Martin Albrechtsen
Encyclopedia
Martin Albrechtsen is a Danish
professional football
player, currently playing for the Danish superliga team FC Midtjylland
. He can play in any position across the back four and has played four games for the Danish national team
. He is the older brother of Jacob Albrechtsen
.
in the Capital Region of Denmark, Albrechtsen started his career at Akademisk Boldklub (AB)
. Alongside later Danish international Peter Løvenkrands
, he was called up for the Danish under-19 national team in September 1997. In February 1998 they both signed their first professional contracts with AB, joining the senior squad which competed in the Danish Superliga
championship. Albrechtsen was a part of the AB team which won the 1999 Danish Cup
, and he was named 2000 Danish under-21 Talent of the Year. He made his debut for the Denmark national football team
under national team manager Morten Olsen
in April 2001. As AB struggled financially, Albrechtsen was sold to defending Superliga champions F.C. Copenhagen
(FCK) in a DKK 9 million transfer deal in January 2002.
in the central defence. He helped FCK win the 2003 and 2004 Danish Superliga championships, as well as the 2004 Danish Cup trophy. His performances for the club led to two additional national team matches, but after an unimpressive effort during the 0–2 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina
in April 2003, his national team career went on a hiatus.
in the FA Premier League
. He was bought by W.B.A. in a £2.5 million transfer deal, making him the most expensive player the club had ever bought. He made his debut for the club on 28 August 2004, coming on as a substitute in a Premiership match against Everton. Albrechtsen was a regular for Albion during 2004–05, helping them to avoid relegation on the final day of the season. He also figured prominently during the following season, and scored his first ever goal for the club in the 1–0 win against Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium
in January 2006. He stayed with the club as Albion were relegated to the secondary English Football League
in the summer 2006, and he scored his second goal for the club against Leeds United in September 2006. After an absence of more than three years, he was recalled for the Danish national team in November 2006.
Despite being signed as a central-defender, Albrechtsen had, prior to the 2007–08 season
, been utilised mainly as a full-back. In August 2007 however, Albion manager Tony Mowbray
decided to move the Danish player back into the centre of defence. Albrechtsen made his 100th appearance for Albion in the 1–0 defeat at Sheffield United on 25 August 2007.
on a Bosman free transfer
, signing a two-year contract with the club on 30 June 2008. In the process he become manager Paul Jewell
's eighth signing of the season. Albrechtsen made his debut for Derby in a 1–0 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers
on the opening day of the 2008–09 season, and in September scored his first goal for the club, against Cardiff City
and netted his second in the next match, a 2–0 win at Q.P.R.
.
Albrechtsen's fine start to his Derby career saw him nominated for the September Championship Player Of The Month award, though he lost out to Reading's
Kevin Doyle
. The following month he underwent a hernia
operation and kept him away from first team action for around a month. On his return from injury, he slotted back into the defence and on 18 February he played in his 300th career league game against Blackpool at Pride Park. He quickly fell out of favour with new manager Nigel Clough
, however, and his contract at the club was cancelled by mutual consent on August 30, 2009.
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...
professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player, currently playing for the Danish superliga team 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...
. He can play in any position across the back four and has played four games for the Danish national team
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
. He is the older brother of Jacob Albrechtsen
Jacob Albrechtsen
Jacob Albrechtsen is a Danish football defender, who currently is unattached. He most recently played for F.C. Copenhagen....
.
Akademisk Boldklub (AB)
Born in VærløseVærløse
Værløse was a municipality consisting of only one parish also named Værløse in the former Copenhagen County on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 34 km², and in 2005 had a total population of 18,649...
in the Capital Region of Denmark, Albrechtsen started his career at Akademisk Boldklub (AB)
Akademisk 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:...
. Alongside later Danish international Peter Løvenkrands
Peter Løvenkrands
Peter Rosenkrands Løvenkrands is a Danish footballer who plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League, and for the Danish national team. He is a striker who can also play as a left winger and is known for his pace....
, he was called up for the Danish under-19 national team in September 1997. In February 1998 they both signed their first professional contracts with AB, joining the senior squad which competed in 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. Albrechtsen was a part of the AB team which won the 1999 Danish Cup
Danish Cup
The Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
, and he was named 2000 Danish under-21 Talent of the Year. He made his debut for the Denmark national football team
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
under national team manager Morten Olsen
Morten Olsen
Morten Per Olsen is a Danish football manager and former football player. He has been the head coach of the Danish national team since 2000, guiding Denmark to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2004 European Championship and 2010 FIFA World Cup...
in April 2001. As AB struggled financially, Albrechtsen was sold to defending Superliga champions F.C. Copenhagen
F.C. Copenhagen
F.C. Copenhagen is a professional Danish football club in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is part of the Parken Sport & Entertainment....
(FCK) in a DKK 9 million transfer deal in January 2002.
F.C. Copenhagen
Albrechtsen signed a 4½-year contract with Copenhagen, looking to replace former team captain Jacob LaursenJacob Laursen
Jacob Thaysen-Laursen is a Danish retired professional football player, who played as a defender. He most notably played for English club Derby County and won the Danish Superliga championship with Silkeborg IF and F.C. Copenhagen...
in the central defence. He helped FCK win the 2003 and 2004 Danish Superliga championships, as well as the 2004 Danish Cup trophy. His performances for the club led to two additional national team matches, but after an unimpressive effort during the 0–2 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team is the national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, governed by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
in April 2003, his national team career went on a hiatus.
West Bromwich Albion
In June 2004, he moved abroad to play for English club West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
. He was bought by W.B.A. in a £2.5 million transfer deal, making him the most expensive player the club had ever bought. He made his debut for the club on 28 August 2004, coming on as a substitute in a Premiership match against Everton. Albrechtsen was a regular for Albion during 2004–05, helping them to avoid relegation on the final day of the season. He also figured prominently during the following season, and scored his first ever goal for the club in the 1–0 win against Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium
JJB Stadium
The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....
in January 2006. He stayed with the club as Albion were relegated to the secondary English Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in the summer 2006, and he scored his second goal for the club against Leeds United in September 2006. After an absence of more than three years, he was recalled for the Danish national team in November 2006.
Despite being signed as a central-defender, Albrechtsen had, prior to the 2007–08 season
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
, been utilised mainly as a full-back. In August 2007 however, Albion manager Tony Mowbray
Tony Mowbray
Anthony Mark "Tony" Mowbray is an English former professional football player, who is currently the manager of Middlesbrough...
decided to move the Danish player back into the centre of defence. Albrechtsen made his 100th appearance for Albion in the 1–0 defeat at Sheffield United on 25 August 2007.
Derby County
After failing to agree terms with West Brom on a new deal, Albrechsten joined Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on a Bosman free transfer
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
, signing a two-year contract with the club on 30 June 2008. In the process he become manager Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
's eighth signing of the season. Albrechtsen made his debut for Derby in a 1–0 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
on the opening day of the 2008–09 season, and in September scored his first goal for the club, against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
and netted his second in the next match, a 2–0 win at Q.P.R.
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
.
Albrechtsen's fine start to his Derby career saw him nominated for the September Championship Player Of The Month award, though he lost out to Reading's
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
Kevin Doyle
Kevin Doyle
Kevin Edward Doyle is an Irish international footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers....
. The following month he underwent a hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
operation and kept him away from first team action for around a month. On his return from injury, he slotted back into the defence and on 18 February he played in his 300th career league game against Blackpool at Pride Park. He quickly fell out of favour with new manager Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
, however, and his contract at the club was cancelled by mutual consent on August 30, 2009.
Honours
- Danish U-21 Talent of the Year: 2000
- Danish CupDanish CupThe Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
: 1999, 2004 - Danish SuperligaDanish SuperligaThe 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...
: 2003, 2004 - Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
: 2007–08
Trivia
- Albrechtsen's nicknames include Dolph and He-Man, due to his resemblance to the actor Dolph LundgrenDolph LundgrenDolph Lundgren is a Swedish actor, director, and martial artist. He belongs to a generation of film actors who epitomise the movie action hero stereotype including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme.A graduate in chemical...
(who portrayed He-ManHe-ManHe-Man is a fictional heroic character featured in the Masters of the Universe media franchise. In most variations, he is the alter ego of Prince Adam...
in the movie Masters of the UniverseMasters of the Universe (film)Masters of the Universe is a 1987 science-fiction fantasy film based on the toy line by the same name. The movie stars Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor...
).