Wikipedia

Brian Riemer

Brian Riemer (born 22 September 1978) is a Danish professional football manager who is the head coach of the Denmark national team.

Brian Riemer
Personal information
Date of birth (1978-09-22) 22 September 1978 (age 47)
Place of birth Albertslund, Denmark[1]
Team information
Current team
 Denmark (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Albertslund IF 20 (0)
Managerial career
2008 Hvidovre (caretaker)
2022–2024 Anderlecht
2024– Denmark
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

After beginning in youth football in Denmark, Riemer joined FC Copenhagen, where he progressed from academy coaching to the first-team staff and won the 2012–13 Danish Superliga. He later served as assistant to Thomas Frank at Brentford, helping the club win promotion to the Premier League in 2021.

Appointed head coach of Anderlecht in 2022, he took the Belgian club to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League in his first season and a third-place league finish in 2023–24 before being dismissed early in the following campaign. In October 2024, he was appointed Denmark manager, leading the side to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League before failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Early life

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Riemer was born on 22 September 1978 and grew up in Albertslund. He played his entire senior career with Albertslund IF, making 20 first-team appearances and helping the club win promotion to the Denmark Series in 1997, before moving into youth coaching there.[2] He had originally intended to study medicine and did not initially plan on becoming a professional football coach.[3]

Coaching career

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Early years and Copenhagen

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Riemer began coaching in youth football with Albertslund IF before joining Hvidovre IF, where he worked in the youth set-up alongside Thomas Frank. During his time at Hvidovre, he also held a part-time role with Norwich City in England, undertaking scouting and coaching work with both the first team and the youth department.[3] He later served as assistant coach to Hvidovre's first team and briefly took caretaker charge for two 1st Division matches in 2008 before joining FC Copenhagen the following year.[3]

In July 2012, he was promoted by new manager Ariël Jacobs from the club's under-19 side to the first-team staff.[4]

Copenhagen won the 2012–13 Danish Superliga title in Riemer's first season as assistant coach and qualified for the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League.[5] The following campaign began poorly, however, and Jacobs was dismissed after five league matches without a win, with Ståle Solbakken returning to the club.[6] Riemer remained on the first-team staff under Solbakken, but in 2015 returned, at his own request, to youth coaching with the club's under-19 side.[7] He remained at Copenhagen until October 2018, when he left for England.[8]

Brentford

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On 26 October 2018, Riemer was appointed assistant head coach at Brentford, reuniting with Thomas Frank.[9] He formed part of the coaching staff that led Brentford to promotion through the 2021 EFL Championship play-off final, taking the club into the top flight for the first time in 74 years.[10] Brentford then finished 13th in their first Premier League season.[11] In December 2022, Riemer left the club to take his first full senior managerial post.[12]

Managerial career

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Anderlecht

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Riemer was appointed head coach of Anderlecht in December 2022, replacing Felice Mazzù, with the club 12th in the Belgian Pro League.[13] His first months in charge produced mixed results. Anderlecht reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League, but domestic recovery proved limited and the club finished 11th, its lowest league placing since 1937.[14][3]

Anderlecht nevertheless retained confidence in Riemer and extended his contract until 2026 in September 2023.[15] After a summer rebuild that included the arrivals of Anders Dreyer, Kasper Dolberg, Thomas Delaney, Kasper Schmeichel and Thorgan Hazard, Anderlecht mounted a sustained title challenge in 2023–24.[16] They remained in contention until the final day, when a 3–1 defeat away to Royal Antwerp left them third, three points behind champions Club Brugge.[17]

The following season, however, brought renewed pressure. Although Anderlecht had qualified for the UEFA Europa League league phase, a run of weak results and unconvincing performances left Riemer under increasing scrutiny.[18][19] He was dismissed on 19 September 2024, two days after a home defeat by Genk, with the club stating that the team's performances had been judged "insufficient".[20]

Denmark

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On 24 October 2024, Riemer was appointed manager of the Denmark national team on a contract running until the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[21]

Denmark finished second in their 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A group behind Spain, thereby qualifying for the competition's quarter-finals.[22] Denmark then defeated Portugal 1–0 in Copenhagen in the first leg before losing 5–2 after extra time in Lisbon, and were eliminated 5–3 on aggregate.[23][24] It was the first time Denmark had reached the knockout stage of the Nations League.[25]

In October 2025, Riemer's contract was extended until the end of UEFA Euro 2028.[26] During qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Denmark finished second in Group C behind Scotland.[27] A goalless home draw with Belarus in November 2025, when Denmark could have taken a decisive step towards automatic qualification, was widely criticised in the Danish media and later cited as one of the key setbacks of the campaign.[28][29] Denmark then advanced to the European play-offs, beating North Macedonia 4–0 in the Path D semi-final before losing the final to the Czech Republic on penalties after a 2–2 draw following extra time, thereby failing to qualify for the World Cup.[30][31] In the aftermath of the defeat, Riemer came under increased pressure in Danish football coverage, though the Danish Football Association (DBU) publicly backed him to continue.[28]

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 7 June 2026
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L Win % Refs
Hvidovre IF (interim) 10 November 2008 31 December 2008 2200100.00 [citation needed]
Anderlecht 2 December 2022 19 September 2024 76392017051.32 [citation needed]
Denmark 24 October 2024 present 16853050.00 [32]
Career total 94492520052.13

References

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  1. ↑ Larsen, Oliver Bodh (21 August 2025). "Brian Riemer fik landsholdet og det halve kongerige. Nu leder han efter en at dele det med" [Brian Riemer got the national team and half the kingdom — now he is looking for someone to share it with]. Euroman (in Danish). Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  2. ↑ Schomacker, Casper (24 October 2024). "Fra rondellerne i Albertslund til landstræner for Danmark: Brian Riemers vej til toppen" [From the roundabouts of Albertslund to Denmark head coach: Brian Riemer's rise to the top]. Albertslund IF Fodbold (in Danish). Archived from the original on 4 April 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Brian Riemer – Dansk fodboldtræner" [Brian Riemer – Danish football manager]. Lex (in Danish). 31 March 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  4. ↑ "Brian Riemer ny assistenttræner" [Brian Riemer new assistant manager]. F.C. København (in Danish). 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  5. ↑ Fjordside, Jonas (5 May 2013). "Jacobs: Derfor blev det os, der tog guldet" [Jacobs: This is why we won the gold]. TV 2 Sport (in Danish). Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "Soccer-Solbakken back in FC Copenhagen hot-seat". Yahoo Sports. 24 September 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  7. ↑ Pedersen, Jeppe (16 May 2015). "Fra Ståles assistent til U19: Derfor skifter FCK-træner job" [From Ståle's assistant to U19: Why FCK coach changes role]. B.T. (in Danish). Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Brian Riemer to Brentford F.C." F.C. København. 5 April 2026. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Brian Riemer appointed as Assistant Head Coach". Brentford F.C. 26 October 2018. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  10. ↑ Herman, Martyn (29 May 2021). "Toney and Marcondes fire Brentford into Premier League". Reuters. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "Premier League 2022/23". Brentford F.C. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 4 April 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "Riemer joins Anderlecht". Brentford F.C. 2 December 2022. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "RSCA appoints Brian Riemer as head coach". RSC Anderlecht. 2 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  14. ↑ Geril, Jürgen (20 April 2023). "De droom is een nachtmerrie geworden: zwak Anderlecht verliest met penalty's van AZ en is uitgeschakeld in Conference League" [The dream has become a nightmare: Weak Anderlecht lose on penalties to AZ and are eliminated from the Conference League]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Brian Riemer extends his contract until 2026". RSC Anderlecht. 22 September 2023. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Peter Vandenbempt over dolle transferzomer van Anderlecht: "Er is duidelijk nieuwe weg ingeslagen"" [Peter Vandenbempt on Anderlecht's hectic transfer summer: 'A clear new direction has been taken']. Sporza (in Flemish). 7 September 2023. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Club Brugge win Belgium title after late surge in championship playoffs". Reuters (in Danish). 26 May 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Calendar UEFA Europa League". RSC Anderlecht. 31 August 2024. Archived from the original on 4 April 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  19. ↑ "Danskerklubben Anderlecht fyrer cheftræner Brian Riemer" [Danish-heavy Anderlecht sack head coach Brian Riemer]. Viaplay Sport News (in Danish). Ritzau. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  20. ↑ "RSC Anderlecht parts ways with Brian Riemer". RSC Anderlecht (Press release). 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 18 March 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  21. ↑ "Brian Riemer er ny landstræner for Herrelandsholdet" [Brian Riemer appointed head coach of the Denmark men's national team]. DBU (in Danish). 24 October 2024. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "Nations League final standings: Who made the quarter-finals? Who's been promoted? Who's been relegated? Who's in the play-offs?". UEFA. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  23. ↑ "Denmark 1–0 Portugal: Rasmus Højlund earns first-leg victory". UEFA. 20 March 2025. Archived from the original on 23 March 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  24. ↑ "Nations League roundup: Trincão and Ronaldo fire Portugal into semi-finals". The Guardian. 23 March 2025. Archived from the original on 2 January 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  25. ↑ "Nations League quarter-finals: Croatia and Denmark complete League A qualifiers". UEFA. 19 November 2024. Archived from the original on 12 October 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  26. ↑ "DBU og Brian Riemer forlænger til 2028" [DBU and Brian Riemer extend contract until 2028]. DBU (in Danish). 30 October 2025. Archived from the original on 7 December 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  27. ↑ "UEFA's World Cup 26 qualifying in stats". FIFA. 19 November 2025. Archived from the original on 7 December 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  28. 1 2 Lund, Tommy (3 April 2026). "Danish soul-searching begins as Czechs end World Cup dreams". Reuters. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  29. ↑ Murray, Ewan (16 November 2025). "Denmark hit by sickness bug before crunch World Cup qualifier with Scotland". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 December 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  30. ↑ "World Cup 2026 European play-off semi-finals highlights, round-up: Italy, Sweden, Türkiye earn final places". UEFA. 26 March 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  31. ↑ "Czechia 2–2 Denmark highlights (3–1 on pens): Czechia book 2026 World Cup spot with play-off final win". UEFA. 31 March 2026. Archived from the original on 3 April 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  32. ↑ "Brian Riemer" (in Danish). Danish Football Association. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
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