Alexander Bah

{{short description|Danish footballer (born 1997)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Alexander Bah

| full_name = Alexander Hartmann Bah{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Denmark (DEN) |publisher=FIFA |page=9 |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022}}

| image = AlexanderBah.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Bah with Benfica in 2022

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1997|12|9}}

| birth_place = Årslev, Denmark

| height = 1.83 m{{cite web|url=https://www.slbenfica.pt/en-us/futebol/plantel-principal/Bah |title=Bah |publisher=S.L. Benfica |access-date=12 August 2022}}

| position = Right-back

| currentclub = Benfica

| clubnumber = 6

| youthyears1 = 1998–2011

| youthclubs1 = Aarslev Boldklub

| youthyears2 = 2011–2013

| youthclubs2 = B 1913

| youthyears3 = 2013–2014

| youthclubs3 = Næsby

| youthyears4 = 2014–2015

| youthclubs4 = Ikast FS

| youthyears5 = 2015–2016

| youthclubs5 = Næsby

| years1 = 2016

| clubs1 = Næsby

| caps1 = 17

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2016–2018

| clubs2 = HB Køge

| caps2 = 59

| goals2 = 8

| years3 = 2018–2020

| clubs3 = SønderjyskE

| caps3 = 58

| goals3 = 6

| years4 = 2021–2022

| clubs4 = Slavia Prague

| caps4 = 43

| goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2022–

| clubs5 = Benfica

| caps5 = 65

| goals5 = 3

| nationalyears1 = 2017

| nationalteam1 = Denmark U20

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2018–2019

| nationalteam2 = Denmark U21

| nationalcaps2 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2020–

| nationalteam3 = Denmark

| nationalcaps3 = 20

| nationalgoals3 = 1

| pcupdate = 23:48, 8 February 2025 (UTC)

| ntupdate = 23:44, 15 November 2024 (UTC)

}}

Alexander Hartmann Bah (born 9 December 1997) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Primeira Liga club Benfica and the Denmark national team.

After coming through Næsby's youth academy, he was promoted to the first team in 2016, and later represented fellow Danish side HB Køge and spent two years with SønderjyskE in Danish Superliga. In January 2021, Bah joined Slavia Prague, where he won the Czech First League and Czech Cup in 2021 and was named the Czech First League's Defender of the Season in 2022, and then transferred to Benfica for €8 million.

After representing Denmark at various youth levels, Bah was called up to the full international team for the first time in November 2020. He scored on his international debut against Sweden, and went on to represent the side at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024.

Early life

Bah was born in Årslev on the island of Funen, Denmark,{{cite news |last1=Kragh Iversen |first1=Jens |title=Bah hat noch keine Eile |url=https://www.nordschleswiger.dk/de/sport-sonderjyske-fussball/bah-hat-noch-keine-eile |accessdate=12 November 2020 |work=Der Nordschleswiger |date=25 December 2019 |language=da}} and is of Danish and Gambian descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dbold.dk/2016/09/18-aarige-bah/|title=18-årige Bah i HB Køge: Vil være stamspiller hurtigst muligt|first=Rasmus|last=Dalgaard|date=12 September 2016}} He later attended efterskole education at ISI Idrætsefterskole in Ikast, where he also made appearances for local side Ikast FS.{{cite web |title=Det siger tidligere elever |url=https://www.isi.dk/efterskolen/linjeidraetter/fodbold |website=isi.dk |publisher=ISI Idrætsefterskole |accessdate=12 November 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924084629/https://www.isi.dk/efterskolen/linjeidraetter/fodbold |archivedate=24 September 2020 |language=da |quote="Jeg valgte ISI på grund af skolens gode omdømme i forhold til at udvikle fodboldspillere og alle de gode faciliteter – både sportsligt og som efterskolelev."}}{{cite web |title=Ikast FS - Aabenraa BK |url=https://www.dbu.dk/resultater/kamp/991316%C2%A4202935/startopstilling |website=dbu.dk |publisher=Danish Football Association |accessdate=11 November 2020}}

Club career

=Early career=

Bah started his footballing career with local club Aarslev Boldklub,{{cite news |last1=Abildtrup |first1=Niels |title=Årslev stolt over Bahs debut |url=https://fyens.dk/artikel/%C3%A5rslev-stolt-over-bahs-debut |accessdate=11 November 2020 |work=Fyens Stiftstidende |date=21 August 2018 |language=da}} where he played for ten years before joining B 1913.{{cite web |title=Alexander Bah: På vej mod store eventyr |url=https://www.naesbyboldklub.dk/klubben/klubnyt/nyheder-2021/alexander-bah-paa-vej-mod-store-eventyr/ |website=Næsby Boldklub |language=da |date=24 January 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Abildtrup |first1=Niels |title=Gang i sagerne og sang i gaderne i fynsk fodbold - Dalum og OKS størst, mens OB på Ærø kæmper hårdt |url=https://faa.dk/artikel/gang-i-sagerne-og-sang-i-gaderne-i-fynsk-fodbold-dalum-og-oks-st%C3%B8rst-mens-ob-p%C3%A5-%C3%A6r%C3%B8-k%C3%A6mper-h%C3%A5rdt |access-date=19 December 2022 |work=Fyns Amts Avis |date=15 December 2022 |language=da}} He joined Næsby Boldklub three years later, in the spring of 2013, because the club according to Bah "[...] had a good reputation for developing young players".{{cite news |title=Interview med Alexander Bah |url=https://www.naesbyboldklub.dk/klubben/om-klubben/klubnyt/interview-med-alexander-bah/ |accessdate=11 November 2020 |work=Næsby Boldklub |date=31 March 2018 |language=da}} Furthermore, his youth coach Andreas Bech had also moved to Næsby Boldklub, which was also a significant factor in Bah's choice. After attending ISI Idrætsefterskole in Ikast in 2014–15, he returned to Næsby.{{cite news |title=Alexander Bah, um dinamarquês que vem de Praga para ser a nova solução do Benfica para um problema antigo |url=https://observador.pt/2022/06/07/alexander-bah-um-dinamarques-que-vem-de-praga-para-ser-a-nova-solucao-do-benfica-para-um-problema-antigo/ |accessdate=20 September 2020 |work=Observador |date=7 June 2022 |language=pt}}

=Næsby Boldklub=

Bah made his breakthrough on the first team of Næsby Boldklub in the spring of 2016. He started on the bench in the first three games of the season, where he impressed as a substitute. He made his first start in the fourth matchday of the spring against Avarta on 2 April 2016, which Næsby won 4–0 at home at ALPI Arena Næsby, putting on a strong performance.{{cite web |title=Næsby - Avarta, 2. Division Nedrykningsspil 2015/2016 |url=https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/kamp/naesby-vs-avarta/10507142/ |website=bold.dk |accessdate=12 November 2020}} He continued the season as a starter during the spring of 2016, where he made a total of six assists in 16 appearances in the third-tier Danish 2nd Division.{{cite news |last1=Miles |first1=Peter |title=Næsby: Bah kan blive Superliga-spiller |url=https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/naesby-bah-kan-blive-superliga-spiller/ |accessdate=12 November 2020 |work=bold.dk |date=10 August 2016 |language=da}}

=HB Køge=

In August 2016, it was announced that Bah moved to HB Køge, where he signed a three-year contract.{{cite news |last1=Larsen |first1=Michael Patrick |title=HB Køge henter Bah i Næsby |url=https://www.dbold.dk/2016/08/hb-koege-henter-bah-naesby/ |accessdate=12 November 2020 |work=D'Bold |date=10 August 2016 |language=da}} He made his debut for the club in the Danish Cup as part of the starting lineup, where he played the first 60 minutes before being replaced by Ahmed Hassan in a 0–2 win over Karlslunde IF in the 1st round.{{cite news |title=Karlslunde 0-2 HB Køge |url=https://www.hbkoge.dk/fixture_and_result/karlslunde-hb-koege/ |accessdate=12 November 2020 |work=HB Køge |date=10 August 2016 |language=da}} In November 2017, he was named "Talent of the Year", also known as the "Danske Bank Award", for HB Køge in 2017.

=SønderjyskE=

On 7 August 2018, Bah signed a five-year contract with Danish Superliga club SønderjyskE.{{cite news |last1=Ravn |first1=Jacob |title=SønderjyskE henter profil i HB Køge |url=https://www.soenderjyske.dk/fodbold/soenderjyske-henter-profil-i-hb-koege/ |accessdate=12 November 2020 |work=SønderjyskE Fodbold |date=7 August 2018 |language=da}}{{cite news |last1=Møller Karlsen |first1=Nanna |title=SønderjyskE snupper Alexander Bah |url=https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/soenderjyske-snupper-alexander-bah/ |accessdate=12 November 2020 |work=bold.dk |date=6 August 2018 |language=da}} He arrived at the club as a right winger, but largely played as a right wing-back with great success, which, among other things, have contributed to SønderjyskE winning a Danish Cup title and Bah making his full international debut for the Denmark national team. He was among the three nominated for Superliga Player of the Month in November 2020, but saw the award go to Jesper Lindstrøm of Brøndby IF.{{cite news |last1=Dehn |first1=Anders |title=Brøndby-bombere og Bah: Her er de nominerede til Superliga-pris |url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/superliga/broendby-bombere-og-bah-her-er-de-nominerede-til-superliga-pris |access-date=2 January 2021 |work=Tipsbladet |date=2 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202155713/https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/superliga/broendby-bombere-og-bah-her-er-de-nominerede-til-superliga-pris |archive-date=2 December 2020 |language=da}}

=Slavia Prague=

On 5 January 2021, Bah signed for Czech First League club Slavia Prague on a four-and-a-half-year contract.{{cite web |title=Slavii posílil dánský reprezentant Alexander Bah |url=https://www.slavia.cz/clanek.asp?id=Slavii-posilil-dansky-reprezentant-Alexander-Bah-18047 |website=slavia.cz |publisher=SK Slavia Prague |access-date=6 January 2021 |language=cs |date=5 January 2021}} In doing so, SønderjyskE received a club record fee reported to be around DKK 13 million.{{cite news |title=SønderjyskE sælger forsvarsspiller i rekordhandel |url=https://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/2021-01-05-soenderjyske-saelger-forsvarsspiller-i-rekordhandel |access-date=6 January 2021 |work=TV 2 |date=5 January 2021 |language=da}} He made his debut for the club as a starter on 16 January in a 3–1 win over Sigma Olomouc.{{cite web |title=Happy for my debut and for important points |url=https://en.slavia.cz/clanek.asp?id=746 |website=en.slavia.cz |publisher=Slavia Prague |access-date=1 February 2021 |date=17 January 2021}}{{cite news |title=Slavia po dvou penaltách porazila na úvod ligového jara Olomouc |url=https://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/slavia-po-dvou-penaltach-porazila-na-uvod-ligoveho-jara-olomouc/1983408 |access-date=1 February 2021 |work=České Noviny |date=16 January 2021 |language=cs}} Bah arrived at the club as a replacement for Vladimír Coufal, who left the for English Premier League side West Ham United, during the season, quickly became a starter in the right-back slot, after impressing his coach Jindřich Trpišovský for his defensive positioning and attacking play, helping his team win the domestic double of the Czech First League and Czech Cup.{{Cite web | title = He came, he saw, he conquers. How the Danish bachelor Bah settled in Slavia| website = iDNES.cz | url = https://www.idnes.cz/fotbal/prvni-liga/alexander-bah-slavia-praha-cesky-mistr.A210506_083826_fotbal_malu

|date= 6 May 2021 |access-date= 9 April 2022}}

The following season, Bah was named the Czech First League's Defender of the Season, making 26 appearances and scoring three goals as Slavia Prague finished runners-up behind Viktoria Plzeň, while also helping the club reached the quarter-finals of the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League, where his team were eliminated, after losing 6–4 on aggregate to eventual finalists Feyenoord.{{Cite web| title = Slavia - Feyenoord 1:3. Prague finish in KL, Mandous made a fatal mistake| website = iSport.cz| url = https://isport.blesk.cz/clanek/fotbal-evropske-pohary-konferencni-liga/412360/slavia-feyenoord-1-3-prazane-v-kl-konci-mandous-osudove-chyboval.html| language = cs| date = 3 June 2022}}

=Benfica=

On 7 June 2022, Bah signed a five-year contract with Primeira Liga side Benfica, for a reported fee of €8 million, joining former Slavia Prague teammate Petar Musa.{{cite web |title=Alexander Bah is a Benfica player! |url=https://www.slbenfica.pt/en-us/agora/noticias/2022/06/07/futebol-benfica-alexander-bah-contratacao |website=S.L. Benfica |access-date=7 June 2022 |date=7 June 2022}}{{cite news |title=Águias Confirmam Contratação de Bah |trans-title=Eagles confirm Bah's signing |url=https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2022-06-07/benfica-aguias-confirmam-contratacao-de-bah/944507 |access-date=7 June 2022 |publisher=A Bola |date=7 June 2022 |language=pt}} He made his debut for the club on 5 August, replacing Gilberto in the 63rd minute and providing the assist for Rafa Silva's goal in a 4–0 home win over Arouca in the Primeira Liga.{{cite web|date=5 August 2022|title=Rafa bisa frente ao Arouca|url=https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2022-08-05/benfica-rafa-bisa-frente-ao-arouca-video/951876|publisher=A Bola}}

International career

Bah represented Denmark at under-20 and under-21, for a total of 2 caps.{{cite web |title=A. Bah - Profile |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/alexander-hartmann-bah/454794/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=12 November 2020}}

On 9 November 2020, he was called up to Kasper Hjulmand's senior squad for the friendly against Sweden due to several cancellations from, among others, the Danish national team players playing in England, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, as well as a case of COVID-19 in the squad, which had put several national team players in quarantine. He came on as a substitute at half-time during the match against Sweden and scored the final goal in a 2–0 win at Brøndby Stadium in his debut match, on 11 November 2020.{{cite news |title=Wind og Bah sikrer dansk 2-0 sejr over Sverige |url=https://dbu.dk/nyheder/2020/november/wind-og-bah-sikrer-dansk-2-0-sejr-over-sverige/ |accessdate=12 November 2020 |work=Danish Football Association |date=11 November 2020 |language=da |quote=Et flot dansk angreb med mange afleveringer – og hvor den svenske defensiv nærmest virkede rundtossede – var Wind, Mæhle og Damsgaard de afgørende spilstationer, inden debutanten Alexander Bah afsluttede angrebet med en stensikker scoring. Flot angreb, flot afslutning!}}

Style of play

Bah is mainly known for his speed, energy and offensive capabilities, as well as his technique, creativity and crossing ability. He is capable of playing as a full-back or winger on the right flank. He is an aggressive player who attacks spaces and seeks to break deep blocks with accurate passes, capable of receiving a pass from on the byline and finding the penalty spot with a pinpoint cross to allow his teammate to convert.{{cite web |url=https://breakingthelines.com/player-analysis/alexander-bah-the-answer-to-benficas-right-back-woes-2/|title=Alexander Bah: The Answer to Benfica's Right-Back Woes? |website=Breaking The Lines|date=22 June 2022}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 8 February 2025}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

!rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Danish Cup, Czech Cup, Taça de Portugal}}

!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Taça da Liga}}

!colspan="2"|Europe

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="3"|Næsby

|2015–16

|Danish 2nd Division

|16

000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—160
2016–17

|Danish 2nd Division

|1

000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—10
colspan="2"|Total

!17

000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—170
rowspan="4"|HB Køge

|2016–17

|Danish 1st Division

|27

440colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—314
2017–18

|Danish 1st Division

|30

331colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—334
2018–19

|Danish 1st Division

|2

100colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—21
colspan="2"|Total

!59

871colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—669
rowspan="4"|SønderjyskE

|2018–19

|Danish Superliga

|21

231colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—2{{efn|Appearances in Danish Superliga relegation play-offs|name=SRPO}}0263
2019–20

|Danish Superliga

|29

150colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—341
2020–21

|Danish Superliga

|12

400colspan="2"|—1{{efn|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League|name=UEL}}0colspan="2"|—134
colspan="2"|Total

!62

781colspan="2"|—1020738
rowspan="3"|Slavia Prague

|2020–21

|Czech First League

|17

130colspan="2"|—6{{efn|name=UEL}}0colspan="2"|—261
2021–22

|Czech First League

|26

310colspan="2"|—15{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, eleven appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa Conference League}}3colspan="2"|—426
colspan="2"|Total

!43

440colspan="2"|—21300687
rowspan="4"|Benfica

|2022–23

|Primeira Liga

|28

1301010{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League|name=UCL}}0colspan="2"|—421
2023–24

|Primeira Liga

|19

230009{{efn|Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League}}01{{efn|Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira}}0322
2024–25

|Primeira Liga

|18

021207{{efn|name=UCL}}100292
colspan="2"|Total

!65

38130261101035
colspan="3"|Career total

!246

22273304843032729

{{notelist}}

=International=

{{updated|match played 15 November 2024}}{{NFT player}}

class=wikitable style=text-align:center

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals

rowspan=5|Denmark

|2020

11
202110
202240
202330
2024110
colspan=2|Total||20||1

{{updated|match played 15 November 2024}}

:Scores and results list Denmark's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bah goal.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Alexander Bah

!scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Cap

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

scope=row style=text-align:center|1

|11 November 2020||Brøndby Stadium, Brøndbyvester, Denmark||align="center"|1||{{fb|SWE}}||align="center"|2–0||align="center"|2–0||Friendly

Honours

SønderjyskE

  • Danish Cup: 2019–20{{cite news |title=SønderjyskE vinder Sydbank Pokalen efter dramatisk finale |url=https://www.tv3sport.dk/sport/fodbold/nyheder/sonderjysk-e-vinder-sydbank-pokalen-efter-dramatisk-finale |access-date=23 January 2021 |work=TV3 Sport |date=1 July 2020 |language=da}}

Slavia Prague

  • Czech First League: 2020–21{{cite web|url=https://www.ruik.cz/navrat-ztracenych-synu-soucek-coufal-kral-ci-skoda-budou-cestnymi-hosty-pri-predani-poharu-slavii/|title=Návrat ztracených synů! Souček, Coufal, Král či Škoda budou čestnými hosty při předání poháru Slavii|website=Ruik|date=22 May 2021|access-date=3 September 2021}}
  • Czech Cup: 2020–21{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/05/20/czech-republic/cup/fc-viktoria-plzen/sk-slavia-praha/3501682/|title=Viktoria Plzen vs. Slavia Praha|website=Soccerway|date=20 May 2021|access-date=6 July 2021}}

Benfica

  • Primeira Liga: 2022–23{{cite web|url=https://portugoal.net/club-news/3242-benfica-crowned-champions-of-portugal|title=Benfica crowned champions of Portugal|publisher=PortuGOAL|last=Kundert|first=Tom|date=27 May 2023|access-date=27 May 2023}}
  • Taça da Liga: 2024–25{{cite news|url=https://www.slbenfica.pt/pt-pt/agora/noticias/2025/01/11/futebol-cronica-jogo-sporting-benfica-final-taca-da-liga|title=Taça da Liga pintada de vermelho e branco!|publisher=S.L. Benfica|language=pt|date=12 January 2025|access-date=12 January 2025}}
  • Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2023{{Cite web |last=Vaza |first=Marco |date=9 August 2023 |title=Benfica soube mudar para ganhar a Supertaça |url=https://www.publico.pt/2023/08/09/desporto/cronica_de_jogo/benfica-vence-fc-porto-conquista-supertaca-2059795 |access-date=9 August 2023 |website=Público |language=pt}}

Individual

References

{{reflist}}