Brian Nielsen (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Brian Nielsen is a Danish
footballer who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer
, on loan from Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian Bundesliga.
He has played 49 games for various Danish youth team selections, including nine matches for the Denmark national under-21 football team
.
(AB) in the second-tier Danish 1st Division
. He played 28 first team games and scored two goals as a semi-professional for AB.
He was sold to 1st Division rivals Vejle BK in September 2005, signing a full-time professional contract, and debuted in a 3-0 victory over former club AB on September 19. In his first season with Vejle, he helped the club win the 2005-06 1st Division to gain promotion
for the Danish Superliga
championship. He played 23 of 33 games and scored one goal during the 2006–07 Superliga season, as the club were relegated
to the 1st Division. Nielsen stayed with Vejle, and helped the team win the 2007-08 1st Division. He played 28 games and scored five goals in the 2008–09 Superliga, but could not keep the club from being relegated once more. In his time with Vejle, Nielsen appeared in 99 official matches scoring 20 goals.
With his contract expiring in December 2010, he was linked with the Danish
clubs OB, FC Copenhagen and FC Midtjylland
in November 2009. On 1 December 2009, it was announced that he was trialing with Schalke 04. Schalke manager Felix Magath
said he could clearly see some perspective in the young winger, but an injury caused him to return to Denmark after a single training session.
On April 14, 2010, Nielsen was loaned out to US
club New York Red Bulls. The deal was a cooperation between New York Red Bulls and Austria
n club Red Bull Salzburg, with Nielsen scheduled to ultimately join Red Bull Salzburg on 1 January 2011, according to Salzburg official Christoph Freund. As the Austrian transfer window
was already closed, a direct buy was not possible for Salzburg, with Nielsen instead moving to New York Red Bulls as the US transfer window was open until April 15. Salzburg purchased Nielsen in 2010-11 and loaned him back to New York for the 2011 MLS season
.
Having waited for the approval of his U.S. visa
application, he was seen to make an instant impact by head coach Hans Backe
. However, injuries limited Nielsen as he only appeared in two league matches for New York in 2010. Despite his injury setbacks it was decided that Nielsen would remain in New York for the 2011 season.
in nine games from June 2007 to October 2008.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
footballer who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, on loan from Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian Bundesliga.
He has played 49 games for various Danish youth team selections, including nine matches for the Denmark national under-21 football team
Denmark national under-21 football team
The Denmark national under-21 football team has played since 1976 and is controlled by the Danish Football Association. Before 1976, the age limit was 23 years.-U-21 European Championship:*1978 – Quarterfinals*1980 to 1984 – Did not qualify...
.
Club
Nielsen began his career in the youth ranks of small Danish clubs Hjorten IF and Herlev IF, before joining the youth ranks of Akademisk BoldklubAkademisk Boldklub
Akademisk Boldklub or AB is a Danish professional football club from Copenhagen,currently playing at the second highest level in Danish domestic football, the 1st Division.-History:...
(AB) in the second-tier Danish 1st Division
Danish 1st Division
The 1st Division has been the name of the second highest football league in Denmark since 1991. From 1945 to 1991 the 1st Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark...
. He played 28 first team games and scored two goals as a semi-professional for AB.
He was sold to 1st Division rivals Vejle BK in September 2005, signing a full-time professional contract, and debuted in a 3-0 victory over former club AB on September 19. In his first season with Vejle, he helped the club win the 2005-06 1st Division to gain promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
for the Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
championship. He played 23 of 33 games and scored one goal during the 2006–07 Superliga season, as the club were relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to the 1st Division. Nielsen stayed with Vejle, and helped the team win the 2007-08 1st Division. He played 28 games and scored five goals in the 2008–09 Superliga, but could not keep the club from being relegated once more. In his time with Vejle, Nielsen appeared in 99 official matches scoring 20 goals.
With his contract expiring in December 2010, he was linked with the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
clubs OB, FC Copenhagen and FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland is a professional Danish football team from Herning and Ikast. The team is a result of a merger between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad...
in November 2009. On 1 December 2009, it was announced that he was trialing with Schalke 04. Schalke manager Felix Magath
Felix Magath
Wolfgang-Felix Magath is a former German football central midfielder and current manager of VfL Wolfsburg.-Playing career:...
said he could clearly see some perspective in the young winger, but an injury caused him to return to Denmark after a single training session.
On April 14, 2010, Nielsen was loaned out to US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
club New York Red Bulls. The deal was a cooperation between New York Red Bulls and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n club Red Bull Salzburg, with Nielsen scheduled to ultimately join Red Bull Salzburg on 1 January 2011, according to Salzburg official Christoph Freund. As the Austrian transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
was already closed, a direct buy was not possible for Salzburg, with Nielsen instead moving to New York Red Bulls as the US transfer window was open until April 15. Salzburg purchased Nielsen in 2010-11 and loaned him back to New York for the 2011 MLS season
2011 Major League Soccer season
The 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver...
.
Having waited for the approval of his U.S. visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
application, he was seen to make an instant impact by head coach Hans Backe
Hans Backe
Hans Backe is a Swedish former soccer player. He is currently the head coach of New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer....
. However, injuries limited Nielsen as he only appeared in two league matches for New York in 2010. Despite his injury setbacks it was decided that Nielsen would remain in New York for the 2011 season.
International
Nielsen has represented Denmark at every youth level from the Under-16 to the Under-21 side. He has played a total 49 youth internationals, beginning with his October 2002 debut for the Under-16s. He represented the Denmark national under-21 football teamDenmark national under-21 football team
The Denmark national under-21 football team has played since 1976 and is controlled by the Danish Football Association. Before 1976, the age limit was 23 years.-U-21 European Championship:*1978 – Quarterfinals*1980 to 1984 – Did not qualify...
in nine games from June 2007 to October 2008.
Honours
Club Vejle BK-
- Danish 1st DivisionDanish 1st DivisionThe 1st Division has been the name of the second highest football league in Denmark since 1991. From 1945 to 1991 the 1st Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark...
: 2005-06, 2007-08 New York Red Bulls - Eastern Conference regular season: 20102010 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion...
- Danish 1st Division