The Tottenham Hotspur man will earn his 75th cap for his national team tonight. And if you’re surprised to learn that he has never before captained his country, then you’re probably not alone.
That, at least, will change this evening.
With two his Denmark’s most experienced players unavailable due to injury – AC Milan’s Simon Kjaer and former Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel ruled out – the armband will be worn, in a moment of personal history, by a man who earned the first of his quarter-of-a-century tally of caps a decade ago.
No wonder he’s delighted.
Big night for Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
“This is the first time I will be captain of the national team,” Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg beams, speaking to Tipsbladet. “It is big for me. It’s a pat on the back. I just have to keep doing all the things I have done up until now.”
A lack of game time at club level in recent months has raised concerns over in Denmark about Hojbjerg’s match sharpness with Euro 2024 now only three months away. There are similar worries about Manchester United’s Christian Eriksen, the former Tottenham ace also spending most of his time on the bench these days.
Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand has backed Hojbjerg both publicly and privately, however, while handing the former Southampton and Bayern Munich man almost the full 90 minutes during the goalless draw with Switzerland over the weekend.
“I will not forget, when I had only played a few international matches – they could perhaps be counted on one hand – when (former Denmark boss) Morten Olsen took hold of me and said that I had what it took to one day become captain,” Hojbjerg recalls.
“He was right about that. 75 games later, (Olsen’s prediction) comes true. I am very grateful. (It is an honour) to be one of those who take responsibility. I want to keep doing that.”
Captain for the first time ever
Hojbjerg’s contract at Tottenham expires just over 12 months from now. It would not come as a surprise to see the London giants cash in, with Ange Postecoglou preferring midfielders with a little more swagger in possession.
HITC Football understands that Spurs are keen on Wolves’ Joao Gomes, one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League and a man who scored a brace away at Tottenham a few weeks back. Fenerbahce’s Ismail Yuksek is another target.
It has been a mixed few days for some of Spurs’ players on international duty, meanwhile. Brennan Johnson scored a big goal for Wales but there were moments to forget for Destiny Udogie and Radu Dragusin.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
