It was a shocking moment for all football fans. During the first half of the match between Denmark and Finland at the Euro 2020, midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field. In the midst of the tension, he was quickly assisted on the pitch by the medical personnel. Then, he was evacuated to the hospital, and an hour later, doctors confirmed the Danish player was stable and awake. Since then, Eriksen hasn’t played professional football again. Until now.
Eriksen Signs for Brentford FC
Premier League club Brentford announced the acquisition of the Danish player, a signing the football world celebrates. He was close to calling it quits, but the 30-year-old midfielder has signed a six-month contract with the London-based club, and could be back in action very soon.
Recovering Step by Step
Following the incident at the Euros, doctors implanted a cardioverter-defibrillator device on his body, a tool able to perform defibrillations when needed. This device allows Eriksen to play football at pro level again, but not all leagues allow players with these kinds of devices. Italy’s Serie A is one of them, and given that Eriksen was part of Inter Milan’s squad since 2019, the club terminated the Danish player’s contract.
Eriksen began his rehabilitation training with two former clubs. He went back to Odense’s OB in his home country, where he played as an academy player. Eriksen also trained with Ajax youth team. It was in Ajax where he made his professional debut and became a top class player. There were rumours that the Dutch club would make an offer to Eriksen, but on the last day of the January transfer window, Brentford announced him as their new player.
Back in London
It won’t be Eriksen’s first spell in London. Right after rising to prominence at Ajax, he was acquired by Tottenham Hotspur for around 13 million euros. Playing for the North London club, the Danish playmaker helped Spurs to a consistent finish among the top four teams in the Premier League, getting close to winning the league in 2016/17 season. Two year later, Tottenham reached the Champions League final after an improbable last-minute comeback versus Ajax in the semi-finals. They eventually lost to Liverpool FC, but it was an amazing run nevertheless.
Now, Eriksen is back in London but in a different environment. Brentford returned to the Premier League for the first time in 74 years, so the expectations are rather different from his spell with Tottenham. As a newly-promoted club, their goal is just to avoid relegation, but the pressure for Eriksen won’t be as high as his time as a Spur. At the same time, it will be a fine place for the Danish midfielder to regain his competitive form and make an impact on the pitch.
Greatest ever signing?
Eriksen will be under the instruction of Thomas Frank, a Danish manager who knows Eriksen pretty well. Back in the day, Frank coached Eriksen when he was playing for the national team’s youth side. This reunion will definitely help Eriksen feel comfortable as he makes himself a place in the starting eleven. Frank, in charge since 2018, has said that Eriksen could be the team’s ‘greatest ever signing,’ considering he arrived on a free transfer and is still considered one of the best playmakers in European football. It’s been a great commercial success so far for Brentford, as their kit sales have increased considerably after the announcement.
If Brentford maintain their current pace and Eriksen adds a touch of his quality, the London club should be able to remain in a safe place and guarantee themselves a spot in the Premier League for another year. It’s a win-win situation for all parties involved, also on a personal level.
Eriksen is determined to seize the opportunity. He announced that he wants to play at the Qatar 2022 World Cup later this year, so he needs to use his stint at Brentford as an opportunity to showcase his talent and return to the national team. Denmark is already qualified for the tournament, and he’s been one of their key players in recent years.
Brentford’s Unstoppable Progression
The Bees have been growing steadily over the last decade, mostly thanks after supporter Matthew Benham became the majority owner of the club. Benham made tons of money in betting after applying his knowledge in big data from his experience in finance and physics. After taking charge of Brentford, he decided to implement the same strategy to sign underrated players and help his favourite team reach the Premier League. At that time, Brentford was a small club mostly competing in the second or third tier of English football, but his plan took the Bees to the top level in 2021.
His philosophy has made another team successful. Benham became the majority owner of Danish side Midtjylland in 2014, and they rapidly became national champions under his spell. But it’s not only the amount of cash spent to improve the team, it’s also the way it’s done. Benham has put a lot of effort into analytics, an area not very well regarded in the traditional world of football. Brentford employs a handful of mathematicians and data analysts in their decision making, something the top clubs are starting to do, as well.
Watch Christian Eriksen Play
It surely is a special environment. Eriksen’s story could be one of the highlights of the remainder of the season. A perfect excuse to book a football trip to the Premier League and watch Brentford play live.