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Casper Ankergren

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Casper Ankergren
Ankergren with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2015
Personal information
Full name Casper Ankergren[1]
Date of birth (1979-11-09) 9 November 1979 (age 45)[2]
Place of birth Køge, Denmark
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Solrød
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 Køge BK 44 (0)
2001–2007 Brøndby IF 86 (0)
2007 → Leeds United (loan) 14 (0)
2007–2010 Leeds United 107 (0)
2010–2017 Brighton & Hove Albion 68 (0)
Total 319 (0)
International career
1995 Denmark U17 2 (0)
2000 Denmark U21 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Casper Ankergren (Danish pronunciation: [ˈɑŋkɐˌkʁeˀn]; born 9 November 1979) is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is now the Head of Goalkeeping at Danish Superliga side Brøndby IF. He played three matches for the Denmark national under-21 team.

Club career

Køge BK

Born in Køge, Sjælland,[2] Ankergren started playing youth football with Solrød FC,[4] before moving on to Køge BK in the Danish 1st Division,[5] and represented Denmark at various youth levels.[citation needed] He made a good display in a pre-season friendly against many-times Danish champions Brøndby IF, and was rumoured to be joining that club in April 2000.[6] He signed a contract with Brøndby in May 2000, initially sending him on loan back at Køge.[7]

Brøndby IF

He eventually joined Brøndby IF in the top-flight Danish Superliga championship in January 2001.[8] He made his debut in October 2001, and therefore played only one match as Brøndby won the 2001–02 Superliga title.[9] Ankergren got his breakthrough with Brøndby following the retirement of club legend Mogens Krogh in December 2002. He played all 15 Brøndby matches in the second half of the 2002–03 season,[10] and helped the club win the 2003 Danish Cup.[11]

For the 2003–04 season, Brøndby bought goalkeeper Karim Zaza who became their first choice, leaving Ankergren to spend the season as back-up keeper, playing only one match.[12] At the start of the 2004–05 season, Zaza suffered an injury and Ankergren played the entire season as Brøndby's starting goalkeeper, even after Zaza had recovered.[citation needed] Ankergren finished the season setting a league record 18 clean sheets in 32 matches,[citation needed] and helped Brøndby win the Double of both the 2004–05 Superliga and 2005 Danish Cup titles.[13]

He started the 2005–06 season in the Brøndby goal, but at the winter interval, Zaza was once again selected as first choice keeper.[citation needed] However, Zaza left the club in the summer of 2006 and Ankergren signed a new three-year contract.[citation needed] Brøndby had a disappointing start to the 2006–07 season, sitting in seventh place at the winter break.[citation needed] However, Ankergren was called up to the Denmark national team by national manager Morten Olsen in October 2006, where he served as a back-up goalkeeper for Jesper Christiansen.[citation needed] When Brøndby bought former Danish international goalkeeper Stephan Andersen, Ankergren announced his decision to leave the club.[citation needed]

Leeds United

In January 2007, he signed a loan with English club Leeds United.[13] who were battling relegation in the Championship.[citation needed] He signed for the remainder of the 2006–07 Football League season, with an option for Leeds to buy him at a fixed transfer fee at the end of the season.[citation needed] Ankergren established himself as a firm favourite with the Leeds fans and displaced Neil Sullivan, Tony Warner and Graham Stack, putting in a number of matchwinning saves and performances.[citation needed] His popularity was further increased during the 1–0 victory over Luton Town when he made his second save from a penalty kick since joining Leeds.[citation needed] An injury temporarily forced him out of the team with another Leeds loanee goalkeeper Graham Stack taking his place, although Ankergen reclaimed his place in the team once he regained match fitness.[citation needed] He soon made it publicly known that he wanted to continue his stay at Leeds past his loan spell,[14] and Leeds' manager Dennis Wise stated he wanted to keep Ankergen at the club.[citation needed]

He transferred to Leeds for an undisclosed fee from Brøndby, signing a three-year contract on 6 August 2007.[15] Ankergen was Leeds' first choice goalkeeper in the 2007–08 season.[citation needed] On 8 October 2007, he was named League One Player of the Month for September due to his great goalkeeping displays.[citation needed] In the first 18 matches of the season, he kept 10 clean sheets and retained the number one jersey for a further 23 matches.[citation needed] He played in Leeds' first match at the new Wembley Stadium, the 1–0 2008 League One play-off final defeat to Doncaster Rovers.[citation needed] He pulled off a string of impressive one-handed saves to keep his team in the match.[citation needed]

He took part in Leeds' pre-season tour of Ireland for the 2008–09 season but was rested on occasions to give understudies David Lucas and Alan Martin first team goalkeeping experience.[citation needed] He started the first four matches of the full season but failed to keep a clean sheet as his team conceded six goals.[citation needed] He was dropped for the League Cup tie against Crystal Palace in favour of Lucas, which Leeds went on to win 4–0, and missed out in the subsequent 2–2 draw with Bristol Rovers.[citation needed] He was also dropped for the 5–2 win over Crewe Alexandra again in favour of Lucas, but returned to being first choice keeper under new manager Simon Grayson.[citation needed]

At the start of the 2009/10 season, Ankergren was Leeds' number two goalkeeper behind Shane Higgs.[citation needed] Ankergren made his first appearance of the season coming on as a substitute for Higgs who suffered an injury during the match against Milton Keynes Dons, opening the door for Ankergren to start a few matches after Higgs was ruled out with a thigh injury.[citation needed] Leeds signed goalkeeper Frank Fielding as backup to Ankergren whilst Higgs was injured.[citation needed] Ankergen made his first start of the season against Carlisle United.[citation needed] He started a second successive match with Higgs still out and he kept a clean sheet in the match against Charlton Athletic.[citation needed] He continued to deputise for the injured Higgs and played 11 matches in all competitions with six clean sheets.[citation needed] New loan signing David Martin came into the team for the Football League Trophy match against Accrington Stanley with Ankergren dropping to the bench, but he returned to the starting line-up against Southampton and kept another clean sheet.[citation needed] With Higgs' injury more serious than originally thought, Ankergren has been given an extended run of matches.[citation needed]

On 3 January 2010 Ankergen made several important saves for Leeds in their 1–0 FA Cup victory against Premier League champions Manchester United at Old Trafford, particularly from Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck shots.[16] The following matches for Leeds saw a slump in form with Leeds drawing against Wycombe Wanderers and losing against Exeter City and Carlisle United.[citation needed] Ankergren had a fine match for Leeds in the FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur on 23 January 2010.[citation needed] Ankergen saved a first half penalty from Jermain Defoe, and also pulled off a string of fine saves as Leeds earned a replay with a 2–2 draw.[citation needed]

On 3 February 2010 Ankergren put in an impressive performance after making several impressive saves against Tottenham in the FA Cup despite Leeds losing 3–1.[citation needed] Ankergren was involved in a penalty shoot-out for Leeds, but was unable to save a penalty for Leeds in the Football League Trophy Northern Area final second leg against Carlisle as Leeds were knocked out of the tournament after losing 6–5 in the shootout.[citation needed]

After Leeds' number one goalkeeper Higgs returned from a long injury lay-off in a match against Norwich City, Ankergren dropped back to the substitutes bench.[citation needed] Leeds were promoted to the Championship after finishing in second place.[citation needed] It was announced on 14 May 2010 that Ankergren would not be offered a new deal at Leeds and that he was free to find a new club.[citation needed] Ankergren was replaced at Leeds by a fellow Dane Kasper Schmeichel who signed a deal two weeks after Ankergren was released.[17]

Brighton & Hove Albion

Ankergren playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2015

On 6 August 2010, Ankergren signed for his former Leeds assistant manager Gus Poyet at Brighton.[18] Ankergren made his Brighton debut the following day, in Brighton's opening match of the season 2–1 win over Swindon Town.[citation needed] He started well at Brighton, winning the League One Player of the Month for September 2010.[citation needed] He won the award again in March 2011, keeping five clean sheets in eight matches.[citation needed] On 12 April 2011, he helped Brighton gain promotion to the Championship after a 4–3 win over Dagenham & Redbridge.[19]

At the end of the 2016–17 season, he retired from playing and became the assistant first team goalkeeping coach.[20]

International career

While at Køge, Ankergren played his first youth football for Denmark, making his debut for the under-17s in August 1995.[citation needed] He played three matches for the under-21s,[21] but found himself the reserve of Rune Pedersen[22] and eventually Stephan Andersen.[23] While at Brøndby, he served as sparring partner in various Danish national team training sessions around 2003.[24] In October 2006, he received a call-up to the Denmark national team by manager Morten Olsen, as a replacement for injured Thomas Sørensen, but was an unused substitute in the match in what turned out to be his only call up to the national team.[25]

In January 2006 and January 2007, he played unofficial international matches with the Denmark League XI national football team.[26]

Honours

Brighton & Hove Albion

Individual

References

  1. ^ "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Casper Ankergren". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Casper Ankergren". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  4. ^ Mikael Koldby, "Sofaspil: Solrød FC er klar til kamp", Politiken (Copenhagen), 1 July 2000
  5. ^ "Křge Boldklub – fotogalleri Fřrsteholdstruppen efterĺr 1998". Køge BK. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  6. ^ Søren Olsen, "Superligaen: Mogens Kroghs afløser er fundet", Politiken (Copenhagen), 30 April 2000
  7. ^ "Kroghs afløser kørt i stilling", Ritzaus, 9 May 2000
  8. ^ Søren Olsen, "Superligaen: Trængsel i FC København", Politiken (Copenhagen), 4 January 2001
  9. ^ "DBU's Officielle Statistikere". Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  10. ^ "DBU's Officielle Statistikere". Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  11. ^ "Pokalturneringen 2002/2003 – Finale". Haslund.info. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  12. ^ "DBU's Officielle Statistikere". Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  13. ^ a b "Ankergren completes move to Leeds". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  14. ^ Pearson, James (22 February 2007). "Casper eyes Whites stay". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  15. ^ "Leeds boosted by keeper signing". BBC Sport. 7 August 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  16. ^ Kay, Oliver; Trafford, Old (4 January 2010). "Leeds United shock Manchester United in the FA Cup third round". The Times. London.
  17. ^ "Leeds United confirm Kasper Schmeichel signing". Coventry Telegraph. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Brighton clinch deal for ex-Leeds keeper Ankergren". Tribal Football. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Dagenham & Redbridge - Football Match Summary - April 12, 2011 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  20. ^ "Ankergren settling into his new role". brightonandhovealbion.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Landsholdsdatabasen spiller information". Danish Football Association. 28 March 2000. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  22. ^ "To debutanter med i startopstillingen". Danish Football Association. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  23. ^ "Endelig sejr". Danish Football Association. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  24. ^ "Thomas Sørensen tror på det". Danish Football Association. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  25. ^ "Thomas Sørensen skadet". Danish Football Association. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  26. ^ "Landsholdsdatabasen spiller information". Danish Football Association. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  27. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2011). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2011–2012. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 39, 104–105. ISBN 978-0-7553-6231-8.
  28. ^ "Ankergren earns League One prize". 9 October 2007.
  29. ^ "Ankergren named player of the month".[permanent dead link]
  30. ^ "Ankergren named player of the month again". Archived from the original on 29 September 2012.
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