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Mads Roerslev

Mads Roerslev
Roerslev warming up with Copenhagen in 2017
Personal information
Full name Mads Roerslev Rasmussen[1]
Date of birth (1999-06-24) 24 June 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Copenhagen, Denmark[1]
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Right-back, right wing-back
Team information
Current team
Brentford
Number 30
Youth career
0000–2017 Copenhagen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Copenhagen 5 (0)
2017Halmstads BK (loan) 1 (0)
2019Vendsyssel (loan) 4 (0)
2019– Brentford 111 (2)
International career
2015–2016 Denmark U17 16 (0)
2016–2017 Denmark U18 3 (0)
2017–2018 Denmark U19 10 (1)
2018–2019 Denmark U20 4 (0)
2019–2021 Denmark U21 6 (0)
2024– Denmark 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:41, 12 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:34, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

Mads Roerslev Rasmussen (born 24 June 1999) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a right-back or right wing-back for Premier League club Brentford and the Denmark national team.

Roerslev is a product of the FC Copenhagen academy. A fringe player after signing a professional contract, he transferred to English club Brentford in 2019 and was a part of the squad which was promoted to the Premier League in 2021. Roerslev was capped by Denmark at youth level and made his senior debut in 2024.

Club career

FC Copenhagen

A right-back, Roerslev progressed through the academy at F.C. Copenhagen and made his senior debut as a second-half substitute for Frederik Bay in a Danish Cup third round match versus Jammerbugt FC on 26 October 2016.[1][2] He capped a dream debut with a goal in the 6–1 victory.[3] Roerslev made four further appearances during the 2016–17 season and signed a new four-year contract in May 2017.[1][4] He worked to improve his one-on-one defending with experienced right-back Tom Høgli.[5]

Down the pecking order at the Parken Stadium,[6] Roerslev appeared sparingly during the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons.[1] He spent time away on loan at Halmstads BK and Vendsyssel FF,[7][8][9] but made few appearances for either club,[1] which hindered his development.[6] Entering the 2019–20 season completely out of favour,[10] Roerslev departed FC Copenhagen in August 2019,[6] after making 13 appearances and scoring one goal during three seasons as a senior player at the club.[1]

Brentford

Roerslev playing for Brentford in July 2021

2019–2021

On 7 August 2019, Roerslev moved to England to join the B team at Championship club Brentford on a two-year contract, with the option of a further year, for an undisclosed nominal fee.[2][11] Roerslev broke into the first team squad in October 2019 and by March 2020, after 10 appearances, his performances led to him signing a new four-year contract and promotion into the first team squad.[12] Roerslev ended the 2019–20 season with 14 appearances.[13]

A metatarsal injury suffered on international duty saw Roerslev miss the first four months of the 2020–21 season.[14] He returned to match play in early January 2021 and after a number of substitute cameos, an injury to his mentor, Henrik Dalsgaard, allowed him to break into the starting lineup in early April.[14][15] He held onto his place until the end of the regular season and through the playoffs,[16] which culminated in promotion to the Premier League after victory in the 2021 Championship play-off final, during which he assisted Emiliano Marcondes for one of the goals.[17] Roerslev finished a breakthrough 2020–21 season with 22 appearances.[16]

2021–2023

Following the release of first-choice right back Henrik Dalsgaard,[18] a change in formation to 3-5-2 saw Roerslev begin the 2021–22 season behind stand-in right wing back Sergi Canós in the pecking order.[19] The pair traded the position during the season.[19] Approaching the midway point of the season, mounting injuries in the central defensive positions saw Roerslev deployed in a right centre back role.[20][21][22] He finished the 2021–22 season with 26 appearances and one goal, scored with the winner in a 2–1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa on 2 January 2022.[23]

After beginning the 2022–23 season behind new signing Aaron Hickey and right-sided defender Kristoffer Ajer in the right back pecking order,[24] injuries to both players led to Roerslev assuming the starting right back role in mid-October 2022.[15] He signed a new three-year contract in February 2023 and finished the season with 23 appearances.[25][26]

2023–present

The early months of 2023–24 mirrored that of the previous season, with injury to Aaron Hickey in late-October 2023 allowing Roerslev to take over the starting right back role.[15][27] He ended the campaign with a season-high 38 appearances and one goal, scored in a 2–2 draw with Chelsea on 2 March 2024.[28]

Owing to Brentford entering the 2024–25 season without either first-choice full back,[29] Roerslev was again the only recognised right back available and competed for the position with stand-ins Kristoffer Ajer and Sepp van den Berg.[30]

International career

Roerslev was capped Denmark at every level between U17 and U21.[31] He was a member of the Denmark squads at the 2016, 2018 and 2021 UEFA European U17, U19 and U21 Championships respectively.[31][32] In May 2022, Roerslev was called into the senior team's training camp prior to its opening 2022–23 Nations League A matches.[33] Following the withdrawal of Alexander Bah, Roerslev won his maiden call into the Denmark squad for a pair of friendly matches in March 2024 and he remained an unused substitute in both.[15][34] Two defensive suspensions saw Roerslev win his second call-up for a Nations League A match versus Switzerland on 15 October 2024 and he again remained an unused substitute.[15][35] Injury to Joakim Mæhle saw Roerslev receive his third call-up for the following pair of Nations League A matches in November 2024.[10] He made his debut with a start in the second match, a 0–0 draw with Serbia.[31]

Style of play

A right-back, Roerslev "is very good offensively – he is a good crosser of the ball, very good one-on-one, quick and energetic to get up and down the pitch. He is also good defending one-on-one".[12]

Personal life

Roerslev was a Manchester United supporter while growing up.[36]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 9 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Copenhagen 2016–17[1] Danish Superliga 3 0 2 1 0 0 5 1
2017–18[1] Danish Superliga 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
2018–19[1] Danish Superliga 0 0 1 0 4[c] 0 5 0
Total 5 0 4 1 4 0 13 1
Halmstads BK (loan) 2017[1] Allsvenskan 1 0 1 0
Vendsyssel FF (loan) 2018–19[1] Danish Superliga 4 0 1 0 1[d] 0 6 0
Brentford 2019–20[13] Championship 11 0 2 0 0 0 1[e] 0 14 0
2020–21[16] Championship 17 0 2 0 0 0 3[e] 0 22 0
2021–22[23] Premier League 20 1 2 0 3 0 26 1
2022–23[26] Premier League 20 0 1 0 2 0 23 0
2023–24[28] Premier League 34 1 2 0 2 0 38 1
2024–25[37] Premier League 9 0 0 0 2 0 11 0
Total 111 2 10 0 9 0 4 0 134 2
Career total 123 2 14 1 9 0 4 0 4 0 154 3
  1. ^ Includes Danish Cup, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearance in Danish Superliga relegation play-offs
  5. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Championship play-offs

International

As of match played 18 November 2024[31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Denmark 2024 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

Brentford

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Mads Roerslev at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b "Mads Roerslev Rasmussen signs for Brentford B". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  3. ^ "To debutanter – tre mål". F.C. København (in Danish). 26 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  4. ^ "F.C. København forlænger med Mads Roerslev". F.C. København (in Danish). Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Roerslev discusses his best defensive displays". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Mads Roerslev solgt til Brentford FC". F.C. København (in Danish). Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  7. ^ "FCK bekræfter: Sender Keita til Halmstad". bold.dk. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Ung FCK'er forlader Halmstad efter fodfejl". bold.dk. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Mads Roerslev udlejet til Vendsyssel FF". F.C. København (in Danish). Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  10. ^ a b Jensen, Anders (12 November 2024). "Dømt helt ude: 'Du bliver nødt til at hjælpe'". Tipsbladet.dk. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  11. ^ Harris, Jay. "Brentford's 25 B team players: Where are they now?". The Athletic. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Mads Roerslev signs new contract". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Games played by Mads Roerslev in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  14. ^ a b Marshall, Sam. "The Long Read: Mads Roerslev". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d e Mads Roerslev at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  16. ^ a b c "Games played by Mads Roerslev in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  17. ^ a b Vincent, Gareth (29 May 2021). "Brentford 2–0 Swansea City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Farewell to Henrik Dalsgaard". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  19. ^ a b Bennett, Dan (21 June 2022). "Four areas Brentford need to strengthen this summer". West London Sport. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  20. ^ ""We will try to be as aggressive and front-footed as normal"". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Howe influenced Newcastle from hotel room". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  22. ^ Majid, Uzzi (12 December 2021). "Roerslev praises Brentford belief after mounting late comeback win vs Watford". Football.London. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Games played by Mads Roerslev in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  24. ^ Bennett, Dan (28 December 2022). "Brentford set to recall Stevens from Swansea loan". West London Sport. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Roerslev signs new contract". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Games played by Mads Roerslev in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Hickey suffers injury setback". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Games played by Mads Roerslev in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Frank staunchly defends Roerslev after Fulham performance". hounslowherald.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  30. ^ "Aaron Hickey's latest setback labelled "tough and devastating" by Thomas Frank". Vavel. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  31. ^ a b c d Mads Roerslev national team profile at the Danish Football Association (in Danish)
  32. ^ "Mads Bech Sørensen and Mads Roerslev in Denmark's Under-21 Euros squad". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Mads Bech receives first senior call-up for Denmark". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  34. ^ "Endelig! Mads Roerslev er indkaldt til landsholdet". Tipsbladet.dk. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  35. ^ @dbulandshold (13 October 2024). "Mads Roerslev indkaldes til Herrelandsholdet Lars Knudsen har efter karantæner til Victor Kristiansen og Morten Hjulmand indkaldt Brentfords Mads Roerslev, så truppen til kampen mod Schweiz nu er på 23. 📸 @fbbillederdk #ForDanmark" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  36. ^ "Mads Roerslev". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  37. ^ "Games played by Mads Roerslev in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2024.