Kris Stadsgaard

Kris Stadsgaard (born 1 August 1985) is a Danish former professional football central defender.

Most recently, he played for F.C. Copenhagen.

He has previously played for Danish club FC Nordsjælland, Italian club Reggina Calcio, and Rosenborg BK in Norway, winning two Norwegian Premier League championships with Rosenborg.

He has played two games for the Denmark national football team.

He is the son of former Danish football referee Knud Stadsgaard.

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Stadsgaard began his career at Farum, where he started his career since joining them in 2001 and progressed through the ranks.

Stadsgaard made his Danish Superliga debut for Farum BK in the 2002-03 Danish Superliga season, playing alongside Rasmus Marvits in central–defence position, in a 5–1 loss against Silkeborg on 28 April 2003.

He even stayed with the team when Farum BK changed its name to Nordsjælland in the Summer 2003.

After making five appearances in the 2003–04 season, Stadsgaard had a first team chance following the injury of the club's captain Jacob Rasmussen and from that moment on, Stadsgaard managed to play his way into the Nordsjælland team in the 2004–05 season.

As the 2004–05 season progressed, he went on to make twenty–one appearances in all competitions.

As a result of his performance, Stadsgaard was rewarded with a contract extension, signing a four–year contract.

However, Stadgaard's first team opportunities was limited for the next two seasons, as he suffered injuries and made eight appearances as a result.

At the end of the season, he signed a two–year contract extension, keeping him until 2005.

In the 2007–08 season, Stadsgaard was given a handful of first appearances and since the start of the season, he went on to make six appearances.

It was therefore surprising when Italian Serie A team Reggina Calcio bought him for 10 million DKK (€1.5 million), including him in their squad for the 2007–08 season.

After the move, Stadsgaard was joining by compatriot Mike Tullberg.

On 15 September 2007, Stadsgaard made his debut for the club in a 2–1 defeat to Roma.

However, Stadsgaard soon struggled in the first team, as he appeared mostly on the substitute and was told by the club's sporting director, Riccardo Bigon, to open up his personality, to integrate better into the squad.

By January, both Stadsgaard and Tullberg were dropped from the squad and never played for the club again.

He rejected an opportunity to leave the club in January when he refused to be loaned out, leading both the club and him fell out.

Following his move to Rosenberg, Stadsgaard expressed regret moving to Reggina and admitted money was a factor as the reason he joined them.

After staying at Reggina for eight months, Stadsgaard ended his nightmare stay there when he signed for Norwegian club Rosenborg BK on 29 March 2008 for approximately 4 million NOK, signing a four–year contract.

It came after when his father, Knud, confirmed that Rosenborg expressed interest signing him.

On 7 April 2008, Stadsgaard made his Rosenborg debut, where he came on as a second half substitute, in a 3–2 kiss against Strømsgodset.

From that moment, Stadsgaard became a first team regular since his debut until he suffered an injury in early–June.

Unfortunately, while rehabilitating his injury, it was delayed for another month.

After returning to the first team in late–August, Stadsgaard then suffered another injury that kept him out for the rest of the season during a UEFA match against Club Brugge.

At the end of the 2008 season, Stadsgaard finished his first season, making sixteen appearances in all competitions.

In the 2009 season, Stadsgaard missed the start of the season, due to rehabilitating his knee injury and it wasn't until on 3 May 2009 when he made his return to the first team from injury, in a 1–0 win against Fredrikstad.

From that moment on, Stadsgaard regained his first team place since returning from injury and his performance earned him a national called up.

Throughout the 2009 season, Stadsgaard was featured for the most of the season, although he appeared on the substitute bench on three occasion and sidelined with suspension.

Despite this, Stadsgaard helped Rosenberg win the league and went on to make twenty–five appearances in all competitions.

During his time with the club, Rosenborg won the 2009 and 2010 Norwegian Premier League championships, as well as the 2010 Superfinalen trophy.

In 2010 season, Stadsgaard started the season well when he scored his first Rosenborg goal, in a 3–1 win over Aalesunds to win the Superfinalen trophy, which turned out to be the last edition.

Since the start of the 2010 season, Stadsgaard established himself in the first team and went on to make twenty–one appearances in all competitions.

His performance in the summer attracted interests, including Copenhagen.

Amid the transfer speculation, he made his last appearance for Rosenborg on 29 August 2010, in a 3–2 win over Start.

Despite his departure, the club went on to win the league for the second time this season.

On 31 August 2010, Stadsgaard left Rosenborg to sign a three-year contract with Málaga CF of the Spanish La Liga for an undisclosed fee, although the move was reported to be 11 million NOK.

Upon joining the club, Stadsgaard revealed that there were interests from other club but insisted Málaga was his first choice.