The Danes Nicolai Boilesen (33) and Nikolai Laursen (27) are retiring from football. The defender of FC Copenhagen and the attacker of Heracles Almelo are ending their careers due to persistent injury problems.
Former Ajax player Boilesen did not play this season due to a knee injury. His club FC Copenhagen can win the national title on Sunday. The leader in Denmark has a one-point lead over competitor FC Midtjylland with one matchday to go.
“I want to thank FC Copenhagen for nine years of ups and downs,” says Boilsen on the club’s website. The veteran has been national champion with FC Copenhagen four times since 2016. He also won the national cup once with the club.
“I have to admit that I would have liked to have played more matches. Injury problems are now also forcing me to stop. It hurts to say goodbye to football, because I have enjoyed every day.”
Boilesen played for Ajax from 2010 to 2016. The 22-time international became national champion with the Amsterdam club four times in a row. He also won the Johan Cruijff Shield with Ajax.
Laursen Injured for More Than Two Years
Laursen has also decided to hang up his football boots. The Heracles attacker has been struggling with a serious injury to his left knee for more than two years. In 2016, he already tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Laursen does not want to put further strain on his knees and will study in his home country. “I don’t want to stay just to rehabilitate,” says the Dane at Heracles TV. “The club didn’t want to offer me a new contract and I also have to move on with my life.”
Laursen played his last match in March 2023. The attacker has played a total of 64 matches for Heracles. He became champion of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie with the Almelo club in 2023. He was previously active for FC Emmen, (Jong) PSV and Brøndby IF.