Kristian Riis

Kristian Dirks Riis (born 17 February 1997) is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Kristian Riis

Personal information
Full name	Kristian Dirks Riis[1]
Date of birth	(1997-02-17) 17 February 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth	Haderslev‚ Denmark[1]
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Midtjylland (academy coach)
Youth career
	Haderslev FK
0000–2011	SønderjyskE
2011–2016	Midtjylland
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2021	Midtjylland	17	(0)
2017–2018	→ Vendsyssel (loan)	23	(1)
2018–2019	→ Esbjerg (loan)	1	(0)
2021–2023	Lyngby	33	(2)
2023	Stjarnan	0	(0)
Total		74	(3)
International career
2013–2014	Denmark U17	7	(0)
2017	Denmark U20	2	(0)
Managerial career
2024–	Midtjylland (academy)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Early career

Riis began his career at Haderslev FK before moving to SønderjyskE. In 2011, at the age of 15, he joined Midtjylland's academy.^[3] Starting with their under-17 team, he progressed to the under-19s before making it to the first team squad in 2016.^[1]

Midtjylland

Riis was promoted to Midtjylland's first-team squad in the summer 2016 at the age of 19, signing a five-year professional contract on 14 June 2016.^[4]

Riis made his official debut for Midtjylland at the age of 19 on 31 July 2016, in a Danish Superliga match against Silkeborg IF. Riis played the whole match, which his club won 3–0.^[5]

After unexpectedly earning a spot to represent the Danish under-21s in early April 2017, Riis encountered a setback when he sustained a knee injury, sidelining him for 4 to 5 weeks.^[6]

Loan to Vendsyssel

On 31 August 2017, Riis was loaned out to the Danish 1st Division club Vendsyssel FF for the rest of the season.^[7] During his time at the club, he played a big role in Vendsyssel FF's promotion to the 2018–19 Danish Superliga. He played a total of 26 games for the club and scored one goal.^[2]

Loan to Esbjerg

On 21 August 2018, Esbjerg fB announced the signing of Riis on a loan deal for the rest of the season.^[8]

After an injury plagued time at the club with only one game played, Midtjylland decided to recall him on 25 March 2019.^[9]

Lyngby

After having only played nine minutes of football throughout the 2020–21 season at Midtjylland, Riis left the club and instead joined newly relegated Danish 1st Division club, Lyngby Boldklub, on 1 July 2021. Riis signed a two-year deal.^[10] Riis had a strong first season at Lyngby, helping the team win promotion back to the Danish Superliga for the 2022–23 season with 25 appearances and one goal.^[2] Riis played the first eight games of the 2022–23 season, before suffering a torn meniscus in early September 2022, which required surgery and an injury break for the rest of 2022.^[11]

Riis left Lyngby at the end of the 2022–23 season, as his contract wasn't renewed.^[12]

Stjarnan

On 14 August 2023, Riis joined Icelandic Besta deild karla club Stjarnan.^[13]

On 30 December 2023, Riis confirmed that at the age of 26, he had been forced to end his professional football career as his 'body could no longer keep up' due to numerous injuries.^[14]

Later career

After retiring, Riis returned to his former club, FC Midtjylland, where he joined the academy staff, functioning as an individual coach.^[15]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[2]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Midtjylland	2016–17	Superliga	14	0	1	0	2[a]	0	1[b]	0	18	0
	2017–18	Superliga	2	0	0	0	3[a]	1	—		5	1
	2018–19	Superliga	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2019–20	Superliga	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2020–21	Superliga	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	Total		17	0	1	0	5	1	1	0	24	1
Vendsyssel (loan)	2017–18	1st Division	23	1	1	0	—		2[c]	0	26	1
Esbjerg (loan)	2018–19	Superliga	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
Lyngby	2021–22	1st Division	24	1	2	0	—		—		26	1
	2022–23	Superliga	9	1	0	0	—		—		9	1
	Total		33	2	2	0	—		—		35	2
Stjarnan	2023	Besta deild karla	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
Career total			74	3	4	0	5	1	3	0	86	4

1. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa League
2. Appearance in Danish Superliga Europa League play-off
3. Appearances in the Superliga relegation play-offs

Honours

Midtjylland

• Danish Superliga: 2019–20^[16]
• Danish Cup: 2018–19^[17]

References

1. Monrad-Alexandersen, Magnus (22 June 2016). "Fokus på: Kristian Dirks Riis – Seniorkontrakt trods mange skadesperioder" [Focus on: Kristian Dirks Riis – Senior contract despite many injury periods]. D' BOLD (in Danish). Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
2. Kristian Riis at Soccerway
3. "Lang kontrakt til stortalent" [Long-term contract for top talent]. Herning Folkeblad (in Danish). 14 June 2016. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
4. Hawwash, Omar Nabil (14 June 2016). "FCM-talent får kontrakt og oprykning" [FCM talent gets contract and promotion]. D' BOLD (in Danish). Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
5. "Midtjylland vs. Silkeborg – 31 July 2016". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
6. Margren, Sara (20 March 2017). "Desler erstatter FCM'er på U21-landsholdet". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2022.
7. Helmin, Jesper (31 August 2017). "Vendsyssel lejer Riis i FCM". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
8. "EfB lejer Kristian Riis i FCM". Esbjerg fB (in Danish). 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
9. Margren, Sara (23 March 2019). "Esbjerg-lejesvend rykker retur til FCM". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
10. "Forstærkning til det Kongeblå forsvar - Lyngby Boldklub". Lyngby Boldklub (in Danish). 1 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
11. Sand, Nicolai (12 September 2022). "Lyngby må undvære skadet Riis i resten af året". bold.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2022.
12. Lyngby Boldklub tager afsked med fire spillere, lyngby-boldklub.dk, 13 June 2023
13. Við bjóðum Kristian Riis velkominn til félagsins! ✍, facebook.com, 14 August 2023
14. "Kristian Riis stopper karrieren som 26-årig". bold.dk (in Danish). 30 December 2023. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
15. En gammel kending er tilbage i FC Midtjylland, fcm.dk, 9 September 2024
16. "Guldfest i Herning: FC Midtjylland er dansk mester". DR (in Danish). 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
17. Kjær, Christian (17 May 2019). "FC Midtjylland er pokalmester efter straffesparksdrama". TV 2 Sport (in Danish). Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2022.

External links

• Kristian Riis national team profile at the Danish Football Association (in Danish)