Jacob Friis
{{Short description|Danish footballer and manager (born 1976)}}
{{about||the Norwegian journalist and politician|Jakob Friis}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jacob Friis
| image =
| full_name = Jacob Fischer Friis{{cite web |last1=Fischer Friis |first1=Jacob |title=Afslutningspil fra mellemrum - Mod etableret forsvar |url=https://traenerlounge.dbu.dk/media/1311/pro_opgave_friis.pdf |publisher=Danish Football Association |accessdate=30 October 2020 |language=Danish |date=2015 |archive-date=4 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104150235/https://traenerlounge.dbu.dk/media/1311/pro_opgave_friis.pdf |url-status=dead }}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|12|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Aalborg, Denmark{{cite news |last1=Gammelgaard |first1=Camilla |title=Aalborg er fornøjeligheder, hygge og sport |url=https://aalborgnu.dk/nyheder/aalborg-er-fornoejeligheder-hygge-og-sport/a3f59ff3-7279-4f91-a116-e1331ad7a557 |access-date=15 November 2022 |work=aalborg:nu |date=20 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115142701/https://aalborgnu.dk/nyheder/aalborg-er-fornoejeligheder-hygge-og-sport/a3f59ff3-7279-4f91-a116-e1331ad7a557 |archive-date=15 November 2022 |language=da}}
| currentclub = Finland (manager)
| height =
| position =
| years1 = 1999–2001
| clubs1 = Aalborg Chang
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2001–2003
| clubs2 = AaB
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| manageryears1 = 2003–2006
| managerclubs1 = AaB II (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2006–2008
| managerclubs2 = Tigres UANL (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2008–2015
| managerclubs3 = AaB U19
| manageryears4 = 2016–2018
| managerclubs4 = AaB (assistant)
| manageryears5 = 2018–2020
| managerclubs5 = AaB
| manageryears6 = 2021
| managerclubs6 = Hobro (assistant)
| manageryears7 = 2021–2022
| managerclubs7 = Denmark U19 women
| manageryears8 = 2022–2023
| managerclubs8 = Viborg
| manageryears9 = 2023–2025
| managerclubs9 = FC Augsburg (assistant)
| manageryears10 = 2025–
| managerclubs10 = Finland
}}
Jacob Fischer Friis (born 11 December 1976) is a Danish professional football manager and former player who is serving as the head coach of the Finland national team.
Playing career
Friis was team captain of the AaB reserve team playing in the fourth tier Denmark Series before retiring due to injury in 2002–03. Beside AaB, he also played for two years for Aalborg Chang (1999–2001).{{cite news |title=BLÅ BOG: Den nu tidligere AaB-træner Jacob Friis |url=https://jv.dk/artikel/bl%C3%A5-bog-den-nu-tidligere-aab-tr%C3%A6ner-jacob-friis |accessdate=29 October 2020 |work=JydskeVestkysten |date=29 October 2020 |language=Danish}}
Managerial career
Friis started his career as a coach in connection with a job as an assistant coach for AaB's seventh-tier Series 3 team.{{cite web |title=Friis fortsætter som cheftræner i AaB |url=https://aabsport.dk/nyheder/2018/december/friis-fortsaetter-som-cheftraener-i-aab/ |website=aabsport.dk |publisher=Aalborg Boldspilklub |accessdate=30 October 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214071041if_/https://aabsport.dk/nyheder/2018/december/friis-fortsaetter-som-cheftraener-i-aab/ |archivedate=14 December 2018 |language=Danish |date=10 December 2018 |url-status=live}} He then continued as an assistant coach for AaB's reserves, playing in the fourth-tier Denmark Series, where he remained until the summer of 2006.
In the summer of 2006, Friis travelled to Mexico, where he was to teach English at Instituto CEFI and coach their football team.{{cite news |title=AaB-træner tager på mexicansk eventyr |url=https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/aab-traener-tager-paa-mexicansk-eventyr/aa31decf-210d-4c25-81a4-d78297ebf83b |accessdate=29 October 2020 |work=Nordjyske Medier |date=26 July 2006 |language=Danish |archive-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214114340/https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/aab-traener-tager-paa-mexicansk-eventyr/aa31decf-210d-4c25-81a4-d78297ebf83b |url-status=dead }} However, the job as a football coach was not satisfactory for Friis, and instead an opportunity arose for Friis to be part of the coaching staff around Monterrey's university team, Tigres UANL.
=AaB=
When Allan Kuhn resigned as a result of a finding a new coaching job at Malmö FF, Friis became the new assistant coach at AaB in January 2016 under head coach Lars Søndergaard. He had already been promised a promotion to the assistant coaching position from the summer of 2016, but these plans were advanced with the premature change of head coach.{{cite news |last1=Frederiksen |first1=Søren |title=Jacob Friis ny assistenttræner i AaB |url=https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/jacob-friis-ny-assistenttraener-i-aab/ |accessdate=30 October 2020 |work=bold.dk |date=11 January 2016 |language=Danish}}
Søndergaard was dismissed in December 2016.{{cite news |last1=Top |first1=Morten |title=Officelt: Cheftræner Lars Søndergaard fyret i AaB |url=https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/superliga/officelt-cheftraener-lars-soendergaard-fyret-i-aab |accessdate=30 October 2020 |work=DR |date=15 December 2016 |language=Danish}} Morten Wieghorst signed with AaB as their new head coach in early-January 2017,{{cite news |author1=Ritzau |title=AaB ansætter Morten Wieghorst som cheftræner |url=https://fyens.dk/artikel/aab-ans%C3%A6tter-morten-wieghorst-som-cheftr%C3%A6ner-2017-1-2(5) |accessdate=30 October 2020 |work=Fyens Stiftstidende |date=2 January 2017 |language=Danish}} and Friis was appointed his main assistant with Thomas Augustinussen as second assistant.{{cite news |last1=Vikkelsø Andersen |first1=Steven |title=AaB forlænger med assistenttræner |url=https://www.tv2nord.dk/aalborg/aab-forlaenger-med-assistenttraener |accessdate=30 October 2020 |work=TV 2 Nord |date=28 March 2018 |language=Danish}} He signed an ongoing contract extension at the end of March 2018.
In the fall of 2018, AaB won just one match out of 12 possible,{{cite news |last1=Asferg |first1=Mikkel |title=AaB fyrer Morten Wieghorst |url=https://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/2018-11-26-aab-fyrer-morten-wieghorst |accessdate=30 October 2020 |work=TV 2 Sport |date=26 November 2018 |language=Danish}} and Wieghorst was subsequently fired on 26 November 2018.{{cite news |last1=Moshage |first1=Bo |title=AaB fyrer Morten Wieghorst |url=https://politiken.dk/sport/fodbold/superligaen/art6866457/AaB-fyrer-Morten-Wieghorst |accessdate=30 October 2020 |work=Politiken |date=26 November 2018 |language=Danish}}{{cite news |last1=Hukiær |first1=Jens |title=Så skete det: Wieghorst fyret i AaB |url=https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/sport/saa-skete-det-wieghorst-fyret-i-aab/2980fc2a-89d5-42a4-a975-76dded9cd827 |accessdate=30 October 2020 |work=Nordjyske Medier |date=26 November 2018 |language=Danish}} As his interim, Friis was appointed head coach for the three remaining matches in the Danish Superliga during the fall.{{cite news |last1=Svenningsen |first1=Mette |title=AaB møder Esbjerg: Friis’ første kamp i spidsen for AaB |url=https://www.tv2nord.dk/aalborg/aab-moder-esbjerg-friis-forste-kamp-i-spidsen-aab |accessdate=30 October 2020 |work=TV 2 Nord |date=30 November 2018 |language=Danish}} Friis' first match in charge resulted in a 4–1 win over Esbjerg fB on 1 December 2018.{{cite news |author1=Ritzau |title=VIDEO Ny AaB-træner debuterer med knusende sejr i Esbjerg |url=https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/superliga/video-ny-aab-traener-debuterer-med-knusende-sejr-i-esbjerg |accessdate=30 October 2020 |work=DR |date=30 November 2018 |language=Danish}} Despite AaB losing the next match 4–2 at home to AC Horsens on 9 December,{{cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Martin |title=AaB fastansætter Jacob Friis |url=https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/aab-fastansaetter-jacob-friis/ |accessdate=30 October 2020 |work=bold.dk |date=10 December 2018 |language=Danish}} Friis was still signed on a permanent deal for the remained of the 2018–19 season.
Friis stepped back from the position as head coach of AaB on 29 October 2020, for personal reasons related to his daughter fighting leukaemia.{{cite news |title=Jacob Friis stopper som cheftræner i AaB af personlige årsager |url=https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/superliga/jacob-friis-stopper-som-cheftraener-i-aab-af-personlige-aarsager |accessdate=30 October 2020 |work=DR |date=29 October 2020 |language=Danish}} Assistant Peter Feher took over as caretaker manager with Rasmus Würtz continuing as assistant.
=Viborg=
On 3 February 2022, Friis was appointed head coach of Superliga club Viborg, leaving his job as coach of the Denmark women's U19 national team.{{cite news |title=Jacob Friis bliver cheftræner i Viborg FF |url=https://www.dbu.dk/nyheder/2022/februar/jacob-friis-bliver-cheftraener-i-viborg-ff/ |access-date=15 November 2022 |work=DBU |date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203142254/https://www.dbu.dk/nyheder/2022/februar/jacob-friis-bliver-cheftraener-i-viborg-ff/ |archive-date=3 February 2022 |language=DA}}
=Augsburg=
On 8 November 2023, Friis left Viborg to become new assistant manager of Jess Thorup at FC Augsburg in the German Bundesliga.{{cite web|title=Officielt: Viborg har solgt Jacob Friis|language=Danish|date=8 November 2023|accessdate=8 November 2023|work=bold.dk|url=https://bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/officielt-viborg-har-solgt-jacob-friis}}
=Finland national team=
On 20 January 2025, the Football Association of Finland announced that Friis was named the new head coach of the Finland national team on a three-year contract with an option for the possible UEFA Euro 2028 final tournament.[https://www.palloliitto.fi/ajankohtaista/jacob-friis-on-huuhkajien-uusi-paavalmentaja Jacob Friis on Huuhkajien uusi päävalmentaja], Football Association of Finland, 20 January 2025
Education
In August 2015, Friis acquired the UEFA Pro Licence, also known as the 'P licence'; the highest coaching education. His final assignment was entitled Afslutningspil fra mellemrum - Mod etableret forsvar (Finishing from the red zone - against established defense).
Personal life
Friis was born in Aalborg, Denmark, and grew up in Aalborg Øst where he attended Mellervangsskolen. While managing AaB he lived in Vodskov northeast of Aalborg with his wife, Merle, and three children.{{cite news |last1=Andersen |first1=Thomas N. |title=- Havde intet at tilbyde min familie |url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/fodbold/dansk_fodbold/superligaen/aab/havde-intet-at-tilbyde-min-familie/8346022 |access-date=15 November 2022 |work=Ekstra-Bladet |date=29 October 2020 |language=da}}
Career statistics
= Managerial =
{{updated|match played 10 June 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Managerial record by club and tenure | |||
| rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Nat !rowspan="2"|From !rowspan="2"|To !colspan="8"|Record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{Tooltip|M|Matches coached}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}} !{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}} !{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}} !{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}} | |||
| AaB | {{flagicon|DEN}} | 10 December 2018 | 29 October 2020
{{WDL|64|27|13|24|for=101|against=77|diff=yes}} |
| Viborg | {{flagicon|DEN}} | 3 February 2022 | 8 November 2023
{{WDL|76|34|19|23|for=109|against=93|diff=yes}} |
| Finland | {{flagicon|FIN}} | 20 January 2025 | present
{{WDL|4|2|1|1|for=5|against=5|diff=yes}} |
| colspan="4"|Total
{{WDLtot|144|63|33|48|for=215|against=175|diff=yes}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Current managers of UEFA national teams}}
{{Finland national football team managers}}
{{AaB managers}}
{{Viborg FF managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Friis, Jacob}}
Category:Aalborg Chang players
Category:Danish football managers
Category:Danish Superliga managers
Category:Association football coaches
Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Mexico
Category:Danish men's footballers
Category:Men's association football players not categorized by position
Category:Footballers from Aalborg
Category:Expatriate association football managers
Category:Finland national football team managers
Category:Danish expatriate football managers
Category:Expatriate football managers in Finland
Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Finland
Category:National team coaches
Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:FC Augsburg non-playing staff