Who is Jesper Fredberg, the Danish “one-man show” who has to pull Anderlecht out of the swamp? | Jupiler Pro League

At the Danish Viborg they sprinkle with compliments. Drop the name of Jesper Fredberg there and a big hymn normally follows.

The modest club dropped to second division a few years ago, but under the impulse of Fredberg it is now experiencing unprecedented success. Last year they achieved European football for the first time, now they are second in the standings behind Nordsjaelland.

Mainly thanks to a mix of smart trainer choices and a good purchasing policy. Significantly, Viborg’s two previous coaches were snatched by Copenhagen and Aalborg – two top clubs in Denmark.

In terms of budget, however, Viborg is in the lower regions of the competition. They have – just like with the Purple & White – many young players in the team who get opportunities and seize them.

Fredberg also knows when to cash in: for example, he sold the modest Dutchman Justin Lonwijk for one and a half million euros to Dinamo Kiev – the most expensive outgoing transfer in club history.

A side note is that the Dane captured Dutch “ghost football player” Bernio Verhagen in 2019. The amateur without many qualities – but with smooth talk – managed to talk himself into clubs with lies. Fredberg also let himself be caught.

A “youth sin” of the still only 41-year-old Fredberg?

Despite his age, the strong man of Viborg already has a lot of experience in football, in which he already held almost all possible positions.

His resume includes, for example, the head coach at first division Aarhus and senior positions with the youth of Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus) and Panathinaikos (Greece).

Arnar Vidarsson – a guest in Extra Time on Monday – follows the Danish competition closely for his Icelandic players and knows the works of Fredberg.

“Viborg is second in the competition. It’s basically a one-man show there. Fredberg is CEO, technical director, head of recruitment,… He does everything,” Vidarsson laughed.

Our analyst Peter Vandenbempt also sees qualities in the Dane. “The man works with a tiny budget and competes with clubs like Copenhagen, which have a budget of 25 million. A bit the ratio between Anderlecht and Club Brugge at the moment.”

A local Danish channel made a documentary about Viborg last year in which they followed the club for an entire season. You will not find it on Netflix, but according to insiders, Fredberg profiled himself as a real leader and people manager.

He is very visible within the club, likes to talk and a lot with the coach and the players. You see him in the stands during the matches, but also on the field afterwards to congratulate the players or encourage them to do better.

Wait and see if he can repeat his trick from Viborg at Anderlecht. Negotiations are reportedly moving in the right direction.