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FC Midtjylland (Danish: ['mitjy,laen" "Central Jutland") is a Danish professional football club that is based at Herning in the city of Herning and Ikast located in midwestern region of Jutland. The club is the product of an amalgamation between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad. Midtjylland plays in the Danish Superliga, which they have been crowned three times, the most recently in 2020.

1. Club history

FC Midtjylland was founded by Johnny Rune, a carpenter and the owner of a business that was privately owned in the wood-supply sector, as well as Steen Hessel, a licensed Mercedes-Benz dealer.

The two men sought to unify the two club Ikast FS (founded 1935) and Herning Fremad (founded 1918) two clubs that for a long time were fierce rivals but never had a important part for the sport of Danish football. Ikast FS had some success during the late 1970s and 1980s, and even was able to make the three Danish Cup final appearances, however, it was not an elite club of the Danish league. A minimum of ten years been passed, with the two clubs unable to reach an agreement on a merger. However on the 6th of April, 1999, an agreement was signed and presented in a press conference the following day.

The year 2000 saw Midtjylland received promotion to the top-flight of the Danish Superliga after a season that saw the team earned greater points than all other clubs in the original division.

The month of July was the year that Matthew Benham (owner of English club Brentford) was made an owner of the largest stake in Midtjylland's parent firm FCM Holding. 4. The 2014-2015 season was when they took home the Danish soccer championship at the beginning of the season for the first time. In the following seasons they won two league championships in 2017-18 and 2019-20. Then, they qualified for in 2020-21 UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in their history.

2. Scouting and developing

Midtjylland has earned a name for identifying and nurturing talented players, and has an academy for youth that is highly regarded.

In July of 2004, Midtjylland was the first Danish club to create their own football academy like that of French club Nantes. The academy draws players from all over Denmark and also athletes of FC Ebedei, a partnering club from Nigeria. The club has built an extensive network of more than 100 clubs that are located in the western region of Jutland.

The year 2008 was the time that Danish centre back Simon Kjaer was a star of the academy was transferred to Palermo in exchange for a transfer fee that was approximately DKK30 millions (EUR4 million). In 2010 Sune Kiilerich, another talent from the academy was transferred to Sampdoria and Winston Reid, an academy product and New Zealand international, was transferred to West Ham United for DKK32 million (EUR4.26 million). In the year 2016, the vice captain Erik Sviatchenko was sold for PS1.5 million to Celtic.

The other notable transactions of products from the academy comprise Pione Sisto in Celta Vigo, Rasmus Nissen to Ajax, Andreas Poulsen to Borussia Monchengladbach, and Mikkel Duelund sold to Dynamo Kyiv.

3. Stadium

The team in 2004 relocated to the new stadium in Herning that could hold 11,432 fans. Midtjylland became the initial Danish club to offer the stadium's naming rights to a company, which led to the stadium's designation "SAS Arena" which has been changed in the past in to MCH Arena. The stadium's first match took place on the 27th March. The match was a huge success and saw Midtjylland defeating AB 6-1. Five scores were scored from Egyptian forward Mohamed Zidan.

On the 22nd of June, 2022, MCH Arena began the expansion of MCH Arena that will include an additional lounge for hospitality and 11 VIP boxes. The expansion will boost the overall capacity of the arena by an additional 720 seats increasing the capacity from 11,432 seats to 12,152. The expansion is expected to be completed in the month of December 2023.

4. Supporters

Black Wolves is the official fan club that is part of FC Midtjylland. It was established at the first week of August in 1999, when the official fan club from Ikast FS 1993 "Yellow Flames" changed their name in the extraordinary General Meeting. Ultra Boys Midtjylland is the first faction that is not officially recognized in Midtjylland formed around 2007 then changed its name to Ultras Midtjylland. The year 2014 was the time that Midtjylland received its third unofficial group, a youth-focused faction known as Midtjylland Ungdom. At present there are three unofficial groups: Zartow, Chaos Crew as well as Midtjylland Ungdom. All FC Midtjylland supporters go under the name Hedens Drenge.

Hedens Drenge is the Midtjylland's biggest fan-based social media platform with a fan base of about 11,000 in Instagram and Facebook in total.

The club's primary rival has been Viborg FF. The rivalry is sometimes known as The Battle of the Heath, The Battle of Hatred or The Derby in Midtjylland. It is said to be the second-largest in Denmark in comparison to FC Kobenhavn and Brondby IF.

5. Recent history

Season League Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Europe
2008-09 SL 4 33 16 7 10 55 46 55 Third round  
2009-10 SL 6 33 14 5 14 41 41 47 Finalist  
2010-11 SL 4 33 13 10 10 50 42 49 Finalist  
2011-12 SL 3 33 17 7 9 50 40 58 1/16 Finals UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round
2012-13 SL 6 33 12 11 10 51 47 47 Quarter-finals UEFA Europa League Playoff Round
2013-14 SL 3 33 16 7 10 61 38 55 Fourth round  
2014-15 SL 1 33 22 5 6 64 34 71 Fourth round UEFA Europa League Playoff Round
2015-16 SL 3 33 17 8 8 57 33 59 Fourth round UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round
UEFA Europa League Round of 32
2016-17 SL 4 36 15 9 12 67 53 54 Semi-finals UEFA Europa League Playoff Round
2017-18 SL 1 36 27 4 5 80 39 85 Semi-finals UEFA Europa League Playoff Round
2018-19 SL 2 36 21 8 7 76 43 71 Champion UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round
UEFA Europa League Playoff Round
2019-20 SL 1 36 26 4 6 61 29 82 Third Round UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round
2020-21 SL 2 32 18 6 8 57 33 60 Semi-finals UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round
2021-22 SL 2 32 20 5 7 59 33 65 Champion UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round
UEFA Europa League Group Stage
UEFA Europa Conference League Knockout Round

6. Honours

Danish Superliga

  • Winners : 2014–15, 2017–18, 2019–20
  • Runners-up : 2006–07, 2007–08, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22

1st Division

  • Winners : 1999–2000

Danish Cup

  • Winners : 2018–19, 2021–22
  • Runners-up : 2002–03, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2010–11

7. Players

Detail of the players as below mentioned.

7.1. Current squad

As of 9 September 2022

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Denmark DEN Jonas Lössl
4 DF Denmark DEN Stefan Gartenmann
5 MF Uruguay URU Emiliano Martínez (loan from RB Bragantino)
6 DF Sweden SWE Joel Andersson
7 MF Denmark DEN Pione Sisto
8 MF Sweden SWE Kristoffer Olsson (loan from Anderlecht)
9 FW Guinea GUI Sory Kaba
10 MF Brazil BRA Evander
11 FW Denmark DEN Gustav Isaksen
14 DF Denmark DEN Henrik Dalsgaard
16 GK Iceland ISL Elías Rafn Ólafsson
17 DF Denmark DEN Mads Døhr Thychosen
18 MF Zambia ZAM Edward Chilufya
19 MF Ivory Coast CIV Chris Kouakou
20 MF Denmark DEN Valdemar Byskov Andreasen
22 DF Denmark DEN Pontus Texel
24 MF Denmark DEN Oliver Sørensen
26 DF Colombia COL Pablo Ortíz
28 DF Denmark DEN Erik Sviatchenko (captain)
29 DF Brazil BRA Paulinho
30 MF Nigeria NGA Mark Ugboh
35 MF Brazil BRA Charles
36 FW Denmark DEN Anders Dreyer
39 FW Colombia COL Juan Felipe Moreno
44 DF Denmark DEN Nikolas Dyhr
73 DF Brazil BRA Juninho
74 FW Brazil BRA Júnior Brumado

7.2. Youth players in use

No. Pos. Nation Player
21 MF Denmark DEN Andreas Nibe

7.3. Out on loan

No. Pos. Nation Player
FW Denmark DEN Aral ÅžimÅŸir (at Lillestrøm until 31 December 2022)
FW Denmark DEN Victor Lind (at HamKam until 31 December 2022)
DF Denmark DEN Oliver Olsen (at Fredericia until 30 June 2023)
GK Denmark DEN Valdemar Birksø (at Fredericia until 30 June 2023)
FW Brazil BRA Marrony (at Fluminense until 30 June 2023)
FW Denmark DEN Frederik Heiselberg (at Fredericia until 30 June 2023)
DF Denmark DEN Viktor Bak (at Hobro until 30 June 2023)
DF Ivory Coast CIV Ousmane Diomande (at Mafra until 30 June 2023)

7.4. Youth team

FC Midtjylland Academy is the youth academy of FC Midtjylland. The academy is comprised of youth teams for under-19, under-17 , and under-15 basis.

7.5. Notable players

1990s

  • Denmark Søren Skriver (1994–2004)
  • Denmark Frank Kristensen (1997–2011, 2013–2014)
  • Denmark Peter Skov-Jensen (1999–2005)

2000s

  • Egypt Mohamed Zidan (2003–2005)
  • United States Danny Califf (2008–2009)
  • Denmark Mads Albæk (2004–2013)
  • Croatia Kristijan Ipša (2008–2013)
  • New Zealand Winston Reid (2005–2010)
  • Denmark Mikkel Thygesen (2004–2007, 2007–2011)
  • Denmark Jonas Lössl (2008–2014, 2021–)
  • Denmark Simon Kjær (2007–2008)

2010s

  • Sweden Petter Andersson (2012–2016)
  • Netherlands Rafael van der Vaart (2016–2018)
  • Nigeria Sylvester Igboun (2010–2015)
  • Nigeria Paul Onuachu (2013–2019)
  • Nigeria Frank Onyeka (2018–2021)
  • Denmark Jakob Poulsen (2010–2012, 2014–2019)
  • Denmark Rasmus Nissen (2012–2018)
  • Denmark Morten "Duncan" Rasmussen (2012–2016)
  • Denmark Pione Sisto (2013–2016, 2020–)
  • United States Bill Hamid (2018–2020)
  • Finland Tim Sparv (2014–2020)

2020s

  • Denmark Anders Dreyer (2020–2021, 2022)
  • Brazil Vagner Love (2022)

8. Coaches

  • Denmark Ove Pedersen (1 July 1999 – 30 June 2002)
  • Denmark Troels Bech (1 July 2002 – 31 December 2003)
  • Denmark Erik Rasmussen (1 Jan 2004 – 30 June 2008)
  • Denmark Thomas Thomasberg (1 July 2008 – 11 August 2009)
  • Denmark Allan Kuhn (12 Aug 2009 – 15 April 2011)
  • Denmark Glen Riddersholm (16 April 2011– 25 June 2015)
  • Denmark Jess Thorup (12 July 2015 – 10 October 2018)
  • Denmark Kenneth Andersen (10 October 2018 – 19 August 2019)
  • Denmark Brian Priske (19 August 2019 – 29 May 2021)
  • Denmark Bo Henriksen (31 May 2021 – 28 July 2022)
  • Spain Albert Capellas (24 August 2022 – )

9. FC Midtjylland in European competition

FC Midtjylland's very first European match was played on 9 August 2001 at the 2001/02 UEFA Cup, playing Northern Ireland's Glentoran to draw 1-1 during the initial phase of the Qualifying Round and then progressing into the First Round where the team was eliminated Sporting CP. In the year 2016, Midtjylland made it to the Round of 32 for the 15-16 UEFA Europa League, where they scored an 2-1 victory at home against Manchester United but would end with a 6-3 aggregate loss after the second match.

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
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 1–0 1–1 (2–4)
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
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 SÅ«duva MarijampolÄ— 1–0 1–0 2–0
2Q Liechtenstein Vaduz 3–0 2–2 5–2
3Q Hungary Videoton 1–1 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
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 (p)
2022–23 UEFA Champions League 2Q Cyprus AEK Larnaca 1–1 1–1 2–2 (4–3)
3Q Portugal Benfica 1–3 1–4 2–7
UEFA Europa League Group F Italy Lazio 15 Sep 27 Oct  
Netherlands Feyenoord 6 Oct 13 Oct
Austria Sturm Graz 3 Nov 0–1

9.1. UEFA club coefficient ranking

As of 30 May 2022

Rank Team Points
85 Spain Espanyol 19.228
86 Spain Athletic Bilbao 19.228
87  Midtjylland 19.000
88 Norway Molde 19.000
89 Ukraine Zorya Luhansk 18.000

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