Daniel Agger (5)

2008/09 Stats
Apps: 12 Goals: 1 Assists: 1
Minutes on pitch: 1080 mins
Minutes per goal: 1080 mins

Daniel Munthe Agger is a footballer who plays for the greatest team in the world, Liverpool FC. Agger started his career in his homeland Denmark. He made his debut for Brondby IF in July 2004 after being signed up as a 12 year old from Rosenhøj BK. Agger then starred in Brondbys league win in 2005. This bought him a lot of admirers and namely Liverpool and Barcelona. In January 2006, Champions League winners Liverpool paid Brondby £5.8m for Aggers’ signature. This made Agger the most expensive footballer that a Danish club had ever sold. Among his admirers was the Danish National manager. Agger was called up to the national team and made his debut in the 1-0 win against Finland. He then starred in Denmark’s defeat of England, keeping the shrek like figure, Wayne Rooney, in his back pocket. At only 20 years of age, Agger was awarded with Denmarks “talent of the year” in December 2005.

Aggers first year at Liverpool was hampered with injuries which limited him, to only 4 appearances. He made 10 appearances for the Danish u-21 team, scoring 3 goals which led him to being called up for the u-21 Euro Championships in 2006.

Aggers following season was more of a success at Liverpool. He scored his first goal for Liverpool, against West Ham at Anfield on the 26th August 2006, with a 40 yard screamer into the top corner past the West Ham keeper. Agger went onto establish himself as a first team p-layer, competing with Liverpool centre-halves Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyppia, for their positions. In October 2006, Agger was awarded the PFA fans award for his solid displays in September.

After the first semi-final of the Champions League in 2007, Agger was heavily criticised in some parts of the press for allowing Chelski striker, Dider Drogba, to pass him unharmed and allowing him the space to pass the ball to a team-mate to score the only goal of the first leg. However, Agger had his revenge in the 2nd leg when he scored a curler after a clever free-kick from Captain Steven Gerrard. His performance on the night led many to compare him to ex-Liverpool great, Alan Hansen.

Agger started the following season were he left of, scoring in the first game of pre-season and playing as a solid centre-half. However, in September Agger suffered a Metatarsal injury and lost his place to Sami Hyppia. In a rush to get back to full-fitness, he then suffered an injury to his 2nd metatarsal. He therefore had to sit out the remaining of the 2007-08 season.

Agger has began to return to full fitness now and played in a few of Liverpool’s pre-season games in the summer of 2008. However, Agger knows he has a lot of work to do to win back his place as not only have Liverpool got Sami Hyppia and Jamie Carragher, they also bought Martin Skrtel which means competition for places is huge. Agger seems to have risen to the challenge thought after stating that “I’ am starting my Liverpool career again”.

Profile by Semple