FC Midtjylland

FC Midtjylland (Danish: [ˈmitjyˌlænˀ], "Central Jutland") is a Danish professional football club based in Herning and Ikast in the midwestern part of Jutland. The club is the result of a merger between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad. Midtjylland competes in the Danish Superliga, which they have won three times, most recently in 2020.

Midtjylland
Full nameFootball Club Midtjylland
Nickname(s)Ulvene (The Wolves)
Short nameFCM
Founded2 February 1999 (2 February 1999)
GroundMCH Arena
Capacity11,432
OwnerMatthew Benham
ChairmanRasmus Ankersen
Head coachBrian Priske
LeagueDanish Superliga
2019–20Danish Superliga, 1st (champions)
WebsiteClub website

Club history
Stadium of FC Midtjylland. MCH Arena

FC Midtjylland was founded by Johnny Rune, a carpenter and owner of a private business in the wood-supply industry, and Steen Hessel, an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer.[1]

The two men wanted to unite the football clubs Ikast FS (founded 1935) and Herning Fremad (founded 1918) – clubs that for decades had been strong rivals, but had never played any significant role in Danish football. Ikast FS had some success in the late 1970s and '80s and made three Danish Cup final appearances, but had never been a top team in the Danish league. At least ten years had passed with the two clubs being unable to agree on a merger, but on 6 April 1999, a deal was finalised and announced at a press conference the next day.[2][3]

In 2000, Midtjylland were promoted to the top-flight Danish Superliga after a season in which the team had gathered more points than any other team in the history of the first division.

In July 2014, Matthew Benham (owner of English Championship side Brentford) became the majority shareholder of Midtjylland's parent company FCM Holding.[4] In the 2014–15 season, they won the Danish football championship for the first time. Later on, they won two league titles in 2017–18 and 2019–20, then qualified to the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in their history.[5]

Scouting and developing

Midtjylland have built a reputation of finding and developing promising talents, and have a highly regarded youth academy.[6]

In July 2004, Midtjylland was the first Danish club to establish their own football academy, similar to that of French side Nantes.[7] The academy attracts players from throughout Denmark, as well as players from FC Ebedei, a partnering club in Nigeria. The club has developed a network of over 100 clubs located in the western part of Jutland.[8]

In 2008, Danish centre-back Simon Kjær, a talent of the academy, was sold to Palermo for a transfer fee of approximately DKK30 million (€4 million).[9] In 2010, Sune Kiilerich, another talent of the academy, was sold to Sampdoria, while Winston Reid, an academy product and New Zealand international, was sold to West Ham United for DKK32 million (€4.26 million).[10][11] In 2016, vice-captain Erik Sviatchenko was sold for £1.5 million to Celtic.[12]

Other notable sales of academy products include Pione Sisto to Celta Vigo, Rasmus Nissen to Ajax, Andreas Poulsen to Borussia Mönchengladbach and Mikkel Duelund to Dynamo Kyiv.

Stadium

In 2004, the team moved to a new stadium in Herning with a capacity of approximately 12,000 spectators. Midtjylland was the first Danish club to sell the stadium naming rights to a sponsor, resulting in the name "SAS Arena" which has since been changed to MCH Arena. The stadium's opening match was on 27 March; it proved to be a success, with Midtjylland beating AB 6–0. Five of the goals were scored by Egyptian striker Mohamed Zidan.

Supporters

Black Wolves is the official fanclub of FC Midtjylland.[13] It was founded in the beginning of August 1999, as the official fanclub of Ikast FS 1993 "Yellow Flames" changed their name at an extraordinary general meeting. Ultra Boys Midtjylland is the first ultra firm in Midtjylland, established in 2007 and later renamed Ultras Midtjylland. In 2014, Midtjyland got its second ultra firm, a youth department called Midtjylland Ungdom.

The club's main rival is Viborg FF, the derby is claimed to be the second biggest in Denmark after FC København and Brøndby IF.

Recent history
Season League Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Europe
2008–09 SL 4 3316710 554655 Third round
2009–10 SL 6 3314514 414147 Finalist
2010–11 SL 4 33131010 504249 Finalist
2011–12 SL 3 331779 504058 1/16 Finals UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round
2012–13 SL 6 33121110 514747 Quarter-finals UEFA Europa League Playoff Round
2013–14 SL 3 3316710 613855 Fourth round
2014–15 SL 1 332256 643471 Fourth round UEFA Europa League Playoff Round
2015–16 SL 3 331788 573359 Fourth round UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round, UEFA Europa League Round of 32
2016–17 SL 4 3615912 675354 Semi-finals UEFA Europa League Playoff Round
2017–18 SL 1 362745 803985 Semi-finals UEFA Europa League Playoff Round
2018–19 SL 2 362187 764371 Champion UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round, UEFA Europa League Playoff Round
2019–20 SL 1 352645 602782 Third Round UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round

Honours

Players
Main article: List of FC Midtjylland players

Current squad
As of 1 February 2021[14][15]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  DEN Jesper Hansen
2 DF  BEL Dion Cools
5 DF  DEN Daniel Høegh
6 DF  SWE Joel Andersson
7 FW  DEN Pione Sisto
9 FW  GUI Sory Kaba
10 MF  BRA Evander
11 MF  AUS Awer Mabil
14 DF  DEN Alexander Scholz
17 DF  BRA Ailton
18 DF  DEN Kristian Riis
26 FW  DEN Lasse Vibe
27 DF  DEN Oliver Olsen
28 DF  DEN Erik Sviatchenko
No. Pos. Nation Player
29 DF  BRA Paulinho
30 GK  DEN Oliver Ottesen
31 GK  DEN Mikkel Andersen
33 FW  GER Luca Pfeiffer
34 MF  ISL Mikael Anderson
36 FW  DEN Anders Dreyer
38 MF  NGA Frank Onyeka
40 MF  SWE Jens Cajuste
43 MF  DEN Nicolas Madsen
45 FW  DEN Gustav Isaksen
46 DF  DEN Japhet Sery Larsen
49 GK  DEN Jonas Lössl
74 FW  BRA Júnior Brumado

Youth players in use

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
16 GK  DEN Valdemar Birksø
No. Pos. Nation Player
58 FW  DEN Aral Simsir

Other players under contract

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  NOR Chuma Anene

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  CRC Mayron George (at Pau until 30 June 2021)
— MF  BUL Bozhidar Kraev (at Famalicão until 30 June 2021)
— MF  NGA Babajide David (at Hatayspor until 30 June 2021)
— DF  CAN Manjrekar James (at Lamia until 30 June 2021)
— DF  DEN Rasmus Nicolaisen (at Portsmouth until 30 June 2021)
— DF  DEN Nikolas Dyhr (at AC Horsens until 30 June 2021)
— DF  DEN Søren Reese (at AC Horsens until 30 June 2021)
— FW  DEN Casper Tengstedt (at AC Horsens until 30 June 2021)
— MF  DEN Victor Torp (at Lyngby Boldklub until 30 June 2021)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  ISL Elías Ólafsson (at Fredericia until 30 June 2021)
— MF  NGA Raphael Onyedika (at Fredericia until 30 June 2021)
— DF  NGA Henry Uzochokwu (at Fredericia until 30 June 2021)
— DF  DEN Tobias Anker (at Fredericia until 30 June 2021)
— MF  DEN Christian Tue Jensen (at Fredericia until 30 June 2021)
— MF  DEN Oliver Sørensen (at Fredericia until 30 June 2021)
— FW  DEN Sebastian Buch (at Skive IK until 30 June 2021)
— MF  COD Gloire Rutikanga (at Thisted until 30 June 2021)

Youth team
See: FC Midtjylland Academy

Notable former players
1990s
2000s
2010s

Coaches

FC Midtjylland in European competition
Main article: FC Midtjylland in European football

FC Midtjylland's first competitive European match was on 9 August 2001 in the 2001–02 UEFA Cup, playing Northern Ireland's Glentoran to a 1–1 draw in the first leg of the Qualifying Round before ultimately advancing to the First Round where they were eliminated by Sporting CP. In 2016 Midtjylland reached the Round of 32 of the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League, where they achieved a 2–1 home victory over Manchester United but would end up losing 6–3 on aggregate following the second leg.

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 (a)
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 (a.e.t.) 1–0 1–1 (2–4 p)
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 (a)
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 Sūduva Marijampolė 1–0 1–0 2–0
2Q Vaduz 3–0 2–2 5–2
3Q Videoton 1–1 (a.e.t) 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 (a)
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 N/A 1–0 N/A
3Q Young Boys 3–0 N/A N/A
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

UEFA club coefficient ranking
As of 9 July 2020[16]
RankTeamPoints
112 Rangers16.250
113 Molde15.000
114 Midtjylland14.500
115 1899 Hoffenheim11.000
116 Hertha BSC5.000

References
  1. Heide Lund, Kasper (1 July 2019). "'Vi gad sgu ikke se på den middelmådighed mere': Superligaens frække dreng fylder 20 år". dr.dk. Danmarks Radio. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  2. Flatau, Line (22 May 2018). "FC Midtjyllands stormfulde vej til toppen". tvmidtvest.dk. TV Midtvest. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  3. Kristiansen, Kenneth (19 June 2019). "20 år med FCM: I begyndelsen var Ove P." herningfolkeblad.dk. Herning Folkeblad. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  4. Murtagh, Jacob (2 July 2014). "Benham remains fully committed to Bees despite Danish project". Get West London. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  5. "Midtjylland 4–1 Slavia Praha". UEFA. 30 September 2020.
  6. Ingle, Sean (27 July 2015). "How Midtjylland took the analytical route towards the Champions League". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  7. Just Kristensen, Jørn (22 June 2019). "Akademi-ideen blev født i Nantes". herningfolkeblad.dk. Herning Folkeblad. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  8. "Investor vil styrke og udvikle FC Midtjylland". fcm.dk. FC Midtjylland. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  9. "FCM scorer millioner på Simon Kjær-handel" (in Danish). Tipsbladet. Retrieved 30 December 2015. (subscription required)
  10. "Superligaens transferoverblik". Indkast.dk. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  11. "BBC Sport – Football – New Zealand international Winston Reid joins West Ham". BBC News. 5 August 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  12. "Erik Sviatchenko: Celtic seal £1.5m transfer of Midtjylland man". BBC Sport. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  13. "Black Wolves : Homepage". Black-wolves.com. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  14. "Superligatrup | fcm". Fcm.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  15. "DBU's Officielle Statistikere". Danskfodbold.com. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  16. "UEFA Club Coefficients". www.ludogorets.com. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
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