Thomas Kahlenberg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Thomas Kahlenberg

Kahlenberg training with the Denmark national team in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Thomas Zeuthen Kahlenberg
Date of birth	(1983-03-20) 20 March 1983 (age 42)
Place of birth	Hvidovre, Denmark
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1997–1998	Hvidovre
1998–2001	Brøndby
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2005	Brøndby	97	(28)
2005–2009	Auxerre	130	(19)
2009–2013	VfL Wolfsburg	39	(1)
2012	→ Evian (loan)	15	(2)
2013–2017	Brøndby	57	(5)
Total		338	(55)
International career
1999–2000	Denmark U17	9	(1)
2000–2002	Denmark U19	7	(0)
2004	Denmark U20	1	(0)
2002–2006	Denmark U21	26	(10)
2003–2015	Denmark	47	(5)
Managerial career
2018–2020	HIK (youth coach)
2020–2024	Denmark U16 (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Thomas Kahlenberg, born on March 20, 1983, is a former Danish football player. He was an attacking midfielder, known for his skill and vision on the field. Thomas started his career at Brøndby IF in Denmark, where he helped his team win two Danish Superliga championships.

He also played for clubs in other countries, including Auxerre in France and VfL Wolfsburg in Germany. Thomas was a key player for the Danish national team, playing 46 games and scoring five goals. He represented Denmark in big tournaments like the 2004 European Championship, 2010 FIFA World Cup, and 2012 European Championship. In 2004, he was even named the Danish under-21 Player of the Year.

Playing Career

Starting at Brøndby

Thomas Kahlenberg was born in Hvidovre, Denmark. When he was fifteen, he joined Brøndby IF from a smaller club called Hvidovre IF. He worked his way up through Brøndby's youth teams. Thomas said he learned a lot about being a professional footballer during this time.

In April 2002, Thomas signed his first professional contract with Brøndby. He made his first big league game appearance on May 12, 2002. This was against København, a big rival team. Brøndby drew 1–1, and this helped them win the 2001–02 Danish championship that season.

Becoming a Key Player

For the 2002–03 season, Thomas played in the middle of the field for Brøndby. He was good at setting up attacks with his great technique. He played his first UEFA Champions League game against Dinamo Tirana, helping his team win 1–0.

On November 10, 2002, Thomas scored his first goal for Brøndby in a 1–1 draw. Two weeks later, he scored again in a big 7–1 win. Because of his good play, he signed a new contract until 2006. He was also named "Talent of the Year" by players and a newspaper.

Thomas helped Brøndby reach the Danish Cup Final. They won the tournament by beating FC Midtjylland 3–0. Even with some injuries, he played 43 games and scored four goals that season.

More Success at Brøndby

In the 2003–04 season, Thomas continued to be a regular starter. He scored his first goal of the season in a 3–0 win in August 2003. He then scored in the next two games. In October 2003, he signed another contract with Brøndby, keeping him until 2008.

Thomas also played an important part in UEFA Cup games, helping his team beat tough opponents. He was again named "Talent of the Year." He scored 12 goals in 42 games that season, making him the team's top scorer.

For the 2004–05 season, Thomas played as a left midfielder. He started well, setting up two goals in the first two games. He scored two goals in a 4–1 win in September 2004. He scored many more goals, including two goals in one game against AGF in November 2004.

Thomas became Brøndby's top scorer in the 2004–05 league with 13 goals. He also helped the club win the "Double", which means winning both the league and the Danish Cup. By the time he left Brøndby, he had played 130 games and scored 28 goals in the Danish Superliga.

Moving to Auxerre

Kahlenberg playing for Ligue 1 side Auxerre in 2006.

On July 13, 2005, Thomas Kahlenberg joined the French club Auxerre. He signed a four-year contract. He was excited to play in the French league, Ligue 1.

Thomas played his first game for Auxerre in a cup match in July 2005. He then made his league debut in August. He quickly became a regular player in the midfield. On September 24, 2005, he scored his first goal for the club. He scored nine goals in 43 games in his first season. He also made the most assists of all players in the league that year.

In the 2006–07 season, Thomas continued to play well. He scored his first goal of the season in a European cup game. He helped Auxerre reach the group stage of the UEFA Cup. In January 2007, he scored in a cup game. He scored seven goals in 39 games that season. He also signed a new contract, keeping him at Auxerre until 2010.

Before the 2007–08 season, other European clubs wanted to sign Thomas, but he stayed at Auxerre. He continued to be a key player. He scored his first goal of the season in November 2007. He even captained the team for the first time in a cup game in January 2008, where he also scored. He played 39 games and scored seven goals that season.

In the 2008–09 season, Thomas had a hip injury early on. But he returned in September 2008 and scored his first goal of the season. He continued to be an important midfielder. He scored six goals in 37 games that season. In his four years at Auxerre, Thomas played 130 league games and scored 19 goals.

Time at VfL Wolfsburg

In May 2009, Thomas Kahlenberg signed a four-year contract with Wolfsburg, the German champions. He moved to Germany at the end of the season.

Soon after joining, Thomas had a hip injury. This kept him out until October 2009. He made his first German league game appearance on October 31, 2009. However, he found it hard to get a regular spot in the team. He played 12 games in his first season.

For the 2010–11 season, Thomas played more often at the start. On October 2, 2010, he scored his first goal for Wolfsburg. Later in the season, he was suspended by the team for a short time. He tried out for an English team, but didn't get a contract. He played 17 games and scored one goal that season.

Before the 2011–12 season, Thomas thought about leaving Wolfsburg because he wasn't playing much. He ended up staying but didn't play any games for the first half of the season.

After a loan spell, Thomas returned to Wolfsburg for the 2012–13 season. He was still on the list of players who could be transferred. He played his first game of the season in September 2012. He played 13 games that season. After the season, he left the club.

Loan to Evian

In January 2012, Thomas Kahlenberg moved back to the French league, joining Evian on loan until the end of the 2011–12 season. He joined other Danish players at the club.

He made his debut for Evian on January 14, 2012. On March 17, 2012, he scored his first goal for the club against his old team, Auxerre. He scored his second goal in May 2012. Thomas said that joining Evian was very important for his career. He played 19 games and scored two goals during his loan. He hoped to join Evian permanently, but it didn't happen.

Return to Brøndby

Kahlenberg dribbling to attack during a match between Brøndby and København on 21 September 2014.

On August 21, 2013, Thomas Kahlenberg signed a four-year contract to return to his first club, Brøndby. He was very happy to be back, calling it a "special place."

He played his first game back for Brøndby on August 25, 2013. He quickly became a starter in midfield. When the team captain was injured, Thomas was made captain. He scored his first goal back at Brøndby in February 2014. He also set up many goals for his teammates. Fans even named him the best player in the league that season. He played 24 games and scored two goals.

Before the 2014–15 season, Thomas was officially named Brøndby's new captain. He continued to play in midfield and lead the team. He scored his first goal of the season in August 2014. He also scored again in October. However, he suffered a hip injury that kept him out for the rest of the season. He played 24 games and scored two goals.

In the 2015–16 season, Thomas recovered from his hip injury. He returned to play in September 2015. He captained his first game of the season in October and scored his first goal in November. He scored two goals in 18 games that season. Later, he had a thigh injury that ended his season early.

For the 2016–17 season, Thomas continued to recover from his thigh injury. He worked hard to return to playing. In May 2017, he played his first league game of the season. He made his last start as captain in the final game of the season. When he was substituted, Brøndby fans gave him a standing ovation.

On May 28, 2017, Thomas Kahlenberg announced he was retiring from professional football.

International Career

Youth Teams

While playing for Brøndby, Thomas Kahlenberg also played for various Danish youth national teams. He played for the under-17 and under-19 teams from 1999 to 2002.

In September 2002, Thomas was called up to the Denmark under-21 national team. In April 2003, he set up two goals in a 3–0 win for the U21 team. In December 2004, he won the "Danish under-21 Player of the Year" award.

He continued to play for the Denmark under-21 team until May 2006. He was chosen for the 2006 European Under-21 Championship. Even though Denmark was knocked out early, Thomas scored three goals in three games. He was even chosen for the "Team of the Tournament." He finished his under-21 career with 10 goals in 26 games.

Senior National Team

In April 2003, Thomas Kahlenberg was called up to the senior national team for the first time. He made his debut on April 30, 2003, in a friendly game. In May 2004, he was the youngest Danish player chosen for the 2004 European Championship. However, he did not play in any games during that tournament.

In August 2005, Thomas played for Denmark again in a 4–1 win against England. On September 1, 2006, he scored his first goal for Denmark in a 4–2 win against Portugal. He also scored his second goal for Denmark in November 2007.

Thomas was called up for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He scored the winning goal against Sweden, which helped Denmark qualify for the World Cup in South Africa. He played in three games at the World Cup, but Denmark was eliminated in the group stage.

After the World Cup, Thomas scored another goal for Denmark in September 2010. After a two-year break, he was called up for Euro 2012. He played in two friendly games before the tournament. However, he did not play in any games during the tournament itself.

On September 7, 2014, Thomas scored his fifth goal for Denmark in a 2–1 win against Armenia. He played a few more games in the qualifying matches for UEFA Euro 2016, but Denmark did not qualify. After this, he was not called up to the national team again.

Coaching Career

After retiring from playing football, Thomas Kahlenberg became a coach. In March 2018, he was hired as a youth coach at HIK. After two years there, in May 2020, he became an assistant coach for Denmark's U-16 national team. He left this role in July 2024.

Personal Life

In August 2009, Thomas Kahlenberg married his longtime girlfriend, Anne Zeuthen Jensen. They have three children: two daughters named Karla and Alma, and a son named Max.

Thomas speaks Danish, German (which he learned in school), and French (from his time playing in France). Early in his career, he had a fan club called 'Tommy Crew'.

In December 2004, Thomas was in Thailand when a big earthquake and tsunami happened, but he was safe. Throughout his career, he lived in Denmark, France, and Germany.

In March 2020, Thomas Kahlenberg tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). He had been at a birthday party in Amsterdam. This meant some players and coaches from Brøndby, Lyngby, and Ajax had to go into quarantine because they had recently met him. Thomas said his symptoms were like a flu, and he stayed at home. He was declared fully recovered on March 12, 2020.

Career statistics

International

Scores and results list Denmark's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kahlenberg goal.

List of international goals scored by Thomas Kahlenberg

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	1 September 2006	Brøndby Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark	Portugal	2–1	4–2	Friendly
2	21 November 2007	Telia Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark	Iceland	3–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2008 Qualification
3	6 June 2009	Råsundastadion, Solna, Sweden	Sweden	1–0	1–0	FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualification
4	7 September 2010	Telia Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark	Iceland	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2012 Qualification
5	7 September 2014	Telia Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark	Armenia	2–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2016 Qualification

Honours

Brøndby IF

• Danish Superliga: 2001–02, 2004–05
• Danish Cup: 2002–03, 2004–05

Individual

• Danish U-21 Player of the Year: 2004

See also

In Spanish: Thomas Kahlenberg para niños