Jesper Fredberg

Jesper Fredberg (born 11 May 1981) is a Danish football director who most recently served as CEO Sports at Belgian Pro League club R.S.C. Anderlecht from 2022 to 2024, after previously coaching in Denmark and Greece.

Before moving to Brussels, Fredberg worked as Sport Director in Viborg FF. He was a coach in Panathinaikos F.C.'s youth academy, previously having worked with the club's technical director, Nikos Dabizas, as the coach of AC Omonia's youth academy.[1][2] Fredberg had a brief spell as caretaker manager for Omonia's senior side, replacing Ivaylo Petev for the last seven matches of the 2017–18 Cypriot First Division season.[3] He had previously assisted Omonia's caretaker manager Akis Ioakim at the end of the 2016–17 season.[4]

Playing career

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Born in Aarhus, Fredberg began his career as a professional player at the age of 15. He played in the club of AGF Aarhus.

Coaching career

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Fredberg came through as one of the youngest professional coaches in Danish football.[5] He has worked as a trainer,[6] but also as a Technical Director and Talent Detector. He left Denmark at the age of 35 to work at Omonia Nicosia as head coach and technical director in 2016.[7]

A further move to Greek side Panathinaikos F.C. followed in 2018,[8] before returning to his native Denmark to be technical director at Viborg FF.[9]

In October 2022, Fredberg moved to Belgian Pro League side Anderlecht, who were rebuilding after the recent departures as coach of Vincent Kompany and Felice Mazzu.[10] Fredberg appointed fellow Dane Brian Riemer as first-team coach, both joining with Anderlecht in 11th place in the place, where they would also eventually finish for their lowest placing since 1938.[11] Anderlecht improved to a third-place finish in 2024, still in with a chance of winning the title going into the final day.

In the summer of 2024, Fredberg turned down an offer from FC Copenhagen to join them at the start of the season.[12]

Riemer's dismissal as Anderlecht coach in September 2024 weakened Fredberg's hand, with Riemer sacked after losing a game against leaders Racing Genk that would have seen the Mauves go top had they won.[13] With new coach David Hubert only winning one of his first five league games, Fredberg himself was dismissed on 30 October 2024.[14][15][16][17]

Career

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  • 1998-2004: TST Football (Denmark) – Youths Head Coach
  • 2005-2007: Brabrand IF (Denmark) – Youths Head Coach
  • 2007-2009: Aarhus GF (Denmark) – Youths Head Coach
  • 2010-2013: Brøndby IF (Denmark) – Youths Head Coach
  • 2013-2014: Aarhus GF (Denmark) – Head Coach
  • 2014-2016: Danish Football Association (Denmark) – Denmark Under-23 coach
  • 2016-2018: Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus) – Technical Director and Academy Director[18][19]
  • 2018-2019: Panathinaikos – Technical Director and Academy Director[20][21]
  • 2019-2022: Viborg FF (Denmark) – Sporting Director[22]
  • 2022-2024: R.S.C. Anderlecht (Belgium) – CEO Sports[23]

Personal life

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Fredberg has a past in the Danish military as a sergeant in The Royal Guard and is a trained policeman. He speaks Danish, English, German, Swedish and Greek fluently.

Degrees and titles

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  • UEFA Pro Football Coach License recognized by FIFA
  • MBA in Economics from Aarhus Business school
  • MBA in Management from Aarhus Business school
  • Sergeant in The Danish Royal Guard

References

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  1. ^ "Πιάνει δουλειά στον Παναθηναϊκό ο Φρέντμπεργκ". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). 1 November 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Stolt Fredberg bekræfter Panathinaikos-job". 9 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Η Ομόνοια διώχνει Πέτεφ, αναλαμβάνει ο Φρέντμπεργκ". analitis.gr (in Greek). 20 March 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Ομόνοια: Ο απολογισμός του Φρέντμπεργκ και η νέα προσπάθεια". Kathimerini (Cyprus edition) (in Greek). 22 March 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Jesper Fredberg jagter nyt job: Håber, der snart sker noget". 18 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Medie: Tidligere AGF-træner lander job i Sydafrika". 8 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Eks-AGFer har overtaget cheftræner-posten i cypriotisk storklub". 7 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Stolt Fredberg bekræfter Panathinaikos-job". 9 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Jesper Fredberg bliver ny sportschef i Viborg".
  10. ^ "Jesper Fredberg wordt CEO Sports bij Anderlecht".
  11. ^ "Anderlecht, Belgium's most successful football club, are set for their worst league finish since 1937". Optus. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Jesper Fredberg turns down FC Copenhagen for 'unfinished' business at Anderlecht". Yahoo Sports. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Anderlecht zet trainer Brian Riemer op de keien: "Clubleiding evalueert prestaties als onvoldoende"" [Anderlecht dismisses coach Brian Riemer: "Club management evaluates performance as insufficient"work=Sporza] (in Dutch). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Wegen van Anderlecht en Jesper Fredberg scheiden, Olivier Renard nieuwe sportief directeur bij paars-wit" [Anderlecht and Jesper Fredberg part ways, Olivier Renard new sporting director at Mauves] (in Dutch). VRT Sporza. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Olivier Renard ziet Anderlecht als opportuniteit en stelt geen grote financiële eisen: "Ik wil de club bedanken voor het vertrouwen"" [Olivier Renard sees Anderlecht as an opportunity and does not make major financial demands: “I would like to thank the club for its confidence”] (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  16. ^ ""Moeilijke transferzomer heeft druk gezet op de relatie": Anderlecht-voorzitter Wouter Vandenhaute over vertrek Fredberg en komst Renard" [“Difficult transfer summer has put pressure on the relationship”: Anderlecht chairman Wouter Vandenhaute on Fredberg's departure and Renard's arrival] (in Dutch). Het Laatste Nieuws. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Medie: Tidligere Viborg FF-sportschef færdig i Anderlecht" [Media: Former Viborg FF sporting director finished in Anderlecht] (in Danish). Viborg Folkeblad. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Omonoia… What happened?".
  19. ^ "Eks-AGFer har overtaget cheftræner-posten i cypriotisk storklub". 7 March 2017.
  20. ^ "Eks-AGFer har overtaget cheftræner-posten i cypriotisk storklub". 7 March 2017.
  21. ^ "Stolt Fredberg bekræfter Panathinaikos-job". 9 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Jesper Fredberg bliver ny sportschef i Viborg".
  23. ^ "Jesper Fredberg wordt CEO Sports bij Anderlecht".
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