Oliver Christensen
{{short description|Danish footballer (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Oliver Christensen
| image = Christensen2022.jpg
| image_size = 210
| caption = Christensen in 2022
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|03|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kerteminde, Denmark
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Salernitana
(on loan from Fiorentina)
| clubnumber = 53
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2010
| youthclubs1 = Kerteminde Boldklub
| youthyears2 = 2010–2018
| youthclubs2 = OB
| years1 = 2016–2021
| clubs1 = OB
| caps1 = 61
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2021–2022
| clubs2 = Hertha BSC II
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2021–2023
| clubs3 = Hertha BSC
| caps3 = 35
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2023–
| clubs4 = Fiorentina
| caps4 = 4
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2025–
| clubs5 = → Salernitana (loan)
| caps5 = 5
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2017
| nationalteam1 = Denmark U18
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2017–2018
| nationalteam2 = Denmark U19
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2019
| nationalteam3 = Denmark U20
| nationalcaps3 = 1
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2019–2021
| nationalteam4 = Denmark U21
| nationalcaps4 = 14
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2020
| nationalteam5 = Denmark
| nationalcaps5 = 1
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| club-update = 24 February 2025
| nationalteam-update = 4 May 2021
}}
Oliver Christensen (born 22 March 1999) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Italian {{Italian football updater|Salernitana}} club Salernitana, on loan from Fiorentina.
Club career
=OB=
Born in Kerteminde on the island of Funen, Christensen played in the youth department of his local club, Kerteminde Boldklub, before moving to Odense Boldklub (OB) at under-12 level. There, he progressed through the academy, and completed a trial with Manchester United in October 2016.{{cite news |last1=Dupont |first1=Nicolai |title=OB-talent på besøg i Manchester United |url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/superliga/ob-talent-paa-besoeg-i-manchester-united |work=Tipsbladet.dk |date=17 October 2016 |language=da}}
In May 2017, Christensen signed a three-year professional contract with OB, and was promoted to the first team. Thus, he became a part of the club until 2020.{{cite web |last1=Wamsler |first1=Morten |title=OB og Oliver Christensen laver tre-årig aftale |url=http://v3.ob.dk/artikel/ob-og-oliver-christensenlaver-tre-aarig-aftale.aspx |website=ob.dk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030035531/http://v3.ob.dk/artikel/ob-og-oliver-christensenlaver-tre-aarig-aftale.aspx |archive-date=30 October 2018 |language=da |date=22 May 2017}} In the first year of his contract, he still attended classes, after which he would become a full-time professional from the summer of 2018.
He made his professional debut on 22 October 2018 in a Danish Superliga match against Brøndby IF.{{cite web |title=Forbilledlig fight gav point på Brøndby Stadion |url=https://www.ob.dk/nyhedsarkiv/forbilledlig-fight-gav-point-paa-broendby-stadion/ |website=ob.dk |language=da |date=22 October 2018}} He impressed during the match, fending off a number of shots on goal from opposing players.{{cite news |title=19-årig OB-målmand efter drømmedebut: Kan takke BIFs fans for ikke at have nogen stemme de næste tre dage |url=https://www.tv3sport.dk/sport/fodbold/nyheder/19-arig-ob-malmand-efter-drommedebut-kan-takke-bi-fs-fans-for-ikke-at-have-nogen-stemme-de-naeste-tre-dage |work=TV3 SPORT |date=23 October 2018 |language=da}} He since became established as the starting goalkeeper for OB, gaining the nickname Gribben fra Kerteminde, meaning "the vulture from Kerteminde" due to his large wingspan.{{cite news |last1=Jørgensen |first1=Sune |title=OB-målmand afslører: Derfor bliver jeg kaldt Gribben fra Kerteminde |url=https://www.tv2fyn.dk/kerteminde/ob-maalmand-afsloerer-derfor-bliver-jeg-kaldt-gribben-fra-kerteminde |work=TV2 Fyn |date=13 November 2020 |language=da}}{{cite news |last1=Halkier |first1=Emil |title=Der er sket lidt siden dengang Gribben fra Kerteminde delte aviser ud i nabolaget |url=https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/landsholdet/der-er-sket-lidt-siden-dengang-gribben-fra-kerteminde-delte-aviser-ud-i |work=DR |date=12 November 2020 |language=da}}
=Hertha BSC=
On 26 August 2021, Christensen was sold to Bundesliga club Hertha BSC, where he signed a deal until June 2026.[https://www.herthabsc.com/de/nachrichten/2021/08/transfer-oliver-christensen-2122 HERTHA BSC VERPFLICHTET OLIVER CHRISTENSEN], herthabsc.com, 26 August 2021 On 5 November, he made his debut for the reserve team Hertha BSC II in the Regionalliga Nordost game against 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig.{{cite web |title=Hertha BSC II vs. Lokomotive Leipzig - 5 November 2021 - Soccerway |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/11/05/germany/regionalliga/hertha-bsc-berlin-ii/1-fc-lokomotive-leipzig/3528383/ |website=int.soccerway.com |access-date=11 November 2021}} During the 2021–22 season he did not make any Bundesliga appearance, as Alexander Schwolow and Marcel Lotka were given preference. Hertha finished the season in 16th place in the table and would thus meet Hamburger SV in playoffs for relegation and promotion. Since Lotka and Schwolow were injured, Christensen played both games and was able to keep Hertha in the Bundesliga.{{cite news |title=Lotka fehlt Hertha auch in Hamburg |url=https://www.kicker.de/lotka-fehlt-hertha-auch-in-hamburg-903101/artikel |access-date=21 June 2022 |work=kicker |date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531210113/https://www.kicker.de/lotka-fehlt-hertha-auch-in-hamburg-903101/artikel |archive-date=31 May 2022 |language=de-DE}}
=Fiorentina=
On 10 August 2023, Christensen signed with Italian club Fiorentina, initially as a backup to goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano.{{cite web|publisher=ACF Fiorentina|url=https://www.acffiorentina.com/en/news/all/news-men-first-team/2023-08-10/christensen-is-a-viola|title=CHRISTENSEN IS A VIOLA|date=10 August 2023|access-date=10 August 2023}}{{cite web |title=Oliver Christensen wechselt nach Florenz |url=https://www.herthabsc.com/de/nachrichten/2023/08/abschied-oliver-christensen-2324 |website=Hertha BSC |access-date=6 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814043639/https://www.herthabsc.com/de/nachrichten/2023/08/abschied-oliver-christensen-2324 |archive-date=14 August 2023 |language=de |date=10 August 2023}} He made his competitive debut on 27 August in a 2–2 draw against Lecce. Although he started the following match against Inter Milan, his appearances were mainly in the UEFA Conference League, where he played four of the six group stage matches. Christensen also made key contributions in the Coppa Italia, performing strongly in both the round of 16 against Parma and the quarter-finals against Bologna.{{cite news |last1=Mazzoni |first1=Duccio |title=Christensen all'improvviso, show e parate da numero uno |url=https://firenze.repubblica.it/cronaca/2023/12/08/news/christensen_fiorentina_coppa_italia_portiere-421605331/ |access-date=6 October 2024 |work=la Repubblica |date=8 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103231/https://firenze.repubblica.it/cronaca/2023/12/08/news/christensen_fiorentina_coppa_italia_portiere-421605331/ |archive-date=1 September 2024 |language=it}}{{cite news |title=Christensen come Dibu Martinez: così ha distrutto gli avversari prima dei rigori |url=https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/fiorentina/2023/12/07-118406291/christensen_come_dibu_martinez_cosi_ha_distrutto_gli_avversari_prima_dei_rigori |access-date=6 October 2024 |work=Corriere dello Sport |date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103230/https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/fiorentina/2023/12/07-118406291/christensen_come_dibu_martinez_cosi_ha_distrutto_gli_avversari_prima_dei_rigori |archive-date=1 September 2024 |language=it}}{{cite news |last1=Masini |first1=Ilaria |title=La Fiorentina batte il Bologna ai rigori: ora la semifinale con la vincente di Milan-Atalanta |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Coppa-Italia/09-01-2024/coppa-italia-fiorentina-bologna-5-4-dopo-i-rigori-viola-in-semifinale.shtml |access-date=6 October 2024 |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |date=10 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103230/https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Coppa-Italia/09-01-2024/coppa-italia-fiorentina-bologna-5-4-dopo-i-rigori-viola-in-semifinale.shtml |archive-date=1 September 2024 |language=it-IT}} However, an injury limited his season to just two Serie A matches, with ten appearances overall across all competitions.{{cite news |last1=Magistrato |first1=Luciana |title=CHRISTENSEN, VERONA NON CONDIZIONI IL GIUDIZIO. MA A GIUGNO VALUTAZIONE SUL REPARTO |url=https://www.firenzeviola.it/notizie-di-fv/christensen-verona-non-condizioni-il-giudizio-ma-a-giugno-valutazione-sul-reparto-422935 |access-date=6 October 2024 |work=Firenze Viola |date=6 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103230/https://www.firenzeviola.it/notizie-di-fv/christensen-verona-non-condizioni-il-giudizio-ma-a-giugno-valutazione-sul-reparto-422935 |archive-date=1 September 2024 |language=it}}
In his second season, following the arrival of David de Gea, Christensen became the fourth-choice goalkeeper and was left entirely out of the squad by new head coach Raffaele Palladino.{{cite news |title=I convocati della Fiorentina: Gonzalez resta fuori insieme a Christensen e Sabiri. Non è ancora il momento di Gudmundsson |url=https://www.fiorentinanews.com/news/386400161286/i-convocati-della-fiorentina-gonzalez-resta-fuori-insieme-a-christensen-e-sabiri-non-e-ancora-il-momento-di-gudmundsson |access-date=6 October 2024 |work=Fiorentinanews |date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905075240/https://www.fiorentinanews.com/news/386400161286/i-convocati-della-fiorentina-gonzalez-resta-fuori-insieme-a-christensen-e-sabiri-non-e-ancora-il-momento-di-gudmundsson |archive-date=5 September 2024 |language=it}}{{cite web |title=Fiorentina – Monza: i convocati |url=https://www.acffiorentina.com/it/news/tutte/prima-squadra-maschile/2024-09-01/fiorentina-monza-i-convocati |website=ACF Fiorentina |access-date=6 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103231/https://www.acffiorentina.com/it/news/tutte/prima-squadra-maschile/2024-09-01/fiorentina-monza-i-convocati |archive-date=1 September 2024 |language=it |date=1 September 2024}}{{cite news |title=Infantino bloccato a Firenze. E nessuno ha voluto Christensen |url=https://www.violanews.com/stampa/infantino-bloccato-a-firenze-e-nessuno-a-voluto-christensen/ |access-date=6 October 2024 |work=Viola News |date=1 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103232/https://www.violanews.com/stampa/infantino-bloccato-a-firenze-e-nessuno-a-voluto-christensen/ |archive-date=1 September 2024 |language=it}}
==Loan to Salernitana==
On 22 January 2025, Christensen was loaned to Serie B club Salernitana for the remainder of the season.{{cite news |url=https://salernitana.it/news/oliver-christensen-e-un-giocatore-della-salernitana/ |title=Oliver Christensen è un giocatore della Salernitana |publisher=US Salernitana 1919 |language=it |date=22 January 2025 |access-date=22 January 2025}}
International career
Christensen played two games each for the Denmark under-18 team in 2017 and for the under-19 team in 2017 and 2018, respectively. After gaining a cap for the under-20 side in 2019, Christensen made his debut for the under-21 team on 10 September 2019 in a 2–1 victory in the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Romania in Aalborg.{{cite web |title=Oliver Christensen drømmer om at komme til EM |url=https://www.ob.dk/nyhedsarkiv/oliver-christensen-droemmer-om-at-komme-til-em/ |website=ob.dk |language=da |date=6 November 2019}}
On 9 November 2020, Christensen 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 started the match against Sweden 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=Danish }}{{cite news |last1=Jørgensen |first1=Sune |title=Debut på landsholdet: OB-målmand starter inde mod Sverige |url=https://www.tv2fyn.dk/odense/debut-paa-landsholdet-ob-maalmand-starter-inde-mod-sverige |work=TV2 Fyn |date=11 November 2020 |language=da}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 5 May 2024}}{{Soccerway|oliver-christensen/468569|Oliver Christensen|access-date=21 February 2023}}
| 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 !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|OB
|1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20
|Danish Superliga |29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5{{efn|name=DSEP|Appearances in the Danish Superliga European play-offs}} | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21
|Danish Superliga |25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22
|Danish Superliga |6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!61 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 71 | 0 | |
| Hertha BSC II
|5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|Hertha BSC
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in Bundesliga promotion/relegation play-offs}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23
|Bundesliga |33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
| Fiorentina
|4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=UECL|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!105 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 124 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.herthabsc.com/en/teams/first-team-profiles/oliver-christensen Profile] at the Hertha BSC website
{{US Salernitana 1919 squad}}
{{Denmark squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christensen, Oliver}}
Category:People from Kerteminde
Category:Danish men's footballers
Category:Danish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Denmark men's youth international footballers
Category:Denmark men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Denmark men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Footballers from Odense
Category:Danish Superliga players
Category:2. Bundesliga players
Category:Odense Boldklub players
Category:Hertha BSC II players
Category:ACF Fiorentina players
Category:US Salernitana 1919 players
Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy