Andreas Bjelland
Andreas Bjelland (born 11 July 1988) is a Danish-Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Lyngby. He represented Denmark at international level and was part of the Danes' Euro 2012 squad. He is also adept as a full back or defensive midfielder.[3]
| Bjelland playing for Copenhagen in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andreas Bjelland[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 July 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Fredensborg, Denmark[2] | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lyngby | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Fredensborg BI | |||
| –2001 | BSV | ||
| 2001–2006 | Lyngby | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2009 | Lyngby | 46 | (1) |
| 2009–2012 | Nordsjælland | 72 | (3) |
| 2012–2015 | Twente | 65 | (3) |
| 2015–2018 | Brentford | 62 | (1) |
| 2018–2022 | Copenhagen | 54 | (1) |
| 2021–2022 | → Lyngby (loan) | 24 | (1) |
| 2022– | Lyngby | 11 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2004 | Denmark U16 | 1 | (0) |
| 2006 | Denmark U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2006 | Denmark U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2009–2011 | Denmark U21 | 16 | (0) |
| 2010–2018 | Denmark | 29 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:26, 15 April 2023 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Lyngby
A centre back, Bjelland began his career in his homeland with Fredensborg BI and BSV,[4] before moving into the youth system at Superliga club Lyngby in 2001.[5] Financial problems at the stricken club saw the Royal Blues relegated to the Danmarksserien, but by the time Bjelland made his senior debut in September 2006,[6] they had risen back to the 1st Division.[5] He made 9 appearances during the 2006–07 and after promotion to the Superliga, he made 11 appearances in 2007–08.[7] After an immediate relegation back to the 1st Division, Bjelland finally broke into the team and during the 2008–09 season made 24 appearances and scored one goal.[7] After five early-2009–10 season appearances,[7] Bjelland departed Lyngby on 31 August 2009.[8] He made 47 appearances and scored one goal for the club.[7]
FC Nordsjælland
Bjelland returned to the Superliga to sign for FC Nordsjælland on 31 August 2009.[8] He quickly established himself in the team and made 26 appearances, scoring one goal.[7] His season was capped by success in the DBU Pokalen, with Nordsjælland beating Midtjylland 2–0 in the final after extra time.[6] Bjelland had another successful season in 2010–11,[7] being named vice-captain and again winning the DBU Pokalen at the expense of Midtjylland.[6][9] He made 29 appearances and scored one goal in a 2011–12 season which saw Nordsjælland win the Superliga title for the first time in the club's history.[6][7] Bjelland departed the club in June 2012, after making 85 appearances and scoring three goals during three seasons at Farum Park.[7]
FC Twente
On 6 November 2011, it was announced that Bjelland had signed a four-year contract (with the option of a further year) with Dutch Eredivisie club FC Twente, effective from the beginning of the 2012–13 season.[10] He had a debut season to forget at De Grolsch Veste,[11] spending six months out with a broken metatarsal and making only 14 appearances.[7] He came back fit for the 2013–14 season and was a virtual ever-present as Twente managed a third-place finish in the Eredivisie.[7] Bjelland was named as captain for the 2014–15 season,[9] but he was in and out of the team, due to injuries and suspensions.[7] He left the club on 2 July 2015,[12] after making 79 appearances and scoring three goals during his three seasons in Enschede.[7]
Brentford
On 2 July 2015, Bjelland moved to England to sign for Championship club Brentford on a three-year contract for a club-record €3 million fee.[12][13] After recovering from a groin injury suffered in pre-season,[14] Bjelland made his debut for the club with a start in a League Cup first round match versus Oxford United on 11 August.[15] He was at fault for Oxford's first goal of the 4–0 defeat and suffered a knee ligament injury on the stroke of half time.[16][17]
Bjelland returned to full-contact training in late April 2016 and despite missing part of the 2016–17 pre-season with an abductor strain,[18] he entered the regular season fit.[19][20] He broke into the starting lineup in an unfamiliar left back role in mid-September 2016.[21][22] After the team's formation was switched to 3–5–2 three months later, he reverted to his usual centre back position.[23] Bjelland missed much of March and April 2017 through injury and finished the season with 29 appearances.[21][24]
Bjelland deputised for the absent Harlee Dean early in the 2017–18 season scored his first Brentford goal in a 4–3 defeat to Nottingham Forest 12 August 2017.[25] After Dean's departure at the end of the summer transfer window,[26] Bjelland continued as an automatic pick for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[25] Despite suffering from an achilles problem during the final two months of the season,[27] Bjelland finished the campaign with 35 appearances and one goal.[25] After failing to agree a new contract, he was released on 30 June 2018.[28] During three seasons at Griffin Park, Bjelland made 65 appearances and scored one goal.[2]
F.C. Copenhagen
On 9 July 2018, Bjelland returned to Denmark to sign a four-year contract with Superliga club F.C. Copenhagen on a free transfer.[29] The deal made him one of the highest-paid players in Danish Superliga history.[30] He made 41 appearances and scored one goal during the club's 2018–19 Superliga-winning season.[7][31] During a 2019–20 season which featured a run to the quarter-finals of the Europa League and a runners-up finish in the Superliga, Bjelland made 30 appearances.[7] Bjelland made three appearances during the opening month of the 2020–21 season,[7] before suffering a "bad cocktail" of problems with injury and COVID-19.[32] He did not appear again before the end of the season.[7] Bjelland spent the final year of his contract away on loan and was released when it expired.[33]
Return to Lyngby
On 15 July 2021, Bjelland returned to Danish 1st Division club Lyngby on a season-long loan.[34] He made 25 appearances and scored one goal during a 2021–22 season which culminated in promotion to the Danish Superliga.[7][35] Taking a pay cut from his previous contract with F.C. Copenhagen,[30] Bjelland signed a one-year permanent contract with Lyngby in May 2022.[33] On 28 August 2022, his sixth appearance of the 2022–23 season, Bjelland suffered a broken and dislocated ankle during a 2–1 defeat to Viborg.[7][36] He underwent surgery five days later and returned fit for the resumption of the season after the winter break.[36][37]
International career
Youth
Despite being eligible to represent Norway,[38] Bjelland represented Denmark at U16, U18, U19 and U21 level,[39] captaining the latter team and making three appearances at the 2011 European U21 Championship,[40] hosted in Denmark.[41]
Full
Bjelland made his full international debut in a 0–0 friendly draw with the Czech Republic on 17 November 2010 and played the full 90 minutes.[39] He received his second call up 11 months later, when he was selected for a pair of Euro 2012 qualifiers against Cyprus and Portugal, in which he started and helped the team to wins.[39] Bjelland scored his first international goal with penalty to seal a 2–0 friendly win over Australia on 2 June 2012.[39] He was called into Denmark's squad for Euro 2012,[42] but failed to make an appearance before the team crashed out in the group stage.[39]
Following Euro 2012,[11] a metatarsal injury suffered on club duty with Twente saw Bjelland miss a year of international football and he made his return in a 2–1 friendly win over Georgia on 5 June 2013.[11][39] He scored his second international goal in a 6–0 2014 World Cup qualifying win over Malta on 15 October 2013.[39] Bjelland made regular appearances through 2014, but a knee ligament injury meant that failed to appear for Denmark between June 2015 and 11 November 2016,[17] when he made his comeback playing the full 90 minutes of a 4–0 2018 World Cup qualifying win over Kazakhstan.[39] He was included in Denmark’s preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup,[43] but was not named in the final squad, due to injury.[44]
Personal life
Bjelland was born to a Norwegian father and a Danish mother.[38] His younger brother Thomas was also a footballer for BSV and Hellerup.[45][46] He has two daughters.[9] In 2018, Bjelland invested a reported amount of DKK 200,000 (approximately £25,000) in his former club Lyngby and consequently became a minority owner of the club.[47]
Career statistics
- As of match played 10 April 2023
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lyngby | 2006–07[48] | 1st Division | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2007–08[7] | Superliga | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| 2008–09[7] | 1st Division | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 24 | 1 | ||||
| 2009–10[7] | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 46 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 47 | 1 | |||||
| FC Nordsjælland | 2009–10[7] | Superliga | 22 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 27 | 1 | |||
| 2010–11[7] | 24 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 1 | ||||
| 2011–12[7] | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 72 | 3 | 11 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 85 | 3 | ||||
| FC Twente | 2012–13[7] | Eredivisie | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[a] | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2013–14[7] | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 34 | 0 | |||||
| 2014–15[7] | 26 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | — | 31 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 67 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 79 | 3 | |||
| Brentford | 2015–16[15] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17[21] | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18[25] | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 62 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 65 | 1 | ||||
| F.C. Copenhagen | 2018–19[7] | Superliga | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 11[a] | 0 | — | 41 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20[7] | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 8[a] | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | ||||
| 2020–21[7] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 54 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | — | 75 | 1 | ||||
| Lyngby (loan) | 2021–22[7] | 1st Division | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 25 | 1 | |||
| Lyngby | 2022–23[7] | Superliga | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||
| Total | 81 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 75 | 2 | |||||
| Career totals | 327 | 10 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 380 | 10 | ||
- ^ a b c d e f Appearances in Europa League
- ^ Appearances in Eredivisie European competition play-offs
Honours
FC Nordsjælland
- Danish Superliga (1): 2011–12[6][7]
- DBU Pokalen (2): 2009–10, 2010–11[6]
FC Copenhagen
Lyngby
- Danish 1st Division second-place promotion: 2021–22[7][35]
References
- ^ (PDF). English Football League. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ a b c Andreas Bjelland at Soccerbase
- ^ "Brentford transfer news: FC Twente defender Andreas Bjelland on Marinus Dijkhuizen's radar". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ . Blue Vikings – Official Lyngby BK Supporters. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ a b "Spelersprofiel: Andreas Bjelland – FC Twente". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f . UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Andreas Bjelland at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ a b "FCN henter Andreas Bjelland". bold.dk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ a b c "Bjelland over het aanvoerderschap, zijn gezin en het leven in Nederland". FC Twente. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ Blond, Mikael (6 November 2011). "Bjelland solgt til Twente" (in Danish). Bold.dk. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ a b c Moore, Tom (10 November 2016). "Andreas Bjelland speaks to GetWestLondon about his career so far". getwestlondon. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^ a b Wickham, Chris. "Danish international defender Andreas Bjelland signs for Brentford from FC Twente". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ "Brentford sign Denmark's Bjelland". BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ Moore, Tom. "Brentford defender set to shrug off injury to face Ipswich". Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Games played by Andreas Bjelland in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ "Matchday Centre: Oxford United". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ a b Moore, Tom. "Brentford to find out extent of Andreas Bjelland's injury". Retrieved 13 August 2015.
- ^ Moore, Tom (26 July 2016). "Brentford boss Dean Smith gives injury update after Peterborough friendly". Retrieved 14 August 2016.
- ^ Moore, Tom (28 April 2016). "Who's fit? Who's out? The latest injury news from Brentford". getwestlondon. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ Brett, Ciaran. "Andreas Bjelland speaks to Bees Player after making his Brentford return against Boreham Wood". Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Andreas Bjelland in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ Brett, Ciaran. "Andreas Bjelland on Brentford's 0–0 draw with Wigan Athletic and his Denmark International call-up". Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ Baldwin, James. "Our look at City's upcoming opponents for Saturday's Sky Bet Championship match at home to Brentford". Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- ^ Nugara, Jordan (12 April 2017). "Brentford boss gives injury update ahead of Derby County clash". getwestlondon. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Andreas Bjelland in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- ^ "Harlee Dean leaves Brentford". Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ Wilmot, Lee (6 June 2018). "Defender involved in war of words with national team boss after World Cup snub". footballlondon. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
- ^ "Andreas Bjelland leaves Brentford". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ "FCK henter Andreas Bjelland". F.C. København (in Danish). Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ^ a b Gram-Hanssen, Lars. "Andreas Bjelland sætter ord på stor lønnedgang". Tipsbladet.dk. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Summary – Superliga – Denmark – Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ "Andreas Bjelland smider 2020 i skraldespanden: Helt vildt frustrerende". Tipsbladet.dk. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ a b Fischer, Theis (21 May 2022). "Andreas Bjelland skriver kontrakt med De Kongeblå". Lyngby Boldklub (in Danish). Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ Abolhosseini, Farzam (15 July 2021). "B.T. afslører: Andreas Bjelland er færdig i FCK – skifter til Lyngby". B.T. (in Danish).
- ^ a b "Summary – 1. Division – Denmark – Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ a b Okstrøm, Oliver. "Efter uhyggelig skade: Her er dommen for Bjelland". Tipsbladet.dk. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Bjelland er tilbage for Lyngby – fire kan få debut mod FCN". bold.dk (in Danish). 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Bjelland kunne have spillet for Norge". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Andreas Bjelland at the Danish Football Association (in Danish)
- ^ "Under-21 – News". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ "Under-21 2011 – History – Denmark". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ "UEFA Euro 2012 – History – Denmark". UEFA.com. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^ . www.dbu.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- ^ "Bendtner vraget til VM: Her er Danmarks endelige trup". www.b.dk (in Danish). 3 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- ^ "BSV-træner fremhæver lillebror Bjelland". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ "Thomas Bjelland". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ "Ejer en del af Superliga-modstander: – Ikke et problem". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ . www.ronaldzwiers.0catch.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
External links
- at vi.nl (in Dutch)
- Andreas Bjelland at the Danish Football Association (in Danish)
- Andreas Bjelland at Soccerbase
- Andreas Bjelland at Soccerway
- Andreas Bjelland – UEFA competition record ()
- – FIFA competition record (archived)