The 2018–19 Odense Boldklub season was the club's 130th season, and their 57th appearance in the Danish Superliga. As well as the Superliga, the side was also compete in Sydbank Pokalen.
At the end of the 2017–18 season, head coach Kent Nielsen got fired. Jakob Michelsen signed a 3-year contract on May 29 as new head coach.
OB finished as 3rd in the Superliga regular season despite starting with the worst opening six games in 19 years. OB finished strong in the last half of the season, among other things by winning five consecutive games, last time in 2009. OB had the chance to win the bronze medal, but could not keep going in the play-offs, and therefore it ended up with a 5th place. They finished off by losing to Brøndby in the last and deciding game of the season, and therefore OB also missed the 4th place and Europa League.
But beside to a disappointing conclusion, OB ended up with the best season in eight years by finishing in the top-6.
Season review The new OB The 2018–19 season indicated a new start and reboot for the club. Beside from the two new coaches, the club got a new CEO in April. The new CEO, Enrico Augustinus, had ambitions right from the start, and he wanted to create a new OB and make the club great again. Therefore, Augustinus and the board started to focus on better communication and branding, which hopefully would result in more spectators, due to the low average attendance the last few seasons.
Sponsors After 16 years as a main sponsor, Carlsberg was replaced by Albani. The new main sponsor is located in Odense as well, which makes the club more local. Furthermore, the stadium sponsor was changed too. NGF Nature Energy became new stadium sponsor, and the name was now Nature Energy Park.
Mascot OB retired their mascot, the tiger Victor, who has been the mascot for over a decade. Instead they brought in an almost identical mascot, a cat, who was the OB mascot in the 90's. At the same time, the old intro song "Eye of the Tiger" was switched out for Carl Nielsen's "Espansiva".
Pre-season The OB pre-season were kicked off with the signings of academy players Jonathan Harboe and Mads Frøkjær-Jensen. They later on signed Horsens player Alexander Ludwig and academy player Mathias Jørgensen.
OB went on playing five pre-season games by winning them all. They played against Taarup/Paarup, Östersund, Kalmar, Roskilde, and Hvidovre. This was considered a good start for the new head coach Jakob Michelsen, but people were still doubting whether the team would do well in the Superliga because the sporting director, Jesper Hansen, did not acquire any new high profile players. Although he had promised a minimum of three new signings in the summer transfer window, he could not promise that it would be done before the first Superliga match.
July OB's opening Superliga fixture was away against promoted side Vendsyssel on 15 July. OB looked solid, but fell apart in the second half with two quick goals by Vendsyssel. Even though OB scored twice, the Stripes could not hold off Vendsyssel from winning 3–2. 17-year old Mathias Jørgensen came in as a sub and scored his first ever Superliga goal.
After the disappointing loss, OB acquired Janus Drachmann from FC Midtjylland on a four-year deal. They also sold André Rømer to Randers.
With the reinforcement they went on playing their home opener against head coach Michelsen's former team SønderjyskE. OB were down 0–2 at half time, but a few substitutions turn things upside down. Jørgensen only needed 13 minutes on the pitch before he could score his second goal in the season, again as a sub, and brought OB on 1–2. Anders K. Jacobsen equalized at the 78 minute-mark. The game ended 2–2 even though OB had the chances for a win.
OB hoped to bring the good play from the SønderjyskE-game into the next game away against Randers. They played well, but it did not bring them the first win of the season. It was Rømer who scored the crucial goal after just 39 seconds, after OB just sold him Randers. After the loss, people started to doubt if Michelsen was the right to take over the head coach position after just one point in three games against Vendsyssel, SønderjyskE and Randers.
August OB went on playing a tough game against F.C. Copenhagen in the fourth round at home. It looked like they did not stand a chance after the first three-game, but OB did quite well. They had their chances to get in front and also could have got a penalty or two. With many missed chances and some bad luck, Dame N'Doye instead scored the deciding goal in favour of Copenhagen in the 85th minute. OB were now sitting in 13th place.
It was now everything or nothing when OB faced Hobro away in the fifth round. A battle between number 13 and 14, and therefore a battle of not sitting in last place. OB was anything else than lucky, and within 35 minutes they were down with 0–3. In the rainy conditions OB had a hard time creating chances, but they got a few in the closing minutes. Rasmus Festersen missed a penalty, and that was just the symbol of the OB's game. Helenius and Festersen made it 2–3, but could not get the equalizer. OB were now sitting in last place. The worst start to a season in 19 years.
Meanwhile Sten Grytebust was rumored away, OB acquired Ivorian goalkeeper Sayouba Mandé. According to a lot of medias, Mandé were brought in to replace Grytebust. Therefore, everybody a sale of the Norwegian keeper.
OB were now facing defending Superliga champion FC Midtjylland at home. Not exactly an easy job against the league's current number 3, who got three consecutive wins. But against Copenhagen, OB showed that they could play against even the best teams. And that theory was proved correct as OB were the dominating team in the match. The only problem was still getting the opening goal. And after 74 minutes Marc Dal Hende banged Midtjylland in front, and OB were now facing another questionable defeat. But three minutes into stoppage time Nicklas Helenius equalized and got OB their second point of the season. A very deserved point that should have been three points, according to several medias.
First team
Last updated on 20 March 2019
Squad no.NameNationalityPositionDate of birth (age) Goalkeepers13Sten GrytebustGK27Oliver ChristensenGK30Sayouba MandéGK Defenders2Oliver LundRB/CB3Alexander LudwigCB4Ryan Johnson LaursenRB5Ramon LeeuwinCB6Jeppe Tverskov (vice-captain)CB20Jacob Barrett LaursenLB24Marco LundCB Midfielders8Janus Drachmann (captain)CM11Casper NielsenCM/RM14Jens Jakob ThomasenCM/AM16Julius EskesenCM/RM17Jonathan HarboeCM21Mathias GreveRM/LM23Troels KløveLM26Yao DieudonneLM/RM/ST29Mads Frøkjær-JensenLM/CM Forwards9Bashkim KadriiST/LW10Rasmus FestersenST15Nicklas HeleniusST28Anders K. JacobsenST
Transfers and loans Transfers in Entry datePositionNo.PlayerFrom clubFeeRef.1 July 2018 MF 29 Mads Frøkjær-Jensen Youth academyNone 1 July 2018 MF 17 Jonathan Harboe Youth academyNone 1 July 2018 DF 5 Alexander Ludwig Horsens 1 July 2018 FW 25 Mathias Jørgensen Youth academyNone 18 July 2018 MF 8 Janus Drachmann Midtjylland2,600,000 DKK 16 August 2018 GK 30 Sayouba Mandé Stabæk Fotball 22 August 2018 DF 5 Ramon Leeuwin Utrecht1,850,000 DKK 23 August 2018 MF 7 Kamil Vacek Śląsk Wrocław Free transfer 31 August 2018 FW 9 Bashkim Kadrii Copenhagen1,000,000 DKK 1 January 2019 GK 1 Thomas Mikkelsen Lyngby Back from loan 25 January 2019 DF 2 Oliver Lund Lyngby Total 5,450,000 DKK
Transfers out Departure datePositionNo.PlayerTo clubFeeRef.30 June 2018 DF 17 Jacob Buus FredericiaEnd of contract 30 June 2018 FW 7 Jóan Símun Edmundsson Arminia BielefeldEnd of contract 30 June 2018 FW 9 Rasmus Jönsson HelsingborgEnd of contract 30 June 2018 DF 5 João Pereira SønderjyskEEnd of contract 30 June 2018 MF 21 Mathias Thrane NoneEnd of contract 30 June 2018 MF 22 Nana Welbeck Mladost Doboj KakanjEnd of contract 19 July 2018 MF 8 André Rømer Randers 31 August 2018 GK 1 Thomas Mikkelsen Lyngby Loan 31 December 2018 DF 2 Kenneth Emil Petersen Retired 8 January 2019 GK 1 Thomas Mikkelsen Lyngby 31 August 2018 MF 7 Kamil Vacek Bohemians 1905 Loan 12 February 2019 FW 25 Mathias Jørgensen New York Red Bulls 15,000,000 DKK 20 March 2019 MF 19 Mikkel Desler Haugesund Total 15,000,000 DKK
Transfer summary
Spending
Summer: 5,450,000 DKK
Winter: 0,000,000 DKK
Total: 5,450,000 DKK
Income
Summer: 0,000,000 DKK
Winter: 15,000,000 DKK
Total: 15,000,000 DKK
Net Expenditure
Summer: 5,450,000 DKK
Winter: 15,000,000 DKK
Total: 9,550,000 DKK
New contracts Date Player Ref.9 July 2018 DF 6 Jeppe Tverskov25 September 2018 DF 20 Jacob Barrett Laursen15 May 2019 DF 4 Ryan Johnson Laursen15 May 2019 DF 2 Oliver Lund
Friendlies
Pre-season
Winter
Competitions Superliga
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches
Championship round
Sydbank Pokalen
Squad statistics
Goalscorers Includes all competitive matches. The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal.
PlayerSuperligaSydbank PokalenTotal1FW9Bashkim Kadrii101112FW15Nicklas Helenius73103MF11Casper Nielsen325DF20Jacob Barrett Laursen505FW28Anders K. Jacobsen2356MF14Jens Jakob Thomasen314MF23Troels Kløve4048DF4Ryan Johnson Laursen213FW—Mathias Jørgensen21310DF2Oliver Lund202DF5Ramon Leeuwin202FW10Rasmus Festersen20213DF3Alexander Ludwig101DF6Jeppe Tverskov101MF8Janus Drachmann101DF24Marco Lund101Own goals 0 0 0TOTALS 48 12 60
Disciplinary record
No. Pos. Name Superliga SydbankPokalen Total 5DF Ramon Leeuwin 6000606DF Jeppe Tverskov 5000508MF Janus Drachmann 50005024DF Marco Lund 50005011MF Casper Nielsen 3010409FW Bashkim Kadrii 40004016MF Julius Eskesen 30003020DF Jacob Barrett Laursen 3000302DF Oliver Lund 2000203DF Alexander Ludwig 2000204DF Ryan Johnson Laursen 20002013GK Sten Grytebust 20002023MF Troels Kløve 200020—DF Kenneth Emil Petersen 200020—MF Mikkel Desler 20002010FW Rasmus Festersen 10001014MF Jens Jakob Thomasen 10001015FW Nicklas Helenius 10001021MF Mathias Greve 10001026MF Yao Dieudonne 00101027GK Oliver Christensen 10001029MF Mads Frøkjær-Jensen 100010Total54020560
References