Football Season Guide

After only one year in the lower division Aalborg bounced back to the top flight again. They finished second in First Division but full 16 points ahead of the nearest team behind them so their promotion was never really in doubt. The mastermind behind this successful season was the Swedish head coach Oscar Hiljemark. Unfortunately, he was tempted by an offer to coach back in Sweden and Aalborg had to look for a replacement. The Dutch specialist Menno van Dam is now in charge. This is a risky appointment as this represent the first coaching job for Van Dam at senior level. He coached Brondby’s U19s last, with Brondby’s U17s being his first job in Denmark two years ago. Van Dam is expected to use his experience at youth level and develop many young players. The big question is if this will happen fast enough so Aalborg avoid another relegation. The team already lost three of their most important stars from last season. Younes Bakiz was the main chance-creator so he will be badly missed. The starting goalie Josip Posavec and the main holding midfielder Richard Odada are also gone. Van Dam still can rely on his two most potent forwards from last season Mathias Jörgensen (11 league goals) and Nicklas Helenius (7 league goals). Also, wingers Kelvin John and Andres Jasson were added to try and fill the hole left by Bakiz. Right-back Kasper Jörgensen should continue to be a key figure. He had 7 goals and 6 assists last season, with more than 65% of Aalborg’s big chances created down the right flank. Attacking mainly down the right is likely to remain a feature of Aalborg’s displays going forward. Knowing the manager’s history of youth development the likes of Nóel Atli Arnórsson (17-years-old), Mads Bomholt (18-years-old) and Anders Noshe (18-years-old) could start feature often this season. The fact that none of the new signings so far is older than 23 shows that the new gaffer is ready to trust young blood in the battles.