Mathias Jørgensen
Encyclopedia
Mathias Jattah-Njie "Zanka" Jørgensen (maˈtˢiæs ˈsɑŋka jɶːɐ̯nsn̩; born 23 April 1990 in Copenhagen
) is a Danish
footballer who plays as a central defender for F.C. Copenhagen
in the Danish Superliga
. He was recently named as captain for F.C. Copenhagen
.
from neighbouring club B.93
, where he had played in first team matches even at the young age of 16. He signed a three year contract with FCK on June 26, 2007.
Before signing with the Danish
champions, he had visited Arsenal
for a one week trial.
On July 21, 2007, Jørgensen strained the inner ligament in the left knee in a reserve team match – less than a month after he moved to the club. On September 9, he played again for the reserve team. His first team debut came on September 26, 2007 in a cup
match against FC Fredericia
. He substituted Oscar Wendt
5 minutes before full time, in the match FCK won 3–1. Three days later he got his Superliga
debut, this time replacing Hjalte Nørregaard
about 15 minutes before full time.
Only 8 days after his first team debut, Zanka was thrown on pitch in the extra time of the UEFA Cup
first round second leg at Parken Stadium
against RC Lens
, after captain Michael Gravgaard
had received a red card. He was substituted for Marcus Allbäck
and played in the central defence together with Brede Hangeland
, and they prevented any more goals for Lens, when they were 10 against 11.
On November 19, 2008, he made his debut for the Danish national football team in a friendly against Wales
.
After Roland Nilsson
became manager for FC Copenhagen he became captain for "The Lions".
, where one of the main characters is named Zanka.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
) is a 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...
footballer who plays as a central defender for 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....
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...
. He was recently named as captain for 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....
.
Biography
Jørgensen moved to F.C. CopenhagenF.C. Copenhagen
F.C. Copenhagen is a professional Danish football club in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is part of the Parken Sport & Entertainment....
from neighbouring club B.93
Boldklubben 1893
Boldklubben af 1893 is a Danish football club currently playing in the Danish 2nd Division East. They play at the 7,000 seat Østerbro Stadion in Østerbro, Copenhagen.-Achievements:* Danish championship titles :...
, where he had played in first team matches even at the young age of 16. He signed a three year contract with FCK on June 26, 2007.
Before signing 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...
champions, he had visited Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
for a one week trial.
On July 21, 2007, Jørgensen strained the inner ligament in the left knee in a reserve team match – less than a month after he moved to the club. On September 9, he played again for the reserve team. His first team debut came on September 26, 2007 in a 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...
match against FC Fredericia
FC Fredericia
FC Fredericia is a Danish professional football club, from the town of Fredericia. The club is currently playing in the Danish 1st Division.-History:...
. He substituted Oscar Wendt
Oscar Wendt
Oscar Wendt is a Swedish footballer who currently plays as a left back for Borussia Mönchengladbach and the Swedish national team.When Oscar Wendt transferred to F.C...
5 minutes before full time, in the match FCK won 3–1. Three days later he got his 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...
debut, this time replacing Hjalte Nørregaard
Hjalte Nørregaard
Hjalte Bo Nørregaard is a Danish football midfielder, who currently play for AGF Aarhus in the Danish Superliga. Hjalte is son of former Danish footballer Klaus Nørregaard.-Biography:...
about 15 minutes before full time.
Only 8 days after his first team debut, Zanka was thrown on pitch in the extra time of the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
first round second leg at Parken Stadium
Parken Stadium
Parken Stadium is a football stadium in the Indre Østerbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark, built from 1990–1992. It currently has a capacity of 38,065 for football games, and is the home ground of F.C. Københaven and the Danish national football team...
against RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
, after captain Michael Gravgaard
Michael Gravgaard
Michael Julius Gravgaard is a Danish former football player, who effectively ended his playing career at FC Nantes in May 2010. Despite the fact of having a contract with FC Nantes until July 2011, his club was not interested to honour the contract, and opted instead in May 2010, to try and file...
had received a red card. He was substituted for Marcus Allbäck
Marcus Allbäck
Marcus Christian Allbäck , is a Swedish legend and coach, who currently is assistant coach for the Sweden national football team and plays as striker for the Division 1 Södra club Örgryte IS. He is a well-travelled striker known for his sharp finishing ability...
and played in the central defence together with Brede Hangeland
Brede Hangeland
Brede Paulsen Hangeland is a Norwegian footballer who plays for Fulham in the Premier League and the Norwegian national team, of which he is the captain. The son of a Norwegian oil company worker, Hangeland was born in Houston, Texas during his parents' two-year spell in the United States, but...
, and they prevented any more goals for Lens, when they were 10 against 11.
On November 19, 2008, he made his debut for the Danish national football team in a friendly against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
.
After Roland Nilsson
Roland Nilsson
Roland Nilsson is a Swedish football manager and the current manager of FC Copenhagen. As a player, Nilsson played 116 games for Sweden, making him second only to Thomas Ravelli in international appearances for Sweden...
became manager for FC Copenhagen he became captain for "The Lions".
Nickname
He received his nickname from the movie Cool RunningsCool Runnings
Cool Runnings is a 1993 comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub. It is loosely based on the true story of the Jamaica national bobsled team's debut in the bobsleigh competition of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. It stars Leon Robinson, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba, and Rawle D...
, where one of the main characters is named Zanka.
Club
- 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...
: 2008–09Danish Superliga 2008-09The 2008–09 Danish Superliga was the 19th season of Danish Superliga league championship, which determines the winners of the Danish football championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. The season started on 19 July 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009. The defending champions were Aalborg...
, 2009–10 & 2010-112010–11 Danish SuperligaThe 2010–11 Danish Superliga season was the 21st season of the Danish Superliga championship, which decides the Danish football championship. It began on 17 July 2010 with the previous season's silver medalists from Odense facing Esbjerg and ended on 29 May 2011 with six simultaneous matches. F.C... - 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...
: 2008–09Danish Cup 2008-09The Danish Cup 2008–09 was the 53rd season of only Danish football cup competition. It was the first time since 2004 that the cup had a sponsor name: the daily Newspaper Ekstra Bladet has signed a 3-year contract with the Danish Football Association , making the official name Ekstra Bladet Cup...
Individual
- Players' Talent of the Year: 2008
- ArlaArla FoodsArla Foods is a Swedish-Danish cooperative based in Århus, Denmark, and the largest producer of dairy products in Scandinavia. Arla Foods was formed as the result of a merger between the Swedish dairy cooperative Arla and the Danish dairy company MD Foods on 17 April 2000.Arla Foods is the seventh...
Talent of the Year: 2008 - ArlaArla FoodsArla Foods is a Swedish-Danish cooperative based in Århus, Denmark, and the largest producer of dairy products in Scandinavia. Arla Foods was formed as the result of a merger between the Swedish dairy cooperative Arla and the Danish dairy company MD Foods on 17 April 2000.Arla Foods is the seventh...
U-19 National Team Talent of the Year: 2008
External links
F.C. Copenhagen profile- Danish national team profile
- Career stats at Danmarks RadioDanmarks RadioDR – officially rendered into English as the Danish Broadcasting Corporation – is Denmark's national broadcasting corporation. Founded in 1925 as a public-service organization, it is today Denmark's oldest and largest electronic media enterprise...