Keep an eye on: Kevin Ray Mendoza Hansen

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Photo: Ali Shahrokhtash

  • Name: Kevin Ray Mendoza Hansen
  • Age: 19 (29-09-1994)
  • Position: Goalkeeper
  • Club: Viborg FF
  • International Caps: None
  • Value: £50.000 (Transfermarkt.co.uk)

He had his debut in the Danish 1. Divison when he was only 17, have had a tryout in Liverpool and is now on the look for a new club; this week we keep an eye on Viborgs Kevin Ray Mendoza Hansen.

Take the name Kevin Ray Hansen, add then Mendoza and you have a not so typical Danish name. However, there is a good explanation to the young goalkeeper's rather untraditional name of Danish standards and as the talent put it himself he is a mix of nationalities. His grandmother was Filipino and his Grandfather was Spanish, add then his Danish father and you have a multinational young talent eligible to play for the Philippines. Even though his mother have urged him to contact the Philippine national team, Kevin Hansen has his mind somewhere else.

The young keeper is a product of Viborg's youth department and is described as a safe goalkeeper with a great calmness and self confidence and was already at a young age promoted to the, back then, 1. division squad.

“It is a special feeling; when you come from U17 and U19 you have the green blood running through your veins, and it is a perfect feeling to be a part of the best team in Viborg," Hansen says about his life in Viborg.

Soon after being promoted, and by the age of 17, Kevin Hansen was given his debut for Viborg as the, by then, first choice Martin Hansen was going through a troubled time of injuries. For the same reason, it didn't come as a shock for the talent that he suddenly was in the lineup. However, since the debut the goalkeeper has had trouble getting time on the pitch, even before the start of this season where Viborg only had Kevin Hansen in their squad. However, the club decided to bring in another and more experienced goalkeeper.

“Obviously, you are disappointed and it feels like a defeat, but I was prepared as I knew they wanted a more experienced goalkeeper, so it wasn’t a big surprise, but obviously I hoped they would give me a chance," Hansen says the arrival of a new goalkeeper. 

While not  getting a chance in Viborg, Liverpool gave him a chance last year when they invited the goalkeeper for a week's tryout in England. The tryout was arranged with the help from Martin Hansen who was a part of Liverpool's youth department before joining Viborg made the contact with John Acterberg, the goalkeeper coach at the Merseyside club. Mendoza sent some videos to Acterberg and luckily for the talent, he liked what he saw.

“It is probably the biggest experience in my life; the environment was perfect and I got to train with some of the best players, so it was really good," the talent says. 

“I learned that everything is hard work, the training was harder and there was a lot of self training and weightlifting.”

Despite the interest from Liverpool Hansen have been in the shadows of more experienced goalkeepers, and by the end of this season his time in Viborg is over. The talent is looking to leave his heart club in order to get more experience even though it means he may have to take a step down from the Danish Superliga level. 

“My aim is to get back in the best league, but I’m still young and has the time on my side," he says and ends the interview with a talk about his dreams in football: 

“I dream of a breakthrough abroad somewhere; England is a dream, but Spain, Germany and maybe Italy would also be great.”







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Keep an Eye on: Carlos Shiralipour

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  • Name: Carlos Shiralipour
  • Age: 21 (06-05-1992)
  • Position: Right/Left back or Central Midfield
  • Club: Viborg FF
  • International Caps: 
    • Denmark U18
      • 3 Matches
      • 0 Goals
  • Value: £25.000 (transfermarkt.co.uk)
A knee injury threatens to end the career, even before it has even started, but this talent keeps fighting. This week we keep an eye on Viborgs Carlos Shiralipour.

While Viborg is celebrating the promotion to the best Danish league, Superligaen, Carlos Shiralipour is hoping to be able to join them in the new season. The talented defender has been struggling with knee injuries since 2011 and seems to be some distance away from a comeback.

“When I sleep I dream about playing in the Superliga, but I wake up to the reality and the injury. It is only if everything works out right that I will be playing in the best league, in Denmark,” Shiralipour says.

The talent has been a part of Viborg's youth department, where he came on a contract as 15-year old, before being promoted to the senior squad in 2009. Here, he got his debut against Hvidovre when he was sent on after 77 minutes in the 3-0 victory.

Assistant Manager in Viborg, Søren Frederiksen, calls Shiralipour a great talent who has not been allowed to show his full potential yet, and at the same time thanks Viborgs youth department for developing one talent after the other:

“It is always great to that the work that is done in the youth department is successful, and Carlos is one of the players that have taken the chance and gotten a contract. It is great work from our youth coaches from U13 to U19; they make a tremendous work and they deserve all the tribute they can get.”

During his youth years, Shiralipour got three matches for the Danish U18 national team and could probably have gotten more. However, the player was in the shadow of other players at the time and acknowledged that he probably did not take the chance when he got it. However, as his mother is from Thailand, Carlos actually has the opportunity to play for the nation.

"It is a possibility, but it is not something I have thought about. However, you can never say never,” he says.

The injury that put the talents career on a break came in 2011, during a training match against Kjellerup IF. Shiralipour was was covering a ball when a player rambled into his knee. An ACL knee injury and 12 months away from the pitch.

“I went through surgery 3 months later and had a long recovery time, but had the motivation for a comeback," Shiralipour says.

Despite, the long injury time, Viborg decided to extend the talents contract with a year in 2012. Søren Frederiksen had no doubts when the leaders of the club were discussing the new contract:

“We wanted to give him support as we still believed in him and felt sorry for the lad. He didn’t get any great contract, but enough to make a living while he was recovering and hopefully would return and we wanted to help him. He never had the chance to show what he could, so we wanted to give him a chance.”

During autumn 2012, the talent returned to the training ground and felt the grass and the ball again. However, during a training session he sustained a new knee injury, and had to go through surgery in December. When the news about the injury spread in Viborg, fans made a TIFO wishing him well, and children made drawings and send them to their injured soldier. Today, Shiralipour is grateful for the support:

“It means everything for me as I have had all these injuries. Viborg is my hometown, and to have that kind of support is amazing and gives me believe that I one day can pull the Viborg shirt back on.”

The contract ends this summer, and while the player is still hoping for a comeback, he has prepared a plan B. Applications to different Danish Universities has been sent, and Shiralipour is hoping to study either psychology or medicine. However, returning to the pitch is still the main target:

"I still hope to come back, and sees it as a bonus if I can reach the same level as I had earlier. However, it is important to have other plans to fall back on if I can’t return to football," Shiralipour says.

Assistant Manager Søren Frederiksen shares his players hope:

“It is hard to say, but I know that Carlos has the will to come back, and he has always said that he will return and show what he is capable of. I respect him for that and hope he will return and play for us.”

Whether or not Carlos Shiralipour will return to the training ground and play for Viborg, or his future lies outside football is unknown. One thing is for sure; the player will fight to comeback, and the fans love him for it.









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Keep an eye on: Jeff Andy Mensah

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              Name: Jeff Andy Mensah
               Age: 20 (10.08.1992)
          Position: Winger
              Club: Viborg F.F
International caps: Denmark U21: 1 Match(es)
                                 0 Goal(s)
                    Denmark U20: 3 Match(es)
                                 1 Goal(s)
                    Denmark U19: 1 Match(es)
                                 0 Goal(s)
             Value: £275.000

He is twenty years old and has already played more than sixty matches for his club Viborg F.F. Here, the Assistant coach, Søren Frederiksen, describes Jeff Mensah as “a physical strong and energetic player”.

Jeff Mensah has played in Viborg throughout his entire career. He started in the club’s youth department F.K. Viborg before signing a contract with the senior club in 2008. Back then, Mensah rejected one of the other leading clubs in Jutland, Aalborg BK.

The debut for Mensah came only two years later, when he was sent on the pitch against Vejle in the Danish 1. Division. Here, Mensah played his first senior match along with his brother Kevin Mensah and even though he only played ten minutes, the talent sees it as a great experience:

“I have played in Viborg all of my life; I’m born and raised in Viborg, so playing for the team I have always followed is great.”

Jeff Mensah’s first starting match was against Brabrand. Here, the offensive player also scored his first goal. Even though, the young player has scored a sensational goal from 55 meters distance; goals are not something you see from the talent every day. Søren Frederiksen points out that:

“He is missing some overview and to be able to come forward in the attacking play; to create more chances and score more goals”.

Jeff Mensah is not only used on the wing or in the attacking roles. The Danish-Ghanaian has filled out the position as both wing back and central midfield, especially in his breakthrough season last year. However, Mensah is aware of the drawback of being an all-around player:

“I’m best in the attacking role, and my coach know this. I’m not playing the back position to become an all around player, and I don’t hope it will turn out this way. However, I have not had the fear for this to happen.”

While Jeff Mensahs brother Kevin Mensah has been on trial in clubs as Arsenal and Newcastle United, Jeff is still missing the chance to show a big foreign club what he is made of. However, there is no envy from the young player.


“It is just fantastic to see him in a greater club, and he has done well. I just hope that one of us will have the chance once again, but right now we are playing in Viborg.”

Assistant coach Søren Frederiksen is also hoping to keep the two brothers in the squad for a while longer:

“They are some wonderful boys to work with and are always in a good mode. I enjoy working with them and hope that I can give them some advice and some experience from my own career, so they one day can take the next step.”

The next step for Jeff Mensah is far out in the future he assures the fans of Viborg. However, he speaks well about English football which he describes as, “a great football culture and one of the places you would like to go”. Another possibility for Mensah is Holland as it matches his “play style”.

Mensah has so far played four youth matches for Denmark and scored one goal. The attacking midfielder has a Ghanaian background and can play for Ghana. However, it is not something the Dane has thought about:

“It is a possibility, but it is not something I consider. I don’t know the culture of Ghana, and I am playing in Denmark where I have been a part of the youth teams so I am hoping to play for the Danish national team if I should have the chance”.

Jeff Mensah, who played and scored in last nights 4-1 win against Hjørring, is on contract with Viborg until 2014.


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Keep an eye on: Mads Hvilsom

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              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: Sune Kiilerich

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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 Juel Andersen - five shot shootout

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Follow up: Alexander Juel Andersen - five shot shootout

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

Who is your idol?

Steven Gerrard, without a doubt. He has had an influence on the world of football the last ten years with his unique play. I see him as a complete player, and he has always been one of the players that I have been following. Especially, when I was younger and positioned as a midfielder. I always looked at his play and tried to interpret some of the things I saw with him in the television. I will presumably never reach his level, but it is good to have someone to look up to.



What is the height of your career so far?

To be Captain in Viborg, is probably my greatest experience.


Where is Alexander Juel Andersen in 10 years?

In ten years, I will be… thirty one. Well, hopefully I have played a couple of years in Premier League and have a great success with what I am doing. I hope to be playing football till I am forty, but it is the fewest who is capable of it. In ten years, I have played some of my best years in the Premier League and will still be playing there.

Who from AC Horsens should the European football clubs keep an eye on?

Martin Spelmann and Martin Retov
When you look for players, you look for players for the future. A player like Martin Spelmann, who is a hot name in Denmark, is playing really well for us and has done so for a while. Another player could be Martin Retov, who has played abroad before. However, you might not see him abroad in the future.

Who is going to win the English Premier League this season?

United [Manchester] is going to take the title. They have tried this before. The table doesn’t lie, and I believe that it is impressing that they can keep playing this good, year after year. I am not a Manchester United fan at all. However, compared to City [Manchester] they don’t have star team, but they keep playing so well together, and off course it is also because of Alex Ferguson.
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Keep an eye on: Alexander Juel Andersen

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Keep an eye on: Alexander Juel Andersen

               Age: 21 (29-01-1991)  
          Position: Central Defender
              Club: AC Horsens,
                    Danish Superliga 
             Debut: 24-06-2011
                    against
                    FC Nordsjælland
                    (1-1)
International caps: Denmark U20: 1 match(es)
                                 0 goal(s)
                    Denmark U19: 6 match(es)
                                 0 goal(s)
                    Denmark U18: 3 match(es)
                                 0 goal(s)
                    Denmark U17: 16 match(es)
                                  2 goal(s)
             Value: £175.000 (transfermarkt.co.uk)


The twenty year old defender describes himself as a:
"Solid defender who has control over his defensive duties, and wants to participate in the offensive play where I have some qualifications. I am an all-around player and can play both right back center defend and center midfield. And at last, my heading is one of my strengths".

However, Alexander Juel Andersen is aware of his weaknesses, as he wants to be “even better in the offensive play, and maybe get some extra kilos on his body”.

He started playing football in Brunshåb Tapdrup IF as a child before moving on to Viborg Søndermarken IK and later Viborg F.F’s youth department, FK Viborg. Here, he got a two year contract in 2006, aged 15. The footballer’s talent was not to be missed as he went into 2007 with a trial in the French club AS Monaco, and later that year had his debut for Viborg F.F in the Danish Superliga, aged 16. The sixth youngest debutant throughout the history of the Danish Superliga.

Juel Andersen said about his stay in Monaco, that:
“It teached me how it is to be a youth player abroad, and it was not something that addressed my at the given time.”

However, the defender does not exclude an adventure abroad as “it is something else, when you’re an adult player and a senior player, and have had your breakthrough in your home country.”

In 2007, Alexander Juel Andersen had his debut for the Danish U17 national team in the Internordic match between Denmark and Belgium and was a regular part of the team throughout the tournament. His first goal in the national shirt came against Finland in the Syrenka Cup, same year, when Juel Andersen scored in the first minute of the match.

Alexander Juel Andersen continued his Denmark career on the Danish U18 national team, where he in his second match, was announced as Captain for the team. The year after, aged 19, Andersen also became Captain in Viborg. The modest defender was glad for the experience and said:
“It means a lot to become captain in such a young age. Viborg was my childhood club, and I am from Viborg as well, so it meant a lot and teached me how to manage a team”.

After sixty eight matches for Viborg, Juel Andersen, announced that he would continue his career in the Danish Superliga club AC Horsens, on a free transfer. During the last six months of his Viborg contract, the defender was on a loan in Randers FC.

After recovering from his injuries, the new Horsens player announced that he was looking to be a regular part of the team which he, since his debut against FC Nordsjælland in 2011, more or less has been. While the player is aiming to be a profile in the club, he is not expecting to be captain:

“It can be a couple of years before I am going to be a captain in Horsens. There are a lot of experienced players before me.”

The next target for the young talent is to be a part of the Danish U21 national team.
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Keep an eye on: Mathias Nielsen

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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.”




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