Andreas Bjelland
Andreas Bjelland (born 11 July 1988) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for F.C. Copenhagen. He has 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.[4]
![]() Bjelland with 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)[3] | ||
Position(s) | Centre back | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Copenhagen | ||
Number | 5 | ||
Youth career | |||
Fredensborg BI | |||
–2001 | BSV | ||
2001–2006 | Lyngby | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006–2009 | Lyngby | 46 | (1) |
2009–2012 | FC Nordsjælland | 72 | (3) |
2012–2015 | FC Twente | 65 | (3) |
2015–2018 | Brentford | 62 | (1) |
2018– | Copenhagen | 53 | (1) |
National team‡ | |||
2004 | Denmark U16 | 1 | (0) |
2006 | Denmark U18 | 1 | (0) |
2006 | Denmark U19 | 3 | (0) |
2009–2011 | Denmark U21 | 16 | (0) |
2010– | Denmark | 29 | (2) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:56, 27 January 2021 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:49, 20 November 2018 (UTC) |
Club career
Lyngby
A centre back, Bjelland began his career in his homeland with Fredensborg BI and BSV,[5] before moving into the youth system at Superliga club Lyngby in 2001.[6] 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,[7] they had risen back to the 1. division.[6] He made 9 appearances during the 2006–07 and after promotion to the Superliga, he made 11 appearances in 2007–08.[8] After an immediate relegation back to the 1.division, Bjelland finally broke into the team and during the 2008–09 season made 24 appearances and scored one goal.[8] After five early-2009–10 season appearances,[8] Bjelland departed Lyngby on 31 August 2009.[9] He made 47 appearances and scored one goal for the club.[8]
FC Nordsjælland
Bjelland returned to the Superliga to sign for FC Nordsjælland on 31 August 2009.[9] He quickly established himself in the team and made 26 appearances, scoring one goal.[8] His season was capped by success in the DBU Pokalen, with Nordsjælland beating Midtjylland 2–0 in the final after extra time.[7] Bjelland had another successful season in 2010–11,[8] being named vice-captain and again winning the DBU Pokalen at the expense of Midtjylland.[7][10] 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.[7][8] Bjelland departed the club in June 2012, after making 85 appearances and scoring three goals during three seasons at Farum Park.[8]
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.[11] He had a debut season to forget at De Grolsch Veste,[12] spending six months out with a broken metatarsal and making only 14 appearances.[8] 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.[8] Bjelland was named as captain for the 2014–15 season,[10] but he was in and out of the team, due to injuries and suspensions.[8] He left the club on 2 July 2015,[13] after making 79 appearances and scoring three goals during his three seasons in Enschede.[8]
Brentford
![](../I/Andreas_Bjelland%252C_2017.jpg.webp)
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.[13][14] After recovering from a groin injury suffered in pre-season,[15] Bjelland made his debut for the club with a start in a League Cup first round match versus Oxford United on 11 August.[16] 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.[17][18]
Bjelland returned to full-contact training in late April 2016 and despite missing part of the 2016–17 pre-season with an abductor strain,[19] he entered the regular season fit.[20][21] He broke into the starting lineup in an unfamiliar left back role in mid-September 2016.[22][23] After the team's formation was switched to 3–5–2 three months later, he reverted to his usual centre back position.[24] Bjelland missed much of March and April 2017 through injury and finished the season with 29 appearances.[22][25]
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.[26] After Dean's departure at the end of the summer transfer window,[27] Bjelland continued as an automatic pick for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[28] Despite suffering from an achilles problem during the final two months of the season,[29] Bjelland finished the campaign with 35 appearances and one goal.[26] After failing to agree a new contract, he was released on 30 June 2018.[30] During three seasons at Griffin Park, Bjelland made 65 appearances and scored one goal.[2]
FC 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.[31] He made 41 appearances and scored one goal during the club's 2018–19 Superliga-winning season.[8][32] 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.[8] Bjelland made three appearances during the opening month of the 2020–21 season,[8] before suffering a "bad cocktail" of problems with injury and COVID-19.[33]
International career
![](../I/Andreas_Bjelland%252C_Denmark%252C_June_2011.jpg.webp)
Youth
Despite being eligible to represent Norway,[34] Bjelland represented Denmark at U16, U18, U19 and U21 level,[35] captaining the latter team and making three appearances at the 2011 European U21 Championship,[36] hosted in Denmark.[37]
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.[35] 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.[35] Bjelland scored his first international goal with penalty to seal a 2–0 friendly win over Australia on 2 June 2012.[35] He was called into Denmark's squad for Euro 2012,[38] but failed to make an appearance before the team crashed out in the group stage.[35]
Following Euro 2012,[12] 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.[12][35] He scored his second international goal in a 6–0 2014 World Cup qualifying win over Malta on 15 October 2013.[35] 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,[18] when he made his comeback playing the full 90 minutes of a 4–0 2018 World Cup qualifying win over Kazakhstan.[35] He was included in Denmark’s preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup,[39] but was not named in the final squad, due to injury.[40]
Personal life
Bjelland was born to a Norwegian father and a Danish mother.[34] His younger brother Thomas was also a footballer for BSV and Hellerup.[41][42] He has two daughters.[10] 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.[43]
Honours
FC Nordsjælland
FC Copenhagen
Career statistics
- As of match played 20 December 2020
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[44] | 1.division | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
2007–08[8] | Superliga | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
2008–09[8] | 1.division | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 24 | 1 | ||||
2009–10[8] | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||||
Total | 46 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 47 | 1 | |||||
FC Nordsjælland | 2009–10[8] | Superliga | 22 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 27 | 1 | |||
2010–11[8] | 24 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 1 | ||||
2011–12[8] | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | ||||
Total | 72 | 3 | 11 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 85 | 3 | ||||
FC Twente | 2012–13[8] | Eredivisie | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
2013–14[8] | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 34 | 0 | |||||
2014–15[8] | 26 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 31 | 3 | ||||
Total | 67 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 79 | 3 | |||
Brentford | 2015–16[45] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
2016–17[22] | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 | ||||
2017–18[26] | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 1 | ||||
Total | 62 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 65 | 1 | ||||
F.C. Copenhagen | 2018–19[8] | Superliga | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 11[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 41 | 1 | ||
2019–20[8] | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 8[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | ||||
2020–21[8] | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
Total | 53 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | — | 74 | 1 | ||||
Career totals | 291 | 9 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 343 | 9 |
- Appearances in Europa League
- Appearances in Eredivisie European competition play-offs
References
- "EFL: Retained list: 2015/16" (PDF). English Football League. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- Andreas Bjelland at Soccerbase
- "Andreas Bjelland – Defender – First Team". Brentford FC. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
- "Brentford transfer news: FC Twente defender Andreas Bjelland on Marinus Dijkhuizen's radar". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- "Blue Vikings – Official Lyngby BK Supporters". www.bluevikings.dk. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- "Spelersprofiel: Andreas Bjelland – FC Twente". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- "Andreas Bjelland". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- Andreas Bjelland at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- "FCN henter Andreas Bjelland". bold.dk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- "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.
- Moore, Tom (10 November 2016). "Andreas Bjelland speaks to GetWestLondon about his career so far". getwestlondon. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- 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.
- "Andreas Bjelland Player Profile". ESPN FC. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
- "Matchday Centre: Oxford United". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- 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.
- "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.
- "Games played by Andreas Bjelland in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- "Harlee Dean leaves Brentford". Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- "Andreas Bjelland Player Profile". ESPN FC. 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.
- "Summary – Superliga – Denmark – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- "Andreas Bjelland smider 2020 i skraldespanden: Helt vildt frustrerende". Tipsbladet.dk. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- "Bjelland kunne have spillet for Norge". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- "Landsholdsdatabasen spiller information". www.dbu.dk. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- "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.
- "Hariede udtager 35-mands bruttotrup". www.dbu.dk (in Danish). 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.
- "Andreas Bjelland". www.ronaldzwiers.0catch.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- "Games played by Andreas Bjelland in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
External links
- Andreas Bjelland at vi.nl (in Dutch)
- Andreas Bjelland at DBU.dk (in Danish)
- Andreas Bjelland at Soccerbase
- Andreas Bjelland at Soccerway
- Andreas Bjelland – UEFA competition record
- Andreas Bjelland – FIFA competition record