A fan’s guide – the club from early doors to today
2020 champions FC Midtjylland are a new force in the Danish game. Based in a burgeoning sport and leisure zone on the outskirts of Herning, at a stadium built shortly after the club was founded in 1999, ‘FCM’ have maintained a consistent presence in the upper reaches of the Superliga. The European campaign of 2019-20 was their sixth in a row, and their 13th overall.
Off the pitch, FCM created Denmark’s first football academy and have links with India, Nigeria and… Brentford, whose owner, Matthew Benham, became a major shareholder in Midtjylland in 2014.
The club represent Central Jutland, previously a footballing backwater. In fact, 2015 was the first time the Danish title has gone to the region, whose former leading light, Ikast FS, merged with Herning Fremad in 1999. Based in Herning, this new club, FC Midtjylland, gained promotion to the Superliga in their first season – and have stayed there ever since.
Two consecutive second-place finishes in 2006-07 and 2007-08 featured goals from Frank Kristensen, who came on board as the club masseur before the 2014-15 campaign, and Danish international Dennis Sørensen – but it was the defensive cover of Kristian Bach Bak that attracted Heerenveen to swoop in for him after an impressive 2006-07. The centre-back returned to Midtjylland in 2010 and lifted the league crown as captain five years later.
Replacing him in 2007-08 was Simon Kjaer, a product of FCM’s youth academy, who then became a successful piece of business when sold on to Palermo a season later. Other players to come through the FCM system around the same time were Winston Reid, later West Ham Player of the Year in 2012-13, and Christian Sivebaek, son of Denmark’s Euro 92 right-back John.
In 2008-09, FCM produced their best-ever European performance, holding Manchester City to an aggregate 1-1 scoreline in the UEFA Cup, falling to Joe Hart’s goalkeeping bravura in the shoot-out.
With former Ikast FS youth coach Glen Riddersholm hired as manager, Midtjylland continued to challenge. One of his Riddersholm challenges was to lead the club in the 2011 Danish Cup Final, decided on a 92nd-minute goal by FC Nordsjaelland. This was the second consecutive meeting of the two clubs at the national Parken stadium, and FCM’s fourth final defeat.
Silverware at last came under Riddersholm in 2015. FCM led nearest challengers FC Copenhagen from the fifth league round onwards, and never let up. The arrival of Austro-Bosnian striker Martin Pušić proved crucial as Midtjylland notched an impressive goals-for tally while international forward Morten Rasmussen confirmed his successful return to Danish football after an unhappy spell at Celtic.
No sooner had captain Kristian Bach Bak raised the Superliga trophy than a bombshell struck the club before its debut campaign in the Champions League: Riddersholm, involved in the club for 20 years, had walked out, amid rumours of a power struggle.
Incoming coach Jess Thorup, who had motivated both Esbjerg and Denmark’s under-21 side to beat expectations, was swiftly brought in – although unable to avert a Champions League defeat by APOEL Nicosia.
Domestic form, however, has been impressive, as was FCM’s victory over Southampton in the subsequent Europa League play-off. Tim Sparv, a product of the Saints’ own academy now playing at Midtjylland, may have been muted in celebration of his away goal but FCM then took off in Europe.
Squeezing through a tricky Europa League group with Napoli, Club Bruges and Legia Warsaw, the Herning side earned a plum tie against Manchester United. Replying to the visitors’ away goal with two of their own – one from young Nigerian international Paul Onuachu who would go on to hit double figures every season afterwards – FCM gained a famous victory.
Tonked at Old Trafford, Midtjylland then reached the play-off round in the same tournament three seasons running. The decision to retain coach Jess Thorup was a smart one, for in 2017-18, FCM kept level with Brøndby in the league only to power ahead in the Championship Round.
Perhaps a telling statistic is the goals-for tally of 80 – and the fact that no single player featured in the top eight of the scoring charts. With experienced captain Jakob Poulsen and Tim Sparv still in midfield, this was a solid squad with strength in depth. Goalkeeper Jesper Hansen, 15 years in the game, also proved a wise investment.
After Gent tempted coach Thorup to Belgium, former FCM youth coach Kenneth Andersen steered the club to a first Danish Cup victory, on penalties over Brøndby, in 2019.
Stadium Guide
The field of dreams – and the stands around it
The MCH Arena is not only the comfortable and compact home of FC Midtjylland – it is part of what was launched in 2000 as Vision 2025. So far comprising this 11,800-capacity stadium, the Boxen indoor arena and centres for concerts, trade fairs and congresses, this hub will later include a drive-in cinema, adventure park and business park, all connected to town by cablecar. A motorway linking the complex to other towns around Jutland is already in place, skirting the south-west of Herning where the MCH Arena opened in 2004.
If football by cablecar seems a little far-fetched, it wasn’t that long ago that the local club here was playing at a ground little better than what would be semi-professional in England. The merger of Herning Fremad and Ikast FS to formFC Midtjylland in 1999 changed all that.
In little over ten years, the arena has staged four Denmark internationals, fixtures for the European under-21 championships of 2011 and FCM’s regular campaigns in Europe. A modest expansion may be an option although even in their two title-winning seasons, FCM averaged attendances of below 10,000.
Home fans, the Black Wolves, occupy the North Stand, currently named after sponsors CC Contractor and standing-only. More than half the South Stand is also for FCM followers. Depending on demand, visiting supporters are allocated the standing sector nearest the West Stand, accessed through Indgang (‘Gate’) 1. The main stand houses the press and VIP areas, and club shop, Ulveshoppen.
getting there
Going to the stadium – tips and timings
On match days, special trains run from Herning main station to Herning Messecenter, which serves the trade-fair complex. From there, it’s about a 10min walk.
Also from town, bus 6A leaves from the Bybusterminal behind the rail station and takes 10mins to reach the stadium.
getting in
Buying tickets – when, where, how and how much
With capacity at below 12,000, availability for visiting fans of major European teams is limited – these games often sell out. For domestic fixtures, with the possible exception of FC Copenhagen, availability isn’t usually a problem. You can check online at billetsalg.fcm.dk although only credit cards issued by a Danish bank will be valid to purchase tickets via the internet.
The ticket office at the MCH Arena opens Mon-Thur 8am-4.30pm, Fri 8am-3pm and match days. Prices behind the goals, for visiting fans included, are just over Dkr100 for adults, Dkr40 for children. Along the sidelines, it’s Dkr135/Dkr80, rising to Dkr150-plus in the main East Stand.
what to buy
Shirts, kits, merchandise and gifts
The Ulveshoppen behind the main stand opens on match days.
Stadium tours
Explore the ground inside and out
Stadium tours (Dkr100) lasting 1hr can be arranged by emailing Saa@fcm.dk.
Where to Drink
Pre-match beers for fans and casual visitors
There’s nothing around the stadium complex but countryside, a matter that was addressed in 2018, a Fan Zone was set up in the area in front of the club shop. You’ll find pre-match family-friendly activities alongside outlets for Royal beer and legendary Danish hot dogs.
