| Theo Sander | |
| Full Name: | Theo Nicolini Sander[1] |
| Birth Date: | 8 January 2005 |
| Birth Place: | Skørping, Denmark[2] |
| Height: | 1.92 m |
| Position: | Goalkeeper |
| Currentclub: | Copenhagen |
| Clubnumber: | 21 |
| Youthclubs1: | IF Frem Skørping |
| Youthclubs2: | Støvring IF |
| Youthclubs3: | Gug Boldklub |
| Youthyears4: | 2017–2023 |
| Youthclubs4: | AaB |
| Years1: | 2021–2023 |
| Clubs1: | AaB |
| Caps1: | 14 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2023– |
| Clubs2: | Copenhagen |
| Caps2: | 4 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2020 |
| Nationalteam1: | Denmark U16 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2021–2022 |
| Nationalteam2: | Denmark U17 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 11 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2022 |
| Nationalteam3: | Denmark U18 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam4: | Denmark U19 |
| Nationalcaps4: | 7 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 2 December 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 21 November 2023 |
Theo Nicolini Sander (born 8 January 2005) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Danish Superliga club Copenhagen.
As a youth player, Sander played for a local clubs, before joining AaB in 2017 at the age of 12.[3] Possessing a physique suited for the goalkeeping position, Sander impressed in various youth teams and attracted interest from some of Europe's major clubs. In January 2021, AaB confirmed that Sander had been on a trial with Italian giants Juventus. AaB stated that they were "in dialogue with several clubs about Theo Sander". He would, however, end up staying at AaB. In April 2021, Sander was called up for his first professional game against Vejle Boldklub. However, he remained on the bench. In the 2021–22 season, Sander was on the bench for 14 Danish Superliga games.
In February 2022 AaB confirmed, that Sander had signed a new deal until June 2025.[4] On 28 August 2022, 17-year old Sander made his official debut for AaB against Randers FC in the Superliga.[5] AaB lost the match 1–0 after a bad pass from Sander was intercepted by Filip Bundgaard.[6] With his debut, Sander became the youngest goalkeeper in the Danish Superliga history.[7]
On 20 July 2023, after AaB suffered relegation to the second division, Sander joined Copenhagen, on a deal until June 2028.[8] He made his competitive debut for the club on 18 August, replacing an injured Kamil Grabara as starter in goal, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory against Hvidovre.[9] [10] In December 2023, Sander received surgery after suffering a knee injury, which kept him out for several months.[11]
Born in Denmark, Sander is of French and Danish descent.
| Club | Season | League | Danish Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| AaB | 2022–23 | Danish Superliga | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| Copenhagen | 2023–24 | Danish Superliga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Danish Superliga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |||