Rasmus Lauritsen

Rasmus Lauritsen
Lauritsen with Dinamo Zagreb in 2021
Personal information
Full name Rasmus Steensbæk Lauritsen[1]
Date of birth (1996-02-27) 27 February 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth Brande, Denmark
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Brøndby
Number 5
Youth career
2000– Brande IF[3]
–2011 Herning Fremad[3]
2011–2015 Midtjylland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Midtjylland 1 (0)
2016–2017 Skive 31 (3)
2017–2019 Vejle 48 (8)
2019–2020 IFK Norrköping 48 (11)
2020–2023 Dinamo Zagreb 49 (3)
2023– Brøndby 38 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:35, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

Rasmus Steensbæk Lauritsen (born 27 February 1996) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Danish Superliga club Brøndby.

Career

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Early years

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Lauritsen has both played for Herning Fremad and Brande IF as a youth player, starting as a four-year-old, before joining Midtjylland in the summer 2011.[4] He made his senior debut for Midtjylland at age 19 on 8 November 2015 in a 5–1 Superliga home win over Esbjerg.[5] That appearance proved to be his only first-team outing for Midtjylland, as he sought regular playing time elsewhere.[6]

Skive

[edit]

On 5 January 2016, Lauritsen signed a two-year contract with Danish 1st Division side Skive.[1] He immediately became a starter in Skive's defence and gained his first experience of senior football. On 1 December 2016, he scored his first senior goal, equalising in Skive's 3–2 victory over Næstved.[7] Lauritsen totalled 31 league appearances and three goals during his year with Skive, prompting interest from higher-tier clubs.[6]

Vejle

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Lauritsen signed a two-year contract with Danish 1st Division club Vejle Boldklub in June 2017, joining a team aiming for promotion.[8] A few months later the club extended Lauritsen's contract for one more year.[9] He quickly became an integral player at Vejle—in the 2017–18 season he scored six goals from centre-back as Vejle clinched the 1st Division championship, earning promotion to the Superliga.[10]

Lauritsen made his top-flight debut for Vejle the following season and netted his first Superliga goal in a 1–1 draw against fellow promoted side Vendsyssel in August 2018.[11] His performances as a prolific scoring defender in Denmark attracted attention from abroad.

IFK Norrköping

[edit]

On 11 February 2019, Lauritsen moved abroad and signed for Swedish top club Norrköping on a three-year deal.[12] He continued his impressive form in Allsvenskan, tallying 11 goals in 48 league matches over the 2019 and 2020 seasons—an unusually high output for a defender.[6] Media noted that Lauritsen had become one of the most goal-threatening centre-backs in the league.[13][14]

Dinamo Zagreb

[edit]

On 2 October 2020, Lauritsen signed for Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb.[15] He debuted two days later against Varaždin and made an error that resulted in a goal. However, his performances soon drastically improved and had an instant impact on Dinamo's defense, causing them not to concede a single goal in all five Europa League group stage games that he played.[16][17]

During Lauritsen's time with the club, Dinamo won back-to-back Prva HNL titles in 2020–21 and 2021–22, and also captured the Croatian Cup in 2021.[6]

Brøndby

[edit]

On 30 January 2023, Lauritsen returned to his native Denmark to join Brøndby on a four-and-a-half-year contract.[18] "I am incredibly happy to join... It is a huge club, and I am ... proud to represent Brøndby IF… I have come to Brøndby to play at the top of Danish football and eventually to play in Europe again," Lauritsen said upon signing.[18] He arrived carrying a minor injury and lacking full fitness, which delayed his integration into the squad.[19] Making his debut for the club on 10 April, he entered the match in the 88th minute, substituting for Frederik Winther during a 2–1 league loss to Nordsjælland.[20] On 16 April, he earned his first starting position and contributed to the team keeping a clean sheet during a 1–0 victory against AGF.[21]

Lauritsen began the 2023–24 season vying for a regular place in Brøndby's defence, but another injury in August 2023 derailed his progress.[22] During his absence, newly arrived centre-back Jacob Rasmussen and others cemented their spots, and head coach Jesper Sørensen kept faith with a back line of Rasmussen, Henrik Heggheim, and Frederik Alves, leaving Lauritsen out of the starting eleven.[23] Although he recovered fitness later in the season and went on to make 19 league appearances (scoring his first goal for Brøndby in May 2024 during a league fixture against AGF),[24] he largely had to settle for a reserve role. In October 2023, media in Sweden even reported that his former club IFK Norrköping had him on their wish list due to his situation, as Norrköping's coach Glen Riddersholm publicly expressed interest in a reunion.[25]

In early 2025, Lauritsen experienced a resurgence in form. Brøndby entered the spring of the 2024–25 Superliga campaign with captain Jacob Rasmussen and Frederik Alves both sidelined by injuries.[26] New head coach Frederik Birk turned to Lauritsen, handing him a rare start on 7 April 2025 against AGF—only Lauritsen's second league start of the season.[26] Despite concerns over his match sharpness (he had played just four minutes since the winter break), Lauritsen completed the full match and delivered a strong performance in a 2–1 win.[26] Birk, who normally "preached the collective before the individual," made an exception to praise Lauritsen's impact, saying the veteran centre-back had "stepped up" and earned the team's respect with his attitude and level of play.[26] The following week Lauritsen retained his place for the derby against Copenhagen, where he again impressed as the central figure in a three-man defence, helping Brøndby to a 2–1 victory at Parken.[27] Birk highlighted that when the game suits Lauritsen's strengths and "he can stand and head away" opposition attacks, "he is one of the Superliga's best" in that role."[27]

Personal life

[edit]

Lauritsen has a twin brother, Frederik, who also plays football.[28]

His favourite player is Andy Carroll and his favourite team is Arsenal.[3]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 14 February 2025[6]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Midtjylland 2015–16 Danish Superliga 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
Skive 2015–16 Danish 1st Division 11 0 1 0 — — 12 0
2016–17 Danish 1st Division 20 3 0 0 — — 20 3
Total 31 3 1 0 — — 32 3
Vejle 2017–18 Danish 1st Division 30 6 0 0 — — 30 6
2018–19 Danish Superliga 18 2 0 0 — — 18 2
Total 48 8 0 0 — — 48 8
IFK Norrköping 2019 Allsvenskan 26 5 0 0 6[b] 1 — 32 6
2020 Allsvenskan 22 6 3 0 — — 25 6
Total 48 11 3 0 6 1 — 57 12
Dinamo Zagreb 2020–21 Prva HNL 24 1 3 0 11[b] 0 — 38 1
2021–22 Prva HNL 16 1 2 0 10[c] 0 — 28 1
2022–23 Prva HNL 9 1 1 0 4[d] 0 1[e] 0 15 1
Total 49 3 6 0 25 0 1 0 81 3
Brøndby 2022–23 Danish Superliga 9 0 — — — 9 0
2023–24 Danish Superliga 19 1 2 0 — — 21 1
2024–25 Danish Superliga 10 0 2 0 4[f] 0 — 16 0
Total 38 1 4 0 4 0 — 46 1
Career total 215 26 14 0 35 1 1 0 265 27
  1. ^ Includes Danish Cup, Svenska Cupen and Croatian Cup
  2. ^ a b Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ Appearance in Croatian Football Super Cup
  6. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Conference League

Honours

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Midtjylland

Dinamo Zagreb

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Tang, Ole (5 January 2016). "SIK henter 19-årig talent". Skive Folkeblad (in Danish). Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Rasmus Lauritsen | Dinamo Zagreb". GNK Dinamo. Archived from the original on 6 September 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Rasmus Lauritsen | fcm". FC Midtjylland (in Danish). Archived from the original on 18 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Viljefast lokaltalent ny akademispiller". FC Midtjylland (in Danish). Archived from the original on 5 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Debutant: Var egentlig ved at varme ned". FC Midtjylland (in Danish). 8 November 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e Rasmus Lauritsen at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Skive snuppede sen sejr mod Næstved". Bold (in Danish). 1 December 2016. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  8. ^ "Vejle henter ung stopper i Skive". bold.dk. 9 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Rasmus Lauritsen Forlænger". vejle-boldklub.dk. 22 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Vejle tilbage efter 9 års fravær". F.C. København (in Danish). 21 October 2018. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  11. ^ Schmidt, Martin (10 August 2018). "Vendsyssel og Vejle delte i oprykkerduel". Bold (in Danish). Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  12. ^ "IFK Norrköping värvar Rasmus Lauritsen". ifknorrkoping.se. 11 February 2019.
  13. ^ Hoffskov, Ole (30 June 2020). "Medie: Tyrkisk storklub lurer på målfarlig dansk midtstopper". Tipsbladet.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Brandit stod bagerst i køen i FCM: Nu imponerer han i svenske IFK Norrköping". Herning Folkeblad (in Danish). 14 September 2020. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Dinamovo novo pojačanje: Rasmus Lauritsen!". GNK Dinamo (in Croatian). 2 October 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  16. ^ Olivari, Davorin (30 November 2020). "Ono što je ostvario Dinamo u posljednjih je deset godina uspjelo samo Man. Unitedu i još jednom klubu". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  17. ^ Tironi, Hrvoje (11 December 2020). "Razgoropadio je Lovru Majera, a Lauritsenom učvrstio obranu". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Brøndby IF henter Rasmus Lauritsen". Brøndby IF (in Danish). 30 January 2023. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  19. ^ Bellaiche, Emil (2 March 2023). "Brøndby-duo døjer med småskavanker: Vi tager ingen chancer". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Nordsjælland vs. Brøndby 2–1: Summary". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  21. ^ Porse, Kristian (17 April 2023). "Lettet Brøndby-profil: Langt skadesforløb har været hårdt". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  22. ^ Nielsen, Mikkel Fuhr (6 October 2023). "Rasmus Lauritsen på ønskelisten i danskerklub". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  23. ^ Quvang, Jacob (3 September 2023). "Opstillinger: Dyr Brøndby-profil er fortsat bænket". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  24. ^ Marboe, Mads Bye (26 May 2024). "Kæmpe koks: Brøndby laver selvmål". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 21 July 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  25. ^ Nielsen, Mikkel Fuhr (6 October 2023). "Rasmus Lauritsen på ønskelisten i danskerklub". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  26. ^ a b c d Schmidt, Martin; Wehlast, Mads Glenn (8 April 2025). "Birk prædiker altid kollektiv: Gjorde undtagelse efter sejr". Bold (in Danish). Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  27. ^ a b Nøjsen, Daniel; Wehlast, Mads Glenn (14 April 2025). "Kom ud af ingenting: Lauritsen imponerer stort". Bold (in Danish). Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  28. ^ "Frederik Lauritsen / Elitehold". Silkeborg IF (in Danish). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  29. ^ "DINAMO - ISTRA 1961 6:3". HNS-CFF (in Croatian). 19 May 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
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