View source for Brian Priske

{{Short description|Danish footballer and manager (born 1977)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Brian Priske
| image          = 
| caption        = 
| fullname       = Brian Priske Pedersen
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1977|5|14|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Horsens]], Denmark
| height         = 1.88 m
| position       = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub    = [[AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague]] (manager)
| youthyears1    = {{0|0000}}
| youthclubs1    = Stensballe
| youthyears2    = {{0|0000}}–1996
| youthclubs2    = [[Horsens fS]]
| years1         = 1996–1997 |clubs1 = [[AC Horsens]]                   |caps1 = 46  |goals1 = 12
| years2         = 1997–1999 |clubs2 = [[Aarhus Fremad]]         |caps2 = 50  |goals2 = 5
| years3         = 1999–2003 |clubs3 = [[AaB Fodbold|AaB]]              |caps3 = 163 |goals3 = 1
| years4         = 2003–2005 |clubs4 = [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]]             |caps4 = 68  |goals4 = 1
| years5         = 2005–2006 |clubs5 = [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]   |caps5 = 30  |goals5 = 0
| years6         = 2006–2008 |clubs6 = [[Club Brugge K.V.|Club Brugge]] |caps6 = 64  |goals6 = 0
| years7         = 2008–2011 |clubs7 = [[Vejle Boldklub|Vejle]]      |caps7 = 61  |goals7 = 0
| years8         = 2010      |clubs8 = → [[FC Midtjylland|Midtjylland]] (loan) |caps8 = 17  |goals8 = 1
| years9         = 2011      |clubs9 = [[IK Start|Start]]                     |caps9 = 15  |goals9 = 1
| totalcaps = 468 |totalgoals = 8
| nationalyears1 = 1998–1999 |nationalteam1 = [[Denmark national under-21 football team|Denmark U21]] |nationalcaps1 = 15 |nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2003–2007 |nationalteam2 = [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]]              |nationalcaps2 = 24 |nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1  = 2019–2021 | managerclubs1 = [[FC Midtjylland|Midtjylland]]
| manageryears6  = 2021–2022 | managerclubs6 = [[Royal Antwerp F.C.|Royal Antwerp]]
| manageryears7  = 2022–2024 | managerclubs7 = [[AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague]]
| manageryears8  = 2024–2025 | managerclubs8 = [[Feyenoord]]
| manageryears9  = 2025–     | managerclubs9 = [[AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague]]
}}
'''Brian Priske Pedersen''' ({{IPA|da|ˈpʁiːæn ˈpʰʁiskə ˈpʰe̝(ː)ðɐsn̩}}; born 14 May 1977) is a Danish professional [[Manager (association football)|football manager]] and former [[Association football|player]], who is the head coach of [[Czech First League]] club [[AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague]]. Priske played as a [[Defender (association football)|defender]] during his playing career.

He played 24 matches for the [[Denmark national football team]] from 2003 to 2007, and represented Denmark at [[UEFA Euro 2004]]. As a manager, he started his career at [[FC Midtjylland|Midtjylland]], winning the [[Danish Superliga]] title before being appointed by Belgian club [[Royal Antwerp F.C.|Royal Antwerp]] where he departed after one season and signed with Czech club Sparta Prague. After winning three trophies with the club, he was appointed by Dutch side [[Feyenoord]] but was sacked after half a season in charge. In June 2025, he returned to Sparta Prague as manager.

==Club career==
Born in [[Horsens]], Priske started his career for Danish club Stensballe, a Horsens suburb club.<ref>{{cite news |title="Jeg kunne have ringet til Lynge" |url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/artikel/jeg-kunne-have-ringet-til-lynge |access-date=28 February 2021 |work=Tipsbladet.dk |language=da}}</ref> Still a youth, he moved to Horsens Forenede Sportsklubber (HFS), now called AC Horsens. He moved on to [[Aarhus Fremad|Aarhus]] in 1997, before settling at [[AaB Fodbold|AaB]] in 1999. There, he won the [[Danish Superliga]] championship in 1999, and captained the club at the end of his tenure. He moved to Belgian club [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]] in the summer of 2003.

When he played the full match in Denmark's 4–1 win over [[England national football team|England]] on 17 August 2005, Priske aroused the interest of several Premiership clubs, and he joined [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] five days later for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year deal. Priske was given a good run in the Portsmouth side by [[Alain Perrin]], but after Perrin was sacked that November, Priske was dropped by returning manager [[Harry Redknapp]]. Many Portsmouth supporters assumed that this was because of Redknapp's disdain of using players he himself had not purchased, and speculation was rife in the January transfer window that Priske would be leaving the club.

A move away from [[Fratton Park]] never materialized, however, and following Portsmouth's poor run of form and injuries to several defenders, Priske was returned to the side for match against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] on 11 March. Priske was from then an ever-present as Portsmouth then went on an excellent run of form for their final ten matches of the season, earning the club Premiership survival for another year. Since arriving from Genk, Priske had been a popular player amongst Portsmouth supporters. Many were originally unhappy that Priske had been frozen-out of the team with Redknapp's return, and felt justified in their valuation of the player after the impressive role he played in earning the club survival from [[relegation]].

Priske had become a fan favourite since his arrival at Fratton Park as a result of his impressive form, but in spite of this, rumours of his departure from the south coast resurfaced during the 2006–07 pre-season. Priske revealed to the Danish media that he had been told to find a new club before the start of the next season before returning to Belgium, joining [[Club Brugge]] in August 2006. The news was met with confusion and anger among Portsmouth fans. In Bruges, Priske competed with fan favourites [[Olivier De Cock]] and [[Birger Maertens]] for a place in the starting line-up. Priske became a first team regular, and helped the team win the 2007 [[Belgian Cup]].

In the summer of 2008, Priske returned to the Danish Superliga to play for [[Vejle Boldklub|Vejle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/vejle-praesenterer-et-scoop-priske |title=Vejle præsenterer et scoop – Priske? |language=da |publisher=Tipsbladet |date=}}</ref> He could not save the club from relegation to the [[Danish 1st Division]] in 2009, but stayed with the team. In the summer of 2010, he was loaned out to Superliga club [[FC Midtjylland|Midtjylland]]. On 21 January 2011, he signed for [[IK Start|Start]].

==International career==
While at AaB, Priske made his debut for the Danish national team in February 2003. He was a part of the Danish squad at the [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]], and played 14 minutes in the 0–0 group game with [[Italy national football team|Italy]], coming on as a substitute to replace [[Christian Poulsen]]. Following retirement and injuries in the Danish defense, Priske became a more consistent member of the national team. In the [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Group 2|2006 World Cup qualification]] stage he played 10 out of 12 matches, though Denmark did not qualify for the finals. He played one game in the [[UEFA Euro 2008 qualification]], a 1–2 loss to [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] in November 2007, after which he was dropped from the national team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/priske-ikke-en-lyd-fra-morten-olsen |title=Priske: Ikke en lyd fra Morten Olsen |language=da |publisher=Tipsbladet |date=25 March 2008}}</ref>

==Managerial career==
===Midtjylland===
Priske served as assistant of [[FC Midtjylland|Midtjylland]] and [[FC København|Copenhagen]] from 2011 to 2019. When Kenneth Andersen resigned as manager of Midtjylland on 19 August 2019, Priske succeeded him. At first, he was a caretaker manager for eleven games, until he got promoted to a head coach. In his first campaign as a head coach in the [[2019–20 Danish Superliga|2019–20]] season, Priske and Midtjylland won the [[Danish Superliga|Danish Championship]] 14 points ahead of second place Copenhagen, despite only having half of their budget. By winning the championship, Priske and Midtjylland had to play three rounds of UEFA Champions League qualification matches to get to the [[2020–21 UEFA Champions League|Champions league]] group stages. They beat [[PFC Ludogorets Razgrad|Ludogorets]] 1–0, [[BSC Young Boys|Young Boys]] 3–0 and then on 30 September 2020 they beat [[SK Slavia Prague|Slavia Prague]] 4–1.

===Royal Antwerp===
On 29 May 2021, Priske signed a new contract for two seasons with [[Royal Antwerp F.C.|Royal Antwerp]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://politiken.dk/sport/art7339369/FC-Midtjyllands-tr%C3%A6ner-giver-op-og-overlader-jobbet-til-assistenten|title=FC Midtjyllands træner giver op og overlader jobbet til assistenten |language=da |website=politiken.dk |date=19 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Officieel: Brian Priske volgt Frank Vercauteren op als coach van Antwerp|trans-title=Official: Brian Priske succeeds Frank Vercauteren as manager of Antwerp|url=https://sporza.be/nl/2021/05/29/officieel-brian-priske-volgt-frank-vercauteren-op-als-coach-van-antwerp~1622282423419/|publisher=sporza.be|date=2021-05-29|language=nl}}</ref>

===Sparta Prague===
On 31 May 2022, Priske was named the new head coach of [[AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Vacek|first=Jan|url=https://isport.blesk.cz/clanek/fotbal-1-liga-rocnik-2022-23/414929/sparta-ma-noveho-kouce-prichazi-dan-priske-ktery-vyradil-slavii.html|title=Sparta má nového kouče! Přichází Dán Priske, který vyřadil Slavii|language=cs |website=[[Blesk]]|date=31 May 2022|publisher=[[Czech News Center]]}}</ref> On 23 May 2023, Sparta Prague drew 0–0 with [[1. FC Slovácko|Slovácko]] to clinch their first [[Czech First League]] title in nine years. They also reached the final of the Czech cup that season.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=[[Czech News Agency]]|date=23 May 2023|accessdate=23 May 2023|title=Sparta v euforii! Remíza na Slovácku odstartovala mistrovské oslavy|url=https://www.sport.cz/clanek/fotbal-ceska-1-liga-sparta-v-euforii-remiza-na-slovacku-odstartovala-mistrovske-oslavy-4229432 |website=Sport.cz|language=cs|publisher=Borgis}}</ref> Priske became the first foreign manager to win the Czech league (excluding Slovaks [[Jozef Jarabinský]] and [[Jozef Chovanec]]).<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Bastlová|first1=Jarmila|last2=Dosadil|first2=Pavel|date=23 May 2023|accessdate=25 May 2023|title=Radost i pláč! První zahraniční trenér s titulem v české lize. Zaslouženým, ujišťuje Priske|url=https://www.sport.cz/clanek/fotbal-ceska-1-liga-radost-i-plac-prvni-zahranicni-trener-s-titulem-v-ceske-lize-zaslouzenym-ujistuje-priske-4230062|website=Sport.cz|language=cs|publisher=Borgis}}</ref> He was chosen as manager of the [[2022–23 Czech First League|2022–23]] season by the League Football Association (LFA).<ref>{{Cite press release|accessdate=28 May 2023|url=https://www.lfafotbal.cz/clanek/634-hracem-sezony-2022-23-je-krejci-mezi-trenery-vladne-priske-osobnosti-ligy-jindrisek|title=Hráčem sezony 2022/23 je Krejčí, mezi trenéry vládne Priske. Osobností ligy Jindřišek|website=League Football Association|language=cs|date=27 May 2023}}</ref>

On 20 October 2023, Priske extended his contract with Sparta Prague until 2026.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dosadil|first=Pavel|date=20 October 2023|accessdate=20 October 2023|title=Příběh nekončí! Priske ve Spartě prodloužil smlouvu|url=https://www.sport.cz/clanek/fotbal-ceska-1-liga-priske-ve-sparte-prodlouzil-smlouvu-bude-pokracovat-az-do-roku-2026-5015027|website=Sport.cz|language=cs|publisher=Borgis}}</ref> On 14 December 2023, Priske and AC Sparta Prague qualified for the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League after beating [[Aris Limassol FC|Aris Limassol]] 3–1 and finishing second in a group also featuring [[Real Betis]] and [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Novák|first=Miloslav|date=14 December 2023|accessdate=18 May 2024|title=Aris - Sparta 1:3, parádní první půle, český tým postoupil do play off|url=https://www.idnes.cz/fotbal/pohary/evropska-liga-aris-limassol-sparta-praha-zpravodajstvi-online.A231214_123859_fot_pohary_duff|website=[[iDNES.cz]]|language=cs|publisher=[[Mafra (company)|Mafra]]}}</ref> After advancing past [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]] in the knockout stages (6–4 on aggregate),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://isport.blesk.cz/clanek/fotbal-evropske-pohary-evropska-liga/443712/sparta-galatasaray-4-1-bravo-letensti-slavi-postup-do-osmifinale-el.html|title=Sparta - Galatasaray 4:1. Bravo! Letenští slaví postup do osmifinále EL|language=cs |website=[[Blesk]]|date=22 February 2024|publisher=[[Czech News Center]]|agency=[[Czech News Agency]]|accessdate=18 May 2024}}</ref> they were knocked out by [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in the Round of 16 (2–11 on aggregate).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sport.ceskatelevize.cz/clanek/fotbal/evropska-liga/liverpool-zostudil-spartu-i-podruhe-na-anfieldu-radili-gakpo-se-salahem/65f370dd61d8d47534416e41|title=Liverpool zostudil Spartu i podruhé, na Anfieldu řádili Gakpo se Salahem|language=cs |website=[[ČT4]]|date=14 March 2024|agency=[[Czech News Agency]]|accessdate=18 May 2024}}</ref> On 18 May 2024, Sparta Prague won 5–0 at [[FK Mladá Boleslav|Mladá Boleslav]] to clinch the Czech First League title for the second time in two years.<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 May 2024|accessdate=18 May 2024|title=Sparta rozstřílela Boleslav a obhájila titul|url=https://www.sport.cz/clanek/fotbal-ceska-1-liga-sparte-jde-o-mistrovskou-pecet-boleslav-ji-vsak-dvakrat-v-sezone-vzala-body-sport-cz-nabidne-audiokomentar-z-ligy-5028533|website=Sport.cz|language=cs|publisher=Borgis|agency=[[Czech News Agency]]}}</ref> Sparta also won [[2023–24 Czech Cup|Czech Cup]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Novák|first=Miloslav|date=22 May 2024|accessdate=13 June 2024|url=https://www.idnes.cz/fotbal/domaci-souteze/viktoria-plzen-sparta-online-finale-mol-cup-cesky-pohar.A240522_121211_fot_dsouteze_min|title=Plzeň - Sparta 1:2, k titulu i pohár. Finále rozhodl v nastavení Birmančevič|website=[[iDNES.cz]]|language=cs|publisher=[[Mafra (company)|Mafra]]}}</ref> Priske was chosen as the manager of the [[2023–24 Czech First League|2023–24]] season by League Football Association (LFA).<ref>{{Cite press release|accessdate=30 May 2024|url=https://www.lfafotbal.cz/clanek/756-kralem-sezony-se-stal-birmancevic-jenz-ziskal-hned-tri-trofeje-nejlepsim-trenerem-je-opet-priske|title=Králem sezony se stal Birmančevič, jenž získal hned tři trofeje. Nejlepším trenérem je opět Priske|website=League Football Association|language=cs|date=30 May 2024}}</ref>

===Feyenoord===
On 12 June 2024, Dutch club [[Feyenoord]] announced that it had signed Priske as the club's new head coach on a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/officieel-priske-is-de-nieuwe-trainer-van-feyenoord |title=Officieel: Priske is de nieuwe trainer van Feyenoord |trans-title=Official: Priske is the new head coach of Feyenoord |language=Dutch |date=12 June 2024 |access-date=12 June 2024|website=vi.nl}}</ref> In Priske's first official game as Feyenoord head coach on 4 August 2024, Feyenoord beat [[PSV Eindhoven]] on [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalties]] after a 4–4 draw to win the [[2024 Johan Cruyff Shield|Johan Cruyff Shield]]. Priske initially implemented a 3–4–3 formation, but changed that to a 4–3–3 formation after criticism and a 1–1 draw in the first league game against promoted side [[Willem II Tilburg|Willem II]].<ref>{{cite news |last=|first=|url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/priske-wijzigt-feyenoord-flink-en-voert-systeemwissel-door |title=Priske wijzigt Feyenoord flink en voert systeemwissel door |trans-title=Priske makes significant changes to Feyenoord and implements a system change |date=18 August 2024 |access-date=11 February 2025|website=Voetbal International|language=nl}}</ref> However, in September 2024, Feyenoord continued to drop points and suffered a 0–4 defeat against [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] in the [[2024–25 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]]. In October 2024, Feyenoord won away games against [[Girona FC|Girona]] and [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] in the Champions League and beat [[FC Twente|Twente]], [[Go Ahead Eagles]] and [[FC Utrecht|Utrecht]] in the [[2024–25 Eredivisie|Eredivisie]], before losing [[De Klassieker]] to [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]. In the remainder of 2024, Feyenoord won five of their seven games in the Eredivisie and came back from 3–0 down to draw 3–3 against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] and beat Priske's former club [[AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague]] in the Champions League. After Feyenoord started 2025 with a defeat against Utrecht and a draw against Willem II, there were rumours Priske would leave the club after the home game against [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] in the Champions League. However, after Feyenoord won that game 3–0 to qualify for the [[2024–25 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|knockout phase]], he remained Feyenoord's head coach.<ref>{{cite news |last=|first=|url=https://www.nu.nl/voetbal/6343377/feyenoord-trainer-priske-mag-toch-blijven-na-stunt-tegen-bayern-munchen.html |title=Feyenoord-trainer Priske mag tóch blijven na stunt tegen Bayern München |trans-title=Feyenoord coach Priske is allowed to stay after a stunt against Bayern Munich |date=23 January 2025 |access-date=11 February 2025|website=NU.nl|language=nl}}</ref> In the following weeks, Feyenoord suffered their largest-ever Champions League defeat against [[Lille OSC|Lille]] (6–1), lost away to Ajax in the Eredivisie and were knocked out in the [[2024–25 KNVB Cup|KNVB Cup]] quarter-finals by PSV Eindhoven. On 10 February 2025, two days after a 3–0 win in the [[Rotterdam derby]] against [[Sparta Rotterdam]], Priske was sacked as head coach following "inconsistent results and a lack progress".<ref>{{cite news |last=Brodie|first=Alex|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6126548/2025/02/10/brian-priske-feyenoord-champions-league/ |title=Feyenoord sack head coach Brian Priske days before Champions League tie against Milan |date=10 February 2025 |access-date=10 February 2025|website=The New York Times}}</ref>

===Sparta Prague===
On 8 June 2025, Priske was appointed again as Sparta Prague manager, signed a multi-year contract.<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 June 2025|accessdate=8 June 2025|url=https://www.irozhlas.cz/sport/fotbal/fotbal-sparta-priske-rosicky-chance-liga_2506082205_tpk|title=Priske se vrací. Sparta odhalila nového trenéra, na lavičku Letenských se vrací strůjce dvou titulů|trans-title=Priske is back. Sparta has revealed a new coach, the mastermind behind two titles is returning to the Letenský bench|website=[[Czech Radio]]|language=cs|agency=[[Czech News Agency]]}}</ref>

==Personal life==
His son [[August Priske]] is also a professional footballer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/benelux/ung-dansker-bomber-loes-i-psv-spiller-legende|title= Ung dansker bomber løs i PSV - spiller for legende|website=Tipsbladet.dk}}</ref>

==Honours==
===Player===
'''AaB'''
* [[Danish Superliga]]: [[1998–99 Danish Superliga|1998–99]]

'''Club Brugge'''
* [[Belgian Cup]]: 2007

===Manager===
'''Midtjylland'''
* [[Danish Superliga]]: [[2019–20 Danish Superliga|2019–20]]

'''Sparta Prague'''
*[[Czech First League]]: [[2022–23 Czech First League|2022–23]], [[2023–24 Czech First League|2023–24]]
*[[Czech Cup]]: [[2023–24 Czech Cup|2023–24]]

'''Feyenoord'''
*[[Johan Cruyff Shield]]: [[2024 Johan Cruyff Shield|2024]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093222/http://fcm.dk/staff/brian-priske FC Midtjylland profile] {{in lang|da}}
*{{DBU}}
*{{NFT}}

{{AC Sparta Prague squad}}
{{Denmark Squad 2004 European Championship}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{FC Midtjylland managers}}
{{Royal Antwerp F.C. managers}}
{{Sparta Prague managers}}
{{Feyenoord managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Priske, Brian}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Horsens]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Danish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Vejle Boldklub players]]
[[Category:AC Horsens players]]
[[Category:Aarhus Fremad players]]
[[Category:AaB Fodbold players]]
[[Category:KRC Genk players]]
[[Category:Portsmouth F.C. players]]
[[Category:Club Brugge KV players]]
[[Category:FC Midtjylland players]]
[[Category:IK Start players]]
[[Category:Danish Superliga players]]
[[Category:Belgian Pro League players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Eliteserien players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players]]
[[Category:Denmark men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Denmark men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:FC Midtjylland managers]]
[[Category:Royal Antwerp F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Danish football managers]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Belgium]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Belgium]]
[[Category:Danish Superliga managers]]
[[Category:AC Sparta Prague managers]]
[[Category:Czech First League managers]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Norway]]
[[Category:Feyenoord managers]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in the Netherlands]]