Mark Brink
{{short description|Danish footballer (born 1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mark Brink
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Mark Brink Christensen{{DBU player}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|3|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Esbjerg, Denmark
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Nordsjælland
| clubnumber = 6
| youthyears1 = 2002–2015
| youthclubs1 = Esbjerg fB
| years1 = 2015–2020 | clubs1 = Esbjerg fB | caps1 = 89 | goals1 = 6
| years2 = 2020–2024 | clubs2 = Silkeborg | caps2 = 137 | goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2024– | clubs3 = Nordsjælland | caps3 = 29 | goals3 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2013–2014
| nationalteam1 = Denmark U16
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam2 = Denmark U17
| nationalcaps2 = 12
| nationalgoals2 = 4
| nationalyears3 = 2015–2016
| nationalteam3 = Denmark U18
| nationalcaps3 = 5
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2015–2017
| nationalteam4 = Denmark U19
| nationalcaps4 = 9
| nationalgoals4 = 2
| nationalyears5 = 2017–2019
| nationalteam5 = Denmark U20
| nationalcaps5 = 6
| nationalgoals5 = 1
| pcupdate = 29 May 2025
| ntupdate =
}}
Mark Brink Christensen (born 15 March 1998) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Danish Superliga club FC Nordsjælland.
Club career
=Esbjerg fB=
Born in Esbjerg, Denmark, Brink is a product of Esbjerg fB and has played for the club his entire youth career. He was the captain of the under-17 team and was promoted to the under-19 team at age 17.{{cite news |last1=Monrad-Alexandersen |first1=Magnus |title=Fokus på: Mark Brink Christensen – Supertalentet fra Esbjerg fB |url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/talent/fokus-paa-mark-brink-christensen-supertalentet-fra-esbjerg-fb |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=Tipsbladet |date=4 July 2016 |language=da}} was promoted to the first team squad in the autumn of 2015 at the age of 17.{{cite web |title=Mark Brink indgår ny treårig aftale med EfB |url=https://efb.dk/mark-brink-indgaar-ny-treaarig-aftale-med-efb |website=Esbjerg fB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427100052/https://efb.dk/mark-brink-indgaar-ny-treaarig-aftale-med-efb |archive-date=27 April 2016 |language=da |date=15 April 2016 |url-status=dead}}
In March 2015, Brink won the Under-17 Talent of the Year 2015 award by the Danish Football Association.{{cite news |last1=Goldmann |first1=Jonas Hebo |title=Players Lounge #39 – Mark Brink, Silkeborg IF |url=https://www.mediano.nu/oversigt/2022/8/25/players-lounge-39-mark-brink-silkeborg-if |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=Mediano |date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825102346/https://www.mediano.nu/oversigt/2022/8/25/players-lounge-39-mark-brink-silkeborg-if |archive-date=25 August 2022 |language=da-DK}} He made his debut on 1 October 2015 in Danish Cup match against amateur side, Søhus Stige BK, where Brink played the full ninety minutes in a 9–0 victory.{{cite web |title=DBU pokalen 2015/2016/ Søhus Stige BK – Esbjerg fB/ |url=http://www.efbhistorik.dk/?cat=matchInfo&cat_id=3384 |website=efbhistorik.dk |access-date=28 January 2023}}
Brink made his league debut for Esbjerg on 4 April 2016 at the age of 18.{{cite web |title=Esbjerg vs. Viborg – 4 April 2016 |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/04/04/denmark/superliga/esbjerg-fb/viborg-ff/2048596/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=28 January 2023}} Brink started on the pitch, but was replaced by Lasse Rise in the 62nd minute in a 1–0 victory against Viborg FF in the Danish Superliga.{{cite news |last1=Nøhr |first1=Mikkel |title=EfB-debutant: Handlede om at spille simpelt |url=https://bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/efb-debutant-handlede-om-at-spille-simpelt/ |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=bold.dk |date=6 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417015504/http://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/efb-debutant-handlede-om-at-spille-simpelt/ |archive-date=17 April 2016 |language=da}} A few days later, he extended his contract until 2019.{{cite news |last1=Nøhr |first1=Mikkel |title=Esbjerg forlænger med midtbanetalent |url=https://bold.dk/fodbold/klubber/esbjerg-fb/nyheder/esbjerg-forlaenger-med-midtbanetalent_3 |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=bold.dk |date=15 April 2016 |language=da}}{{cite news |title=Mark Brink indgår ny treårig aftale med EfB |url=https://jv.dk/sport/mark-brink-indgaar-ny-treaarig-aftale-med-efb |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=JydskeVestkysten |date=15 April 2016 |language=da}}
After an individual successful period, his contract was extended once again in April 2017 until 2021.{{cite news |last1=Blond |first1=Mikael |title=Esbjerg forlænger med trio |url=https://bold.dk/fodbold/klubber/esbjerg-fb/nyheder/esbjerg-forlaenger-med-trio |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=bold.dk |date=11 April 2017 |language=da}}
On 25 July 2019, Brink made his European debut, starting in a 2–0 away loss to Belarusian club Shakhtyor Soligorsk in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.{{cite news |title=Uskarpe Esbjerg sænket i Hviderusland: Se de to Soligorsk-scoringer her |url=https://www.tv3sport.dk/sport/andre/nyheder/uskarpe-esbjerg-saenket-i-hviderusland-se-de-to-soligorsk-scoringer-her |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=TV3 SPORT |date=25 July 2019 |language=da}}{{cite web |title=Shakhtyor Soligorsk vs. Esbjerg – 25 July 2019 |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2019/07/25/europe/uefa-cup/fc-shakhtyor-soligorsk/esbjerg-fb/3034766/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=28 January 2023}}{{cite web |title=Shakhtyor–Esbjerg |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2027660--shakhtyor-vs-esbjerg/ |website=UEFA |access-date=28 January 2023}}
=Silkeborg=
On transfer deadline day, 31 January 2020, Brink joined Silkeborg IF on a three-year contract.{{cite press release |title=EfB sælger Mark Brink til Silkeborg |url=https://efb.dk/efb-saelger-mark-brink-til-silkeborg/ |website=Esbjerg fB |access-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422225555/https://efb.dk/efb-saelger-mark-brink-til-silkeborg/ |archive-date=22 April 2021 |language=da-DK |date=31 January 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite press release |title=SIF forstærker midtbanen |url=https://www.silkeborgif.com/nyhed/sif-forstaerker-midtbanen/ |website=Silkeborg IF |access-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202133220/https://www.silkeborgif.com/nyhed/sif-forstaerker-midtbanen/ |archive-date=2 February 2020 |language=da-DK |date=31 January 2020 |url-status=live}}
He made his competitive debut for the club on 16 February, replacing Vegard Moberg in the 84th minute of a 2–0 home loss to AaB.{{cite web |title=Silkeborg vs. AaB – 16 February 2020 |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/02/16/denmark/superliga/silkeborg-if-fs/aalborg-bk/3027026/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=28 January 2023}} Silkeborg suffered relegation to the Danish 1st Division at the end of the 2019–20 season, bottom of the league.{{cite news |last1=Nielsen |first1=Ronni Burkal |title=Silkeborg rykker ud af Superligaen |url=https://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/2020-06-21-silkeborg-rykker-ud-af-superligaen |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=TV 2 Sport |date=21 June 2020 |language=da-DK}}
On 11 September 2020, Brink scored his first goal for Silkeborg in the 92nd minute of a 4–2 away loss to FC Helsingør on the first matchday of the 2020–21 Danish 1st Division.{{cite news |last1=Roesen |first1=Andreas |title=Kjær-hattrick sænkede Silkeborg i målfest |url=https://bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/kjaer-hattrick-saenkede-silkeborg-i-maalfest/ |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=bold.dk |date=11 September 2020 |language=da}} Silkeborg bounced back to the Danish Superliga that season, finishing second in the league with Brink as a starter. He made 29 appearances, scoring the one goal.{{Soccerway}}
With Brink as one of the key players in midfield, Silkeborg was one of the positive surprises of the 2021–22 season, impressing with an attacking and entertaining style of play under head coach Kent Nielsen.{{cite news |last1=Jensen |first1=Kenneth |title=Alt om SIF: Stjernes lillebror er et større talent |url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/superliga/alt-om-sif-hans-lillebror-er-et-stoerre-talent |access-date=4 January 2023 |work=Tipsbladet |date=7 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208005121/https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/superliga/alt-om-sif-hans-lillebror-er-et-stoerre-talent |archive-date=8 February 2022 |language=da}} Due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, all Russian teams were excluded from European tournaments by UEFA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/russia-rus/story/4619546/cas-reject-russias-appeal-over-world-cup-ban-after-ukraine-invasion|title=Russia World Cup ban appeal rejected by CAS|date=18 March 2022|website=ESPN}} This meant that the Danish Cup winners entered the final qualifying round for the UEFA Europa League. When FC Midtjylland won the 2021–22 Danish Cup, and at the same time finished in second place in the Superliga, which now gave access to UEFA Champions League qualification, Silkeborg secured Europa League qualification by virtue of their third-place Superliga finish.{{cite news |last1=Jensen |first1=Kenneth |title=Her er SIF's mulige modstandere i EL-playoff |url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/europa-league/her-er-ob-eller-sifs-modstandere-i-el-playoff |access-date=4 January 2023 |work=Tipsbladet |date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628184237/https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/europa-league/her-er-ob-eller-sifs-modstandere-i-el-playoff |archive-date=28 June 2022 |language=da}} Brink finished the season with 34 appearances in which he scored one goal.
=Nordsjælland=
On 2 September 2024, Nordsjælland announced the signing of Brink on a contract until June 2027.{{cite web |url=https://fcn.dk/nyheder/2024/september/mark-brink-er-ny-mand-i-fc-nordsjaelland |title=Mark Brink er ny mand i FC Nordsjælland |publisher=FC Nordsjælland |date=2 September 2024 |access-date=5 September 2024}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 16 May 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"|Danish Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="6"|Esbjerg fB
|6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17
|Danish Superliga |12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=DSPO|Appearances in the Danish Superliga promotion/relegation play-offs}} | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18
|31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=DSPO}} | 0 | 35 | 5 | ||
| 2018–19
|Danish Superliga |30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20
|Danish Superliga |10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!89 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 6 | |
| rowspan="7"|Silkeborg
|Danish Superliga |10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21
|Danish 1st Division |29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 1 | |||
| 2021–22
|Danish Superliga |32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23
|Danish Superliga |29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7{{efn|name=UELECL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24
|Danish Superliga |32 | 0 | 7 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25
|Danish Superliga |5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=UELECL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!137 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 163 | 2 | ||
| Nordsjælland
|Danish Superliga |29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!255 | 8 | 22 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 294 | 8 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Silkeborg
- Danish Cup: 2023–24{{cite news |last1=Mignon |first1=Jacob |title=Kæmpe rød jubel i Parken: Silkeborg vinder pokalfinalen |url=https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/pokalturneringen/kaempe-roed-jubel-i-parken-silkeborg-vinder-pokalfinalen |access-date=9 May 2024 |work=DR |date=9 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509175044/https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/pokalturneringen/kaempe-roed-jubel-i-parken-silkeborg-vinder-pokalfinalen |archive-date=9 May 2024 |language=da-DK}}{{cite web |title=Silkeborg IF – AGF |url=https://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/21258/kamp/4462343 |website=TV 2 Sport |access-date=9 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509175947/https://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/21258/kamp/4462343 |archive-date=9 May 2024 |language=da-DK |date=9 May 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{DBU player}}
- {{sports links}}
{{FC Nordsjælland squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brink, Mark}}
Category:Footballers from Esbjerg
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Danish men's footballers
Category:Danish Superliga players
Category:Danish 1st Division players
Category:FC Nordsjælland players