FC Midtjylland (Danish: ['mitjy,laen" "Central Jutland") is a Danish professional football club that is based at Herning in the city of Herning and Ikast located in midwestern region of Jutland. The club is the product of an amalgamation between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad. Midtjylland plays in the Danish Superliga, which they have been crowned three times, the most recently in 2020.
1. Club history
FC Midtjylland was founded by Johnny Rune, a carpenter and the owner of a business that was privately owned in the wood-supply sector, as well as Steen Hessel, a licensed Mercedes-Benz dealer.
The two men sought to unify the two club Ikast FS (founded 1935) and Herning Fremad (founded 1918) two clubs that for a long time were fierce rivals but never had a important part for the sport of Danish football. Ikast FS had some success during the late 1970s and 1980s, and even was able to make the three Danish Cup final appearances, however, it was not an elite club of the Danish league. A minimum of ten years been passed, with the two clubs unable to reach an agreement on a merger. However on the 6th of April, 1999, an agreement was signed and presented in a press conference the following day.
The year 2000 saw Midtjylland received promotion to the top-flight of the Danish Superliga after a season that saw the team earned greater points than all other clubs in the original division.
Match Predictions
- Arsenal vs. Bournemouth Predictions & Betting Tips on May 04 - 14:00 PM
- Brentford vs. Fulham Predictions & Betting Tips on May 04 - 14:00 PM
- Brighton vs. Aston Villa Predictions & Betting Tips on May 04 - 14:00 PM
- Burnley vs. Newcastle Predictions & Betting Tips on May 04 - 14:00 PM
- Chelsea vs. West Ham Predictions & Betting Tips on May 04 - 14:00 PM
The month of July was the year that Matthew Benham (owner of English club Brentford) was made an owner of the largest stake in Midtjylland's parent firm FCM Holding. 4. The 2014-2015 season was when they took home the Danish soccer championship at the beginning of the season for the first time. In the following seasons they won two league championships in 2017-18 and 2019-20. Then, they qualified for in 2020-21 UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in their history.
2. Scouting and developing
Midtjylland has earned a name for identifying and nurturing talented players, and has an academy for youth that is highly regarded.
In July of 2004, Midtjylland was the first Danish club to create their own football academy like that of French club Nantes. The academy draws players from all over Denmark and also athletes of FC Ebedei, a partnering club from Nigeria. The club has built an extensive network of more than 100 clubs that are located in the western region of Jutland.
The year 2008 was the time that Danish centre back Simon Kjaer was a star of the academy was transferred to Palermo in exchange for a transfer fee that was approximately DKK30 millions (EUR4 million). In 2010 Sune Kiilerich, another talent from the academy was transferred to Sampdoria and Winston Reid, an academy product and New Zealand international, was transferred to West Ham United for DKK32 million (EUR4.26 million). In the year 2016, the vice captain Erik Sviatchenko was sold for PS1.5 million to Celtic.
The other notable transactions of products from the academy comprise Pione Sisto in Celta Vigo, Rasmus Nissen to Ajax, Andreas Poulsen to Borussia Monchengladbach, and Mikkel Duelund sold to Dynamo Kyiv.
3. Stadium
The team in 2004 relocated to the new stadium in Herning that could hold 11,432 fans. Midtjylland became the initial Danish club to offer the stadium's naming rights to a company, which led to the stadium's designation "SAS Arena" which has been changed in the past in to MCH Arena. The stadium's first match took place on the 27th March. The match was a huge success and saw Midtjylland defeating AB 6-1. Five scores were scored from Egyptian forward Mohamed Zidan.
On the 22nd of June, 2022, MCH Arena began the expansion of MCH Arena that will include an additional lounge for hospitality and 11 VIP boxes. The expansion will boost the overall capacity of the arena by an additional 720 seats increasing the capacity from 11,432 seats to 12,152. The expansion is expected to be completed in the month of December 2023.
4. Supporters
Black Wolves is the official fan club that is part of FC Midtjylland. It was established at the first week of August in 1999, when the official fan club from Ikast FS 1993 "Yellow Flames" changed their name in the extraordinary General Meeting. Ultra Boys Midtjylland is the first faction that is not officially recognized in Midtjylland formed around 2007 then changed its name to Ultras Midtjylland. The year 2014 was the time that Midtjylland received its third unofficial group, a youth-focused faction known as Midtjylland Ungdom. At present there are three unofficial groups: Zartow, Chaos Crew as well as Midtjylland Ungdom. All FC Midtjylland supporters go under the name Hedens Drenge.
Hedens Drenge is the Midtjylland's biggest fan-based social media platform with a fan base of about 11,000 in Instagram and Facebook in total.
The club's primary rival has been Viborg FF. The rivalry is sometimes known as The Battle of the Heath, The Battle of Hatred or The Derby in Midtjylland. It is said to be the second-largest in Denmark in comparison to FC Kobenhavn and Brondby IF.
5. Recent history
Season | League | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Cup | Europe |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008-09 | SL | 4 | 33 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 55 | 46 | 55 | Third round | |
2009-10 | SL | 6 | 33 | 14 | 5 | 14 | 41 | 41 | 47 | Finalist | |
2010-11 | SL | 4 | 33 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 50 | 42 | 49 | Finalist | |
2011-12 | SL | 3 | 33 | 17 | 7 | 9 | 50 | 40 | 58 | 1/16 Finals | UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round |
2012-13 | SL | 6 | 33 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 51 | 47 | 47 | Quarter-finals | UEFA Europa League Playoff Round |
2013-14 | SL | 3 | 33 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 61 | 38 | 55 | Fourth round | |
2014-15 | SL | 1 | 33 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 64 | 34 | 71 | Fourth round | UEFA Europa League Playoff Round |
2015-16 | SL | 3 | 33 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 57 | 33 | 59 | Fourth round | UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round UEFA Europa League Round of 32 |
2016-17 | SL | 4 | 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 67 | 53 | 54 | Semi-finals | UEFA Europa League Playoff Round |
2017-18 | SL | 1 | 36 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 80 | 39 | 85 | Semi-finals | UEFA Europa League Playoff Round |
2018-19 | SL | 2 | 36 | 21 | 8 | 7 | 76 | 43 | 71 | Champion | UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round UEFA Europa League Playoff Round |
2019-20 | SL | 1 | 36 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 61 | 29 | 82 | Third Round | UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round |
2020-21 | SL | 2 | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 57 | 33 | 60 | Semi-finals | UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round |
2021-22 | SL | 2 | 32 | 20 | 5 | 7 | 59 | 33 | 65 | Champion | UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round UEFA Europa League Group Stage UEFA Europa Conference League Knockout Round |
6. Honours
Danish Superliga
- Winners : 2014–15, 2017–18, 2019–20
- Runners-up : 2006–07, 2007–08, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22
1st Division
- Winners : 1999–2000
Danish Cup
- Winners : 2018–19, 2021–22
- Runners-up : 2002–03, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2010–11
7. Players
Detail of the players as below mentioned.
7.1. Current squad
As of 9 September 2022
No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | DEN | Jonas Lössl |
4 | DF | DEN | Stefan Gartenmann |
5 | MF | URU | Emiliano Martínez (loan from RB Bragantino) |
6 | DF | SWE | Joel Andersson |
7 | MF | DEN | Pione Sisto |
8 | MF | SWE | Kristoffer Olsson (loan from Anderlecht) |
9 | FW | GUI | Sory Kaba |
10 | MF | BRA | Evander |
11 | FW | DEN | Gustav Isaksen |
14 | DF | DEN | Henrik Dalsgaard |
16 | GK | ISL | Elías Rafn Ólafsson |
17 | DF | DEN | Mads Døhr Thychosen |
18 | MF | ZAM | Edward Chilufya |
19 | MF | CIV | Chris Kouakou |
20 | MF | DEN | Valdemar Byskov Andreasen |
22 | DF | DEN | Pontus Texel |
24 | MF | DEN | Oliver Sørensen |
26 | DF | COL | Pablo Ortíz |
28 | DF | DEN | Erik Sviatchenko (captain) |
29 | DF | BRA | Paulinho |
30 | MF | NGA | Mark Ugboh |
35 | MF | BRA | Charles |
36 | FW | DEN | Anders Dreyer |
39 | FW | COL | Juan Felipe Moreno |
44 | DF | DEN | Nikolas Dyhr |
73 | DF | BRA | Juninho |
74 | FW | BRA | Júnior Brumado |
7.2. Youth players in use
|
7.3. Out on loan
|
7.4. Youth team
FC Midtjylland Academy is the youth academy of FC Midtjylland. The academy is comprised of youth teams for under-19, under-17 , and under-15 basis.
7.5. Notable players
1990s
- Søren Skriver (1994–2004)
- Frank Kristensen (1997–2011, 2013–2014)
- Peter Skov-Jensen (1999–2005)
2000s
- Mohamed Zidan (2003–2005)
- Danny Califf (2008–2009)
- Mads Albæk (2004–2013)
- Kristijan Ipša (2008–2013)
- Winston Reid (2005–2010)
- Mikkel Thygesen (2004–2007, 2007–2011)
- Jonas Lössl (2008–2014, 2021–)
- Simon Kjær (2007–2008)
2010s
- Petter Andersson (2012–2016)
- Rafael van der Vaart (2016–2018)
- Sylvester Igboun (2010–2015)
- Paul Onuachu (2013–2019)
- Frank Onyeka (2018–2021)
- Jakob Poulsen (2010–2012, 2014–2019)
- Rasmus Nissen (2012–2018)
- Morten "Duncan" Rasmussen (2012–2016)
- Pione Sisto (2013–2016, 2020–)
- Bill Hamid (2018–2020)
- Tim Sparv (2014–2020)
2020s
- Anders Dreyer (2020–2021, 2022)
- Vagner Love (2022)
8. Coaches
- Ove Pedersen (1 July 1999 – 30 June 2002)
- Troels Bech (1 July 2002 – 31 December 2003)
- Erik Rasmussen (1 Jan 2004 – 30 June 2008)
- Thomas Thomasberg (1 July 2008 – 11 August 2009)
- Allan Kuhn (12 Aug 2009 – 15 April 2011)
- Glen Riddersholm (16 April 2011– 25 June 2015)
- Jess Thorup (12 July 2015 – 10 October 2018)
- Kenneth Andersen (10 October 2018 – 19 August 2019)
- Brian Priske (19 August 2019 – 29 May 2021)
- Bo Henriksen (31 May 2021 – 28 July 2022)
- Albert Capellas (24 August 2022 – )
9. FC Midtjylland in European competition
FC Midtjylland's very first European match was played on 9 August 2001 at the 2001/02 UEFA Cup, playing Northern Ireland's Glentoran to draw 1-1 during the initial phase of the Qualifying Round and then progressing into the First Round where the team was eliminated Sporting CP. In the year 2016, Midtjylland made it to the Round of 32 for the 15-16 UEFA Europa League, where they scored an 2-1 victory at home against Manchester United but would end with a 6-3 aggregate loss after the second match.
Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001–02 | UEFA Cup | QR | Glentoran | 1–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 |
1R | Sporting CP | 0–3 | 2–3 | 2–6 | ||
2002–03 | UEFA Cup | QR | Pobeda | 3–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
1R | Varaždin | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | ||
2R | Anderlecht | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–6 | ||
2005–06 | UEFA Cup | 1Q | B36 Tórshavn | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–3 |
1R | CSKA Moscow | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–6 | ||
2007–08 | UEFA Cup | 1Q | Keflavík ÍF | 2–1 | 2–3 | 4–4 |
2Q | Haka | 5–2 | 2–1 | 7–3 | ||
1R | Lokomotiv Moscow | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–5 | ||
2008–09 | UEFA Cup | 1Q | Bangor City | 4–0 | 6–1 | 10–1 |
2Q | Manchester City | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 (2–4) | ||
2011–12 | UEFA Europa League | 2Q | The New Saints | 5–2 | 3–1 | 8–3 |
3Q | Vitória de Guimarães | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | ||
2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | PO | Young Boys | 0–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 |
2014–15 | UEFA Europa League | PO | Panathinaikos | 1–2 | 1–4 | 2–6 |
2015–16 | UEFA Champions League | 2Q | Lincoln Red Imps | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 |
3Q | APOEL | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | ||
UEFA Europa League | PO | Southampton | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | |
Group D | Napoli | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2nd | ||
Club Brugge | 1–1 | 3–1 | ||||
Legia Warsaw | 1–0 | 0–1 | ||||
R32 | Manchester United | 2–1 | 1–5 | 3–6 | ||
2016–17 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q | SÅ«duva MarijampolÄ | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 |
2Q | Vaduz | 3–0 | 2–2 | 5–2 | ||
3Q | Videoton | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | ||
PO | Osmanlıspor | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | ||
2017–18 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q | Derry City | 6–1 | 4–1 | 10–2 |
2Q | Ferencváros | 3–1 | 4–2 | 7–3 | ||
3Q | Arka Gdynia | 2–1 | 2–3 | 4–4 | ||
PO | Apollon Limassol | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–4 | ||
2018–19 | UEFA Champions League | 2Q | Astana | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 |
UEFA Europa League | 3Q | The New Saints | 3–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | |
PO | Malmö FF | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | ||
2019–20 | UEFA Europa League | 3Q | Rangers | 2–4 | 1–3 | 3–7 |
2020–21 | UEFA Champions League | 2Q | Ludogorets Razgrad | — | 1–0 | — |
3Q | Young Boys | 3–0 | — | — | ||
PO | Slavia Prague | 4–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | ||
Group D | Atalanta | 0–4 | 1–1 | 4th | ||
Liverpool | 1–1 | 0–2 | ||||
Ajax | 1–2 | 1–3 | ||||
2021–22 | UEFA Champions League | 2Q | Celtic | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 |
3Q | PSV Eindhoven | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–4 | ||
UEFA Europa League | Group F | Braga | 1–3 | 3–2 | 3rd | |
Red Star Belgrade | 1–1 | 1–0 | ||||
Ludogorets Razgrad | 1–1 | 0–0 | ||||
UEFA Europa Conference League | KPO | PAOK | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 (p) | |
2022–23 | UEFA Champions League | 2Q | AEK Larnaca | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 (4–3) |
3Q | Benfica | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–7 | ||
UEFA Europa League | Group F | Lazio | 15 Sep | 27 Oct | ||
Feyenoord | 6 Oct | 13 Oct | ||||
Sturm Graz | 3 Nov | 0–1 |
9.1. UEFA club coefficient ranking
As of 30 May 2022
Rank | Team | Points |
---|---|---|
85 | Espanyol | 19.228 |
86 | Athletic Bilbao | 19.228 |
87 | Midtjylland | 19.000 |
88 | Molde | 19.000 |
89 | Zorya Luhansk | 18.000 |