Theo Sander

Theo Sander
Personal information
Full name	Theo Nicolini Sander
Date of birth	8 January 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth	Skørping, Denmark
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Copenhagen
Number	21
Youth career
	IF Frem Skørping
	Støvring IF
	Gug Boldklub
2017–2023	AaB
Senior career*
Years	Team
2021–2023	AaB
2023–	Copenhagen
International career‡
2020	Denmark U16
2021–2022	Denmark U17
2022	Denmark U18
2023–	Denmark U19
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 August 2023; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 November 2023

Theo Nicolini Sander (born 8 January 2005) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Danish Superliga club Copenhagen.

Career

AaB

As a youth player, Sander played for a local clubs, before joining AaB in 2017 at the age of 12.^[3] Possessing a physique suited for the goalkeeping position, Sander impressed in various youth teams and attracted interest from some of Europe's major clubs. In January 2021, AaB confirmed that Sander had been on a trial with Italian giants Juventus. AaB stated that they were "in dialogue with several clubs about Theo Sander".^[3] He would, however, end up staying at AaB. In April 2021, Sander was called up for his first professional game against Vejle Boldklub. However, he remained on the bench. In the 2021–22 season, Sander was on the bench for 14 Danish Superliga games.

In February 2022 AaB confirmed, that Sander had signed a new deal until June 2025.^[4] On 28 August 2022, 17-year old Sander made his official debut for AaB against Randers FC in the Superliga.^[5] AaB lost the match 1–0 after a bad pass from Sander was intercepted by Filip Bundgaard.^[6] With his debut, Sander became the youngest goalkeeper in the Danish Superliga history.^[7]

Copenhagen

On 20 July 2023, after AaB suffered relegation to the second division, Sander joined Copenhagen, on a deal until June 2028.^[8] He made his competitive debut for the club on 18 August, replacing an injured Kamil Grabara as starter in goal, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory against Hvidovre.^[9]^[10] In December 2023, Sander received surgery after suffering a knee injury, which kept him out for several months.^[11]

Personal life

Born in Denmark, Sander is of French and Danish descent.^[1]

Career statistics

As of match played 18 August 2023^[12]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Danish Cup		Europe		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
AaB	2022–23	Danish Superliga	14	0	1	0	—		—		15	0
Copenhagen	2023–24	Danish Superliga	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
Career total			15	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	16	0

References

^ ^a ^b Jensen, Nikita Fjorback; Hansen, Torben (7 August 2021). "Store tilbud frister 16-årige Theo, men han vil heller ikke gå glip af ungdomslivet". Nordjyske (in Danish). Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
^ Ørkild, Kasper (17 February 2022). "Storklub så talent an: Derfor fravalgte Theo udlandet for AaB". Nordjyske (in Danish). Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b "AaB i dialog med flere klubber om Theo Sander". AaB (in Danish). 19 January 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
^ "AaB forlænger med stortalent". AaB (in Danish). 16 February 2022. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
^ "Randers vs. AaB – 28 August 2022". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
^ Egelund, Klaus (28 August 2022). "Debutmareridt i AaB-nedtur". Ekstra-Bladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
^ Bech, Malthe Graungaard (28 August 2022). "17-årig AaB'er bliver yngste målmand i Superligaens historie". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
^ FCK KØBER THEO SANDER, fck.dk, 20 July 2023
^ Hjort, Alex Munk (18 August 2023). "Grabara helt ude af truppen: Blev skadet kort inde i Prag-kampen". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
^ Hjort, Alex Munk (18 August 2023). "Lykkelig Sander efter brandkamp: Jeg gjorde det godt". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
^ "FCK-keeper er ude flere måneder efter knæoperation". TV 2 Sport (in Danish). 29 December 2023. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
^ Theo Sander at Soccerway