Mads Andersen has dreams of following in the footsteps of his Danish defensive hero by performing well enough in the Premier League for Luton to get picked for his country.
When his signing from Barnsley was officially announced yesterday, the centre half became only the fourth Dane to sign for Town, with the new recruit reported to be the club’s record transfer fee, though officially undisclosed.
At 26 years old, Andersen was not even born when Luton were last in the English top flight and splashed out £850,000 on their first Danish signing, striker Lars Elstrup – a record fee which wasn’t topped for 30 years until Town bought keeper Simon Sluga in in 2019.
Instead, while growing up in the Brondby youth ranks from the age of nine, it was Daniel Anger that Andersen idolised, as he played for the Danish Superliga club either side of an eight-year spell at Anfield.
“I did follow Liverpool because of Daniel Agger, and now I’m going to be following Luton,” said Andersen, who has explained how he predicted reaching the Premier League while as a teenager.
“I think most of the stadiums are going to be a bit of a different experience to enter. Anfield, obviously, is a big one and hopefully, we can go there and do a good job.
“I don’t think I will realise until we play them (Liverpool), so it’s going to be a big moment for me.”
Agger returned to Brondby a year before Andersen signed professional forms with his boyhood club in 2015, so he was able to train with his hero.
Asked if he got any advice from the former Liverpool star, the Hatter told the club’s website: “When I came up as a youngster, I was 19 and training with the big lads, he was there. He came back from Liverpool, so that was a big moment for me.
“There is one advice that sticks with me and that is that football is 80 per cent mental and 20 per cent with you feet.”
Though he only got to play once for the Brondby, the club he supports, Andersen’s dream was always to aim for the Premier League, even while in League One last season with Barnsley.
But now he has his shot with newly-promoted Luton, which he hopes could lead to international honours.
Asked if he’s got one eye on breaking into his national side, the defender said: “Absolutely, that’s a goal of mine obviously, so I hope that Luton can help me get there.”
But first the Dane will have to break into Town’s back three, which, which kept 20 clean sheets in their promotion-winning campaign in the Championship.
“It should be (tough),” he said, adding: “This is the Premier League; it’s going to be competitive and I’m happy with that. We’re going to push each other, everyone, and that’s how it should be.”
