Hans Christian Bernat

Hans Christian Bernat (Danish pronunciation: [ˈhænˀs ˈkʰʁestjæn pæɐ̯ˈnæt]; born 13 November 2000) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Botev Plovdiv in the Bulgarian First League.

Hans Christian Bernat

Personal information
Date of birth	(2000-11-13) 13 November 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Morud, Denmark[1]
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Botev Plovdiv
Number	1
Youth career
	Morud IF[3]
2012–201?	Næsby Boldklub[4]
201?–2015	OB
2016	Nordsjælland
2016–2019	OB
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2024	OB	45	(0)
2024–	Botev Plovdiv	17	(0)
International career
2015–2016	Denmark U16	4	(0)
2016–2017	Denmark U17	7	(0)
2017	Denmark U18	2	(0)
2018–2019	Denmark U19	7	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 07:04, 12 December 2024 (UTC)

Early life

Bernat was born in Morud,^[1] a town on the island of Funen. His father, Robert Bernat, is a former goalkeeper who played for B 1909, Næsby Boldklub and Vejle Boldklub.^[5][1] He is of Polish descent through his father, whose parents fled to Denmark from Poland after World War II.^[6]

Club career

OB

Early career

Bernat started his career for local clubs on Funen, Morud IF and Næsby Boldklub,^[4] before moving to the biggest club on the island, OB. He moved to the FC Nordsjælland academy in January 2016, but returned to OB after six months, where he signed a three-year youth contract.^[7] Bernat progressed through the youth system and went on a trials with two Premier League clubs; Brighton & Hove Albion in 2017 and Manchester United in August 2018.^[8][9] He eventually continued playing for OB, signing his first professional contract – a two-year deal – with the club on 16 March 2019, as he was also promoted to the first-team squad.^[10] Bernat signed another contract extension on 29 December 2019, keeping him part of the club until 2024.^[11]

First team

Bernat made his professional debut on 8 July 2020, the final game of the 2019–20 season, starting the game against Silkeborg.^[12] In the subsequent season, he served as a backup goalkeeper, making three appearances for the professional team in the league. However, during the 2021–22 season, he successfully claimed a consistent starting position from the seventh matchday onwards. Throughout the regular season and the relegation round combined, he played a total of 26 games.^[2]

Bernat lost his starting spot in the 2022–23 season, but returned to the starting lineup after Martin Hansen's injury in March 2023.^[13] In the following season, he assumed the role of a starter due to another injury to Hansen in October 2023.^[14] He showcased impressive performances during the fall period, but was benched again in the spring of 2024, after OB signed Viljar Myhra in January 2024.^[15] In April 2024, Bernat announced that he would not extend his expiring contract, and leave OB at the end of the season.^[16]

Botev Plovdiv

On 18 June 2024, media reported that Bernat successfully completed his medical and signed a two-year contract with Bulgarian First League club Botev Plovdiv, with an option for an additional season.^[17] The following day, his new club confirmed the move.^[18]

International career

Bernat has represented Denmark at youth international levels from under-16 to under-19.^[19]

Career statistics

As of match played 23 November 2024^[2]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
OB	2019–20	Superliga	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	2020–21	Superliga	3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
	2021–22	Superliga	26	0	8	0	—		—		15	0
	2022–23	Superliga	7	0	0	0	—		—		7	0
	2023–24	Superliga	8	0	2	0	—		—		10	0
	Total		45	0	10	0	0	0	4	4	55	0
Botev Plovdiv	2024–25	First League	14	0	0	0	3[a]	0	—		17	0
Career total			59	0	10	0	3	0	0	0	72	0

1. One appearance in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

References

1. Rasmussen, Arne (20 January 2017). "Morud-knægt til Skole VM". fyens.dk. Fyens Stiftstidende. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
2. Hans Christian Bernat at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
3. "Moruds landsholdsspillere". fodbold.morud.dk. Morud Idrætsforening. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
4. "Hans Christian Bernat - OB.DK". www.ob.dk. Odense Boldklub. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
5. "Robert Bernat – danskfodbold". danskfodbold.com. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
6. Blohm, Mathias (10 October 2021). "OB's nye førstemålmand bringer minder om fortidens fynske helte". Campo (in Danish).
7. Kirchner, Buster (22 June 2016). "OB henter landsholdsmålmand hjem". dbold.dk. D'Bold. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
8. Koustrup, Louise (8 August 2018). "17-årig OB-målmand træner med Manchester United". TV 2/Fyn. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
9. Abildtrup, Niels (8 August 2018). "Ung OB-keeper træner i United". Fyens Stiftstidende. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
10. "To år til Hans Christian Bernat". Odense Boldklub. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
11. Abildtrup, Niels (29 December 2019). "OB forlænger med ung keeper". Fyens Stiftstidende. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
12. Nielsen, Jonas (8 July 2020). "OB skifter ti – Silkeborg med ny målmand". bold.dk. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
13. Murphy, Cillian (19 February 2023). "Bernat efter rent bur og sen startplads: Det betyder meget". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 15 December 2023.
14. Bak, Daniel (24 October 2023). "OB-keeper var på bænken: Han har været skadet". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 15 December 2023.
15. Kirkegård, Simon (24 November 2023). "OB-keeper om kontraktudløb: Lige så meget op til klubben". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 15 December 2023.
16. Glud, Rasmus (11 April 2024). "Bernat forlader OB". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
17. Glud, Rasmus (18 June 2024). "Bernat rykker til Bulgarien". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
18. "Ботев привлече вратаря Ханс Кристиан Бернат" [Botev signed goalkeeper Hans Christian Bernat]. ПФК Ботев Пловдив (in Bulgarian). 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
19. "Hans Christian Bernat - Landsholdsdatabasen". dbu.dk. Danish Football Association. Retrieved 5 August 2020.