Mads Hermansen has experienced all the highs and lows of being a footballer at the highest level over the last 12 months. Last season, the 25-year-old Danish goalkeeper suffered a heartbreaking relegation from the Premier League with Leicester City despite a series of impressive displays. Over the summer, he was rewarded with a £20 million move to West Ham. Yet, away from the pitch, Hermansen has found newfound joy in London since becoming a father for the first time. Principle sat down with the Dane to get an insight into the complexities that come with competing in the world’s most popular league.
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Growing up in Odense, you might expect a young goalkeeper to have been inspired to take up the position by a certain Peter Schmeichel, who won the European Championship with Denmark in 1992, but it was not the case for Hermansen at all. “I actually wanted to become a striker, but I got an injury as a kid,” he recalls. “The only way to keep playing was to be in goal. Then I realised I was quite good at it, so I stuck with it.” Motivated to maintain the social aspect football offered, it was many of his friends who heaped praise on him for his ability in net that eventually led to him making a career in the position.
After spending eight years at Brondby, which included winning their player of the year award in 2022, the Dane moved to Leicester City in 2023. Then, in the Championship, England’s second tier, Hermansen achieved immediate success with the club, winning the league and featuring in the team of the season. It was his first experience of football culture away from his own country, and he was immediately taken aback. “Football is on a very high pedestal. We’re like gods to many people.” He proclaims, “Wherever you go over here, everything is about football. I enjoy that, but it’s also a lot sometimes. In Denmark, it’s a little bit more relaxed, but I think the passion is the same.”
When Leicester arrived back in the Premier League, they faced an uphill battle. Describing the jump in quality in the division compared to anywhere else as “very big. No disrespect to any of the other leagues. It’s just such a high level.” Hermansen learnt a lot from the experience, and much of it he’s now able to implement during his time at West Ham. “There are so many good players – all the best players want to come here.” He explains, “Talent is not always enough, and sometimes you need much more than hard work. You need to be a team, you need to be collectively very strong. Individually too. It demands so much from everyone in the team and the club to stay in the top 17 spots.”
Eventually, Leicester succumbed to their fate and were relegated back to the Championship. It was Hermansen’s first experience of relegation in his career despite making over 100 saves during the course of the season. Although it didn’t come as a shock to the team, mentally it was a hard blow. “It was tough. But from quite early in the season, we knew it would be very difficult.” The Dane describes, “So over time we knew it could happen, and after quite a few losing streaks, we couldn’t turn it around when we needed to. We still tried everything we could, but it wasn’t enough.”
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Hermansen was no doubt a standout figure in Leicester’s ill-fated campaign, and it came as no surprise that he was touted by many clubs over the summer. Eventually, West Ham won The Dane’s signature in a £20 million transfer. “I felt like the club really believed in me and they wanted me to be a part of the team,” he states. “After getting relegated with Leicester, it was a big opportunity for me to play in the Premier League. So those two factors were important.”
It was a move that initially saw him reunite with goalkeeping coach Casper Ankergren, whom Hermansen had worked for two years at Brondby. But as the complexities of football never seem to disappoint, amid West Ham’s tough start to the season, the Dane’s full circle moment lasted less than two months, with manager Graham Potter and Ankergren both relieved of their duties. Such an experience hasn’t soured the move, though, and Hermansen is determined to be a success at the club. “It’s been tough, but I feel like it’s a very good club to be in. We work hard every day, but the results haven’t been as we hoped.” He proclaims, “We still have some time to turn it around, but we need some results pretty soon.”
However, the Dane hasn’t been short of his fair share of criticism since joining West Ham. He came straight into the line-up in net, but after conceding 11 goals in his first four appearances, he found himself dropping down the pecking order. It was during a 5-1 loss at home to Chelsea, where many fingers were pointed at him for being too cautious from set pieces. Being a goalkeeper is often described as being the hardest position to play with so many eyes pointing at you; any mistake is magnified, but Hermansen thinks it just comes with the role. “Well, it is our responsibility to keep the ball out of the net, but it’s a team sport. We’re 11 players defending and attacking. When you concede goals, you look at the goalkeeper, and when you score goals, you look at the striker.” He explains, “It’s just how football works. But that’s also what I’ve always loved about being a goalkeeper, that it’s such a thin line from being a hero to a villain. Obviously, when you concede, it’s tough.”
With the Hammers sitting in 17th place after last weekend’s match against Bournemouth, the season certainly hasn’t started as they’d have hoped. But with a run of games against Bournemouth, Liverpool, and Manchester United coming up, things don’t get any easier. In such a high-pressure scenario, I wondered how does Hermansen deal with the pressure that’s aimed at both the club and himself personally? “There’s always pressure. I think that comes with being in the best league in the world.” The Dane states, “The way I like to cope with pressure and being blamed is to focus on what I can influence. The only thing I can change is what’s going to happen in the next situation, the situation before has gone, and that’s happened.”
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At the end of September, Nuno Espirito Santo – a former goalkeeper himself – took over as West Ham’s head coach. To his credit, they are three matches unbeaten and have gone from being six points adrift in the relegation zone to being on level points; now there’s an air of hope being felt. Changing managers mid-season isn’t new to Hermansen – Leicester went through two managers the previous season; however, it was Graham Potter who was determined to get him. Mads is hopeful that the new staff at the club will help him reach new levels. “Managers come in with certain ideas. Now I’ve changed managers many times. It’s about adapting as a group to new ideas and ways of thinking,” he states. “Sometimes it takes time to get used to it, but I feel like we’re all in the same boat at the club, so we’re all focused on trying to improve and get the results.”
When focusing on his own ability and trajectory, Hermansen is under no illusions. 25 is very young for a goalkeeper, with many playing over the age of 36, and he’s already made over 130 first-team appearances. He’s represented Denmark at every age category, except for making his senior debut yet. He’s aware that he’s still learning, and he has many years to perfect his craft. “I think you can always learn from your experiences. Every single day is a chance to become better.” He proclaims, “When you change manager and coaching staff, you always get new eyes on you and ideas. It’s about taking all the best things from the different people trying to help you with your career.”
Away from the pitch, the Dane’s life has blossomed. After relocating to London and enjoying discovering what the capital has to offer, in September, Hermansen and his wife, Sofie, welcomed a baby boy to the world. He describes the experience as “amazing,” adding, “It’s a different life now. It’s really good and we’re all so happy.” Since entering fatherhood, he sees life differently, with a determination to protect his home life from any of the stresses that come with being a footballer. “You see your career from a different perspective. My approach since he was born has been that when I’m at the club I’m 100% focused, and when I’m home I’m 100% with my family.” He continues, “I think that’s the balance you need to have in life and in your career to be the best you can be.”
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During my time with Hermansen, what struck me was his ironclad mentality. Unwavering and determined to prove any critics wrong, it was easy to see why he’s a Premier League goalkeeper. West Ham pursued him for a reason, and he’s working tirelessly to get back in the starting 11. There will always be critics, but ultimately, the Dane is living his dream, with a wonderful family to match. With another 26 league games to go this season, West Ham have plenty of time to turn things around, and we’ll be watching all the way.
