Christian Eriksen facts for kids
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Eriksen playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2016
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christian Dannemann Eriksen | ||
| Date of birth | 14 February 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Middelfart, Denmark | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–2005 | Middelfart G&BK | ||
| 2005–2008 | OB | ||
| 2008–2010 | Ajax | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2013 | Ajax | 113 | (25) |
| 2013–2020 | Tottenham Hotspur | 226 | (51) |
| 2020–2021 | Inter Milan | 43 | (4) |
| 2022 | Brentford | 11 | (1) |
| 2022–2025 | Manchester United | 73 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007–2009 | Denmark U17 | 27 | (9) |
| 2009 | Denmark U18 | 5 | (1) |
| 2009 | Denmark U19 | 3 | (1) |
| 2011 | Denmark U21 | 3 | (1) |
| 2010– | Denmark | 144 | (46) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:04, 26 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 June 2025 |
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Christian Dannemann Eriksen (born on 14 February 1992) is a Danish professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder for the Denmark national team.
Eriksen started his professional club career at age 18 in 2010 with Ajax. There, he won three Eredivisie titles and the KNVB Cup. In 2013, Eriksen moved to Tottenham Hotspur. He was named the club's Player of the Year twice. He also reached the 2019 UEFA Champions League final with them. In 2020, Eriksen joined Inter Milan and won a Serie A title.
During a UEFA Euro 2020 match on 12 June 2021, Eriksen collapsed on the field. He had a cardiac arrest. Doctors gave him cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Later, he had a special device called an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator fitted. He returned to football eight months later with Brentford. After that, he moved to Manchester United. At United, he won an FA Cup and an EFL Cup. He left the club after the 2024–25 season.
Eriksen first played for the senior Denmark national team in 2010 when he was 18. He has played more than 140 games for his country. This makes him Denmark's player with the most appearances. He has played in six major tournaments. He was also the youngest player at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting Out in Denmark
Christian Eriksen was born in Middelfart, Denmark. He began playing football at a young age, following his father's path. He joined the academy of his local team, Middelfart G&BK. His father was also one of the coaches. In 2004, they helped their youth team win the local championship.
The next year, he joined OB. This club played in the Danish youth championships. Within a year, he helped them win a title for his age group. At OB, Eriksen started to show his amazing skills. Coaches praised his dribbling and free-kick techniques. Many big European clubs noticed him. These included Chelsea and Barcelona. Eriksen even had trials with these clubs. He also tried out for Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Milan. But he chose to join Ajax. He felt that playing in the Netherlands would be best for his growth as a player.
Time at Ajax
Joining the Youth and First Team
On 17 October 2008, Eriksen signed a contract with Amsterdam-based club, Ajax. He worked his way through the youth teams. In January 2010, he was moved up to the first team. He made his first team debut later that month. It was a 1–1 draw in the Eredivisie against NAC Breda.
Eriksen scored his first goal for Ajax on 25 March. It was in a 6–0 win over Go Ahead Eagles in the Dutch Cup. He signed a longer contract with the club the next month. He also played in the final of the 2009–10 Dutch Cup. Ajax won 6–1 overall against Feyenoord. By the end of his first season, Eriksen had played 21 matches and scored one goal. He had also made his debut for Denmark. His coach, Martin Jol, praised him a lot. He compared Eriksen to famous players like Wesley Sneijder and Michael Laudrup.
Becoming a Star Player
For the 2010–11 season, Eriksen wore the number eight jersey. He started the season well. He scored his first league goal for Ajax on 29 August 2010. It was in an away win against De Graafschap. He also scored his first home goal at the Amsterdam Arena. This was in a 3–0 Cup win over BV Veendam. He scored his first European goal in a 3–0 UEFA Europa League win against Anderlecht.
During this time, Eriksen was named Danish Talent of the Year. He became a regular starter for Ajax. He helped them win their first Eredivisie title in seven years. At the end of the season, he was named Ajax's Talent of the Year. He also won the Dutch Football Talent of the Year award. This made him only the second Danish player to win it.
On 18 October 2011, Eriksen scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League. Ajax beat Dinamo Zagreb 2–0. He continued to play very well for Ajax. His goals and assists helped the club win a second league title in a row. Eriksen and Ajax won the league again in the 2012–13 season. After this, he decided not to renew his contract. He wanted to find a new club. Eriksen left Ajax after playing 162 matches and scoring 32 goals.
Moving to Tottenham Hotspur
Starting in the Premier League
On 30 August 2013, Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur signed Eriksen from Ajax. The deal was worth about £11 million. He joined on the same day as two other players. He made his league debut against Norwich City on 14 September. He helped set up a goal in a 2–0 win. The Spurs manager, André Villas-Boas, said it was a "great debut" for Christian.
Five days later, Eriksen scored his first Tottenham goal. It was a great shot that helped them win 3–0 against Tromsø IL in the Europa League. He scored more goals, including one from a free kick against West Bromwich Albion. He also scored in a 2–1 away win against Manchester United. On 23 March, he scored twice against Southampton to help Tottenham come back from 2–0 down to win 3–2. By the end of the season, he had scored 10 goals and made 13 assists. He won the Danish Football Player of the Year award. He was also named Tottenham's Player of the Season.
For the 2014–15 season, Mauricio Pochettino became the new manager. Eriksen scored important late goals against Aston Villa, Hull City, and Swansea City. He said the new manager helped the team's fitness. By the end of 2014, Eriksen had scored 12 goals from open play. This was more than any other player in England. He won his second Danish Footballer of the Year award. On 28 January 2015, Eriksen scored twice against Sheffield United. This sent Tottenham to the League Cup Final. His first goal was a fantastic 30-yard free kick. Tottenham lost the final 2–0 to Chelsea. Eriksen played in every Premier League game that season. He scored 12 goals in total.
In June 2015, Eriksen said he would stay at Tottenham. He felt "right at home" there. He scored his first goals of the new season in October. He scored two free-kicks in a 2–2 draw with Swansea. In January 2016, Eriksen was named Danish Footballer of the Year again. He was the first player to win this award three years in a row. He scored 6 goals and made 13 assists. Tottenham finished third in the league. This meant they qualified for the Champions League.
Reaching New Heights with Spurs
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Before the next season, Eriksen signed a new long-term contract with Tottenham. He played a key role again. He scored eight goals and made 15 assists. Tottenham finished second in the league, behind Chelsea. Only Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne had more assists (18). Eriksen also had the most assists in the FA Cup. He won the Tottenham Player of the Season award for the second time.
Eriksen broke a record on 23 September 2017. He scored his 33rd goal in the Premier League. This was in a 3–2 win over West Ham United. He passed the record held by Nicklas Bendtner. On 9 December, he played his 200th game for Tottenham. He scored in a 5–1 win over Stoke City. The next month, he scored his 50th goal for the club. It was after just 11 seconds in a 2–0 win over Manchester United. This was the third-fastest goal ever in the Premier League.
On 17 March 2018, Eriksen scored twice in an FA Cup match against Swansea. This sent Spurs to the semi-final. On 1 April, Eriksen scored a 25-yard goal against Chelsea. This helped Tottenham win 3–1 at Stamford Bridge. It was their first win there in 28 years. Later that month, he scored twice against Stoke. On 14 April, Eriksen was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the first time.
In the 2018–19 season, Eriksen scored his first goal in a Champions League match against Inter Milan. He scored again in the home game against Inter, giving Tottenham a 1–0 win. He scored his first Premier League goal of the season on 15 December 2018. It was a late goal that won the game 1–0 against Burnley. On 31 March, he became only the second player to have 10+ assists in four Premier League seasons in a row. Three days later, in his 200th Premier League game, he helped set up the first goal at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He then scored a goal himself in a 2–0 win over Crystal Palace. On 23 April, he scored the winning goal against Brighton & Hove Albion. Eriksen also played in the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final. Tottenham lost 2–0 to Liverpool.
Time at Inter Milan
On 28 January 2020, Eriksen signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Serie A club Inter Milan. He made his debut the next day. He came on as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia. On 20 February, Eriksen scored his first goal for Inter. It was in a 2–0 win over Ludogorets Razgrad in the Europa League. He scored his first Serie A goal on 1 July in a 6–0 win against Brescia. On 21 August, Eriksen played in Inter's 3–2 loss against Sevilla in the 2020 Europa League Final. This made him the first player to lose two major UEFA finals in a row.
In December 2020, it was suggested Eriksen might leave Inter. However, his teammate Romelu Lukaku said Eriksen's struggles were due to the language barrier. On 26 January 2021, Eriksen came on as a substitute in a Coppa Italia match against Milan. In the final minutes, he scored a free kick to win the match for Inter. After the game, Inter manager Antonio Conte said Eriksen would stay. On 1 May, he scored Inter's first goal in a 2–0 win over Crotone. This brought the club closer to their first league title since 2009–10. Inter won the league title the next day. This ended Juventus's nine-year winning streak.
On 29 October 2021, it was announced that Eriksen could not play in Serie A. This was because of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator he had after his cardiac arrest. Close to half a year after his cardiac arrest, Eriksen began training individually. He trained at the facilities of his youth team OB in Odense. On 17 December 2021, Inter ended his contract.
Playing for Brentford
On 31 January 2022, Eriksen signed a six-month contract with Premier League club Brentford. On 26 February 2022, he made his first appearance. He came on as a substitute in a 2–0 loss to Newcastle United. He made his first assist since his cardiac arrest in a 2–0 win over Burnley on 12 March. He scored his first Premier League goal since his return on 2 April. It was in a 4–1 away win against Chelsea. This helped Brentford get their first win over Chelsea since 1939. Between Eriksen's debut for Brentford and the end of the season, only Kevin De Bruyne and Martin Ødegaard created more chances in the Premier League.
Time at Manchester United
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On 15 July 2022, Manchester United announced they would sign Eriksen on a three-year deal. On 28 July 2022, it was confirmed he would wear the number 14 shirt.
On 7 August, Eriksen made his club debut in a 2–1 home loss against Brighton & Hove Albion. He made his first assist in a 3–1 home win over Arsenal. He set up Marcus Rashford's second goal. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 away win over Fulham. Eriksen was a key player in United's 2022–23 EFL Cup winning team. He scored his first home goal for the club in a 2–0 win over Burnley.
In late May 2025, it was announced that Eriksen would leave Manchester United. His contract ended after the 2024–25 season. His last match with United was on 25 May against Aston Villa. Eriksen scored a penalty to help United win 2-0 on the last weekend of the Premier League season.
International Career for Denmark
Youth and Early Senior Career
Eriksen was first called up to the Denmark national under-17 football team in July 2007. He played very well in his debut on 31 July. In 2008, he scored eight goals in 16 games for the U-17 team. He was named Danish U-17 Talent of the Year. He played 27 games for the under-17 team until February 2009. He also played for the Denmark U-18 and Denmark U-19 teams. Eriksen was also part of the Danish U-21 squad for the European championship in Denmark in 2011. He scored a goal against Belarus in that tournament.
Eriksen received his first call-up to the senior Denmark team in February 2010. He made his debut in a friendly match against Austria in March. This made him Denmark's fourth youngest player to play for the senior team. On 28 May 2010, Denmark coach Morten Olsen announced that Eriksen would be in the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He was the youngest player in the whole tournament. At the World Cup, Eriksen played two matches. Denmark did not get past the group stage.
On 9 February 2011, Eriksen was named man of the match in a friendly loss against England. Many famous football people praised his performance. On 4 June 2011, Eriksen scored his first goal for the national team. It gave Denmark a 2–0 lead over Iceland in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier. He became the youngest Danish player ever to score a goal in European qualification.
World Cup and Euro Appearances
For the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Denmark was in UEFA Group E. Eriksen played a very important role in the team's qualification. He scored eight goals. This earned Denmark a play-off match against the Republic of Ireland. The first game was a 0–0 draw. But Eriksen scored three goals in Dublin in a 5–1 win. This sent Denmark to the World Cup. Eriksen's 11 goals in qualification were among the most in Europe. The national team manager, Åge Hareide, said Eriksen was one of the top 10 players in the world.
In Denmark's first match at the tournament, Eriksen helped set up the only goal in a 1–0 win over Peru. He then scored his first goal of the tournament in a 1–1 draw with Australia. Denmark moved on from their group. They then played Croatia in the Round of 16. They lost after a penalty shoot-out. Eriksen was one of three players whose penalty was saved.
On 9 September 2018, Eriksen scored twice in a 2–0 win over Wales. This was in Denmark's first 2018–19 UEFA Nations League B match. On 14 October 2020, Eriksen played his 100th match for Denmark. He scored a penalty in a 1–0 away win against England.
Cardiac Arrest and Return to Play
Eriksen was part of Denmark's squad for UEFA Euro 2020. On 12 June, during their first group match against Finland, Eriksen collapsed on the field. This happened in the 42nd minute. His teammate and captain Simon Kjær quickly helped him. Medical staff arrived right away. They performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and used a defibrillation device. Eriksen was then taken off the field. The match was stopped. About an hour later, officials confirmed that Eriksen was stable and awake. The match continued later that evening. Finland won 1–0. Eriksen was chosen as the man of the match.
The next day, doctors confirmed Eriksen had a cardiac arrest. On 15 June, Eriksen posted a picture from the hospital. He said he was "fine under the circumstances." The next day, it was announced he would have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator device fitted. This device helps control heart rhythms. On 18 June, Eriksen had a successful operation and left the hospital. He visited his teammates before going home. The Danish team later dedicated their 4–1 win over Russia to Eriksen. This win helped them reach the next stage of the tournament. They made it to the semi-finals, where they lost to England.
Return to International Football
Eriksen returned to international football on 26 March 2022. He came on at half-time in a 4–2 loss against the Netherlands. He scored two minutes after coming on.
Eriksen was in the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He played every minute of Denmark's games. They finished last in their group.
Eriksen was also in the squad for UEFA Euro 2024. He scored in Denmark's first group match against Slovenia. The game ended in a 1–1 draw. In the last group game against Serbia, he played his 133rd international match. This made him the most-capped Danish player, passing his teammate Simon Kjær.
How Christian Eriksen Plays
Eriksen is often called a "classic number ten". This means he plays in a creative role in the middle of the field. He plays behind the main attackers. He is a very flexible player. He can also play as a central midfielder or on the right side of the field. Sometimes, he has even played on the left side or as a second striker.
Eriksen is known for his great vision and passing. He can make accurate crosses and deliver perfect set-pieces. He is very creative and has excellent technical skills. He moves well and can read the game. He also has good balance and coordination. Experts praise him for his ability to create attacks for his team. He can find or create open spaces and give assists to his teammates. All these skills make him a great playmaker.
Besides his talent, he is also known for working hard and being smart on the field. He can score goals from midfield, especially from far away. He can shoot powerfully and accurately with both feet, even though he is naturally right-footed. He is also a very good free kick specialist.
Because of his playing style, many people compare him to other famous Danish players. These include Michael and Brian Laudrup. They were big inspirations for him when he was young. He has also mentioned Francesco Totti as someone who inspired him.
Personal Life
Eriksen lives with his girlfriend Sabrina Kvist Jensen. They have a son and a daughter. His younger sister Louise Eriksen also plays professional football. She has played for the Danish women's under-16 national team.
Honours and Awards
Ajax
- Eredivisie: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
- KNVB Cup: 2009–10
- Johan Cruyff Shield: 2013
Tottenham Hotspur
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2014–15
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2018–19
Inter Milan
- Serie A: 2020–21
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2019–20
Manchester United
Individual Awards
- Ajax Talent of the Future: 2010
- Ajax Talent of the Year: 2011
- Danish U-17 Talent of the Year: 2008
- Danish Talent of the Year: 2010, 2011
- Johan Cruyff Trophy: 2011
- Dutch Footballer of the Year Bronze Boot: 2012
- Danish Football Player of the Year: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018
- Danish Football Player of the Year by TV2 and DBU: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017
- PFA Team of the Year: 2017–18 Premier League
- Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year: 2013–14, 2016–17
- UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season 2nd place: 2018–19
- Premier League Goal of the Month: April 2018
- FIFA FIFPro World11 nominee: 2019 (14th midfielder)
- Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year: 2023
See also
In Spanish: Christian Eriksen para niños
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
- Damar Hamlin - An NFL player who had a similar cardiac arrest during a game
