Simon Kjaer, the captain of Denmark at the Qatar World Cup 2022

Simon Kjaer has been playing football since he was 4 years old. He started in humble Lund IF, close to his native Horsens, and recently at the age of 15 he entered the 1st danish academythat of FC Midtjylland, the club where his father was a prop man. «We only took it because his father was working for the club,» Claus Steinlein, director of the institution, admits years later. He was one of the first players to come out of that now prestigious quarry. Despite not showing natural talent, his determination, the one that still characterizes him, allowed him to become a professional soccer player.

Originally, his position was midfielder but in 2007when debuted in the first of FC Midtjyllandhad already been converted into the central defender. in the middle of that year was tested in Real Madrid and it stayed but the danish club decided not to sell it, even. One year later, palermo offered 4 million euros for his pass and they accepted. At that time he dreamed of being «the best in the world» and was inspired by Fabio Cannavaro and John Terry.

That stay in A series it was decisive. He allowed him to perfect himself as a defender and in the art of recovering from everything. Barely 18 years old, and without knowing a word of Italian, he settled in Sicily, in the house of a Danish family while he missed his own. It was the time when he had the habit of putting on his right sock first every morning. When he still had a weakness for McDonald’s food and he became addicted to panelle from Palermo.

Those years in Italy also catapulted him to the Denmark national team. He debuted at just 20 years old in a classic against Sweden of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, today his partner in AC Milan. Morten Olsen called him up to replace the retired Martin Luarsen and made him a place in the ready for the 2010 World Cup. From then on, he was always in the national team. Today he accumulates 119 games and 5 goals.

That first World Cup dream in South Africa quickly turned into a nightmare. After starting in the loss against Netherlands in the debut and figure in the victory against Cameroon, missed game 3 due to suspension. Without him, the defense sank before Japan Y Denmark were left out of the group stage, in their worst historical performance in a World Cup.

His high level in Palermo and that good World Cup debut attracted the wolfsburg. But his time in the Bundesliga was not satisfactory. Nor yielded in Rome Luis Enrique, where he was loaned. Was the worst stage of his career. Low levels, criticism in the National Team and a lot of uncertainty. Instead of defending him, his manager in Denmark, Morten Olsen, even stated «Kjaer is not very fond of the ball.» Years later, Simon reflects: «There always has to be a scapegoat, and I had that role for a while.» Again, he got through that bad time thanks to his mental strength.

In 2013 went to Lillea French club that had wanted him when he was a youth, and there began to regain his level. Then he spent a couple of years in the Fenerbahce Turkish, before arriving in Seville for another 2 seasons. At that stage, consolidated as captain of the National Team after the retirement of Daniel Agger. The appointment of an introverted Kjaer generated resistance. Åge Hareide, the Danish manager who chose him, explained his decision by appealing to his leadership and his strength: “Simon is a leader on the court. He doesn’t talk much off the pitch but he’s very solid on the pitch. He leads by example.».

Kjaer wore the bracelet for the first time in 2016 in a match against Bosnia. From the beginning he showed himself to be the right man, he scored a goal and was a figure. Later, led Denmark to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, beating Ireland in the playoffs, and then up to the round of 8 playing every minute and scoring their penalty in the elimination against Croatia. In 2019somewhat stagnant in his career, went to look for new goals in Italy, where he returned first on loan to Atalanta and then to AC Milan. In the rossonero he found his place in football. In the last season, he won his only title by becoming Calcio champion.

as captain, Kjaer starred in the wage conflict of 2018, which led Denmark to field an amateur team in a friendly against Slovakia. That situation alienated a good part of the Danish people with their National Team. Just a crisis, a traumatic situation, managed to reconcile the team with the stands. That happened on June 12, 2021, when Christian Eriksen collapsed in the middle of his debut match at Euro 2020in Copenhagen and before Finland.

Kjaer was also captain that day and he also rose to the occasion. The Danish leader was the first to understand that his friend was suffering from a serious problem. He summoned the doctors, gave him first aid, organized his shocked colleagues to cover the resuscitation work and comforted Sabrina, Eriksen’s wife. Then he spoke in the locker room and had the courage to admit that if the game went on, he was going to have trouble playing. Play continued, and Kjaer left the pitch early, a few minutes after Finland’s goal. Denmark ended up losing 1-0 while Christian recovered at a nearby hospital. That was the only important thing.

After the match, Glen Riddersholm, manager of youthful Kjaer at FC Midtjylland, wrote to Simon’s father: «You have raised a giant.» Speaking to Danish media, he added: “He has been through a lot of adversity in his career and has shown impressive strength and endurance. He has not always received the recognition that he deserves. I am very happy that he receives it now.”

The Danish team was strengthened by this trauma. He made it to the semis and fell with some injustice to England. Everyone points to Kjaer as one of the architects of that epic recovery. “I am incredibly proud to have him as captain”said the goalkeeper kasper schmeichel. «Simon was the great role model he always is,» added Hjulmand, his manager.. Kjaer passed on his resilience to the entire team. Far from sinking in the face of a limit situation, Denmark got up and made a memorable tournament.

Kjaer faces what will be his 3rd World Cup as a renewed leader. UEFA rewarded him for his actions in that match. The football community also found a way to recognize it. A few months later, in the Ballon d’Or election, Simon appeared 18th on the final list. The captain appreciated the praise but praised the group: «I’m honored but my reaction was impulsive. What we did, we did as a team. I wouldn’t have been able to stay calm if I didn’t have anyone to lean on.» And they lean on him to continue dreaming. Now big with Qatar 2022 on the horizon.