Peter Svarrer Ankersen (born 22 September 1990) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Danish Superliga club FC Nordsjælland.

Peter Ankersen
Ankersen with F.C. Copenhagen in 2017
Personal information
Full name Peter Svarrer Ankersen[1]
Date of birth (1990-09-22) 22 September 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Esbjerg, Denmark
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
Nordsjælland
Number 2
Youth career
Esbjerg fB
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Esbjerg fB 1 (0)
2010–2012 Vejle 46 (3)
2012 Rosenborg 10 (0)
2012–2014 Esbjerg fB 56 (5)
2014–2016 Red Bull Salzburg 21 (1)
2015–2016Copenhagen (loan) 30 (0)
2016–2019 Copenhagen 96 (8)
2019–2020 Genoa 19 (0)
2020–2024 Copenhagen 82 (4)
2024– Nordsjælland 13 (2)
International career
2013– Denmark 27 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:59, 22 June 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Getting his football education in the youth ranks of local team Esbjerg fB, he saw limited first team opportunities, and in the summer of 2010 he decided to join Vejle Boldklub in the Danish 1st Division.[2]

After two successful seasons for Vejle, both of them in the Danish 1st division, bigger teams started to pay him attention. In March 2012 he was sold to Norwegian club Rosenborg BK.[3]

He became a regular first team starter for the Norwegian side, but after only 18 games he had yet to settle personally.[4] In the same summer he was sold back to his childhood club Esbjerg fB on a four-year contract.[5]

During his second stay at Esbjerg, alongside twin brother Jakob Ankersen, played an integral part of the Esbjerg team that following promotion won the Danish Cup and finished 4th in the Danish Superliga.

During a 5–1 win over AGF Aarhus on 10 August 2013, Ankersen scored a sensational goal reminiscent of Marco van Basten's strike in the final of Euro 88. The goal was shortlisted for the 2013 FIFA Puskás Award.[6]

In January 2014 he was signed by RB Salzburg after impressing a against them in the group stages of the Europa league, and was praised for his ability to play on either defensive flank.[7]

He joined F.C. Copenhagen in the summer of 2015 initially on loan,[8] before signing permanently the season after.[9] He was linked with a move to the Premier League club Newcastle United.[10] Ankersen was nominated for the goal of the season by the Danish football federation in 2017.[11]

On transfer deadline day, 2 September 2019, Ankersen joined Italian Serie A club Genoa on a contract until June 2021 with an option for a further year.[12] He made 19 league appearances during his sole season with Genoa, where he was mostly used as a substitute.[13]

On 26 September 2020, FC Copenhagen announced that they had signed Ankersen on a four-year contract.[14] On 1 October 2020, Ankersen scored a highly bizarre own goal against Croatian club HNK Rijeka in the 2020-21 UEFA Europa League play-off round. The own goal proved to be decisive and FCK was eliminated.[15] After four years in Copenhagen, it was confirmed on 31 March 2024 that Ankersen would be leaving the capital club at the end of the season.[16]

On 1 June 2024 FC Nordsjælland confirmed that they had signed Ankersen on a free transfer, where Ankersen signed a contract until June 2026.[17]

International career

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On 17 May 2013, Ankersen was called up for the Denmark national team for a friendly against Georgia.[18] In the match, he remained an unused sub for the entire game.

On 14 August 2013, he made his international debut in a 3–2 loss to Poland, coming on as a substitute for Nicolai Boilesen at half-time.

Ankersen scored his first goal ever in Denmark national team colours on 11 November 2016 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Kazakhstan. Denmark won 4–1.[19]

Ankersen was named in Denmark’s preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia in May 2018. However, he did not make the final 23.[20]

Personal life

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He is the twin brother of former professional footballer, Jakob Ankersen.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 10 November 2024[21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Esbjerg fB 2009–10 Danish Superliga 1 0 0 0 1 0
Vejle 2010–11 Danish 1st Division 28 1 0 0 28 1
2011–12 13 2 2 1 15 3
Total 41 3 2 1 43 4
Rosenborg 2012 Tippeligaen 10 0 4 0 4[a] 1 18 1
Esbjerg fB 2012–13 Danish Superliga 26 3 6 0 32 3
2013–14 30 2 0 0 8[b] 2 38 4
Total 56 5 6 0 8 2 70 7
Red Bull Salzburg 2014–15 Austrian Bundesliga 21 1 4 0 8[c] 0 33 1
Copenhagen 2015–16 Danish Superliga 30 0 3 0 4[d] 0 37 0
2016–17 24 2 2 0 15[e] 0 41 2
2017–18 30 2 2 0 10[f] 0 34 2
2018–19 34 1 1 0 6[g] 0 41 1
Total 118 5 8 0 27 0 153 5
Genoa 2019–20 Serie A 19 0 0 0 19 0
Copenhagen 2020-21 Danish Superliga 22 2 1 0 1[h] 0 24 2
2021–22 28 1 1 0 10[i] 1 39 2
2022–23 12 0 2 0 2[e] 0 16 0
2023–24 21 1 4 0 8[e] 0 33 1
Total 83 4 8 0 21 1 111 5
Nordsjælland 2024–25 Danish Superliga 13 2 2 1 15 3
Career total 362 20 35 2 68 4 463 26
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ 3 appearances in UEFA Champions League, 5 appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ 2 appearances in UEFA Champions League, 8 appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  8. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  9. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

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Scores and results list Denmark's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ankersen goal.
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
List of international goals scored by Peter Ankersen
1 11 November 2016 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark   Kazakhstan 3–1 4–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

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Esbjerg

Salzburg

Copenhagen

References

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  1. ^ "Player profile".
  2. ^ Bold.dk - Vejle henter ung Esbjerg-back
  3. ^ "Vejle Boldklub - Ankersen solgt til Rosenborg"
  4. ^ "Bold.dk - Ankersen havde det svært i Rosenborg"
  5. ^ "Bold.dk - Officielt: Ankersen til Esbjerg"
  6. ^ "Twins team up for Van Basten-esque volley". FIFA. 27 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Salzburg snap up Denmark defender Ankersen". 29 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Peter Ankersen joins F.C. Copenhagen".
  9. ^ "Ankersen Wechselt Fix Von Salzburg Zum FC Kopenhagen". 22 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  10. ^ "Newcastle United target Ankersen would be ideal fit for England". www.hitc.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Tibbling nominerad till årets mål i Danmark".
  12. ^ Calciomercato Genoa, Ankersen colpo per la difesa: è ufficiale, goal.com, 2 September 2019
  13. ^ "P. Ankersen - Profile". int.soccerway.com. Perform Group. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Peter Ankersen vender tilbage til FCK". www.fck.dk (in Danish). F.C. Copenhagen. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Copenhagen-Rijeka 2021 History | UEFA Europa League".
  16. ^ PETER ANKERSEN STOPPER I FCK EFTER SÆSONEN, fck.dk, 31 March 2024
  17. ^ Peter Ankersen skifter til FC Nordsjælland, fcn.dk, 1 June 2024
  18. ^ "DR P4 - Ankersen på landsholdet"
  19. ^ "Denmark 4–1 Kasakhstan". BBC Sport. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  20. ^ "Confirmed: Denmark cut ex-Arsenal star from FIFA World Cup squad". 4 June 2018.
  21. ^ "Peter Ankersen". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  22. ^ "FC Copenhagen are Danish champions". The Copenhagen Post. 6 May 2019. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  23. ^ "FC Copenhagen win 14th Danish league title". www.dailytimes.com.pk. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
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