Peter Løvenkrands. The striker said about winning the price:
“I was glad and proud of being awarded the price, but I see it as a pat in the shoulder rather than a quality stamp. It does not mean that I can go out and think I am the king here, it means I need to work harder and first of all here in Lyngby.”
The young offensive player has earlier been compared with the Argentinean super striker, Lionel Messi, by Danish expert Per Frimann. However, the player himself has another view:
“There is a long road to become Messi and I'm never going to be the same player as Messi. It is possible that we both are small players, but we do not have the same style of playing”.
It is worth mentioning that Uffe Manich Bech was a crucial factor in Lyngby BK’s reserves victory against Viborg IF’s reserves, during the winter preseason. The team was behind by 4-0 when Uffe Bech made a hattrick in sixteen minutes, bringing the club back in the game, which they won – 5-4.
