Anders Lindegaard

Anders Lindegaard

Lindegaard warming up before a game in 2011
Personal information
Full nameAnders Rozenkrantz Lindegaard[1]
Date of birth13 April 1984
Place of birthDyrup, Denmark
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Manchester United
Number13
Youth career
2001–2003OB
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003–2009OB6(0)
2008→ Kolding (loan)10(0)
2009–2010Aalesund56(0)
2010–Manchester United19(0)
National team‡
2002Denmark U192(0)
2003Denmark U204(0)
2010–2011Denmark6(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:00, 11 May 2014 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:05, 26 December 2011 (UTC)

Anders Rozenkrantz Lindegaard (Danish: [ˈɑnɐs ˈlinˀəɡɒːˀ]; born 13 April 1984) is a Danish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Manchester United, having joined the club in November 2010. He initially came through the ranks of his hometown club, Odense Boldklub, but left due to a lack of first-team opportunities. He got his senior breakthrough winning the 2009 Norwegian Football Cup with Aalesund. He was named 2010 Goalkeeper of the Year in both Denmark and Norway.

He represented Denmark at U19 and U20 level, before making his senior debut on 7 September 2010 against Iceland.

Club career

Odense

Born in the Dyrup suburb of Odense,[3] Lindegaard started his career at local Danish Superliga team Odense Boldklub (OB). He made his Danish Superliga debut in a 3–1 victory against Silkeborg IF on 19 November 2006.[4] He made his UEFA competition debut on 30 July 2009, in a 4–3 win over Rabotnički.[5] During most of his time in Odense, he was kept out of the team by Arek Onyszko, and he had two loan spells at Kolding FC, where he remained undefeated in the ten league games he got for the team, after it had lost the first four games of the season,[6] and Aalesunds FK, who he would later join permanently. When Onyszko was sacked by Odense in June 2009 due to him being convicted for assaulting his ex-wife, Lindegaard was seen as his replacement.[7] However, the arrival of Roy Carroll at Odense two months later forced him to move on.[8]

Aalesund

In 2009, he joined Norwegian club Aalesunds FK on loan and later permanently. In 2009, he won the Norwegian Football Cup with Aalesund. In 2010, Lindegaard was named Goalkeeper of the Year in both Norway and Denmark.

Manchester United

2010–11 season

Since early November 2010, he was reported to have become a target for English club Manchester United. However, former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel opined that Lindegaard was not yet ready for regular Premier League action.[8] On 23 November 2010, it was reported that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson expected to complete the signing of the player in the "next two or three weeks."[9] On 27 November 2010, Lindegaard joined Manchester United on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £3.5m.[10] He trained with the first team throughout December, but he was unable to play for his new club until the transfer window re-opened on 1 January 2011. Lindegaard was officially registered with the Premier League on 6 January, and assigned the number 34 jersey.[11]

On 29 January, Lindegaard made his Manchester United debut in a 2–1 victory against Southampton in the FA Cup Fourth Round.[12] He made his Old Trafford debut on 19 February in another FA Cup match, this time against the Conference National side Crawley Town, in which United won 1–0.[13] In March, he underwent knee surgery that would keep him out of action for five weeks.[14]

On 16 May, Lindegaard played in the Manchester Senior Cup final for the Manchester United Reserves against the Bolton Wanderers Reserves, which United went on to win 3–1.[15]

2011–12 season

On 14 September, Lindegaard made his first UEFA Champions League start for United against Portuguese side Benfica. The match ended in a 1–1 draw with Lindegaard winning critical acclaim for his performance. Manager Alex Ferguson, however, still decided to continue with first-choice keeper David De Gea for the next match in the Premier League against Chelsea. Asked about challenging for the first-team spot, Lindegaard said: "What answer do you expect to that question? I've said a thousand times before I'm not here to pick my nose."[16] On 18 October, Lindegaard was handed his second Champions League start for United. He played against Oțelul Galati, with the match ending in a 2–0 win for United, earning them their first Champions League Group stage victory.

On 1 October 2011, Lindegaard made his Premier League debut for United against Norwich in a 2–0 win at Old Trafford. Lindegaard continued his run of clean sheets in his next four appearances in the Premier League, which included a 1–0 home win against Sunderland on 5 November, a 1–0 away win against Aston Villa on 3 December, a 5–0 away win at Fulham on 21 December and a 5–0 home win against Wigan in United's Boxing day fixture. His run of clean sheets in the league finally ended on 4 January away to Newcastle United when he was beaten three times in a game that United lost 3–0. A week later on 8 January, Lindegaard played his biggest game for Manchester United so far, a 3–2 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup. He was chosen again for the starting line-up the following week when United beat Bolton Wanderers 3–0.[17] On Monday 30 January 2012, Anders damaged ankle ligaments in training, forcing him to miss the game against Stoke the next day, along with the unwell first-choice David de Gea meaning youngster Ben Amos played between the sticks. Later in the week Sir Alex Ferguson revealed Anders would be missing for 4–5 weeks and wouldn't be expected back until the home game with West Bromwich Albion.

On 3 August 2012, Lindegaard signed a new four-year contract with United, keeping him at the club until June 2016.[18] He also took the number 13 jersey made vacant by the departure of Park Ji-Sung, who had left the club for Queens Park Rangers.[19]

2012–13 season

Since the game against Norwich on 17 November 2012 the first-choice goalkeeper David de Gea was sidelined with wisdom teeth problems.[20] Lindegaard was kept in goal for United's next five games until De Gea was recalled for the Champions League match against CFR Cluj. Lindegaard returned to the first team on 1 December 2012, against Reading, a match that ended 4–3. After the match, he came in for criticism by former United goalkeeper Alex Stepney, who said that he lacks "authority at the back".[21] After a long period on the bench as an understudy to De Gea and United having already secured the league title a month earlier, Lindegaard started in goal for Sir Alex Ferguson's final game as United manager against West Brom at the Hawthorns; the match finished 5–5. That appearance was Lindegaard's 10th of the season, qualifying him to receive a Premier League winner's medal.

2013–14 season

In 2013–14, Lindegaard made just three appearances for the Manchester United first team – against Norwich City in the League Cup, against Swansea City in the FA Cup and against Newcastle United in the league – keeping clean sheets against Norwich and Newcastle.

International career

Lindegaard has represented Denmark at under-19, under-20, and senior level. He made his debut for the Denmark under-19 national football team in September 2002, and played a 2003 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship qualification 1–0 win over Switzerland on 13 October 2002.[5] He played a total six youth international games until September 2003.

He made his senior international debut in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Iceland on 7 September 2010. Denmark won 1–0.[22][23] On 8 October 2010, Denmark faced Portugal in another Euro 2012 qualifier. Early on in the game, with Denmark trailing 0–2, an injury sustained by starting goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen brought Lindegaard into action. He made many saves to keep his team in the game, but conceded a goal in the 85th minute to Cristiano Ronaldo for the 1–3 result. Lindegaard started the following Euro 2012 qualifier against Cyprus, in which Lindegaard kept a clean sheet as Denmark won 2–0. He was expected to feature for Denmark at the Euro 2012 finals but due to injuries while playing for his club and lack of proper game time post-recovery his national team mate Stephan Andersen took over after normal second choice goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen was injured in a pre-tournament friendly against Brazil.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 11 May 2014[24]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other[nb 1] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
OB 2003–04 0000–00–00
2004–05 0000–00–00
2005–06 0000–––00
2006–07 1000–00–10
2007–08 1000–00–10
2008–09 0000–00–00
2009–10 4000–20–60
Total 6000–20–80
Kolding (loan) 2008–09[6] 10000–––100
Aalesund 2009 26030–––290
2010 30010–2010340
Total 56040–2010630
Manchester United 2010–11 002000000020
2011–12 8010002000110
2012–13 10010101000130
2013–14 101010000030
2014–15 000000000000
Total 19050203000290
Career total 77090206010950

International

As of match played 11 May 2014[25]
Denmark national team
YearAppsGoals
201040
201110
Total50

Honours

Club

Aalesund

Odense Boldklub

Manchester United

Individual

Personal life

Lindegaard is married to Misse Beqiri a Swedish model of Albanian roots and they have a boy named Julian.[26][27]

LGBT activism

Lindegaard is one of the few footballers to have spoken out against the intolerance of homosexuality in football and the absence of openly gay players from the professional game. In a 2012 blog entry he wrote:

As a footballer I think first and foremost that a homosexual colleague is afraid of the reception he could get from the fans. My impression is that the players would not have a problem accepting a homosexual. Homosexuality in football is a taboo subject. The atmosphere on the pitch and in the stands is tough. The mechanisms are primitive, and it is often expressed through a classic stereotype that a real man should be brave, strong and aggressive. And it is not the image that a football fan associates with a gay person. The problem for me is that a lot of football fans are stuck in a time of intolerance that does not deserve to be compared with modern society's development in the last decades. While the rest of the world has been more liberal, civilised and less prejudiced, the world of football remains stuck in the past when it comes to tolerance. Homosexuals are in need of a hero. They are in need of someone who dares to stand up for their sexuality.[28]

Notes

  1. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Superfinalen, FA Community Shield

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). Premier League. 4 February 2014. p. 22. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Player Profile: Anders Lindegaard". Premier League. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "Portræt: Fra dansk reserve til keeper i gigantklub" [Portrait: From Danish reserve goalkeeper to the giant club]. POLITIKEN.DK (in Danish) (POLITIKEN). 18 November 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  4. ↑ "Anders Lindegaard OB Statistics" (in Danish). danskfodbold.com. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Anders Lindegaard". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Johnsen, Thomas (25 November 2008). "Lindegaard tabt for KFC?" [Lindegaard lost for KFC?]. jv.dk (in Danish). Jydske Vestkysten. Retrieved 28 November 2010. KFC har ellers ikke tabt en eneste af de ti kampe, hvor Lindegaard har vogtet målet... [KFC had not lost any of the ten games, where Lindegaard had guarded the net...]
  7. ↑ "OB har Areks afløser klar". bold.dk. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ladyman, Ian (23 November 2010). "Peter Schmeichel: Anders Lindegaard is not a Manchester United No 1". Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  9. ↑ "Man Utd close to Anders Lindegaard signing". BBC Sport. 23 November 2010. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  10. ↑ "Man Utd complete Anders Lindegaard signing". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 27 November 2010. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  11. ↑ Hibbs, Ben (6 January 2011). "Lindegaard gets no.34". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  12. ↑ "Anders Lindegaard does not want Manchester United's No1 shirt". Guardian. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  13. ↑ Mathieson, Stuart (21 February 2011). "Anders Lindegaard: United weren't good enough". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  14. ↑ Thompson, Gemma (15 March 2011). "Anders set for knee op". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  15. ↑ "First Team: Anders Lindegaard". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  16. ↑ Herbert, Ian (15 September 2011). "Ferguson snaps over 'stupid' query about De Gea omission". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  17. ↑ Qureshi, Michael (14 January 2012). "Nu er Lindegaard nummer 1". Sporten.dk. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  18. ↑ "Manchester United's Anders Lindegaard signs new four-year deal". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 3 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  19. ↑ Marshall, Adam (17 August 2012). "Reds reveal shirt numbers". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  20. ↑ McDonnell, David (28 November 2012). "Hottest tin roof: Spanish cat De Gea says there's no pressure like United pressure". mirror.co.uk (Mirror Online). Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  21. ↑ Taylor, Daniel (8 December 2012). "Sir Alex Ferguson needs to figure out that two into one won't go". guardian.co.uk (The Guardian Online). Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  22. ↑ "Man Utd eye Lindegaard as Van der Sar successor". ESPN soccernet. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  23. ↑ Bruun, Peter (7 September 2010). "Last-gasp Kahlenberg crushes Iceland". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  24. ↑ Endlar, Andrew. "Anders Lindegaard". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  25. ↑ "Anders Lindegaard". National Football Teams. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  26. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2552068/Anders-Lindegaard-posts-pictures-stunning-WAG-Misse-Beqiri.html
  27. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2656188/Manchester-United-goalkeeper-Anders-Lindegaard-new-model-wife-Misse-Beqiri-posts-scorching-snap-Instagram.html
  28. ↑ "Football needs gay hero, says Manchester United goalkeeper". Breaking News. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.

External links