Mikkel Beckmann
Encyclopedia
Mikkel Beckmann is a Danish
professional footballer
. He plays as a winger for FC Nordsjælland
in the Danish Superliga
and for the Danish national football team
. He has amassed 7 caps
for Denmark in total, and was a member of the FIFA World Cup squad in 2010.
in the 2007–08 season. As one of Lyngby's hot prospects he and Kim Aabech
, another highly touted player, are often referred to as "Aabeckman" by Lyngby fans. Despite Beckmanns personal success he was unable to stop Lyngby from being relegated to the Danish 1st Division
in 2008. Beckmann played 105 matches for the club and scored 20 goals until the summer 2008. He was particularly renowned at Lyngby for his ability to handle icy playing conditions, often being brought on as a substitute immediately following a break in play due to heavy snow.
On August 31, 2008, Beckmann signed a four year long contract with Danish club Randers FC
. Beckmann got his debut against AC Horsens
on September 14, the game ended 1–1. However, Beckmann found himself sidelined after suffering from a knee injury which kept him out for the following five matches. He made his return against AC Horsens on November 16 coming on as a sub in the second half. When the winter break arrived Beckmann had created three assist in five matches. Beckmann spoke of his desire to show his full potential after the winter break after having his match appearances reduced by an injury. In his second season at the club, Beckmann established himself in the starting line-up. Randers were in shared last place at the winter break, 13 points below the relegation line, but in the spring season 2010, Beckmann scored seven goals in 15 games, as Randers made a sensational comeback and stayed in the Superliga.
, which resulted in Beckmann being sold to Danish Cup
winners F.C. Nordsjælland
for a reported 1,000,000 Danish kroner, where Beckmann signed a three contract with the Farum
club and was given the number 10 shirt.
in August 2004, but did not get to play.
Having helped Lyngby to the Superliga, Beckmann was called up as a replacement by national team manager Morten Olsen
for a series of unofficial national team games in January 2008. He made an impression, and Olsen included him in the Danish national team later that month, in order to further test Beckmann's international level. He made his debut in a February 2008 friendly match 2–1 win against Slovenia
, and also played in the subsequent friendly against the Czech Republic
, a 1–1 draw. He was a part of the Danish squad until June 2008, but did not play any further games.
In May 2010, he was included in Olsen's preliminary 30-man selection for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, and was subsequently chosen for the final 23-player squad. Olsen had been impressed with his form for Randers in the spring season 2010, while the inclusion came as a surprise to Beckmann himself.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He plays as a winger for FC Nordsjælland
FC Nordsjælland
Football Club Nordsjælland is a professional Danish football team from the North Zealand town of Farum, Denmark. Founded as Farum Boldklub from the merger of the town's two football clubs Farum IK and Stavnsholt BK in 1991, the club changed its name to F.C...
in the Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
and for the Danish national football team
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
. He has amassed 7 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Denmark in total, and was a member of the FIFA World Cup squad in 2010.
Club career
Beckmann started his professional career when he signed with Lyngby BK in 2004. The high point of his time in Lyngby was the promotion into the Danish SuperligaDanish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
in the 2007–08 season. As one of Lyngby's hot prospects he and Kim Aabech
Kim Aabech
Kim Aabech is a Danish footballer who currently plays for Lyngby Boldklub in the Danish Superliga. His father is former Danish international Hans Aabech. He scored his first Danish Superliga goal on July 29, 2007 against local rivals FC Nordsjælland.- External links :...
, another highly touted player, are often referred to as "Aabeckman" by Lyngby fans. Despite Beckmanns personal success he was unable to stop Lyngby from being relegated to the Danish 1st Division
Danish 1st Division
The 1st Division has been the name of the second highest football league in Denmark since 1991. From 1945 to 1991 the 1st Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark...
in 2008. Beckmann played 105 matches for the club and scored 20 goals until the summer 2008. He was particularly renowned at Lyngby for his ability to handle icy playing conditions, often being brought on as a substitute immediately following a break in play due to heavy snow.
On August 31, 2008, Beckmann signed a four year long contract with Danish club Randers FC
Randers FC
Randers FC is a Danish professional football team based in Randers, which plays in the top-flight Danish Superliga championship. Founded as a merger on January 1, 2003, the club builds upon the license of Randers Freja, a former three-time Danish Cup winning team...
. Beckmann got his debut against AC Horsens
AC Horsens
AC Horsens is a professional Danish football team, playing in the Danish Superliga championship. They play on Forum Horsens Stadion in Horsens. The club was founded in 1994, as a superstructure on Horsens fS and the merger of Dagnæs IF and B 1940; FC Horsens.-History:When the new team started in...
on September 14, the game ended 1–1. However, Beckmann found himself sidelined after suffering from a knee injury which kept him out for the following five matches. He made his return against AC Horsens on November 16 coming on as a sub in the second half. When the winter break arrived Beckmann had created three assist in five matches. Beckmann spoke of his desire to show his full potential after the winter break after having his match appearances reduced by an injury. In his second season at the club, Beckmann established himself in the starting line-up. Randers were in shared last place at the winter break, 13 points below the relegation line, but in the spring season 2010, Beckmann scored seven goals in 15 games, as Randers made a sensational comeback and stayed in the Superliga.
F.C. Nordsjælland
The following 2010-11 season, Randers were relegated to the 1st DivisionDanish 1st Division
The 1st Division has been the name of the second highest football league in Denmark since 1991. From 1945 to 1991 the 1st Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark...
, which resulted in Beckmann being sold to Danish Cup
Danish Cup
The Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
winners F.C. Nordsjælland
FC Nordsjælland
Football Club Nordsjælland is a professional Danish football team from the North Zealand town of Farum, Denmark. Founded as Farum Boldklub from the merger of the town's two football clubs Farum IK and Stavnsholt BK in 1991, the club changed its name to F.C...
for a reported 1,000,000 Danish kroner, where Beckmann signed a three contract with the Farum
Farum
Farum is a town in the northeast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark, 20 km northwest of Copenhagen. The town has a population of 18,521 .The town is part of Furesø municipality. Until 2006, it constituted Farum municipality....
club and was given the number 10 shirt.
International career
While at Lyngby, Beckmann was called up for the Denmark national under-21 football teamDenmark national under-21 football team
The Denmark national under-21 football team has played since 1976 and is controlled by the Danish Football Association. Before 1976, the age limit was 23 years.-U-21 European Championship:*1978 – Quarterfinals*1980 to 1984 – Did not qualify...
in August 2004, but did not get to play.
Having helped Lyngby to the Superliga, Beckmann was called up as a replacement by national team manager Morten Olsen
Morten Olsen
Morten Per Olsen is a Danish football manager and former football player. He has been the head coach of the Danish national team since 2000, guiding Denmark to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2004 European Championship and 2010 FIFA World Cup...
for a series of unofficial national team games in January 2008. He made an impression, and Olsen included him in the Danish national team later that month, in order to further test Beckmann's international level. He made his debut in a February 2008 friendly match 2–1 win against Slovenia
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
, and also played in the subsequent friendly against the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
, a 1–1 draw. He was a part of the Danish squad until June 2008, but did not play any further games.
In May 2010, he was included in Olsen's preliminary 30-man selection for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, and was subsequently chosen for the final 23-player squad. Olsen had been impressed with his form for Randers in the spring season 2010, while the inclusion came as a surprise to Beckmann himself.