Very few players have experienced rock bottom, managed to crawl out of it, and soar towards the heavens. Among these players, one who can undoubtedly boast of such a feat is Rasmus Højlund. He went from being purchased for a mere €1.8 million by a struggling Austrian club to becoming the most expensive Danish signing of all time, with a reported fee of €75 million, all in the span of about a year and a half. This journey is nothing short of phenomenal.
This article takes a deep dive into his life and provides intriguing details about his path to football’s pinnacle. It also delves into elements of his life outside of football, such as his family, religion, marital status, lifestyle, and more. Stay with us for an entertaining, non-fictional tale of a Viking’s ascent
Family
For Rasmus, his family has always been his pillar of strength and a source of comfort. Credit for this can be attributed to the love and care with which he was raised by his parents, Anders Højlund and Kirsten Winther. He also has two twin brothers, Emil and Oscar, with whom he shares a very close bond.
Rasmus comes from a family of rich football heritage where his dad, uncles and several other relatives were professional football players and as a result, all 3 brothers from the Hojlund family are footballers. Emil and Oscar look up to their older brother as a lantern of guidance, a complete role model.
Religion
Research shows that Rasmus is ethnically a Dane whose ancestors were natives of Denmark, belonging to the North Germanic group. Although Rasmus has not made any public display of devotion to a religion, the available data strongly suggests that he is a follower of Christianity.
Love Life
There are no records available of the player’s dating history. However, he has been seen sharing intimate moments in pictures on social media with a girl named “Laura.” Her full name is Laura Rhod Sondergaard, and she happens to be his girlfriend. She acted as the catalyst for his rise back to the top, as it has been rumored that the two have been together for a very long time. He has also dedicated a celebration to her where he points to the camera with an “L”.
Childhood
Young Rasmus was introduced to this world on the 4th of February in the year 2005 by his parents, Anders and Kirsten. As mentioned earlier, he hails from a family with a decent football heritage. His dad happened to be a professional footballer, and his mom is documented to have been a 100-meter sprinter. Rasmus was only two years old when he got his first kick of the ball, and the credit for this love of the game can be attributed to his father. Football was embedded in his DNA.
“I grew up in a family with a lot of football-related things. My brothers now play in Copenhagen, my father played before, and we always discuss football at the family dinner table. It must be hard for my mother sometimes, but she is also interested and supports us.
Rasmus began his schooling at the age of 6, like most kids in Denmark. He performed well in his academics and excelled in sporting activities. This can be attributed to his family’s already decorated athletic background. Young Rasmus was exceptionally good at tennis and swimming. The latter had become one of his favorite hobbies, and he would compromise it for nothing, except football. In an interview with Gazetta dello Sport, where his father recalls his love for swimming, he adds: ‘My son also practiced tennis, badminton, and, above all, swimming. He was really talented in the pool, so much so that when he had to stop to play football, it wasn’t easy because he loved both sports.
He soon joined a local swimming club due to his ever-growing interest in it, and there was little his parents could do to dissuade him from it. Shortly after, he had become one of the best swimmers in the club, possibly one of the best locally. Many had tipped young Rasmus to reach great heights in the sport, but deep inside, he always dreamt of being a football player. Henceforth, he had to grapple with decision fatigue as a young kid with dreams.
Rasmus eventually made the decision to choose football and set swimming aside as a leisure activity. The decision was difficult, but it would prove to pay dividends later on. Part of the reason why he chose football can be attributed to the one player he looked up to with great ardor, Cristiano Ronaldo. In an interview, he spoke at length about Cristiano Ronaldo’s discipline and work ethics and how they serve as inspirational tools for him.
“My idol is Cristiano Ronaldo. My father told me about him when he was at Manchester United and later at Real Madrid. It was a fantastic era. I just love his mentality… he’s always eager to score in every game. I admire him. He’s passionate, and I like that. He was also an ardent supporter of Manchester United as a young boy. Upon signing for the Red Devils, he posted the following on his Instagram:
Rise to the Top of Rasmus Højlund
Young Rasmus’s journey to the top began when he enrolled in Brondby IF’s academy at the age of 12. He trained there for a while before finally moving to Holbaek FC’s youth academy. Rasmus’s father, Anders, who was incredibly conscious of his boys’ footballing development, carved out a mini-football pitch in their very own basement so that his three boys could enjoy kicking the ball around even during heavy showers.
After impressive performances and catching the eye of scouts from Denmark’s top club, Copenhagen, he was shortlisted and eventually enrolled in their youth system in 2017 at the age of 14. Rasmus quickly adapted to life in Denmark’s capital and earnestly absorbed the advice of his coaches. A few years later, in 2020, he earned a call-up to the first team and made his debut at the age of 17. Initially, he was mainly deployed as a clinical substitute. However, when the main forwards, whose names were firmly entrenched in the starting XI, found themselves sidelined due to injuries or suspensions, Rasmus was given more game time. He also scored during Copenhagen’s 2021/22 UEFA Europa Conference League campaign.
Fall from Grace
With the arrival of a new manager and a fresh vision, things looked promising for the club, but not so for the young and promising Rasmus Højlund. The manager wasn’t convinced by his performances and lacked faith in him to take on the role of the main center forward.
This situation worsened when the manager signed 2-3 experienced forwards, pushing the young striker down to fourth choice. As a result, he received little to no game time, and the relationship between the player and the manager continued to deteriorate. Consequently, Rasmus had to make the difficult decision to part ways with Copenhagen, a club to which he had pledged allegiance as a young boy.
Rekindling the Flames
Rasmus was sold to Sturm Graz, an Austrian first-tier side, for a fee of €1.8 million. He had a brilliant start to his time there, scoring 12 goals in 21 appearances. This performance sparked the interest of Serie A side Atalanta, who acquired his services for €17 million.”
His role at Atalanta was initially defined as being a substitute for the team’s star, Duvan Zapata, which Rasmus agreed to. However, later in the season, he managed to secure a spot in the starting XI as the star striker struggled to find the net and succumbed to injuries. Rasmus capitalized on the opportunity and performed exceptionally well in front of the goal. He even scored goals in four consecutive matches during the competitive 2022/23 Serie A season. Reflecting on the turn of events in 2022, he said the following in an interview:
‘It’s been a crazy year for me. I went from being a reserve player in Copenhagen to getting a significant opportunity in Austria. In the summer, I joined Atalanta, a prestigious club here in Italy, and I’m very happy here. It’s a great step, the right step in my career.
The summer transfer window saw several top clubs vying for Rasmus Højlund’s signature, including Manchester United. He openly admits to being a lifelong fan of the club, so their interest was naturally tempting for him. Rasmus had already agreed to personal terms with the club well in advance, and the transfer was finalized for a fee of €75 million, making him the most expensive Danish player of all time at just 20 years old.
Outside Football
Outside of football, Rasmus enjoys unwinding from his demanding schedule by spending time with friends and family. He also frequently travels during the summer breaks to rejuvenate himself for the upcoming season.
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