Brøndby back in Danish mix
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Article summary
Having spent last season fighting off relegation, Brøndby IF are once again ensconced in the Superligaen upper reaches, where the club have spent most of their 26-year spell in Denmark's top flight.
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Steady recovery
A 1-0 victory at frontrunners Odense BK on 5 October took Brøndby up to third place, only two points behind OB and one behind eternal rivals FC København. That continued a return to form that started in May, with a Danish Cup final victory over Esbjerg fB, and their only major disappointment since has been an early exit from the UEFA Cup – a 5-3 aggregate loss to Rosenborg BK left København as Denmark's sole representatives in the competition.
New signings
One factor behind the turnaround in fortunes has been the club's successful summer trading. Of the new recruits, Gambian striker Ousman Jallow has proved a particularly big hit, scoring the winner against OB and continually improving as the campaign unfolds. Meanwhile, coach Tom Køhlert looks to have the team operating as a unit in his third spell at the helm – the pity is that Køhlert will be stepping down, voluntarily, in less than two months.
Nielsen return
He will be replaced by another passionate Brøndby fan, however, with Kent Nielsen due to take over in the new year. Nielsen led AC Horsens to the top tier, before guiding them to a surprising fifth-placed finish last term. A former Brøndby player, he was plying his trade with the Blue and Yellows when he won EURO '92 with Denmark.
Absalonsen praise
Brøndby's performances this season have not gone unnoticed by their rivals, of course. "We were up against a team of men – and they haven't even reached their full potential yet," said OB winger and Brøndby old boy Johan Absalonsen after last weekend's result. "They have bought so many quality players that there's no risk of them failing in the way they did last season. They will be a regular top-three team again."
