Kristian Pedersen

Kristian Majdahl Pedersen (born 4 August 1994) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a defender for English Championship club Birmingham City and the Denmark national team.[2] He plays predominantly at left back but can also play as a left winger.

Kristian Pedersen

Pedersen with Union Berlin in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Kristian Majdahl Pedersen[1]
Date of birth	4 August 1994
Place of birth	Ringsted, Denmark
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Left back / Left winger
Club information
Current team	Birmingham City
Number	3
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Benløse IF	0	(0)
0000–2014	Ringsted IF
2014–2016	HB Køge	58	(2)
2016–2018	Union Berlin	61	(1)
2018–	Birmingham City	101	(5)
National team^‡
2016	Denmark U21	5	(0)
2020–	Denmark	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:45, 6 February 2021 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:45, 6 February 2021 (UTC)

He has represented his country at under-21 level,[3] and made his senior debut in 2020.

Club career

He started his early career at Benløse IF, before moving to fourth division side Ringsted IF.

HB Køge

He signed for HB Køge on 24 July 2014 under Head Coach Henrik Pedersen. His debut for HB Køge came on 25 July 2014 when he came on as a substitute with the score at 1–1 on the first day of the first division in the away game at Skive IK in the 77th minute. On 19 April 2015 he scored his first goal for HBK against AB in a 2–0 win.

In the 2015/16 winter break he joined German Bundesliga side Borussia Moenchengladbach on trial but a move did not materialise. In the second half he came for HB Køge to twelve games in the Danish second division.

Pedersen went on to play on more than 50 occasions for the club, scoring twice in total, against AB and Skive.

Union Berlin

Following two seasons at Køge, he signed for German 2. Bundesliga side Union Berlin in 2016. on a three-year deal.[4] He made his debut for Union Berlin on 6 August 2016 against VfL Bochum in a 2–1 defeat.[5] 30 September 2016, Pedersen received a red card against 1. FC Nürnberg.[5]

Pedersen scored his first goal for Union Berlin on 24 February 2018, in a 2–1 win against SV Sandhausen.[5]

Birmingham City

Pedersen signed a four-year contract with English Championship (second-tier) club Birmingham City on 25 June 2018; the fee was undisclosed.[6] However, Birmingham's unaddressed Financial Fair Play issues left the English Football League (EFL) "exceptionally disappointed" that the club had nevertheless proceeded with a purchase, and they refused to register him. Two days before the season was due to start, and "after consideration of the legal position as between the Club, Player and the EFL", an agreement was reached such that Pedersen's registration was allowed.[7] He duly made his debut on the opening day, starting at left back in a 2–2 draw at home to Norwich City.[8]

International career

Pedersen has represented Denmark U-21's. Making his debut in 2016 against Ukraine.

Pedersen made his senior international debut on 7 October 2020 in a friendly match against the Faroe Islands.[9]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 February 2021

Club	Season	League			National Cup[lower-alpha 1]		League Cup[lower-alpha 2]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
HB Køge	2014–15[10][11]	Danish 1st Division	28	1	3	0	—		31	1
	2015–16[10][12]	Danish 1st Division	30	1	3	1	—		33	2
	Total		58	2	6	1	—		64	3
Union Berlin	2016–17[10]	2. Bundesliga	29	0	2	0	—		31	0
	2017–18[10]	2. Bundesliga	32	1	1	0	—		33	1
	Total		61	1	3	0	—		64	1
Birmingham City	2018–19[13]	EFL Championship	39	1	0	0	0	0	39	1
	2019–20[14]	EFL Championship	44	4	4	0	0	0	48	4
	2020–21[15]	EFL Championship	18	0	0	0	1	0	19	0
	Total		101	5	4	0	1	0	106	5
Career total			220	8	13	1	1	0	234	9

1. Includes Danish Cup, DFB-Pokal and FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup

References

1. "Kristian Pedersens unmögliche Karriere" [Kristian Pedersen's impossible career]. Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 19 February 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
2. "Kristian Pedersen". worldfootball.net. HeimSpiel Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
3. Phil Hay (9 May 2018). "Whites Want Danish Full Back Kristian Pedersen". Yorkshire Evening Post.
4. Stier, Sebastian (19 February 2017). "Kristian Pedersens unmögliche Karriere" – via Tagesspiegel.
5. "Kristian Pedersen – Football Stats – Birmingham City – Season 2016/2017 – Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com.
6. "Kristian Pedersen: Birmingham City boss Garry Monk makes his first signing". BBC Sport. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
7. "Birmingham City: Profitability and Sustainability". English Football League. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
8. Dick, Brian (5 August 2018). "Mags is magic but there wasn't enough support – How Birmingham City rated". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
9. "Denmark v Faroe Islands". BBC Sport. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
10. "K. Pedersen". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
11. For Danish Cup rounds not covered by Soccerway: "HB Køge er klar til 2. runde i DBU Pokalen" [HB Køge are in the 2nd round of the DBU Cup] (in Danish). HB Køge. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
    Nybo, Jesper (24 September 2014). "HB Køge sikkert videre efter sejr over Næsby" [HB Køge safely through after victory over Næsby] (in Danish). HB Køge. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
    "Fortjent sejr da HB Køge spillede sig videre" [Deserved win as HB Køge play on] (in Danish). HB Køge. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
12. For Danish Cup rounds not covered by Soccerway: "Kristian Pedersen". FootballDatabase.eu. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
13. "Games played by Kristian Pedersen in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
14. "Games played by Kristian Pedersen in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
15. "Games played by Kristian Pedersen in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 February 2021.

External links

• Kristian Pedersen at WorldFootball.net