The Dane was a ball boy in the Europa League and now he dreams of starring on the big stage at Pittodrie
Alexander Jensen has been a ball boy when the likes of Napoli and Manchester United have come to town but now he wants to taste European football for real with Aberdeen.
The Dane came through the ranks at Midtjylland and got a pitch-side watching top stars like Gonzalo Higuain and Marek Hamsik in their Europa League group campaign back in the 2015-16 season.
The Danes ended up finishing second behind the Italians but above Club Brugge and Legia Warsaw.
They progressed into the knockout round where they beat United and stars such as Juan Mata and Memphis Depay 2-1 at home but lost the return at Old Trafford.
Jensen has never played in Europe before but he could help his Aberdeen side book their place for next season with a point at St Mirren, depending on other results.
The defender said: “I’m from Herning, so it’s FC Midtjylland that was the team I followed in Europe.
“Back then, I was a ball boy in the Europa League. That was the first time I think I can remember European football.
“They actually played against Manchester United and they won that game. I was the ball boy.
“I think they were leading at a point and then we were very, very slow.
“The one (player) I remember was Depay, but I think maybe they switched some of the best players for that game.
“They then lost at Old Trafford. They also played, I think it was Napoli, and a team from Poland as well.
“It’s always great players and I think it’s a different atmosphere when you’re playing in the league than in Europe and you felt that in the stadium as well.”
Jensen’s dream of playing for Midtjylland was crushed not longer after but he picked himself up and has managed to get back to the verge of European football via a journey from Velje to Frederica, Swedish club Brommapojkarna and then a move to Aberdeen in January.
The 23-year-old explained: “No, when you are under 15, I don’t know how it is in Scotland, but in Denmark you’re under 17, under 19 and then it’s senior football.
“When you get to 15, Midtjylland wants you to sign a contract and I didn’t get a contract there. So then I moved to Vejle instead and since then it has worked out in the end.”
Aberdeen were in the European positions when Jensen joined although it is fair to say their form had collapsed.
Thelin with his January additions has helped get them back into form and they sit fourth, jus behind Hibs on goal difference.
Jensen admitted potential European football was definitely a lure.
He said: “The chance of Europe was an attraction of course. I also wanted to play for a top team in the league as well where you can play European football was also a part of that.
“It would be great to secure that. So yes, it was also the possibility to play European football.
“I’ve never come close to playing in European football before.
“We weren’t close in Sweden and in Denmark it was the second best, so there wasn’t an opportunity to play Europe.”
There is still so much for Aberdeen to play for over their remaining five games.
They don’t want just Europe but the possibility of guaranteed group stage football.
That prize would be on offer to the Dons if they could beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup final or finish third in the Premiership.
Jensen is very much focused on both. He said: “It would be best to win (Scottish Cup) and finish third.
“But yeah, there’s a lot of opportunities to play European football. European football is always what you’re aiming for.
“It would be big to play European football.”
