Casper Ankergren

Casper Ankergren (born 9 November, 1979) is a Denmark professional football (soccer) player. He plays as a goalkeeper for English club Leeds United A.F.C.. He has played three matches for the Denmark national under-21 football team.

Biography

Ankergren started his career with Køge BK in the secondary Danish 1st Division, whom he represented at various Danish national youth teams. In January 2001, he moved to Brøndby IF in the top-flight Danish Superliga championship. He made his debut in October 2001, and thus played a single match as Brøndby won the Danish Superliga 2001-02 title. Ankergren got his breakthrough with Brøndby following the retirement of club legend Mogens Krogh in December 2002. He played the second half of the Danish Superliga 2002-03, and helped the club win the 2003 Danish Cup.

For the Danish Superliga 2003-04, Brøndby bought meritted goalkeeper Karim Zaza as their first choice keeper and Ankergren spent the season as a substitute. At the start of the Danish Superliga 2004-05, Zaza suffered an injury and Ankergren went on to play the entire season as Brøndby's starting goalkeeper, even after Zaza had recovered. Ankergren finished the season setting a league record 18 clean sheets in his 32 games in the goal, and helped Brøndby win the Double of both the 2004-05 Superliga and 2005 Danish Cup titles.

He started the Danish Superliga 2005-06 in the Brøndby goal, but at the winter interval, Zaza was once more promoted to first choice keeper. Zaza left the club in the summer 2006, and Ankergren signed a new three-year contract with Brøndby. Brøndby had a disappointing start of the Danish Superliga 2006-07, sitting in seventh place at the winter break. However, Ankergren was called up for the Denmark national football team by national manager Morten Olsen in October 2006, where he served as a backup goalkeeper for Jesper Christiansen. When Brøndby bought former Danish international goalkeeper Stephan Andersen in the January 2007 transfer window, Ankergren announced his decision to leave the club.

In January 2007, he signed a loan (football) with England club Leeds United A.F.C., who were battling relegation in the Football League Championship. He signed for the remainder of the The Football League 2006-07, with an option for Leeds to buy him at a fixed transfer fee at the end of the season. Ankergren has established himself as a firm favourite with Leeds fans, putting in a number of match saving saves and performances. His popularity was further increased during the 1-0 victory over Luton Town making his second penalty save since joining Leeds. An injury temporarily forced him out of the side with another Leeds loanee goalkeeper Graham Stack taking his place, although Casper retook his place in the side once he reached match fitness. Casper has since made it publicly known that he would like to continue his stay at Leeds past his loan spell; whilst Leeds' manager Dennis Wise has stated he would like to keep Casper at the club.

Ankergren has become something of a cult hero in his short time at Elland Road, after a penalty save against Luton fans heaped well earned praise on the Dane who is extremely keen to stay at Elland Road on a permanent basis due to excellent support and a good life in Leeds so far. He is popular due to the large amount of effort he puts into his performances, his skill and his passion, often visible during his short stay at the club.

Ankergren transferred to Leeds for an undisclosed fee from Brondby, signing a three year contract on 6 August 2007. Ankergen has played in all the club's matches in the The Football League 2007-08 so far.

Honours

- Danish Superliga: 2002, 2005
- Danish Cup: 2003, 2005