Rasmus Würtz
Encyclopedia
Rasmus Østergaard Würtz (born 18 September 1983 in Skive) is a Danish footballer who plays in midfield
for AaB in the Danish Superliga
. He won the 2009 Superliga championship with F.C. Copenhagen
. Würtz has played nine matches for the Denmark national football team
from 2005 to 2007, as well as 52 matches for various youth national teams, and he was named 2001 Danish Under-19 Player of the Year.
, Würtz played his youth years at hometown club Skive IK
. He made his senior debut for the club in the secondary Danish 1st Division
league. In November 2001, he signed a three-and-a-half year contract with Aalborg Boldspilklub (AaB) in the top-flight Danish Superliga
championship. Würtz was subsequently loaned out to Skive for six months, where he finished the 2001–02 season. He joined AaB in July 2002, and instantly became a mainstay in the first team starting line-up. In his debut season in the Danish Superliga 2002-03
season, he missed only one match, as he played 32 of 33 league games. In his first three seasons at AaB, Würtz only missed four of 99 Superliga games.
On 6 July 2007 Würtz moved to league rivals F.C. Copenhagen
, signing a five-year long contract with the defending Danish champions
. The transfer fee was reported to be around 3 to 4 million Danish krone
r (0.5 million Euro
). In his first time at Copenhagen, Würtz suffered injuries and the lack of playing time caused his form to dip. In February 2009, he was loaned out to Superliga relegation
battlers Vejle Boldklub
. He played 15 Superliga games and scored one goal for Vejle, but could not prevent the club from being relegated. As he had played one game for Copenhagen earlier in the season, Würtz had the bitter-sweet experience of both relegation and winning the championship during the 2008–09 Danish Superliga
season.
In July 2009, Würtz was transferred back to AaB, signing a four-year long contract with his old club, as his Copenhagen career did not seem to improve.
. Würtz was a part of the Danish squad for the 2001 European Under-18 Championship
, where he was one of Denmark's best players. In the spring 2002, he was named 2001 Danish Under-19 Player of the Year.
Würtz made his debut for the Denmark under-21 national team
in August 2002. He played 17 under-21 national team matches until February 2005, taking over for Jan Kristiansen
as team captain in September 2004. He debuted for the senior Danish national team on 2 June 2005, in a 1–0 friendly match win against Finland
. He came on the pitch as a substitute for Danish team captain Jon Dahl Tomasson
, and was supposed to hand over the captain's armband to Thomas Gravesen
. When he approached Gravesen, he was told to take the armband himself and thus he captained the Danish national team for the final nine minutes of his debut game.
Having received his senior debut for Denmark, Würtz captained the Danish under-21 national team, as it qualified for the 2006 European Under-21 Championship
in May 2006. He was the Danish under-21 team captain at the tournament, playing full time in Denmark's three matches, and scored a goal against the Italian u-21s
. Following Denmark's exit from the tournament, he ended his under-21 national team career due to age restrictions, having played 29 under-21 national team matches in all. He was nominated for the Danish league national team squad, a selection of the best Danish Superliga players, to tour U.S.
, El Salvador
and Honduras
in January 2007. He was named team captain, and started in all three games of the tour.
Würtz played eight and ninth national team games in his first months at F.C. Copenhagen, before he was dropped from international selection. After his return to AaB, he was once more in the periphery of the national team. He was called up for the Danish league national football team, and played three games for the team in January 2010.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for AaB 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 won the 2009 Superliga championship with 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....
. Würtz has played nine matches 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...
from 2005 to 2007, as well as 52 matches for various youth national teams, and he was named 2001 Danish Under-19 Player of the Year.
Club career
Born in SkiveSkive
Skive has the following meanings:* To skive is British slang for the practice of avoiding responsibilities because you want to do something more fun or just do not want to do what you should be doing...
, Würtz played his youth years at hometown club Skive IK
Skive IK
Skive IK is a Danish football club currently playing in the Danish 1st Division. They play at Skive Stadion in Skive in Jutland, which has a capacity of 10,000.- Current squad :- External links :...
. He made his senior debut for the club in the secondary 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...
league. In November 2001, he signed a three-and-a-half year contract with Aalborg Boldspilklub (AaB) in the top-flight 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. Würtz was subsequently loaned out to Skive for six months, where he finished the 2001–02 season. He joined AaB in July 2002, and instantly became a mainstay in the first team starting line-up. In his debut season in the Danish Superliga 2002-03
Danish Superliga 2002-03
The 2002–03 Danish Superliga season was the 13th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association...
season, he missed only one match, as he played 32 of 33 league games. In his first three seasons at AaB, Würtz only missed four of 99 Superliga games.
On 6 July 2007 Würtz moved to league rivals 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....
, signing a five-year long contract with the defending Danish champions
Danish football champions
The Danish football champions are the winners of the highest league of football in Denmark. The title has been contested since 1913, in a varying form of competitions. Since 1991, the winners have been found through the Danish Superliga championship...
. The transfer fee was reported to be around 3 to 4 million Danish krone
Danish krone
The krone is the official currency of the Kingdom of Denmark consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is subdivided into 100 øre...
r (0.5 million Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
). In his first time at Copenhagen, Würtz suffered injuries and the lack of playing time caused his form to dip. In February 2009, he was loaned out to Superliga relegation
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...
battlers Vejle Boldklub
Vejle Boldklub
Vejle Boldklub is a Danish football club with proud traditions from the town of Vejle. The club has won the Danish championship five times and the Danish cup title six times....
. He played 15 Superliga games and scored one goal for Vejle, but could not prevent the club from being relegated. As he had played one game for Copenhagen earlier in the season, Würtz had the bitter-sweet experience of both relegation and winning the championship during the 2008–09 Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga 2008-09
The 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...
season.
In July 2009, Würtz was transferred back to AaB, signing a four-year long contract with his old club, as his Copenhagen career did not seem to improve.
International career
While playing for Skive, Würtz represented Denmark in various youth national teams, and competed at the 2000 Under-17 European Championship2000 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship
The 2000 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship was the 18th edition of UEFA's European Under-16 Football Championship. Israel hosted the championship, during May 1–14, 2000...
. Würtz was a part of the Danish squad for the 2001 European Under-18 Championship
2001 UEFA European Under-18 Football Championship
-Final:-External links:*...
, where he was one of Denmark's best players. In the spring 2002, he was named 2001 Danish Under-19 Player of the Year.
Würtz made his debut for the Denmark under-21 national 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...
in August 2002. He played 17 under-21 national team matches until February 2005, taking over for Jan Kristiansen
Jan Kristiansen
Jan Kristiansen is a Danish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Brøndby IF. Kristiansen has played 11 matches for the Denmark national football team....
as team captain in September 2004. He debuted for the senior Danish national team on 2 June 2005, in a 1–0 friendly match win against Finland
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
. He came on the pitch as a substitute for Danish team captain Jon Dahl Tomasson
Jon Dahl Tomasson
Jon Dahl Tomasson is a retired Danish footballer and assistant manager at the Dutch football club SBV Excelsior....
, and was supposed to hand over the captain's armband to Thomas Gravesen
Thomas Gravesen
Thomas Gravesen is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He has played for teams such as Hamburger SV, Everton F.C., Real Madrid CF and Celtic F.C.....
. When he approached Gravesen, he was told to take the armband himself and thus he captained the Danish national team for the final nine minutes of his debut game.
Having received his senior debut for Denmark, Würtz captained the Danish under-21 national team, as it qualified for the 2006 European Under-21 Championship
2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:4 goals Klaas Jan Huntelaar3 goals Thomas Kahlenberg Nicky Hofs2 goals Bryan Bergougnoux Ruslan Fomin Artem Milevskiy...
in May 2006. He was the Danish under-21 team captain at the tournament, playing full time in Denmark's three matches, and scored a goal against the Italian u-21s
Italy national under-21 football team
The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
. Following Denmark's exit from the tournament, he ended his under-21 national team career due to age restrictions, having played 29 under-21 national team matches in all. He was nominated for the Danish league national team squad, a selection of the best Danish Superliga players, to tour U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
and Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
in January 2007. He was named team captain, and started in all three games of the tour.
Würtz played eight and ninth national team games in his first months at F.C. Copenhagen, before he was dropped from international selection. After his return to AaB, he was once more in the periphery of the national team. He was called up for the Danish league national football team, and played three games for the team in January 2010.
Honours
- 2001 Danish Under-19 Player of the Year
- 2009 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...