Midtjylland
Full nameFootball Club Midtjylland
Nickname(s)Ulvene (The Wolves)
Hedens Drenge (The Boys of the Moor)
Short nameFCM
Founded2 February 1999 (1999-02-02)
GroundMCH Arena
Capacity11,432
OwnerAnders Holch Povlsen
ChairmanCliff Crown
Head coachThomas Thomasberg
LeagueDanish Superliga
2022–23Danish Superliga, 7th of 12
WebsiteClub website

Football Club Midtjylland (Danish: [ˈmitjyˌlænˀ], "Central Jutland") is a Danish professional football club based in Herning and Ikast in 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.

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 club 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]

During a celebration of the inauguration of the Club's new FCM House, Dream 99 on 15 August 2023, it was announced that HEARTLAND, holding company for the Danish clothing chain Bestseller, purchased Benham's shares and became majority owner of the club, as well as Portuguese side C.D. Mafra. It was also announced that FCM would embark with a women's football program in 2024.[6]

Scouting and developing

Midtjylland have built a reputation of finding and developing promising talents, and have a highly regarded youth academy.[7]

In July 2004, Midtjylland was the first Danish club to establish their own football academy, similar to that of French side Nantes.[8] 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.[9]

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).[10] 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).[11][12] In 2016, vice-captain Erik Sviatchenko was sold for £1.5 million to Celtic.[13]

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 11,432 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.

On 22 June 2022, the club started an expansion of MCH Arena that will add a new hospitality lounge and 11 new VIP boxes. The expansion will increase the total capacity by 720 seats, taking the capacity from 11,432 to a total of 12,152. The expansion is believed to be finished in December 2023.

Supporters

Black Wolves is the official fanclub of FC Midtjylland.[14] 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 unofficial faction in Midtjylland, established in 2007 and later renamed Ultras Midtjylland. In 2014, Midtjylland got its second unofficial faction, a youth faction called Midtjylland Ungdom. As of today, there are three unofficial factions: Zartow, Chaos Crew, and Midtjylland Ungdom. Collectively, all FC Midtjylland supporters go under the name of Hedens Drenge.

Hedens Drenge is currently Midtjylland’s largest fan-based social media account, with a following of around 11,000 on Instagram and Facebook combined.

The club's main rival is Viborg FF. This rivalry is often referred to as The Battle of the Heath, The Battle of Hatred, and The Derby of Midtjylland. The derby is claimed to be the second biggest in Denmark behind that of 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 362646 612982 Third Round UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round
2020–21 SL 2 321868 573360 Semi-finals UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round
2021–22 SL 2 322057 593365 Champion UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round
UEFA Europa League Group Stage
UEFA Europa Conference League Knockout Round
2022–23 SL 7 3213127 553951 Fourth round UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round
UEFA Europa League Group Stage & Knockout Round

Honours

Players

Current squad

As of 3 January 2024[15][16] 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 Denmark DEN Jonas Lössl
2 MF Denmark DEN André Rømer
3 DF South Korea KOR Lee Han-beom
5 MF Uruguay URU Emiliano Martínez
6 DF Sweden SWE Joel Andersson
8 MF Sweden SWE Kristoffer Olsson
9 FW Norway NOR Ola Brynhildsen
10 FW South Korea KOR Cho Gue-sung
11 FW Chile CHI Darío Osorio
13 DF Czech Republic CZE Adam Gabriel
14 DF Denmark DEN Henrik Dalsgaard (captain)
15 DF Iceland ISL Sverrir Ingi Ingason
17 FW Guinea-Bissau GNB Franculino Djú
22 DF Denmark DEN Mads Bech Sørensen
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 MF Denmark DEN Oliver Sørensen
25 MF Norway NOR Iver Fossum
29 DF Brazil BRA Paulinho
35 MF Brazil BRA Charles
37 MF Sweden SWE Armin Gigović (on loan from Rostov)
38 FW Brazil BRA Marrony
50 GK Austria AUT Martin Fraisl
53 FW Denmark DEN Victor Lind
58 FW Turkey TUR Aral Şimşir
73 DF Brazil BRA Juninho
90 GK Denmark DEN Oscar Hedvall
MF Denmark DEN Valdemar Byskov
DF Denmark DEN Victor Bak Jensen

Youth players in use 2023/24

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF Guinea-Bissau GNB Alamari Djabi
19 FW Nigeria NGA Stanley Iheanacho
31 GK Denmark DEN Christian Rust
33 FW Denmark DEN Mikel Gogorza
33 DF Iceland ISL Daníel Kristjánsson
No. Pos. Nation Player
33 MF Denmark DEN Akwasi Owusu
34 DF Denmark DEN Adam Andersen
34 MF Denmark DEN Jonatan Lindekilde
40 MF Denmark DEN Christian Jørgensen
55 FW Denmark DEN Julius Voldby

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
GK Denmark DEN Valdemar Birksø (at Fredericia until 30 June 2024)
GK Iceland ISL Elías Rafn Ólafsson (at Mafra until 30 June 2024)
DF Denmark DEN Pontus Texel (at Mafra until 30 June 2024)
MF Denmark DEN Andreas Nibe (at Mafra until 30 June 2024)
MF Denmark DEN Gustav Fraulo (at Mafra until 30 June 2024)
MF Denmark DEN Jonathan Lind (at Mafra until 30 June 2024)
FW Colombia COL Juan Felipe Moreno (at Mafra until 30 June 2024)
GK Nigeria NGA Mark Ugboh (at Holstebro until 30 June 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF Denmark DEN Mikkel Fischer (at Fredericia until 30 June 2024)
DF Denmark DEN Stefan Gartenmann (at Aberdeen until 30 June 2024)
DF Colombia COL Pablo Ortíz (at Pardubice until 30 June 2024)
MF Zambia ZAM Edward Chilufya (at Häcken until 30 June 2024)
FW Brazil BRA Júnior Brumado (at Hansa Rostock until 30 June 2024)
FW Denmark DEN Frederik Heiselberg (at Horsens until 30 June 2024)
FW Denmark DEN August Priske (at FC Eindhoven until 30 June 2024)

Youth team

See: FC Midtjylland Academy

Notable players

1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s

Personnel

Current technical staff

Role Name
Head coach Denmark Thomas Thomasberg
Assistant coach Denmark Niels Lodberg
Goalkeeping coach Denmark Lasse Heinze
Chief Analyst Denmark Sören Bjerg
Opponent Analyst Denmark Oliver Heil

Management

Role Name
Director of Football Denmark Svend Graversen
Sporting Director Denmark Kristian Bach Bak
Head of academy coaching Denmark Jan Knudsen

Coaches

FC Midtjylland in European competition

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 Northern Ireland Glentoran 1–1 4–0 5–1
1R Portugal Sporting CP 0–3 2–3 2–6
2002–03 UEFA Cup QR North Macedonia Pobeda 3–0 0–2 3–2
1R Croatia Varaždin 1–0 1–1 2–1
2R Belgium Anderlecht 0–3 1–3 1–6
2005–06 UEFA Cup 1Q Faroe Islands B36 Tórshavn 2–1 2–2 4–3
1R Russia CSKA Moscow 1–3 1–3 2–6
2007–08 UEFA Cup 1Q Iceland Keflavík ÍF 2–1 2–3 4–4 (a)
2Q Finland Haka 5–2 2–1 7–3
1R Russia Lokomotiv Moscow 1–3 0–2 1–5
2008–09 UEFA Cup 1Q Wales Bangor City 4–0 6–1 10–1
2Q England Manchester City 0–1 (a.e.t.) 1–0 1–1 (2–4 p)
2011–12 UEFA Europa League 2Q Wales The New Saints 5–2 3–1 8–3
3Q Portugal Vitória de Guimarães 0–0 1–2 1–2
2012–13 UEFA Europa League PO Switzerland Young Boys 0–3 2–0 2–3
2014–15 UEFA Europa League PO Greece Panathinaikos 1–2 1–4 2–6
2015–16 UEFA Champions League 2Q Gibraltar Lincoln Red Imps 1–0 2–0 3–0
3Q Cyprus APOEL 1–2 1–0 2–2 (a)
UEFA Europa League PO England Southampton 1–0 1–1 2–1
Group D Italy Napoli 1–4 0–5 2nd
Belgium Club Brugge 1–1 3–1
Poland Legia Warsaw 1–0 0–1
R32 England Manchester United 2–1 1–5 3–6
2016–17 UEFA Europa League 1Q Lithuania Sūduva Marijampolė 1–0 1–0 2–0
2Q Liechtenstein Vaduz 3–0 2–2 5–2
3Q Hungary Videoton 1–1 (a.e.t) 1–0 2–1
PO Turkey Osmanlıspor 0–1 0–2 0–3
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1Q Republic of Ireland Derry City 6–1 4–1 10–2
2Q Hungary Ferencváros 3–1 4–2 7–3
3Q Poland Arka Gdynia 2–1 2–3 4–4 (a)
PO Cyprus Apollon Limassol 1–1 2–3 3–4
2018–19 UEFA Champions League 2Q Kazakhstan Astana 0–0 1–2 1–2
UEFA Europa League 3Q Wales The New Saints 3–1 2–0 5–1
PO Sweden Malmö FF 0–2 2–2 2–4
2019–20 UEFA Europa League 3Q Scotland Rangers 2–4 1–3 3–7
2020–21 UEFA Champions League 2Q Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad 1–0
3Q Switzerland Young Boys 3–0
PO Czech Republic Slavia Prague 4–1 0–0 4–1
Group D Italy Atalanta 0–4 1–1 4th
England Liverpool 1–1 0–2
Netherlands Ajax 1–2 1–3
2021–22 UEFA Champions League 2Q Scotland Celtic 1–1 2–1 3–2
3Q Netherlands PSV Eindhoven 0–3 0–1 0–4
UEFA Europa League Group F Portugal Braga 1–3 3–2 3rd
Serbia Red Star Belgrade 1–1 1–0
Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad 1–1 0–0
UEFA Europa Conference League KPO Greece PAOK 1–0 1–2 2–2 (3–5 p)
2022–23 UEFA Champions League 2Q Cyprus AEK Larnaca 1–1 1–1 (a.e.t.) 2–2 (4–3 p)
3Q Portugal Benfica 1–3 1–4 2–7
UEFA Europa League Group F Italy Lazio 5–1 1−2 2nd
Netherlands Feyenoord 2−2 2−2
Austria Sturm Graz 2−0 0–1
KPO Portugal Sporting CP 0–4 1–1 1–5
2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League 2Q Luxembourg Progrès Niederkorn 2−0 1–2 (a.e.t.) 3–2
3Q Cyprus Omonia 5−1 0–1 5–2
PO Poland Legia Warsaw 3–3 1–1 (a.e.t.) 4–4 (5–6 p)

UEFA club coefficient ranking

As of 26 July 2023[17]
RankTeamPoints
58France Monaco24.000
59Turkey Galatasaray23.500
60Denmark Midtjylland23.000
61Serbia Partizan23.000
62England Leicester23.000

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. "NEW OWNERSHIP, CD MAFRA AND WOMEN'S FOOTBALL: EVERYTHING FROM TUESDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE". FCM. 15 August 2023.
  7. Ingle, Sean (27 July 2015). "How Midtjylland took the analytical route towards the Champions League". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  8. Just Kristensen, Jørn (22 June 2019). "Akademi-ideen blev født i Nantes". herningfolkeblad.dk. Herning Folkeblad. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  9. "Investor vil styrke og udvikle FC Midtjylland". fcm.dk. FC Midtjylland. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  10. "FCM scorer millioner på Simon Kjær-handel" (in Danish). Tipsbladet. Retrieved 30 December 2015. (subscription required)
  11. "Superligaens transferoverblik". Indkast.dk. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  12. "BBC Sport – Football – New Zealand international Winston Reid joins West Ham". BBC News. 5 August 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  13. "Erik Sviatchenko: Celtic seal £1.5m transfer of Midtjylland man". BBC Sport. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  14. "Black Wolves : Homepage". Black-wolves.com. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  15. "Superligatrup | fcm". Fcm.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  16. "DBU's Officielle Statistikere". Danskfodbold.com. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  17. "UEFA Club Coefficients". UEFA. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
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