Football is seemingly stuffed full of disheartening stories these days, but Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen is not one of them.
Christian Eriksen scored a wonderful goal on his return to the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen – just 290 days after he suffered a cardiac arrest there in Euro 2020.
According to Christian Eriksen, he ‘died for 5 minutes’ after collapsing on the pitch. It was assumed his playing career would end as we have seen with Fabrice Muamba.
However, Christian Eriksen was fitted with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator, a pacemaker which allows him to continue to play.
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The former Tottenham and Inter Milan star had to leave Milan as the Italian Serie A does not allow players to play if they have this type of pacemaker.
Eriksen has resurrected his playing career with Brentford in the Premier League, and has been building up fitness.
“This evening ranks very, very high. To be back in Parken, to score a goal, and that reception – it’s something that gives chills.
“It’s not the final chapter, it’s just the beginning of the football career that continues,” said the 30-year-old.
“It was a bit of a break for a few months, now it’s getting the football back on track.”
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“It was the first time being captain and walking out here, I’ve been captain before, but not here. To walk out at the national stadium as captain for the first time was special.
“To lead the lads out was very emotional and something I can be proud of. It was a lovely feeling.”
Eriksen’s story, which was so nearly tragic, is a genuinely inspirational one. Nobody would blame him for retiring, yet he finds himself in contention to play in the upcoming World Cup. There will be more than a few people who adopt Denmark as their second team if he does.
