| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Morten Nicolas Rasmussen | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-01-31)31 January 1985 (age 40) | ||
| Place of birth | Valby,Copenhagen, Denmark | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Midtjylland (assistant) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| TST 79 | |||
| –2002 | AGF | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2006 | AGF | 103 | (28) |
| 2006–2010 | Brøndby | 84 | (45) |
| 2010–2012 | Celtic | 10 | (2) |
| 2010 | →Mainz 05 (loan) | 5 | (2) |
| 2011 | →AaB (loan) | 14 | (6) |
| 2011 | →Sivasspor (loan) | 11 | (3) |
| 2012–2016 | FC Midtjylland | 96 | (37) |
| 2016–2018 | AGF | 54 | (27) |
| 2018 | Pogoń Szczecin | 11 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | Enosis Neon Paralimni | 16 | (2) |
| Total | 404 | (153) | |
| International career | |||
| 2001 | Denmark U16 | 3 | (3) |
| 2001–2002 | Denmark U17 | 19 | (17) |
| 2002–2003 | Denmark U19 | 11 | (6) |
| 2004 | Denmark U20 | 6 | (2) |
| 2004–2006 | Denmark U21 | 21 | (9) |
| 2008–2016 | Denmark | 13 | (4) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2019–2024 | Midtjylland (forward coach) | ||
| 2021–2024 | Midtjylland U19 (assistant) | ||
| 2025– | Midtjylland (assistant) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Morten Nicolas Rasmussen (born 31 January 1985) is a Danish former professionalfootballer, nicknamed "Duncan", who played as aforward, and current assistant coach ofFC Midtjylland.
He played 13 times and scored 4 goals for theDenmark national team. Rasmussen scored 37 goals in 60 matches for various Denmark national youth sides and was named theDanish under-19 Player of the Year in 2003. He is the highest scoring player in the history of the Danish Superliga, scoring 141 goals for Aalborg BK, AGF, Brøndby and FC Midtjylland.
Born inCopenhagen, Rasmussen lived inValby until he was two years old, when he and his parents moved toTilst,[1] 10 km west ofAarhus.
Rasmussen started his career in the youth scheme of Aarhus top-flight clubAGF. While at AGF, he earned the nickname "Duncan" due to a slight physical resemblance to former Scottish international strikerDuncan Ferguson,[1][2][3] though he stated at the time that he wasn't a particular fan of Ferguson himself.[2]
In January 2002, Rasmussen turned professional as he signed a three-year contract with AGF, running to January 2005. He made his debut for AGF in theDanish Superliga championship in May 2002, as he played the last two games of the2001–02 Superliga season. He made his debut in the 0–1 defeat toLyngby on 12 May, before scoring his first goal in the 4–0 win againstSilkeborg on 16 May. Following two goals in 15 games in the first half of the2002–03 Superliga season, Rasmussen signed an improved five-year contract running until the summer of 2008.[4]
After meagre goalscoring in his first three full seasons for AGF, scoring 17 goals in 82 games, the2005–06 Superliga season was Rasmussen's senior-level breakthrough. Rasmussen scored 10 goals in 19 games during the first half of the season, including a scoring streak of six goals in five games. Before the winter 2005transfer window. Following a total of 28 goals in 103 Superliga matches for AGF, Rasmussen left the club in January 2006.
Rasmussen was bought by the defending Superliga championsBrøndby IF, with whom he signed a five-year contract. With a price tag of 12 millionDKK,[5] he replaced strikerMorten Skoubo who had been sold to Spanish clubReal Sociedad. He started using the moniker "Duncan" when playing for Brøndby.[6] His start at Brøndby was marked by an injury incurred in March 2006, and in the remaining games of the 2005–06 Superliga season, he scored one goal in six matches.
He started the2006–07 Superliga season by scoring three goals in six games, before an injury sidelined him in August 2006. He returned in February 2007, helping Brøndby win the 2007Royal League cup tournament, and went on to score 15 goals in 13 games in the second half of the 2006–07 Superliga season. In the2007–08 Superliga season, Rasmussen scored seven goals in 19 games, before suffering an injury in March 2008. In that season he also helped Brøndby win the 2008Danish Cup. The2008–09 season was Rasmussen's first full Brøndby season without major injuries, as he scored nine goals in 25 games.
Following 12 goals in 15 games in the first half of the2009–10 Superliga, Rasmussen attracted the attention ofScottish Premier League clubCeltic.[7] On 25 January 2010, Rasmussen arrived inGlasgow for contract negotiations and a medical with Celtic before signing on a three-and-a-half-year deal the next day for a fee in excess of £1 million.[8][9] Rasmussen exclaimed he was delighted to join the Glasgow club saying "I started at Aarhus, before going to Brondby, which was a bigger club, so moving to Celtic is another big step up for me."[10] Rasmussen chose to abandon the moniker "Duncan" when playing for Celtic.[6] He made his debut for Celtic on 27 January, coming on as a 60th-minute substitute forGeorgios Samaras asthe Hoops lost 2–1 toHibernian[11] and scored his first Celtic goal three days later in the 1–0 victory againstHamilton Accies.[12][13] Rasmussen scored a goal in his third game for Celtic in a 4–2 win overDunfermline Athletic in theScottish Cup.[14] On 17 April, he scored the winner in a 3–2 victory over Hibernian atCeltic Park.[15]
Rasmussen rarely featured for Celtic under the management ofNeil Lennon, making only four starts during his time with the club.[16] He left Celtic in August 2012 after completing loan spells with Mainz, AaB and Sivasspor.[16]
In August 2010, Rasmussen signed forBundesliga side1. FSV Mainz 05 on a season-long loan deal from Celtic with a view to a permanent move.[17][18] He made his debut againstVfB Stuttgart on 21 August 2010 and scored a looping header to make it 2–0.[19] Rasmussen scored in the next game against Wolfsburg on 28 August 2010, the side's first goal of a 4–3 away win.[20] Rasmussen rarely featured after that making only one start and two substitute appearances for the German side[21] after his relatively good start.[22]
In December, Mainz's sporting directorChristian Heidel announced the club would not be making a permanent move after the end of the loan deal.[23]
In February 2011, Rasmussen signed for Danish sideAaB on loan from Celtic after his loan spell with Mainz was cut short.[24] He did not score any goals in his first five league matches for AaB in the league, but he scored six goals in the following five, including a goal against former team Brøndby.
In September 2011, Rasmussen signed for Turkish sideSivasspor on a six-month loan deal.[25] In Rasmussen's second game for the club, he was forced to play in goal after goalkeeper,Milan Borjan, had been sent off and all three substitutes had been used. Rasmussen picked up a yellow card after conceding a penalty during the match, but this was the only goal he let in.[26]
Rasmussen signed a four-year contract with Danish club Midtjylland in August 2012.[16]
In the2014–15 Danish Superliga season, Rasmussen scored 13 league goals in 23 appearances, helping Midtjylland to their first league title.[27]
Rasmussen return to his first professional club, AGF, in January 2016 and signed a three-year contract.[28]
Duncan signed for Polish clubPogoń Szczecin on 30 January 2018.[29]
Rasmussen made his international debut with the Danish under-16 national team in 2001, scoring three goals in three under-16 national team games. He represented Denmark at the2002 European Under-17 Championship, scoring six goals in four games, including five goals in 20 minutes in the 6–0 win against theFinland under-17s.[30] Having scored 17 goals in 19 matches for the under-17 national team, he moved into theunder-19 national team in September 2002, still aged 17. Following six goals in 11 matches for the under-19 team, he was awarded 2003Danish under-19 Player of the Year.[31] On 3 September 2004, aged 19, Rasmussen got his debut for theDenmark under-21 national team. He scored eight goals in 13 games to help Denmark qualify for the2006 European Under-21 Championship. However, at the main tournament, Rasmussen had to relinquish his place in thestarting line-up toNicklas Bendtner, though he played as asubstitute in all three Denmark games. In total, Rasmussen scored nine goals in 21 games for the under-21 team.
Rasmussen made his debut for the seniorDanish national team on 11 October 2008, as he played the last 13 minutes of the 3–0 win againstMalta in the2010 World Cup qualification. In January 2009, he was a part of the unofficialDenmark League XI national football team which won the2009 King's Cup invitational tournament, under the management of Danish national coachMorten Olsen. He played a further two senior internationalfriendly games in November 2009. In January 2010, he once again joined the League XI team for the2010 King's Cup.[32] Rasmussen scored for the Danish side in their first game, a 3–1 win overPoland, as his team went on to defend their title.
On 10 May 2010, Rasmussen was included in Olsen's preliminary 30-man squad for the2010 World Cup.[33] After first-choice strikerNicklas Bendtner picked up an injury, Rasmussen was called up for the Danish squad on 21 May to act as cover,[34] but was eventually left out of the final 23-man squad on 28 May.[35]
After retiring at the end of the 2018/19 season,FC Midtjylland announced, that they had hired Duncan as a forward coach.[36] Beside, Duncan also played forDenmark Series 4 team, TIF All Stars. He scored six goals in his first game which the club won 16–1. Other former players such asKristian Bach Bak,Jens Berthel Askou andSøren Mussmann also played for TIF All Stars.
In the summer of 2021, Duncan became assistant coach for the club's U-19 team under managerKenneth Andersen, but also still continued in the role of attack coach at the club, albeit on an individual level.[37] On January 6, 2025, the club confirmed that Duncan would be the assistant coach for the club'sDanish Superliga team underThomas Thomasberg.[38]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other[a] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| AGF | 2001–02 | Danish Superliga | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 1 | ||
| 2002–03 | Danish Superliga | 28 | 5 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 30 | 6 | |||
| 2003–04 | Danish Superliga | 26 | 4 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 28 | 5 | |||
| 2004–05 | Danish Superliga | 28 | 8 | 3 | 2 | – | – | 31 | 10 | |||
| 2005–06 | Danish Superliga | 19 | 10 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 20 | 11 | |||
| Total | 103 | 28 | 8 | 5 | — | — | 111 | 33 | ||||
| Brøndby | 2005–06 | Danish Superliga | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| 2006–07 | Danish Superliga | 19 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 25 | 17 | |
| 2007–08 | Danish Superliga | 19 | 7 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 20 | 7 | |||
| 2008–09 | Danish Superliga | 25 | 9 | 3 | 1 | – | 5 | 2 | 33 | 12 | ||
| 2009–10 | Danish Superliga | 15 | 12 | 3 | 1 | – | 3 | 1 | 21 | 14 | ||
| Total | 85 | 45 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 106 | 52 | ||
| Celtic | 2009–10 | Scottish Premier League | 10 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
| Mainz 05 (loan) | 2010–11 | Bundesliga | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 5 | 2 | ||
| AaB (loan) | 2010–11 | Danish Superliga | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 14 | 6 | ||
| Sivasspor (loan) | 2011–12 | Süper Lig | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 11 | 3 | ||
| FC Midtjylland | 2012–13 | Danish Superliga | 27 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 28 | 5 | |
| 2013–14 | Danish Superliga | 30 | 15 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 31 | 15 | ||
| 2014–15 | Danish Superliga | 23 | 13 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 24 | 13 | ||
| 2015–16 | Danish Superliga | 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | 9 | 3 | 26 | 8 | ||
| Total | 96 | 37 | 2 | 1 | — | 11 | 3 | 109 | 41 | |||
| AGF | 2015–16 | Danish Superliga | 13 | 10 | 4 | 3 | – | 0 | 0 | 17 | 13 | |
| 2016–17 | Danish Superliga | 24 | 13 | 1 | 0 | – | 4 | 3 | 29 | 16 | ||
| 2017–18 | Danish Superliga | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 | ||
| Total | 54 | 27 | 5 | 3 | — | 4 | 3 | 63 | 33 | |||
| Pogoń Szczecin | 2017–18 | Ekstraklasa | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| Enosis Neon Paralimni | 2018–19 | Cypriot First Division | 16 | 2 | 3 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | |
| Career total | 405 | 153 | 29 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 10 | 462 | 177 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 13 | 4 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 October 2010 | Parken Stadium,Copenhagen, Denmark | 6 |  Cyprus | 1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
| 2 | 15 October 2013 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark | 8 |  Malta | 1–0 | 6–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 5–0 | ||||||
| 4 | 7 June 2016 | Suita City Football Stadium,Suita, Japan | 14 |  Bulgaria | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2016 Kirin Cup |
Brøndby[43]
FC Midtjylland
Individual