Alliance Club Horsens, (Danish: [æliˈɑŋsə ˈkʰlup ˈhɒːsn̩s]), commonly referred to as AC Horsens (Danish: [ɛˀˈse̝ˀ ˈhɒːsn̩s]) or simply Horsens, is a Danish professional football club based in Horsens, Central Denmark Region. Founded in 1994, as a superstructure on Horsens fS (founded 1915), Stensballe IK and FC Horsens, the club competes in the Danish 1st Division, the second tier of Danish football. Both Stensballe IK and FC Horsens has later left the cooperation, and only Horsens fS remains.

AC Horsens
Full nameAlliance Club Horsens
Nickname(s)Den gule fare (The Yellow Danger)
Founded1994; 30 years ago (1994)
GroundCASA Arena Horsens,
Horsens
Capacity10,400 (7,500 seated)
ChairmanWilliam Harrison Binnie
Head coachMartin Retov
League1st Division
2022–23Superliga, 11th of 12 (relegated)
WebsiteClub website
Current season

History edit

When the new team started in 1994, Horsens fS had finished sixth in the 1994–95 1st Division season, which qualified AC Horsens to play for promotion to the 1994–95 Superliga through the 1994 Qualifying League.[1] As AC Horsens only won two of 14 matches, and finished last in the Qualifying League, they missed their opportunity of instant promotion for the Superliga.[2]

In the first half of the 1994–95 1st Division season, AC Horsens finished at the bottom of the table after winning only a single game, and did not proceed to the Qualification League. In the second half of the season, AC Horsens managed three victories, but finished dead last and were relegated to the 2nd Division.[3] AC Horsens spent two seasons in the 2nd Division before winning promotion back to the 1st Division.[4][5] From the 1997–98 1st Division season forward, AC Horsens established itself as a consistent part of the 1st Division,[6] as they finished just below the promotion candidates for five seasons in a row.[1]

In July 2001, Horsens hired former Danish international Kent Nielsen as their new manager. The 2002–03 1st Division season did not go well for Den Gule Fare (The Yellow Danger). After the winterbreak halfway through the season, the club was close to relegation to the 2nd Division, but a good ending of the season secured an 11th place, seven points from the relegation zone.[1][7] In the next season, ACH started out on amazing form. After 15 matches, AC Horsens were leading the 1st Division with 40 points, but a weak finish to the season saw the club surpassed by Silkeborg IF and Randers FC, who won promotion to the Superliga four points ahead of Horsens.[1][8] In the 2004–05 1st Division season, Horsens finally succeeded in winning promotion. Though amassing only one point more than in the 2003–04 season, AC Horsens finished in the runner-up spot, trailing winners SønderjyskE by a single point.[9]

In their first year in the Superliga, AC Horsens became famous for their strong defence, as they finished in 10th place and avoided relegation. They drew 13 of 33 matches; 8 of them ending 0–0. They conceded just 41 goals in 33 matches, a statistic only bettered by the defences of the top-three finishing teams that season.[10]

The Superliga season of 2006–07 saw AC Horsens take an early lead over relegation rivals Vejle Boldklub and Silkeborg IF. In the spring of 2007, a slew of strong performances were followed by a series of disappointing defeats and draws, which again brought AC Horsens dangerously close to relegation. New offensive midfielder Henrik Hansen joined the squad midway through the season and became a key player, whereas striker and Canadian national Ali Gerba finished a half-year loan period in the summer of 2007 without being offered a contract. Instead, Brazilian Gilberto Macena from the Danish 2nd Division East team Holbæk B&I became the top scorer for AC Horsens, netting twelve times during the season.

The 2022–23 season proved challenging for Horsens. The team struggled to maintain a clean sheet from October 2022 to June 2023, conceding a league-high 58 goals. Ultimately, their relegation occurred due to goal difference, narrowly missing out to Lyngby, who had not won in the first 16 fixtures of the season.[11][12]

Players edit

First-team squad edit

As of 30 January 2024[13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   CRO Matej Delač
2 DF   SWE Oliver Stanisic
3 DF   USA Manny Perez
6 MF   UGA Moses Opondo
7 MF   DEN Jakob Ankersen
8 MF   CIV Odilon Kouassi
10 FW   DEN Frederik Heiselberg (loan from Midtjylland)
11 FW   USA Simon Becher
12 MF   SWE Anton Ekeroth
14 MF   DEN Julius Madsen
15 FW   GUI Sory Traore
16 FW   UGA Rogers Mugisha
17 DF   DEN Mikkel Lassen
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF   DEN Frederik V. Kristensen
19 MF   DEN Marinus Larsen
20 DF   DEN Søren Reese
22 MF   DEN Angelo Nehmé
25 FW   GAM Omar Jarju
27 FW   NZL Elijah Just
28 DF   GAM Alagie Saine
29 FW   ALB Jashar Beluli
30 GK   DEN Marcus Bobjerg
32 MF   DEN Hjalte Toftegaard
33 DF   DEN Alexander Ludwig
40 GK   DEN Andreas Hermansen

Youth players in use 2023–24 edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
26 DF   DEN Lasse Kristensen
31 GK   DEN Oliver Bjerregaard
No. Pos. Nation Player
32 FW   DEN Mathias Frederiksen
34 DF   DEN Frederik Roslyng

Out on loan edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   DEN Anders Hoff (at Skive IK until 30 June 2024)
DF   NGA Gabriel Kehinde (at Holstebro Boldklub until 30 June 2024)
DF   DEN Malte Kiilerich (at Hvidovre IF until 30 June 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   ZAM Lubambo Musonda (at Silkeborg until 30 June 2024)
FW   NGA Samson Iyede (at Chornomorets Odesa until 30 June 2024)
FW   DEN Anders K. Jacobsen (at Vejle until 30 June 2024)

Coaches edit

Achievements edit

European record edit

Season Competition Round Club 1st leg 2nd leg Aggregate
2012–13 UEFA Europa League Third qualifying round   Elfsborg 1–1 3–2 4–3
Play-off round   Sporting CP 1–1 0–5 1–6

Season overview edit

Season Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Notes
1994 spring[2] QL 8 14 2 4 8 14 30 11 Did not comepte Relegated
1994 autumn[3] 1D 10 18 1 6 11 15 50 8 Third round
1995 spring[3] 1D 8 14 3 6 5 15 26 12 Relegated
1995 autumn[4] 2D 6 14 5 3 6 27 29 18 Fourth round
1996 spring[4] 2D 3 14 6 6 2 27 14 24
1996 autumn[5] 2D 3 14 9 2 3 35 22 29 Second round
1997 spring[5] 2D 2 14 8 4 2 32 10 28 Promoted
1997–98[6] 1D 5 30 12 8 10 49 44 44 Fourth round
1998–99[14] 1D 6 30 13 5 12 47 44 44 Fourth round
1999-00[15] 1D 5 30 14 8 8 57 31 50 Fourth round
2000–01[16] 1D 7 30 11 10 9 41 38 43 Fifth round
2001–02[17] 1D 7 30 12 8 10 39 31 44 Third round
2002–03[7] 1D 11 30 9 9 12 45 49 36 Third round
2003–04[8] 1D 3 30 19 5 6 50 26 62 Quarter-final
2004–05[9] 1D 2 30 19 6 5 51 23 63 Semi-final Promoted
2005–06[10] SL 10 33 8 13 12 29 41 37 Fifth round
2006–07[18] SL 10 33 6 10 17 29 53 28 Quarter-final
2007–08[19] SL 5 33 14 10 9 47 43 52 Third round
2008–09[20] SL 12 33 5 9 19 35 58 24 Quarter-final Relegated
2009–10[21] 1D 1 30 21 3 6 67 27 66 Third round Promoted
2010–11[22] SL 9 33 9 10 14 29 40 37 Quarter-final
2011–12[23] SL 4 33 17 6 10 53 39 57 Final Qualified for 2012–13 UEFA Europa League
2012–13 SL 11 33 8 10 15 31 49 34 Semi-final Relegated
2013–14 1D 5 33 15 7 11 60 48 52 Semi-final
2014–15 1D 6 33 10 12 11 43 42 42 Third round
2015–16 1D 3 33 18 6 9 52 34 60 Third round Promoted
2016–17 SL 10 36 8 16 12 43 57 40 Fourth round
2017–18 SL 6 36 8 16 12 43 57 40 Third round
2018–19 SL 10 34 9 10 15 34 56 33 Fourth round
2019–20 SL 8 34 13 8 13 38 54 47 Semi-finals
2020–21 SL 12 32 5 9 18 30 59 24 Fourth round Relegated
2021–22 1D 1 32 19 7 6 55 29 64 Fourth round Promoted
2022–23 SL 11 32 7 7 18 33 58 28 round of 16 Relegated
2023–24 1D TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TBD

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Klubhistorie Archived 30 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine, AC Horsens
  2. ^ a b Danmarksturneringen 1993–94 Archived 27 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  3. ^ a b c Danmarksturneringen 1994–95 Archived 1 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  4. ^ a b c Danmarksturneringen 1995–96 Archived 5 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  5. ^ a b c Danmarksturneringen 1996–97 Archived 22 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  6. ^ a b Danmarksturneringen 1997–98 Archived 5 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  7. ^ a b Danmarksturneringen 2002–03 Archived 31 October 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  8. ^ a b Danmarksturneringen 2003–04 Archived 4 November 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  9. ^ a b Danmarksturneringen 2004–05 Archived 28 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  10. ^ a b SAS Ligaen 2005–06 Archived 14 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Haslund.info
  11. ^ Schmidt, Martin (3 June 2023). "Horsens manglede ét mål: Så havde vi snakket om hvor flot det var". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Krise hos den ene, forløsning hos den anden: Nedturen i Horsens fortsætter, mens AGF bevæger sig mod top-6". Jyllands-Posten (in Danish). 3 March 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Førsteholdet | AC Horsens" (in Danish). AC Horsens. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  14. ^ Danmarksturneringen 1998–99 Archived 31 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  15. ^ Danmarksturneringen 1999-00 Archived 19 November 2004 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  16. ^ Danmarksturneringen 2000–01 Archived 19 November 2004 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  17. ^ Danmarksturneringen 2001–02 Archived 31 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Peders Fodboldstatistik
  18. ^ SAS Ligaen 2006–07 Archived 15 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Haslund.info
  19. ^ SAS Ligaen 2007–08 Archived 4 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Haslund.info
  20. ^ SAS Ligaen 2008–09 Archived 23 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Haslund.info
  21. ^ "NordicBet Liga – 2009/2010". bold.dk. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  22. ^ "3F Superliga – 2010/2011". bold.dk. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  23. ^ "3F Superliga – 2011/2012". bold.dk. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.

External links edit