Randers FC

Randers FC (Danish pronunciation: [ˈʁɑnɐs]) is a professional football club based in Randers, East Jutland, Denmark, that plays in the Danish Superliga, the top flight of the Danish football league system. Founded on 1 January 2003, the club builds upon the license of Randers Freja, a former three-time Danish Cup winning team. Following the founding of Randers FC, the club has won the Danish Cup once. Randers plays its matches at the 10,300-capacity Cepheus Park Randers.

Not to be confused with Rangers F.C..

Randers
Full nameRanders FC
Nickname(s)Hestene (The Horses)
Short nameRFC
Founded1 January 2003 (2003-01-01)
GroundCepheus Park Randers
Randers, Denmark
Capacity10,300
ChairmanPer Hastrup
Sporting directorSøren Pedersen
CoachThomas Thomasberg
LeagueDanish Superliga
2018–19Danish Superliga, 8th

History

The club was formed on 1 January 2003, as a collaboration between six local Randers-clubs; Dronningborg Boldklub (founded 1928), Hornbæk Sportsforening (founded 1945), Kristrup Boldklub (founded 1908), Randers Freja (founded 1898), Randers KFUM (founded 1920) and Vorup Frederiksberg Boldklub (founded 1930), continuing Randers Freja's (at the time) 1st division-team.[1]

First years and Cup success

In the first season as a newly created club, Randers ended in fourth place in the Viasat Sport Division with 51 points. The captain of the Denmark national team which won UEFA Euro 1992, Lars Olsen, was coach of the team. The following year, the team ended in second place with 66 points and was promoted to the country's best league, the SAS Liga.

With only 24 points in 2004–05 season in the SAS Liga, Randers finished in last place. In the 2005–06 season, however, Randers redeemed itself, securing promotion back to the SAS League with 61 points while also winning the Danish Cup with a 1–0 victory over Esbjerg in the final at Parken Stadium on 11 May 2006. Randers was the first team since 1974 who managed to win the Danish Cup although playing in the second-highest league in Denmark.

In mid-2005, the club brought in former Denmark national team midfielder Stig Tøfting on a free transfer, after AGF, his childhood-club, refused to let him play (even for free) due to his violent background with several sentences.[2] Tøfting was appointed Assistant Coach in November 2006.[3]

In the 2006–07 season, Randers finished in eighth place with 38 points, as well as participation in the UEFA Cup the season before, where the club met ÍA of Iceland, FBK Kaunas of Lithuania and major club Fenerbahçe from Turkey.

Before the start of the 2007–08 season, Randers signed former England national team player Colin Todd as its new manager. Randers started the season in great fashion, winning its first four matches (most notably a 5–0 win against Aalborg BK).

In the second half of the 2007–08 season, Randers continued to improve in the Danish league. With new signings Marc Nygaard and Søren Berg, expectations grew as the season progressed, and Randers ultimately finished in sixth place following a 2–1 win against Brøndby IF in the final matchday of the season.

The 2008–09 season started in promising fashion for the club, recording a 3–1 win against the local rivals AGF. Randers continued its solid start with a 1–1 a draw with Copenhagen. In the third round, Randers was to play Brøndby away; the club had never defeated Brøndby away before. Randers won 0–3 following goals from Carsten Fredgaard, Bedi Buval and Tidiane Sane. After the five first rounds, Randers was still undefeated, though at the winter break Randers was placed mid-table.

Up and Down Years

On 4 November 2008 Randers announced that former Danish international John Jensen (aka John "Faxe" Jensen) would become its new manager from 1 July following the ending of Colin Todd's contract.[4] Todd, however, expressed his frustration about how Randers had dealt with the situation and openly criticised the club for putting him in a difficult situation.[5][6]

Jensen ended up taking the place as manager six months before schedule due to the club having reached an agreement with the then present manager Todd. Jensen was officially announced new manager on 5 January. He started his time in Randers in great fashion, winning the first league game of the season against local rivals AGF 2–1. However, the club failed to sustain the winning form when they went to draw against Vejle BK and thereafter lost the following three games to the top three sides OB, Copenhagen and BIF. The team's losing streak culminated in a 1–6 to Nordsjælland.

The club, however, responded well to the losing streak and won its following five games, ironically setting a new club winning streak. The season ended with a 3–3 draw away against Danish champions Copenhagen and a fifth-place finish, it highest league rank in club history. Marc Nygaard claimed the golden boot for 16 goals during the season. Morten Nordstrand was later credited for a goal on penalty in the final match, and also had a goal tally of 16, but Nygaard was awarded the title as he was the first to reach the 16 goals.[7]

Randers and Faxe decided that Tøfting was not the right choice as assistant manager, and, on 1 May 2009, the club announced that Tøfting's contract would not be extended. On 2 June, the club announced that two of Jensen's colleagues from the Euro 1992-winning Danish side – Henrik Larsen and Flemming Povlsen – as its new assistant managers; Larsen was named first assistant manager while Povlsen as assistant focused on the club's attack. However, after a catastrophic start to the 2009–10 season with only 2 points earned from 11 league games, Jensen and his assistants were released from their contracts.[8]

Ove Christensen was appointed new head coach for Randers for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.[9] He was given the objective to save Randers from relegation, although Randers was projected to be relegated at the winter break by the media and experts. However, a historic comeback with 16 games without defeat[10] meant that its topflight status was to be decided on the final day of the season. A loss to Brøndby would mean that if AGF won its game against OB, the best team of the spring season would be relegated. OB won 0–3 and Randers lost its first match in the second half of the season 1–3, ensuring Randers kept their top-flight status. Yura Movsisyan was arguably the key in Randers' survival, as he scored 7 goals in 13 games.

When Ove Christensen arrived, he gave the squad an overhaul and nine players were released or sold in the winter break of 2009–10 season. He also made several signings: Anders Egholm from SønderjyskE, Morten Karlsen from Nordsjælland and Søren Jensen on loan from Odd Grenland. Christensen signed a new one-year contract as head coach on 17 May 2010.

In the following season, however, Christensen could not follow up on the success and was fired after a loss to Brøndby. Peter Elstrup and Allan Kuhn were Brough in as caretakers but could not prevent Randers' relegation at the end of the season. Michael Hemmingsen was named new head coach with the first task to bring Randers back to the Superliga. With Hemmingsen as head coach, Randers ended the 2011–12 season in second place in the Danish 1st division, thereby earning promotion back to the Superliga.

League success and Europa League-qualification

Despite having earned promotion to the Danish Superliga, Hemmingsen was replaced as head coach by former Randers coach Colin Todd, who returned to the club following his coaching spell from 2007–2009. Randers did well in its first season after being promoted, ending its 2012–13 league campaign in third place, the club's best ever league finish. The team also reached the final in the Danish Cup, but lost 0–1 to Esbjerg. Nonetheless, the league result meant that Randers was to participate in the UEFA Europa League. It entered the tournament in the third round of qualifying, where it met Rubin Kazan. Randers, however, lost the home match 1–2 and the away match 0–2, thus failing to qualify for the group stage.

European record

In the 2006–07 season Randers managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup as Danish Cup winners. In the 2009–10 season the club was invited to participate in the Europa League due to its second-place in the Danish league Fair Play ranking – behind 2008–09 champions Copenhagen, which claimed Denmark's UEFA Champions League spot. During the 2010–11 season, the club participated in the Europa League due to its second-place finish in the Danish league Fair Play ranking – behind 2009–10 champions Copenhagen, which again claimed the Champions League spot.

Season Competition Round Opposition Home Away Aggregate
2006–07[11] UEFA Cup First qualifying round ÍA 1–0 1–2 2–2 (a)
Second qualifying round FBK Kaunas 3–1 0–1 3–2
First round Fenerbahçe 0–3 1–2 1–5
2009–10[12] UEFA Europa League First qualifying round Linfield 4–0 3–0 7–0
Second qualifying round Sūduva 1–1 1–0 2–1
Third qualifying round Hamburger SV 0–4 1–0 1–4
2010–11[13] UEFA Europa League First qualifying round F91 Dudelange 6–1 1–2 7–3
Second qualifying round Gorica 1–1 3–0 4–1
Third qualifying round Lausanne-Sport 2–3 1–1 3–4
2013–14 UEFA Europa League Third qualifying round Rubin Kazan 1–2 0–2 1–4
2015–16 UEFA Europa League First qualifying round Sant Julià 3–0 1–0 4–0
Second qualifying round Elfsborg 0–0 0–1 0–1

Stadium

Randers Stadium

Randers Stadium was founded in 1961. It was built to hold 18,000 spectators and in 1969 a record of 16,500 people attended the UEFA Cup loss against 1. FC Köln.

AutoC Park Randers

AutoC Park has a capacity of 10,300 spectators. It was built by C. F. Møller Architects and is established on the former Randers Stadion.

The stadium attendance record before the rebuild of the stadium is 11,824, set against Brøndby on 16 May 2010.

BioNutria Park Randers

On 22 September 2015, it was announced that local company BioNutria had bought the name rights of the stadium until 31 October 2018.

Cepheus Park Randers

On 14 Nov 2018, it was announced that Cepheus group had bought the name rights of the stadium for 3 years. The new stadium attendance record after the stadium was being build, is 9.947, set against Aarhus GF on 06 October 2019

Supporters

The official supporters are The Blue Horses, however there are more factions within the fanculture of Randers.

Honours

Records

Most games played: 223 Mads Fenger

Most goals: 41 Ronnie Schwartz

Biggest league win: 5–0 Randers  – AAB (in 2007) [14]

Biggest league loss: 1–6 Randers  – Nordsjælland (in 2009), SønderjyskE – Randers FC (in 2012)[15]

Highest attendance(home): 11,824 Randers  – Brøndby[16]

Longest run without defeat: 16 (29 November 2009 – 5 May 2010)

Longest winning streak: 5 (13 April 2010 – 3 May 2010)

Longest run without a win: 18 (31 May 2009 – 29 November 2009)

Players

Current squad

As of 24 June 2020[17]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  SWE Patrik Carlgren
4 DF  DEN Johnny Thomsen
5 DF  DEN Mathias Nielsen
6 MF  DEN André Rømer
7 MF  DEN Mikkel Kallesøe
8 MF  AUT Simon Piesinger
9 FW  DEN Emil Riis Jakobsen
10 FW  SLE Alhaji Kamara
11 DF  DEN Erik Marxen (captain)
14 MF  DEN Frederik Lauenborg
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 DF  GER Björn Kopplin
17 DF  DEN Jesper Lauridsen
20 MF  DEN Vito Hammershøy-Mistrati
22 MF  DEN Mathias Greve
24 MF  NIG Issah Salou
25 GK  DEN Jonas Dakir
28 DF  DEN Simon Graves Jensen
35 FW  DEN Tobias Klysner
36 MF  DEN Oliver Kristensen
45 FW  AUT Marvin Egho

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
42 FW  DEN Kasper Høgh

Youth players in use

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
12 DF  DEN Mikkel Brund (from Randers FC U19)
39 FW  DEN Oliver Jensen (from Randers FC U19)
No. Pos. Nation Player
39 MF  DEN Filip Bundgaard (from Randers FC U19)
51 GK  DEN Johannes Frahm (from Randers FC U19)

Managers

Staff

Management

Position Name
Chief Executive Officer Henrik Jørgensen
Head of Financials Henrik Jørgensen
Sales Kathrine Fisker
Administration Manager Jesper Hansen
Press Officer Kristian Fredslund Andersen
Press Officer Ib Rasmussen
Team Services Manager Jan Faurskov
Sponsor Coordinator Anders Rasmussen
IT & Ticket Coordinator Michael Møller Højfeldt
Sales Assistant Lone Nikolajsen

Team

Position Name
Director of Football Søren Pedersen
Head coach Thomas Thomasberg
Assistant Coach Rasmus Bertelsen
Assistant Coach Morten Eskesen
Youth-Development Coach Peter Elstrup
Goalkeeper Coach Erik Boye
Performance Manager Thomas Rostgaard Andersen
Chief team assistant Peer Kam
Team assistant Maibritt H. Schmücker
Team assistant Torben Vildner Pedersen
Team assistant Lars Pedersen
Team assistant Hans Kirkegaard
Medical Dr. Peter Faunø

Shirt sponsors

2003 – 2005–06: Nike

2006–07 – 2009–10: Umbro

2010–11 – 2012–13: H2O[18]

2013–14 – 2014–15: Warrior[19]

2015–16 – : Puma

League statistics
Season Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Notes
2002–03 1D 4 301569 654951 Fourth round
2003–04 1D 2 302136 854366 Fourth round promoted
2004–05 SL 12 335919 306424 Fourth round relegated
2005–06 1D 2 301947 643061 winner promoted
2006–07 SL 8 3310815 415338 quarter-final UEFA Cup 1st round
2007–08 SL 6 3313812 413347 quarter-final
2008–09 SL 5 3311139 525046 Fourth round
2009–10 SL 10 33101013 374340 Fourth round Europa League – 3. Qualifying round
2010–11 SL 11 3361611 414834 Semi Finals relegated/Europa League – 3. Qualifying round
2011–12 1D 2 261547 382249 3rd round promoted
2012–13 SL 3 3315711 364252 runner up
2013–14 SL 7 3391410 414541 3rd round
2014–15 SL 4 3314109 392852 Quarter-final
2015–16 SL 6 3313812 454347 Quarter-final Europa League – 2. Qualifying round
2016–17 SL 7 3211813 333541 Quarter-final Lost in European Play-off final
2017–18 SL 12 327916 325230 Quarter-final Won in the Second-Round of Relegation Play-off
2018–19 SL 7 3212911 353945 3rd Round Lost in European Play-off final
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References
  1. "(In Danish)". Randersfc.dk. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  2. Michael Olesen. "Stig Tøfting til Randers | Sport | DR". Dr.dk. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  3. "Randers FC – Stig Tøfting bliver i Randers FC". Randersfc.dk. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  4. "Faxe præsenteret i Randers". Bold.dk. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  5. "Colin Todd vil fyres". Bold.dk. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  6. "Todd skuffet over håndteringen". Bold.dk. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  7. "Nordstrand fik sit mål – Fodbold". Sporten.dk. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  8. "Randers FC – John Faxe stopper i Randers FC". Randersfc.dk. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  9. "Randers FC – Ove Christensen er den nye cheftræner". Randersfc.dk. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  10. "FØR AAB-KAMPEN: VIDSTE DU AT". Randersfc.dk. Retrieved 22 November 2012."FØR AAB-KAMPEN: VIDSTE DU AT". Randersfc.dk. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  11. "UEFA Europa League 2006/07 – History – Randers –". Uefa.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  12. "UEFA Europa League 2009/10 – History – Randers –". Uefa.com. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  13. "UEFA Europa League 2010/11 – History – Randers –". Uefa.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  14. Archived 3 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  15. "Randers FC". Ligafodbold.dk.
  16. Archived 26 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  17. , Randers FC website
  18. "Danish sportswear". H2O Sportswear. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  19. "Randers FC". Warrior Football. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
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