Kristian Riis Explained

Kristian Riis
Fullname:Kristian Dirks Riis
Birth Date:17 February 1997
Birth Place:Haderslev‚ Denmark
Height:1.89 m
Position:Centre-back
Youthclubs1:Haderslev FK
Youthyears2:–2011
Youthclubs2:SønderjyskE
Youthyears3:2011–2016
Youthclubs3:Midtjylland
Years1:2016–2021
Clubs1:Midtjylland
Caps1:17
Goals1:0
Years2:2017–2018
Clubs2:Vendsyssel (loan)
Caps2:23
Goals2:1
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Esbjerg (loan)
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2021–2023
Clubs4:Lyngby
Caps4:33
Goals4:2
Years5:2023
Clubs5:Stjarnan
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Totalcaps:74
Totalgoals:3
Nationalyears1:2013–2014
Nationalteam1:Denmark U17
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017
Nationalteam2:Denmark U20
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0

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

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.[1] Starting with their under-17 team, he progressed to the under-19s before making it to the first team squad in 2016.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6] 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.

Loan to Esbjerg

On 21 August 2018, Esbjerg fB announced the signing of Riis on a loan deal for the rest of the season.[7]

After an injury plagued time at the club with only one game played, Midtjylland decided to recall him on 25 March 2019.[8]

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.[9] 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. 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.[10]

Riis left Lyngby at the end of the 2022–23 season, as his contract wasn't renewed.[11]

Stjarnan

On 14 August 2023, Riis joined Icelandic Besta deild karla club Stjarnan.[12]

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.[13]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Midtjylland2016–17Superliga140102010180
2017–18Superliga20003151
2018–19Superliga000000
2019–20Superliga000000
2020–21Superliga100010
Total170105110241
Vendsyssel (loan)2017–181st Division2311020261
Esbjerg (loan)2018–19Superliga100010
Lyngby2021–221st Division24120261
2022–23Superliga910091
Total33220352
Stjarnan2023Besta deild karla000000
Career total743405130864

Honours

Midtjylland

Notes and References

  1. News: Lang kontrakt til stortalent . Long-term contract for top talent . 12 May 2024 . Herning Folkeblad . 14 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240512204514/https://www.herningfolkeblad.dk/artikel/04c4fab1-ef96-4980-9a69-e49939a77c0e/ . 12 May 2024 . da.
  2. News: Monrad-Alexandersen . Magnus . Fokus på: Kristian Dirks Riis – Seniorkontrakt trods mange skadesperioder . Focus on: Kristian Dirks Riis – Senior contract despite many injury periods . 15 September 2022 . D' BOLD . 22 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210520085558/https://www.dbold.dk/2016/06/fokus-paa-kristian-dirks-riis-seniorkontrakt-trods-mange-skadesperioder/ . 20 May 2021 . da-DK.
  3. News: Hawwash . Omar Nabil . FCM-talent får kontrakt og oprykning . FCM talent gets contract and promotion . 15 September 2022 . D' BOLD . 14 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200804081743/https://www.dbold.dk/2016/06/fcm-talent-faar-kontrakt-oprykning/ . 4 August 2020 . da-DK.
  4. Web site: Midtjylland vs. Silkeborg – 31 July 2016 . Soccerway . Perform Group . 15 September 2022.
  5. News: Margren . Sara . Desler erstatter FCM'er på U21-landsholdet . 15 September 2022 . bold.dk . 20 March 2017 . da.
  6. News: Helmin . Jesper . Vendsyssel lejer Riis i FCM . 15 September 2022 . bold.dk . 31 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210515005059/https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/vendsyssel-lejer-riis-i-fcm/ . 15 May 2021 . da.
  7. Web site: EfB lejer Kristian Riis i FCM . . 15 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210520085601/https://efb.dk/efb-lejer-kristian-riis-i-fcm/ . 20 May 2021 . da-DK . 21 August 2018 . live.
  8. News: Margren . Sara . Esbjerg-lejesvend rykker retur til FCM . 15 September 2022 . bold.dk . 23 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210513235155/https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/esbjerg-lejesvend-rykker-retur-til-fcm/ . 13 May 2021 . da.
  9. Web site: Forstærkning til det Kongeblå forsvar - Lyngby Boldklub . . 15 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211020162240/https://lyngby-boldklub.dk/2021/07/01/lyngby-henter-kristian-riis/ . 20 October 2021 . da-DK . 1 July 2021 . live.
  10. News: Sand . Nicolai . Lyngby må undvære skadet Riis i resten af året . 15 September 2022 . bold.dk . 12 September 2022 . da.
  11. https://lyngby-boldklub.dk/2023/06/13/lyngby-boldklub-tager-afsked-med-fire-spillere/ Lyngby Boldklub tager afsked med fire spillere
  12. https://www.facebook.com/FCStjarnan/posts/862673865195085 Við bjóðum Kristian Riis velkominn til félagsins! ✍
  13. News: Kristian Riis stopper karrieren som 26-årig . 12 May 2024 . bold.dk . 30 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231231095030/https://bold.dk/fodbold/stillinger/superligaen/nyheder/kristian-riis-stopper-karrieren-som-26-arig . 31 December 2023 . da.
  14. News: Guldfest i Herning: FC Midtjylland er dansk mester . 15 September 2022 . DR . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210606115720/https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/superliga/guldfest-i-herning-fc-midtjylland-er-dansk-mester . 6 June 2021 . da-DK.
  15. News: Kjær . Christian . FC Midtjylland er pokalmester efter straffesparksdrama . 15 September 2022 . TV 2 Sport . 17 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201205122104/https://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/2019-05-17-fc-midtjylland-er-pokalmester-efter-straffesparksdrama . 5 December 2020 . da.