Randers FC(Danish pronunciation:[ˈʁɑnɐs]) is a professionalfootballclub based inRanders,East Jutland,that plays in theDanish Superliga,the top flight of theDanish football league system.Founded on 1 January 2003, the club builds upon the license ofRanders Freja,a former three-timeDanish Cupwinning team. As of 2022[update]the club had won theDanish Cuptwice in its history. Randers plays its matches at the 10,300-capacityCepheus Park Randers.
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| Full name | Randers FC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Hestene (The Horses) | ||
| Short name | RFC | ||
| Founded | 1 January 2003 | ||
| Ground | Cepheus Park Randers | ||
| Capacity | 10,300 | ||
| Chairman | Per Hastrup | ||
| Manager | Rasmus Bertelsen | ||
| League | Danish Superliga | ||
| Website | www | ||
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History
editThe club was formed on 1 January 2003, as a collaboration between six local Randers-clubs; Dronningborg Boldklub (founded 1928),Hornbæk Sportsforening(founded 1945), Kristrup Boldklub (founded1908),Randers Freja(founded1898),Randers KFUM(founded1920) andVorup Frederiksberg Boldklub(founded 1930), continuing Randers Freja's (at the time) 1st division-team.[1]
First years and Cup success
editIn the first season as a newly created club, Randers ended in fourth place in theViasat Sport Divisionwith 51 points. The captain of theDenmark national teamwhich wonUEFA Euro 1992,Lars Olsen,was coach of the team. The following year, the team ended in second place with 66 points and was promoted to the country's best league, theSAS Liga.
With only 24 points in 2004–05 season in theSAS Liga,Randers finished in last place. In the 2005–06 season, however, Randers redeemed itself, securing promotion back to the SAS League with 61 points while also winning theDanish Cupwith a 1–0 victory overEsbjergin the final atParken Stadiumon 11 May 2006. Randers was the first team since 1974 who managed to win the Danish Cup although playing in the second-highest league in Denmark.
In mid-2005,the club brought in former Denmark national team midfielderStig Tøftingon afree transfer,afterAGF,his childhood-club, refused to let him play (even for free) due to his violent background with severalsentences.[2] Tøfting was appointed Assistant Coach in November 2006.[3]
In the2006–07 season,Randers finished in eighth place with 38 points, as well as participation in theUEFA Cupthe season before,where the club metÍAof Iceland,FBK Kaunasof Lithuania and major clubFenerbahçefrom Turkey.
Before the start of the2007–08 season,Randers signed formerEngland national teamplayerColin Toddas its new manager. Randers started the season in great fashion, winning its first four matches (most notably a 5–0 win againstAalborg BK).
In the second half of the 2007–08 season, Randers continued to improve in the Danish league. With new signingsMarc NygaardandSøren Berg,expectations grew as the season progressed, and Randers ultimately finished in sixth place following a 2–1 win againstBrøndby IFin the final matchday of the season.
The2008–09 seasonstarted in promising fashion for the club, recording a 3–1 win against the local rivals AGF. Randers continued its solid start with a 1–1 a draw withCopenhagen.In the third round, Randers was to play Brøndby away; the club had never defeated Brøndby away before. Randers won 0–3 following goals fromCarsten Fredgaard,Bedi Buvaland Tidiane Sane. After the five first rounds, Randers was still undefeated, though at the winter break Randers was placed mid-table.
Up and down years
editOn 4 November 2008 Randers announced that former Danish internationalJohn "Faxe" Jensenwould become its new manager from 1 July following the ending of Colin Todd's contract.[4]Todd, however, expressed his frustration about how Randers had dealt with the situation and openly criticised the club for putting him in a difficult situation.[5][6]
Jensen ended up taking the place as manager six months before schedule due to the club having reached an agreement with the then present manager Todd. Jensen was officially announced new manager on 5 January. He started his time in Randers in great fashion, winning the first league game of the season against local rivals AGF 2–1. However, the club failed to sustain the winning form when they went to draw againstVejle BKand thereafter lost the following three games to the top three sidesOB,Copenhagen and BIF. The team's losing streak culminated in a 1–6 toNordsjælland.
The club, however, responded well to the losing streak and won the next five games, ironically setting a new club winning streak. The season ended with a 3–3 draw away against Danish champions Copenhagen and a fifth-place finish, it highest league rank in club history.Marc Nygaardclaimed the golden boot for 16 goals during the season.Morten Nordstrandwas later credited for a goal on penalty in the final match, and also had a goal tally of 16, but Nygaard was awarded the title as he was the first to reach the 16 goals.[7]
Randers and Faxe decided that Tøfting was not the right choice as assistant manager, and, on 1 May 2009, the club announced that Tøfting's contract would not be extended. On 2 June, the club announced that two of Jensen's colleagues from the Euro 1992-winning Danish side –Henrik LarsenandFlemming Povlsen– as its new assistant managers; Larsen was named first assistant manager while Povlsen as assistant focused on the club's attack. However, after a catastrophic start to the2009–10 seasonwith only 2 points earned from 11 league games, Jensen and his assistants were released from their contracts.[8]
Ove Christensenwas appointed new head coach for Randers for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.[9]He was given the objective to save Randers from relegation, although Randers was projected to be relegated at the winter break by the media and experts. However, a historic comeback with 16 games without defeat[10]meant that its topflight status was to be decided on the final day of the season. A loss to Brøndby would mean that if AGF won its game against OB, the best team of the spring season would be relegated. OB won 0–3 and Randers lost its first match in the second half of the season 1–3, ensuring Randers kept their top-flight status.Yura Movsisyanwas arguably the key in Randers' survival, as he scored 7 goals in 13 games.
When Ove Christensen arrived, he gave the squad an overhaul and nine players were released or sold in the winter break of 2009–10 season. He also made several signings:Anders EgholmfromSønderjyskE,Morten Karlsenfrom Nordsjælland andSøren Jensenon loan fromOdd Grenland.Christensen signed a new one-year contract as head coach on 17 May 2010.
In the following season, however, Christensen could not follow up on the success and was fired after a loss to Brøndby. Peter Elstrup and Allan Kuhn were Brough in as caretakers but could not prevent Randers' relegation at the end of the season. Michael Hemmingsen was named new head coach with the first task to bring Randers back to the Superliga. With Hemmingsen as head coach, Randers ended the 2011–12 season in second place in the Danish 1st division, thereby earning promotion back to the Superliga.
League success and Europa League qualification
editDespite having earned promotion to theDanish Superliga,Hemmingsen was replaced as head coach by former Randers coachColin Todd,who returned to the club following his coaching spell from 2007 to 2009. Randers did well in its first season after being promoted, ending its 2012–13 league campaign in third place, the club's best ever league finish. The team also reached the final in the Danish Cup, but lost 1–0 to Esbjerg. Nonetheless, the league result meant that Randers was to participate in the UEFA Europa League. It entered the tournament in the third round of qualifying, where it metRubin Kazan.Randers, however, lost the home match 2–0 and the away match 2–0, thus failing to qualify for the group stage.
During the2020–21 season,Randers achieved a significant milestone in their history by securing a place in the championship playoffs of the Danish Superliga via a fifth-place finish in the regular season. Moreover, the club claimed victory in theDanish Cupafter defeatingSønderjyskE4–0 in the final atCeres ParkinAarhus,with goals fromErik Marxen,Simon Piesinger,and a brace byMathias Greve.[11]This triumph earned them the opportunity to participate in European competition in the 2021–22 season. Although they narrowly missed out on a place in theUEFA Europa Leagueafter losing toGalatasarayin the playoffs, they qualified for the inauguralUEFA Europa Conference Leaguegroup stage.[12]They finished second in their group after competing againstAZ Alkmaarfrom the Netherlands,CFR Clujfrom Romania, andJablonecfrom the Czech Republic. This result secured their progression to the knockout stage, where they faced English powerhouseLeicester City,which includedDenmark national teamcaptainKasper Schmeichel.Despite their best efforts, they were eliminated from the competition, thus concluding their European journey.[13]
European record
editDuring the 2006–07 season, Randers managed to qualify for theUEFA Cupas Danish Cup winners. During the 2009–10 season, the club was invited to participate in theEuropa Leaguedue to its second place in the Danish league Fair Play ranking – behind 2008–09 champions Copenhagen, which claimed Denmark'sUEFA Champions Leaguespot. During the 2010–11 season, the club participated in theEuropa Leaguedue to its second-place finish in the Danish league Fair Play ranking – behind 2009–10 champions Copenhagen, which again claimed theChampions Leaguespot.
| Season | Competition | Round | Opposition | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07[14] | UEFA Cup | First qualifying round |  ÍA
|
1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2(a) |
| Second qualifying round |  FBK Kaunas
|
3–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | ||
| First round |  Fenerbahçe
|
0–3 | 1–2 | 1–5 | ||
| 2009–10[15] | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round |  Linfield
|
4–0 | 3–0 | 7–0 |
| Second qualifying round | Sūduva
|
1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | ||
| Third qualifying round |  Hamburger SV
|
0–4 | 1–0 | 1–4 | ||
| 2010–11[16] | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round |  F91 Dudelange
|
6–1 | 1–2 | 7–3 |
| Second qualifying round |  Gorica
|
1–1 | 3–0 | 4–1 | ||
| Third qualifying round |  Lausanne-Sport
|
2–3 | 1–1 | 3–4 | ||
| 2013–14 | UEFA Europa League | Third qualifying round |  Rubin Kazan
|
1–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 |
| 2015–16 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round |  Sant Julià
|
3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 |
| Second qualifying round |  Elfsborg
|
0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | ||
| 2021–22 | UEFA Europa League | Play-off round | Galatasaray
|
1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | Group D |  AZ
|
2–2 | 0–1 | 2nd place | |
 CFR Cluj
|
2–1 | 1–1 | ||||
 Jablonec
|
2–2 | 2–2 | ||||
| Knockout round play-offs |  Leicester City
|
1–3 | 1–4 | 2–7 |
Stadium
editRanders Stadium
editRanders Stadiumwas founded in 1961. It was built to hold 18,000 spectators and in 1969 a record of 16,500 people attended theUEFA Cuploss against1. FC Köln.
2012 rebuild
editThe stadium was rebuilt in 2012 and renamed AutoC Park with a capacity of 10,300 spectators. It was built byC. F. Møller Architectsand is established on the former Randers Stadium site. On 22 September 2015, it was announced that local company BioNutria had bought the name rights of the stadium until 31 October 2018. On 14 November 2018, it was announced that Cepheus group had bought the name rights of the stadium for 3 years.
The new stadium attendance record after the stadium was rebuilt, is 9,947, set againstAarhus GFon 6 October 2019
Supporters
editThe largest supporter group is Nordtribunen (i.e.The North Tribune), however there are more factions within the fandom of Randers.
Honours
edit- Danish Superliga
- Third place:2012–13
- Danish Cup
- UEFA Fair Play League
- Winners:2009, 2010
Records
editMost games played: 223
Mads Fenger
Most goals: 41Ronnie Schwartz
Biggest league win: 5–0 Randers – AAB (in 2007)[17]
Biggest league loss: 1–6 Randers –Nordsjælland(in 2009),SønderjyskE– Randers FC (in 2012)[18]
Highest attendance(home): 11,824 Randers –Brøndby[19]
Longest run without defeat: 16 (29 November 2009 – 5 May 2010)
Longest winning streak: 5 (13 April 2010 – 3 May 2010)
Longest run without a win: 18 (31 May 2009 – 29 November 2009)
Players
editSquad
editAs of 5 February 2025[update][20]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules;some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Youth players in use 2024-25
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules;some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules;some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Managers
edit- Lars Olsen(1 Jan 2003 – 24 Jan 2007)
- Colin Todd(1 July 2007 – 5 Jan 2009)
- John "Faxe" Jensen(5 Jan 2009 – 6 Oct 2009)
- Ove Christensen(7 Oct 2009 – 26 Apr 2011)
- Peter Elstrup(interim)(27 Apr 2011 – 30 June 2011)
- Michael Hemmingsen(1 July 2011 – 5 July 2012)
- Colin Todd(5 July 2012 – 30 June 2016)
- Ólafur Kristjánsson(1 July 2016 – 5 Oct 2017)
- Ricardo Moniz(8 Oct 2017 – 26 Jan 2018)
- Rasmus Bertelsen (26 Jan 2018 – 30 June 2018)
- Thomas Thomasberg(1 July 2018 – 23 March 2023)
- Rasmus Bertelsen (23 March 2023 – )
Staff
editManagement
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer | Henrik Jørgensen |
| Head of Sales | Morten Hørby Andersen |
| Club Secretary | Jesper Hansen |
| Head of Communications | Kristian Fredslund Andersen |
| Press Officer | Martin Albrechtsen |
| Sales Assistant | Sylvester Hansen |
| Sales Assistant | Anders Hedeager |
| IT & Ticket Coordinator | Michael Møller Højfeldt |
| VIP & Hospitality | Lone Nikolajsen |
Team
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Director of Football | Søren Pedersen |
| Head coach | Rasmus Bertelsen |
| Assistant coach | Ralf Pedersen |
| Youth-Development Coach | Peter Elstrup |
| Goalkeeper coach | Erik Boye |
| Performance manager | Tobias Elstrup |
| Chief team assistant | Peer Kam |
| Team assistant | Ferhat Alici |
| Team assistant | Emil Stanic |
| Team assistant | Lars Pedersen |
| Team assistant | Hans Kirkegaard |
| Medical | Dr. Martin Nielsen |
Shirt sponsors
edit2003 – 2005–06:Nike
2006–07 – 2009–10:Umbro
2010–11 – 2012–13: H2O[21]
2015–16 –Puma
League statistics
edit| Season | Div. | Pos. | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Cup | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 1D | 4 | 30 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 65 | 49 | 51 | Fourth round | |
| 2003–04 | 1D | 2 | 30 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 85 | 43 | 66 | Fourth round | Promoted |
| 2004–05 | SL | 12 | 33 | 5 | 9 | 19 | 30 | 64 | 24 | Fourth round | Relegated |
| 2005–06 | 1D | 2 | 30 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 64 | 30 | 61 | Winner | Promoted |
| 2006–07 | SL | 8 | 33 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 41 | 53 | 38 | Quarter-final | UEFA Cup – First round |
| 2007–08 | SL | 6 | 33 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 41 | 33 | 47 | Quarter-final | |
| 2008–09 | SL | 5 | 33 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 52 | 50 | 46 | Fourth round | |
| 2009–10 | SL | 10 | 33 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 37 | 43 | 40 | Fourth round | Europa League – Third qualifying round |
| 2010–11 | SL | 11 | 33 | 6 | 16 | 11 | 41 | 48 | 34 | Semi-finals | Relegated Europa League – Third qualifying round |
| 2011–12 | 1D | 2 | 26 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 38 | 22 | 49 | 3rd round | Promoted |
| 2012–13 | SL | 3 | 33 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 36 | 42 | 52 | Runners-up | |
| 2013–14 | SL | 7 | 33 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 41 | 45 | 41 | 3rd round | Europa League – Third qualifying round |
| 2014–15 | SL | 4 | 33 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 39 | 28 | 52 | Quarter-final | |
| 2015–16 | SL | 6 | 33 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 45 | 43 | 47 | Quarter-final | Europa League – Second qualifying round |
| 2016–17 | SL | 7 | 32 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 33 | 35 | 41 | Quarter-final | Lost in European play-off final |
| 2017–18 | SL | 12 | 32 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 32 | 52 | 30 | Quarter-final | Won relegation play-off second round |
| 2018–19 | SL | 7 | 32 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 35 | 39 | 45 | Third round | Lost in European play-off final |
| 2019–20 | SL | 7 | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 39 | 35 | 35 | Quarter-final | Lost in European play-off quarter-final |
| 2020–21 | SL | 5 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 31 | 21 | 32 | Winner | |
| 2021–22 | SL | 5 | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 25 | 33 | Quarter-final | Europa Conference League – Knockout round play-offs |
References
edit- ^"(In Danish)".Randersfc.dk. Archived fromthe originalon 17 March 2016.Retrieved15 November2013.
- ^Michael Olesen (27 October 2005)."Stig Tøfting til Randers | Sport | DR".Dr.dk.Archivedfrom the original on 25 May 2015.Retrieved8 May2013.
- ^"Randers FC – Stig Tøfting bliver i Randers FC".Randersfc.dk.Archivedfrom the original on 3 March 2016.Retrieved8 May2013.
- ^"Faxe præsenteret i Randers".Bold.dk.Archivedfrom the original on 22 July 2012.Retrieved8 May2013.
- ^"Colin Todd vil fyres".Bold.dk.Archivedfrom the original on 22 July 2012.Retrieved8 May2013.
- ^"Todd skuffet over håndteringen".Bold.dk.Archivedfrom the original on 22 July 2012.Retrieved8 May2013.
- ^"Nordstrand fik sit mål – Fodbold".Sporten.dk.Retrieved8 May2013.
- ^"Randers FC – John Faxe stopper i Randers FC".Randersfc.dk.Retrieved8 May2013.
- ^"Randers FC – Ove Christensen er den nye cheftræner".Randersfc.dk. Archived fromthe originalon 19 July 2011.Retrieved8 May2013.
- ^"FØR AAB-KAMPEN: VIDSTE DU AT".Randersfc.dk.Retrieved22 November2012."FØR AAB-KAMPEN: VIDSTE DU AT".Randersfc.dk. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ^Kjær, Christian (13 May 2021)."Randers ydmyger SønderjyskE og er pokalmester".TV 2 Sport(in Danish). Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2023.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^"Randers taber til Galatasaray og misser Europa League".TV3 SPORT(in Danish). 26 August 2021. Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2023.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^"Historien".Randers FC(in Danish). Archived fromthe originalon 6 December 2022.Retrieved8 April2023.
- ^"UEFA Europa League 2006/07 – History – Randers –".UEFA.Retrieved22 February2015.
- ^"UEFA Europa League 2009/10 – History – Randers –".UEFA. 13 August 2011.Retrieved22 February2015.
- ^"UEFA Europa League 2010/11 – History – Randers –".UEFA.Archivedfrom the original on 15 September 2013.Retrieved22 February2015.
- ^[1]Archived3 June 2008 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Randers FC".Ligafodbold.dk.Archivedfrom the original on 21 November 2016.Retrieved21 November2016.
- ^[2]Archived26 June 2010 at theWayback Machine
- ^[3],Randers FC website
- ^"Danish sportswear".H2O Sportswear.Archivedfrom the original on 8 February 2010.Retrieved8 May2013.
- ^"Randers FC".Warrior Football.Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2013.Retrieved8 May2013.
External links
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