Mathias Greve

Mathias Greve was born on 11 February 1995 in Langeskov, Kerteminde Municipality, on the eastern part of the island of Funen, Denmark. Greve's introduction to football occurred when he was four years old. During one of his initial training sessions at local club Langeskov IF, an incident where he slipped in a puddle left him disinterested in the sport for the next couple of days. However, his father was persistent in giving football another chance. Sports ran deep in Greve's family, and his relatives played football, handball, and badminton which shaped their daily lives. Greve quickly grew into a talented footballer, and during school recesses he was recognised as someone who could easily dribble past four or five classmates, displaying a finesse that set him apart. When Greve turned twelve, he joined Odense Boldklub's (OB) academy, the main club on the island of Funen. Despite the move, which confirmed him as one of the most talented players of the region, it was equally important for Greve to evolve beyond the football pitch. Greve talked about his focus on a career beyond football:

I discovered my talent when the youth talent groups started. However, I also placed a high priority on my studies. That was something I had learned at home. Despite not always having it at the forefront of my mind, school was my parents' top priority for me, until football turned professional … It was the classic agreement where I could pursue football as long as my grades were up to par.…

OB

Greve's initial period at OB saw a promising start followed by a challenging phase. As an under-15 player, he was considered a national talent, but a growth spurt eluded him during the under-17 year, leaving him among the smaller players. However, his eventual growth surge rekindled his talent, as he was able to become more dominant physically, and during his under-19 years, both Greve and OB noticed significant development. This progress led to an offer of a part-time contract that swiftly transitioned to a professional one in April 2014 due to his ability to excel among more experienced players. He was also promoted to the first team ahead of the 2014–15 season. During this period, he has mentioned that he looked up to Rasmus Falk and Emil Larsen, both midfield profiles at the club. Greve made his professional debut for Striwerne on 25 July 2014. Greve started on the bench, but replaced Darko Bodul in the 78th minute in a 3–1 defeat against Vestsjælland in the Danish Superliga. On 19 January 2015, he extended his contract until 2018, after having made five appearances for the club. Upon extending, he was praised by head coach Ove Pedersen: "He has demonstrated a fantastic attitude, and it's even more impressive as he has delivered results both in practice and matches, even when he has occasionally been sent down to the under-19 squad." Greve experienced in first breakthrough in the second half of the season, starting his first game for OB in a 2–0 away loss…

Greve made his debut for a national team under the Danish Football Association (DBU) in a friendly on 2 September 2014, for the under-20 national team. He started on the bench but came on in the 52nd minute for Mathias Hebo in a 1–0 victory over the United Arab Emirates U20 at Slovenský Grob, Slovakia. This marked his only appearance for the under-20s. On 27 March 2015, he made his debut for the Denmark national under-21s, simultaneously earning his first international start. However, after 64 minutes, he was replaced by Hebo in a 2–0 friendly defeat to Turkey U21. He made six total appearances for the national under-21 team.

As of matches played 18 August 2024