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Daniel Agger

Birthdate: 12 December 1984 Birthplace: Hvidovre, Denmark Other clubs: Brøndby (1996-2006) Bought from: Brøndby Signed for LFC: £5.8m, 12.01.2006 International debut: 02.06.2005 vs. Finland International caps: 56/7 (52/5 at LFC) - 26.03.2013

Liverpool debut: 01.02.2006 Last appearance: 05.05.2013 Debut goal: 26.08.2006 Last goal: 27.04.2013 Contract expiry: Signed 05.10.2012 Win ratio: 52.63% W: 110 D: 50 L: 49 LFC league games/goals: 155 / 7 Total LFC games/goals: 209 / 12

Player profile

Agger was voted Denmark’s most promising player three years running from 2004 to 2006. He made his Brøndby debut on 25 July 2004 in a league match against OB Odense after being on the club's books since he was 12-years-old. He got his big break earlier than expected because Brøndby's experienced centre-half, Andreas Jakobsson, was sold to Southampton. Agger was voted Brøndby's best player three games in a row soon after his emergence and he was established in the first team at only 19 years of age. Agger went from strength to strength and earned his big move to Liverpool after only 49 first-team games for Brøndby. Rafa was so confident about his abilities that he declared: "He will be a Liverpool centre back for the next ten years." Agger fitted straight into the Liverpool team and a testament to his abilities was that the great Sami Hyypia was forced to make way, for a while at least. The Danish defender scored the best goal of Liverpool's 2006/07 season with a fantastic shot outside the penalty area against West Ham in front of the Kop in only his second League game. His stylish play earned him rave reviews and he showed his strong character against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final at Anfield. He had difficulty in containing Didier Drogba in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, but was man of the match at in the second leg at Anfield, scoring Liverpool's goal as well.

An injury to his metatarsal in September 2007 wrecked the 2007/08 season for him as he underwent an operation that kept him out until the start of the 2008/09 season. The emergence of Martin Skrtel kept Agger on the bench until middle of October 2008 when the Slovakian injured his knee. The Dane was clearly not in his best form, but managed to get a good run in the side until Skrtel was fit again at the end of January. Agger seemed to be regaining his old form at the end of the season, but a recurrence of a back injury kept him on the sidelines for the first two months of the 2009/10 season. Agger figured in 23 League and 13 cup matches during the 2009/10 season. Agger featured sometimes at left-back, but most often in his more familiar position of centre-back. He reached his century of Liverpool matches when picked for the home leg with Unirea Urziceni on 25 February 2010. Dominic King at the Liverpool Echo celebrated the Dane's milestone: "Agger is one of those players to whom everything about the game comes easy, a terrific, natural talent whom it is a privilege to watch in close quarters, as he has skills that many attacking players don’t possess." Denmark's talisman in the 80s and 90s, Michael Laudrup, was equally complimentary: “He’s only 25 and there is still much more to come from him. Ask any player in the world, even the greats – you can’t hit top form if you have niggling injuries," Laudrup said. "If he can stay fit then I think he can definitely be one of the best central defenders in the game.” Agger improved his match fitness by featuring in Denmark's three matches in the World Cup 2010 but unfortunately the Danes could not get past the group stage, finishing third behind the Netherlands and Japan.

Did you know that Liverpool's Great Dane is a tattoo artist and has the Latin proverb: "Mors Certa Hora Incerta" inked on his back? It means: "Death is certain but its hour is not."

Will we ever see a fully-fit Daniel Agger for the whole of a season has been the immediate question regarding Agger's Reds' career. Sadly 2010/11 was no exception. Agger was concussed in the first Premier League match of the season against Arsenal and also had other injuries that kept him out of contention in the first half of the season. Roy Hodgson preferred Martin Skrtel to Agger but the Dane's fortunes were revived when Kenny Dalglish replaced Hodgson. Unfortunately, his injury jinx struck again when he was forced to leave the field at West Bromwich Albion early in March. That was Agger's final appearance of a very disruptive season. Not suffering from injury as much as in some previous seasons, Denmark's captain was able to play in two-thirds of Liverpool's first-team matches in 2011/12, forming a great partnership with Martin Skrtel. Agger's silky skills and forward movement fit nicely with the Slovakian's steely determination. Agger should have by now played around 300+ games for Liverpool. There is no question about his ability as he is generally considered the best defender in the squad, but the fact remains he has only been fit for 50% of Liverpool's games since he joined in January 2006. There was much speculation about Agger's Liverpool future at the start of the 2012/13 season, speculation which was finally ended when he signed a new long-term contract with the club on 5 October 2012. In November 2012 Agger was voted the Danish Footballer of the Year for the second time in his career, an achievement he first earned in 2007.

Stats note

Related Articles

Why Danish Dan will be the man for Reds

Torben Piechnik 09 February 2006More

Exclusive: Jan Molby wants Daniel Agger to join Liverpool

Jan Molby says in an exclusive interview with LFChistory.net that Brondby's Daniel Agger is good enough to make the grade at Liverpool.More

Agger shows bottle to leave Drogba thirsty

Daniel Agger's performance in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final in 2007.More

Great Dane has proved critics wrong with his quality display

An article by Chris Bascombe from Liverpool Echo on 3rd of May 2007. More

Daniel Agger celebrates a Liverpool FC century . . . at last

Feb 27 2010 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo.More

Related Quotes

"I follow your opinion on the danish league and understand that it is not quite the same quality premiership - far from. But this guy has star quality. Last summer he replaced Andreas Jakobson who moved to Southampton. Andreas J was one of our best players and we where worried that out defense wouldn't be the same after he left. At the time the U-21 coach from Brondby gave an interview and said "After 10 matches nobody will talk of Andreas Jakobson anymore" - and he was right. In the 33 games he has been playing like a dream!"

Brøndby fan Erik Fjellanger Schmidt in May 2005 on Daniel Agger

"I'm the same quiet, private person as when I lived in Denmark and I can't imagine ever changing. I love playing, and I am enjoying being at Liverpool, but I don't like what goes with it.

I know it probably sounds strange, but I have no real interest in football, aside from playing. When my career is over, I will walk away from the game for good. I already have plans, but all I will say is they have nothing to do with football. That is my character. But there is a big difference between being laid-back off the pitch and how I am on it. Something happens when I put my boots on and go out there. I become a different person. I just switch on and come alive."

Daniel Agger in October 2006

"Ever since he has come in he has looked like a typical Liverpool centre-back, going back to the days of Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen, and he is very good on the ball."

Carra on newcomer Agger in November 2006

"Daniel Agger is very professional, he's very, very focused in his career, very well prepared for every game. These things help because if you have a player who is 21 years old thinking about girls and cars and things like that, then maybe it would be more difficult for him to settle down, but he's very, very focused on football."

Rafa on Daniel Agger in March 2007

"To have played 50 times for Liverpool by the age of 22 shows the quality he has. He has the potential to be up there with the likes of Hansen and Smith – and that's an accolade of the highest order. The thing that impresses me most about him is his ability on the ball. He has the composure to pick out a pass or bring the ball forward. I don't see that in a lot of centre-backs these days.

When he first arrived he looked a bit lightweight – it reminded me of when I first broke into the team. But he's filled out and worked on his strength. He also reads the game very well for his age and can cover ground quickly. The thing is, centre-back is a position where you only get better with age, so there's a lot more to come from him yet.

Sami Hyypia has been a legend for this club, but Agger has come in and done fantastic. I still think Sami has a part to play at Liverpool and there's certainly no one better for Agger to learn from."

Gary Gillespie hails Daniel Agger as he prepares for his 50th Liverpool appearance