Morten Rasmussen (footballer, born January 1985)

Morten Nicolas Rasmussen (born 31 January 1985) is a retired Danish footballer, better known as Morten Duncan Rasmussen, who played as a striker. He is currently working as a forward coach at FC Midtjylland.

For the former Fremad Amager player, see Morten Rasmussen (footballer born March 1985).

Morten "Duncan" Rasmussen
Personal information
Full name Morten Nicolas Rasmussen
Date of birth (1985-01-31) 31 January 1985
Place of birth Valby, Copenhagen, Denmark
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 FC Midtjylland (forward coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2006 AGF 103 (28)
2006–2010 Brøndby 84 (45)
2010–2012 Celtic 10 (2)
2010 → Mainz 05 (loan) 5 (2)
2011 → AaB (loan) 14 (6)
2011 → Sivasspor (loan) 11 (3)
2012–2016 FC Midtjylland 96 (37)
2016–2018 AGF 54 (27)
2018 Pogoń Szczecin 11 (1)
2018–2019 Enosis Neon Paralimni 16 (2)
National team
2001 Denmark U16 3 (3)
2001–2002 Denmark U17 19 (17)
2002–2003 Denmark U19 11 (6)
2004 Denmark U20 6 (2)
2004–2006 Denmark U21 21 (9)
2008–2016 Denmark 13 (4)
Teams managed
2019– FC Midtjylland (forward coach)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He has played 13 times and scored 4 goals for the Denmark national team. Rasmussen scored 37 goals in 60 matches for various Denmark national youth sides and was named the Danish under-19 Player of the Year in 2003. He is the highest scoring player in the history of the Danish Superliga, scoring 141 goals for Aalborg BK, AGF, Brøndby and FC Midtjylland.

Early life

Born in Copenhagen, Rasmussen lived in Valby until he was two years old, at which point he and his parents moved to Tilst,[1] 10 km west of Aarhus.

Club career

AGF Aarhus

Rasmussen started his career in the youth scheme of Aarhus top-flight club AGF. While at AGF, he earned the nickname "Duncan" due to a slight physical resemblance of former Scottish international striker Duncan Ferguson,[1][2][3] though he stated at the time that he wasn't a particular fan of Duncan Ferguson himself.[2]

In January 2002, Rasmussen turned professional as he signed a three-year contract with AGF, running to January 2005. He made his debut for AGF in the Danish Superliga championship in May 2002, as he played the last two games of the 2001–02 Superliga season. He made his debut in the 0–1 defeat to Lyngby on 12 May, before scoring his first goal in the 4–0 win against Silkeborg on 16 May. Following two goals in 15 games in the first half of the 2002–03 Superliga season, Rasmussen signed an improved five-year contract running until the summer of 2008.[4]

After meagre goalscoring in his first three full seasons for AGF, scoring 17 goals in 82 games, the 2005–06 Superliga season was Rasmussen's senior-level breakthrough. Rasmussen scored 10 goals in 19 games during the first half of the season, including a scoring streak of six goals in five games. Before the winter 2005 transfer window. Following a total of 28 goals in 103 Superliga matches for AGF, Rasmussen left the club in January 2006.

Brøndby

Rasmussen was bought by the defending Superliga champions Brøndby IF, with whom he signed a five-year contract. With a price tag of 12 million DKK,[5] he replaced striker Morten Skoubo who had been sold to Spanish club Real Sociedad. He started using the moniker "Duncan" when playing for Brøndby.[6] His start at Brøndby was marked by an injury incurred in March 2006, and in the remaining games of the 2005–06 Superliga season, he scored one goal in six matches.

He started the 2006–07 Superliga season by scoring three goals in six games, before an injury sidelined him in August 2006. He returned in February 2007, helping Brøndby win the 2007 Royal League cup tournament, and went on to score 15 goals in 13 games in the second half of the 2006–07 Superliga season. In the 2007–08 Superliga season, Rasmussen scored seven goals in 19 games, before suffering an injury in March 2008. In that season he also helped Brøndby win the 2008 Danish Cup. The 2008–09 season was Rasmussen's first full Brøndby season without major injuries, as he scored nine goals in 25 games.

Celtic

Following 12 goals in 15 games in the first half of the 2009–10 Superliga, Rasmussen attracted the attention of Scottish Premier League club Celtic.[7] On 25 January 2010, Rasmussen arrived in Glasgow for contract negotiations and a medical with Celtic before signing on a three and a half year deal the next day for a fee in excess of £1 million.[8][9] Rasmussen exclaimed he was delighted to join the Glasgow club saying "I started at Aarhus, before going to Brondby, which was a bigger club, so moving to Celtic is another big step up for me."[10] Rasmussen chose to abandon the moniker "Duncan" when playing for Celtic.[6] He made his debut for Celtic on 27 January, coming on as a 60th-minute substitute for Georgios Samaras as the Hoops lost 2–1 to Hibernian[11] and scored his first Celtic goal three days later in the 1–0 victory against Hamilton Accies.[12][13] Rasmussen scored a goal in his third game for Celtic in a 4–2 win over Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup.[14] On 17 April, he scored the winner in a 3–2 victory over Hibernian at Celtic Park.[15]

Rasmussen rarely featured for Celtic under the management of Neil Lennon, making only four starts during his time with the club.[16] He left Celtic in August 2012 after completing loan spells with Mainz, AaB and Sivasspor.[16]

Mainz (loan)

In August 2010, Rasmussen signed for Bundesliga side 1. FSV Mainz 05 on a season-long loan deal from Celtic with a view to a permanent move.[17][18] He made his debut against VfB Stuttgart on 21 August 2010 and scored a looping header to make it 2–0.[19] Rasmussen scored in the next game against Wolfsburg on 28 August 2010, the side's first goal of a 4–3 away win.[20] Rasmussen rarely featured after that making only one start and two substitute appearances for the German side[21] after his relatively good start.[22]

In December, Mainz's sporting director Christian Heidel announced the club would not be making a permanent move after the end of the loan deal.[23]

AaB (loan)

In February 2011, Rasmussen signed for Danish side AaB on loan from Celtic after his loan spell with Mainz was cut short.[24] He did not score any goals in his first five league matches for AaB in the league, but he scored six goals in the following five, including a goal against former team Brøndby.

Sivasspor (loan)

In September 2011, Rasmussen signed for Turkish side Sivasspor on a six-month loan deal.[25] In Rasmussen's second game for the club, he was forced to play in goal after goalkeeper, Milan Borjan, had been sent off and all three substitutes had been used. Rasmussen picked up a yellow card after conceding a penalty during the match, but this was the only goal he let in.[26]

Midtjylland

Rasmussen signed a four-year contract with Danish club Midtjylland in August 2012.[16]

In the 2014–15 Danish Superliga season, Rasmussen scored 13 league goals in 23 appearances, helping Midtjylland to their first league title.[27]

AGF

Rasmussen return to his first professional club, AGF, in January 2016 and signed a three-year contract.[28]

Pogoń Szczecin

Duncan signed for Polish club Pogoń Szczecin on 30 January 2018.[29]

International career

Rasmussen made his international debut with the Danish under-16 national team in 2001, scoring three goals in three under-16 national team games. He represented Denmark at the 2002 European Under-17 Championship, scoring six goals in four games, including five goals in 20 minutes in the 6–0 win against the Finland under-17s.[30] Having scored 17 goals in 19 matches for the under-17 national team, he moved into the under-19 national team in September 2002, still aged 17. Following six goals in 11 matches for the under-19 team, he was awarded 2003 Danish under-19 Player of the Year.[31] On 3 September 2004, aged 19, Rasmussen got his debut for the Denmark under-21 national team. He scored eight goals in 13 games to help Denmark qualify for the 2006 European Under-21 Championship. However, at the main tournament, Rasmussen had to relinquish his place in the starting line-up to Nicklas Bendtner, though he played as a substitute in all three Denmark games. In total, Rasmussen scored nine goals in 21 games for the under-21 team.

Rasmussen made his debut for the senior Danish national team on 11 October 2008, as he played the last 13 minutes of the 3–0 win against Malta in the 2010 World Cup qualification. In January 2009, he was a part of the unofficial Denmark League XI national football team which won the 2009 King's Cup invitational tournament, under the management of Danish national coach Morten Olsen. He played a further two senior international friendly games in November 2009. In January 2010, he once again joined the League XI team for the 2010 King's Cup.[32] Rasmussen scored for the Danish side in their first game, a 3–1 win over Poland, as his team went on to defend their title.

On 10 May 2010, Rasmussen was included in Olsen's preliminary 30-man squad for the 2010 World Cup.[33] After first-choice striker Nicklas Bendtner picked up an injury, Rasmussen was called up for the Danish squad on 21 May to act as cover,[34] but was eventually left out of the final 23-man squad on 28 May.[35]

Coaching and later career

After retiring at the end of the 2018/19 season, FC Midtjylland announced, that they had hired Duncan as a forward coach.[36] Beside, Duncan also played for Denmark Series 4 team, TIF All Stars. He scored six goals in his first game which the club won 16-1. Other former players such as Kristian Bach Bak, Jens Berthel Askou and Søren Mussmann also played for TIF All Stars.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 19 May 2019[37][38][39][40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
AGF 2001–02 2100––21
2002–03 28521––306
2003–04 26421––285
2004–05 28832––3110
2005–06 191011––2011
Total 1032885——11133
Brøndby 2005–06 7200000072
2006–07 19151011412517
2007–08 19710––207
2008–09 25931–523312
2009–10 151231–312114
Total 8545821112410652
Celtic 2009–10 102310000133
Total 102310000133
Mainz 05 (loan) 2010–11 5200––52
Total 5200——52
AaB (loan) 2010–11 14600––146
Total 14600——146
Sivasspor (loan) 2011–12 11300––113
Total 11300——113
FC Midtjylland 2012–13 27500–10285
2013–14 301510–003115
2014–15 231300–102413
2015–16 16411–93268
Total 963721—11310941
AGF 2015–16 131043–001713
2016–17 241310–432916
2017–18 17400–00174
Total 542753—436333
Pogoń Szczecin 2017–18 11100–00111
Total 11100–00111
Enosis Neon Paralimni 2018–19 16231–00193
Total 16231–00193
Career total 4051532913112710462177
  • Also played 3 (2005–06) Royal League games where he scored 1 goal.
  • Also played 5 (2006–07) Royal League games where he scored 1 goal.

International
As of 8 June 2015.[41]
Denmark national team
YearAppsGoals
200810
200920
201021
201312
201430
201520
201621
Total134

International goals
As of match played 7 June 2016. Denmark score listed first, score column indicates score after each Rasmussen goal.[42]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 October 2010Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark6 Cyprus1–02–0UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
2 15 October 2013Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark8 Malta1–06–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 5–0
4 7 June 2016Suita City Football Stadium, Suita, Japan14 Bulgaria1–04–02016 Kirin Cup

Honours

Brøndby[42]

FC Midtjylland

Individual

References
  1. Pilegaard, Ib (27 July 2002). "Målmaskinen" (in Danish). BT. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  2. Mads Glenn Wehlast. "Fem fra Duncan". Ekstra Bladet. 30 April 2002.
  3. Wehlast, Mads Glenn (30 April 2002). "Fem fra Duncan" (in Danish). Ekstra Bladet.
  4. La Cour Cayenne, Jan (18 February 2003). "Talent forlænger med AGF" (in Danish). Jyllands-Posten.
  5. "Biggest Brøndby transfers" (in Danish). Business DK. 28 November 2007. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  6. Grant, Michael (26 January 2010). "'Duncan' dumped in Denmark as Morten Rasmussen spells it out ahead of Celtic debut" (in Danish). HeraldScotland. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  7. "Celtic line up move for 'Danish Duncan Ferguson'". STV Sport. STV. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  8. "Morten Rasmussen completes Celtic transfer from Brondby". The Guardian. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  9. "Morten Rasmussen completes move to Celtic from Brondby". BBC Sport. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  10. "Celtic sign Viking raider Rasmussen". AFP. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  11. "Celtic 1 – 2 Hibernian". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 January 2010.
  12. "Hamilton 0 – 1 Celtic". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 January 2010.
  13. "Morten Rasmussen keeps Celtic hopes alive but Rangers win again at Falkirk". Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  14. "Match: Dunfirmline Athletic vs Celtic – Scottish Cup". ESPN Soccernet. 7 February 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  15. Gibbons, Glenn (17 April 2010). "Morten Rasmussen's late goal gives Celtic victory over Hibernian". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  16. "Celtic offload Morten Rasmussen permanently to Midtjylland". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  17. "Rasmussen leaves Celtic to become Mainz man". STV Sport. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  18. "Celtic's Morten Rasmussen agrees Mainz loan deal". BBC Sport. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  19. "Mainz masterful as Stuttgart struggle". Bundesliga. 22 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011.
  20. "VfL Wolfsburg 3–4 Mainz". ESPN Soccernet. 28 August 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  21. "Morten Rasmussen". Sky Sports. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  22. "Rasmussen's delight at Bundesliga start with Mainz". STV Sport. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  23. "Rasmussen set for Celtic return". Sky Sports. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  24. "Rasmussen wechselt zu Aalborg" (in German). Bundesliga.de. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  25. "Morten Rasmussen moves to Turkey in loan deal". Celtic FC. 6 September 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  26. "Mighty Eskişehirspor misses goals for all the right reasons". Hürriyet Daily News. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  27. "How Midtjylland took the analytical route towards the Champions League". The Guardian. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  28. "Avis: AGF er enig med 'Duncan' - men FCM siger nej". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  29. "Officielt: Duncan får halvandet år i Pogon". bold.dk (in Danish). 30 January 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  30. "Danmark – Finland 6–0" (in Danish). DBU.dk. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  31. "Stephan Andersen: Årets Landsholdstalent" (in Danish). DBU.dk. 10 February 2004. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  32. "Celtic pick up their own 'Duncan'". ESPN Soccernet. 26 January 2010. Archived from the original on 31 January 2010.
  33. "VM-bruttotruppen på plads" (in Danish). DBU.dk. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  34. "Duncan hasteindkaldt til landsholdet". Fyens.dk. 21 May 2010.
  35. "World Cup 2010: Celtic's Rasmussen left out by Denmark". BBC Sport. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  36. Duncan stopper og bliver træner i FCM, bold.dk, 2 May 2019
  37. "Morten Duncan Rasmussen career stats". Football Database.eu. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  38. "Morten 'Duncan' Rasmussen Danish league stats". Superstats.dk. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  39. "Morten Rasmussen Europe stats". UEFA.com. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  40. Morten Rasmussen at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  41. "Rasmussen, Morten 'Duncan'". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  42. Morten Rasmussen at Soccerway
  43. http://www.dbu.dk/services/404.aspx?item=%2fpage&user=extranet%5cAnonymous&site=DBU_Broendby
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