Mads Hermansen

Mads Hermansen (born 11 July 2000) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Leicester City.

Brøndby
Born in Odense, Denmark, Hermansen began his youth career at Næsby. As a ten-year-old, he transitioned from being an outfielder into a goalkeeper after suffering from achilles tendinitis.

In September 2015, Hermansen moved to Brøndby. He was promoted to the first team prior to the 2019–20 season.

On 5 November 2020, Hermansen made his professional debut in a Danish Cup match against Ledøje-Smørum, which ended in a 1–0 win for Brøndby. At the end of the 2020–21 season, Brøndby became Danish champions for the first time since 2005, with Hermansen featuring as the backup to German goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe. As a result, he did not make a league appearance.

After Schwäbe's departure to 1. FC Köln, Hermansen assumed to role as starting goalkeeper. He made his debut in the Danish Superliga on 18 July 2021 in a 1–1 draw against AGF. The following month, on 17 August, Hermansen made his European debut in a 2–1 loss to Red Bull Salzburg in the first leg of the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League. Despite the loss, Hermansen impressed in goal with vital saves.

On 3 December 2022, Hermansen received the award of Brøndby Player of the Year 2022 after putting in strong performances through the year.

Leicester City
On 18 July 2023, Hermansen signed for Championship club Leicester City on a five-year deal. He made his competitive debut for the Foxes on the opening matchday of the season, providing crucial saves to help secure the team a 2–1 league victory against Coventry City. However, he would pick up a quad injury during training a few days later, sidelining him for the following league game against Huddersfield Town. He returned to the starting lineup on 19 August in a league win against Cardiff City. On 20 September, he kept his first clean sheet after joining the Foxes, helping his side to a 2–0 away victory against Norwich City at Carrow Road. After the game, Hermansen discussed his role as ball-playing goalkeeper in manager Enzo Maresca's team, saying: "He (Maresca) gives me a lot of responsibility and I really appreciate that ... I like to try to dictate the game. As a lot of teams do, they leave me open and play man-to-man with the rest of the guys, so it's up to me to find these smaller passes, to try to move things around and create these spaces." His strong form throughout the season earned him a place in the EFL Championship Team of the Season, as Leicester won the division title and secured promotion back to the Premier League.

International career
Hermansen has represented Denmark at youth international levels from under-16 to under-19.

In November 2020, Hermansen was called up for the Denmark under-21 team for the first time. On 7 September 2021, he gained his first cap for the team in a 1–0 win over Kazakhstan in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.

Hermansen was called up to the senior Denmark squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches throughout June, September, and October 2023.

Style of play
Hermansen is renowned for his ball-playing skills, alongside shot-stopping talent. He is also considered a specialist in saving penalties, having done so in crucial occasions including a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier against Basel in 2022 and a derby against Copenhagen, as well as a triple penalty save against FC Nordsjælland in 2023.

Honours
Brøndby
 * Danish Superliga: 2020–21

Leicester City
 * EFL Championship: 2023–24

Individual
 * Brøndby Player of the Year: 2022
 * EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2023–24