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.