AC Horsens

History

When the new team started in 1994, Horsens fS had finished sixth in the 1994–95 1st Division season, which qualified AC Horsens to play for promotion to the 1994–95 Superliga through the 1994 Qualifying League. As AC Horsens only won two of 14 matches, and finished last in the Qualifying League, they missed their opportunity of instant promotion for the Superliga.

In the first half of the 1994–95 1st Division season, AC Horsens finished at the bottom of the table after winning only a single game, and did not proceed to the Qualification League. In the second half of the season, AC Horsens managed three victories, but finished last and were relegated to the 2nd Division. AC Horsens spent two seasons in the 2nd Division before winning promotion back to the 1st Division. From the 1997–98 1st Division season forward, AC Horsens established itself as a consistent part of the 1st Division, as they finished just below the promotion candidates for five consecutive seasons.

In July 2001, Horsens hired former Danish international Kent Nielsen as their new manager. The 2002–03 1st Division season did not go well for Den Gule Fare (The Yellow Danger). After the winterbreak halfway through the season, the club was close to relegation to the 2nd Division, but a good ending of the season secured an 11th place, seven points from the relegation zone. In the next season, ACH started out on amazing form. After 15 matches, AC Horsens were leading the 1st Division with 40 points, but a weak finish to the season saw the club surpassed by Silkeborg IF and Randers FC, who won promotion to the Superliga four points ahead of Horsens. In the 2004–05 1st Division season, Horsens finally succeeded in winning promotion. Though amassing only one point more than in the 2003–04 season, AC Horsens finished in the runner-up spot, trailing winners SønderjyskE by a single point.

In their first year in the Superliga, AC Horsens became famous for their strong defence, as they finished in 10th place and avoided relegation. They drew 13 of 33 matches; 8 of them ending 0–0. They conceded just 41 goals in 33 matches, a statistic only bettered by the defences of the top-three finishing teams that season.

The Superliga season of 2006–07 saw AC Horsens take an early lead over relegation rivals Vejle Boldklub and Silkeborg IF. In the spring of 2007, a slew of strong performances were followed by a series of disappointing defeats and draws, which again brought AC Horsens dangerously close to relegation. New offensive midfielder Henrik Hansen joined the squad midway through the season and became a key player, whereas striker and Canadian national Ali Gerba finished a half-year loan period in the summer of 2007 without being offered a contract. Instead, Brazilian Gilberto Macena from the Danish 2nd Division East team Holbæk B&I became the top scorer for AC Horsens, netting twelve times during the season. The team was relegated from Superliga to 1st Division following the 2020–21 season then promoted back to Superliga after winning the 1st Division in the 2021–22 season.

The 2022–23 season proved challenging for Horsens. The team struggled to maintain a clean sheet from October 2022 to June 2023, conceding a league-high 58 goals. Ultimately, their relegation occurred due to goal difference, narrowly missing out to Lyngby, who had not won in the first 16 fixtures of the season.

Players

First-team squad

Youth players in use 2025–26

Out on loan

Coaches

• Denmark Per Bie (1994)
• Denmark Christian Møller (1994–96)
• Denmark Kim Poulsen (1996–97)
• Denmark Troels Bech (1998–99)
• Denmark Kim Poulsen (1999)
• Denmark Uffe Pedersen (1999–2001)
• Denmark Kent Nielsen (July 2001 – December 2008)
• Denmark Henrik Jensen (Jan–June 2009)
• Denmark Johnny Mølby (July 2009 – June 2014)
• Denmark Bo Henriksen (July 2014 – Aug 2020)
• Denmark Jonas Dal (Aug 2020 – Dec 2020)
• Denmark Jens Berthel Askou (Jan 2021 – Jun 2023)
• Sweden Joakim Persson (Jun 2023 – Mar 2024)
• Denmark Claus Troelsen (Mar 2024 – Jun 2024)
• Denmark Martin Retov (Jul 2024 – Mar 2025)
• Denmark David Nielsen (Mar 2025 – present)

Honours

• Danish Football Championship:

  • Bronze Medalists (1): 1967 (as Horsens FS)

• Danish Cup:

  • Runners-up (1): 2011–12

• UEFA Europa League:

  • Qualified (1): 2012–13 (Playoff Round)

• UEFA Intertoto Cup:

  • Participation (2): 1968 (as Horsens FS), 1970 (as Horsens FS)

• 10 seasons in the Highest Danish League

• 34 seasons in the second highest Danish league

• 24 seasons in the third highest Danish league

European record

Season overview

:{|class="wikitable" ! Season ! ! Pos. ! Pl. ! W ! D ! L ! GS ! GA ! P !Cup !Notes |- |1994 spring |QL ||Did not compete

| |- |1995 spring |1D

| |- |1996 spring |2D | |- |1996 autumn |2D | |- |1997 spring |2D

| |- |1998–99 |1D ||Fourth round | |- |1999-00 |1D ||Fourth round | |- |2000–01 |1D ||Fifth round | |- |2001–02 |1D ||Third round | |- |2002–03 |1D ||Third round | |- |2003–04 |1D ||Quarter-final | |- |2004–05 |1D

| |- |2006–07 |SL ||Quarter-final | |- |2007–08 |SL ||Third round | |- |2008–09 |SL ||Quarter-final

| |- |2011–12 |SL

| |- |2014–15 |1D |Third round | |- |2015–16 |1D |Third round

| |- |2017–18 |SL |Third round | |- |2018–19 |SL |Fourth round | |- |2019–20 |SL | |- |2020–21 |SL |Fourth round

| |}

References

References

1. link. (30 November 2007 , ''AC Horsens'')
2. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1993-94.htm Danmarksturneringen 1993–94] {{webarchive. link. (27 April 2006 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
3. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1994-95.htm Danmarksturneringen 1994–95] {{webarchive. link. (1 May 2006 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
4. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1995-96.htm Danmarksturneringen 1995–96] {{webarchive. link. (5 May 2006 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
5. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1996-97.htm Danmarksturneringen 1996–97] {{webarchive. link. (22 December 2005 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
6. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1997-98.htm Danmarksturneringen 1997–98] {{webarchive. link. (5 January 2006 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
7. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/2002-03.htm Danmarksturneringen 2002–03] {{webarchive. link. (31 October 2005 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
8. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/2003-04.htm Danmarksturneringen 2003–04] {{webarchive. link. (4 November 2005 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
9. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/2004-05.htm Danmarksturneringen 2004–05] {{Webarchive. link. (28 January 2008 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
10. [http://www.haslund.info/danmark/dt/200506/sl.asp SAS Ligaen 2005–06] {{webarchive. link. (14 March 2007 , ''Haslund.info'')
11. (3 June 2023). "Horsens manglede ét mål: Så havde vi snakket om hvor flot det var". bold.dk.
12. (3 March 2023). "Krise hos den ene, forløsning hos den anden: Nedturen i Horsens fortsætter, mens AGF bevæger sig mod top-6". Jyllands-Posten.
13. "Førsteholdet". AC Horsens.
14. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1998-99.htm Danmarksturneringen 1998–99] {{webarchive. link. (31 March 2008 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
15. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/1999-00.htm Danmarksturneringen 1999-00] {{webarchive. link. (19 November 2004 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
16. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/2000-01.htm Danmarksturneringen 2000–01] {{webarchive. link. (19 November 2004 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
17. [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/Danmarksturneringen/2001-02.htm Danmarksturneringen 2001–02] {{webarchive. link. (31 March 2008 , ''Peders Fodboldstatistik'')
18. [http://www.haslund.info/danmark/dt/200607/sl.asp SAS Ligaen 2006–07] {{webarchive. link. (15 March 2007 , ''Haslund.info'')
19. [http://www.haslund.info/danmark/dt/200708/sl.asp SAS Ligaen 2007–08] {{webarchive. link. (4 October 2007 , ''Haslund.info'')
20. [http://www.haslund.info/danmark/dt/200809/sl.asp SAS Ligaen 2008–09] {{webarchive. link. (23 October 2008 , ''Haslund.info'')
21. "NordicBet Liga – 2009/2010".
22. "3F Superliga – 2010/2011".
23. "3F Superliga – 2011/2012".