Thomas Enevoldsen has no shortage of highlights in a brilliant soccer career. The 32-year-old from Denmark has competed for a UEFA Cup and, most notably in 2010, a FIFA World Cup. But one season stands out above the rest, both for Enevoldsen on a personal and team level, and that came right here in Orange County in 2018.
Thomas Enevoldsen has no shortage of highlights in a brilliant soccer career. The 32-year-old from Denmark has competed for a UEFA Cup and, most notably in 2010, a FIFA World Cup. But one season stands out above the rest, both for Enevoldsen on a personal and team level, and that came right here in Orange County in 2018.
That season, his first time around with the Orange County Soccer Club, Enevoldsen set personal bests with 20 goals and 10 assists. His prolific scoring acumen led OCSC to the best record in the Western Conference Regular Season and an appearance in Western Conference finals, the season by which all others are measured in Irvine.
And now, after a year away, Enevoldsen is back in Orange County, and the goals and expectations are as high as ever for the player and his reunited teammates. Enevoldsen begins his second stint on Friday in the season opener at Championship Soccer Stadium against El Paso.
“I had a really good year in 2018 and there’s still a lot of familiar faces around,” Enevoldsen said last week. “There’s great expectations for the season, and that’s what I like as well. I hope we can pick up where we left off. There are guys here we had a good connection on the field and got better as the year went on. Hopefully we build on that and make it even more successful.”
After his big season in 2018, Enevoldsen left for Indianapolis last season, but struggled in the new system that never fully fit his style of play. Late last year he transferred to Sacramento and had a strong finish to his season, ending with 15 goals overall, but the club did not pick up the option on his contract, making him available to Orange County once again.
“When we brought Thomas to the club in 2018, we knew he was an incredible professional that had played on the absolute highest level,” Orange County President of Soccer Operations, Oliver Wyss said. “Any player who’s performed on top European teams and represented his country in a FIFA World Cup is a top-quality player. His finishing abilities are second to none and it was clear his heart was set on coming back to Orange County and continuing what we started!”
“Thomas is a first class professional on and off the field and a great leader in the locker room. We have high hopes for him again, not only to produce and helps us win the USL Cup, but to be a role model for some of our younger players as well.”
Surrounded by some of those young players in 2018, Enevoldsen was the runner-up for the Golden Boot in 2018 and was a finalist for the USL Most Valuable Player Award. Now, players such as Darwin Jones and Aodhan Quinn, with another season of experience under their belts, reunite with Enevoldsen after the one-year absence.
“The stats said it all, but he just makes everyone better around him,” said Quinn, who had 12 goals and 15 assists in 2018. “We know if we get the ball in a tight situation, he’ll keep it for us, he’ll find a way out of it. And we know if we get him the ball, obviously it’s likely going to go in, or he’ll find another teammate. He creates chances. My stats that year when we played together was because he was able to score and get me the ball in good spots. Hopefully we can do that again.
Enevoldsen played in every game in 2018 and his 20 goals were a career high.
“It’s an every-day mindset, what you do in training, you work on different kinds of finishes, so when you get into those situations in games, you know what to do,” Enevoldsen said. “In this league, with so many great players, I know I’m going to have great chances to score goals, because I am a good finisher. I know if I get a good chance, I’ll put it in. I know, too, even if I miss a chance, I know I’ll get more. It’s all about staying sharp and don’t dwell on missed opportunities.”
Enevoldsen started his professional career in 2007 at Aalborg BK in the Danish Superliga where he won a league title and featured in the UEFA Cup, notably scoring against English Premier League Side
Tottenham Hotspur FC at White Hart Lane. He then had stints with FC Groningen (Eredivisie), KV Mechelen (Belgian Pro League) and NAC Breda (Eredivisie) between 2009-2018. During his time with FC Groningen, Enevoldsen featured in the UEFA Champions League, playing against storied sides such as Manchester United FC, Villarreal CF and Celtic FC.
A native of Aalborg, Denmark, Enevoldsen has represented his native country in 11 games at the national team level. He scored his first international goal on May 27, 2010, in Denmark’s 2-0 win against Senegal and started for Denmark in the 2010 FIFA World Cup versus Holland. Enevoldsen was also on the national team when OCSC minority owner Keisuke Honda scored one of his four career World Cup goals against Denmark in a 1-3 loss versus Japan in 2010.
“He’s an older guy, a veteran guy, someone whose played in the World Cup, so he brings a ton of experience,” Quinn said. “He can help the younger guys and guys that haven’t been at the high level that he has. He’s a great guy off the field.
“The hardest part of the game is scoring goals and that’s what he’s best at. We’re so happy to have him back. Now we have a good balance around him, so he should get even more assists. I think we’re going to be set up for success and he’ll be setting himself up for success.”
That season, his first time around with the Orange County Soccer Club, Enevoldsen set personal bests with 20 goals and 10 assists. His prolific scoring acumen led OCSC to the best record in the Western Conference Regular Season and an appearance in Western Conference finals, the season by which all others are measured in Irvine.
And now, after a year away, Enevoldsen is back in Orange County, and the goals and expectations are as high as ever for the player and his reunited teammates. Enevoldsen begins his second stint on Friday in the season opener at Championship Soccer Stadium against El Paso.
“I had a really good year in 2018 and there’s still a lot of familiar faces around,” Enevoldsen said last week. “There’s great expectations for the season, and that’s what I like as well. I hope we can pick up where we left off. There are guys here we had a good connection on the field and got better as the year went on. Hopefully we build on that and make it even more successful.”
After his big season in 2018, Enevoldsen left for Indianapolis last season, but struggled in the new system that never fully fit his style of play. Late last year he transferred to Sacramento and had a strong finish to his season, ending with 15 goals overall, but the club did not pick up the option on his contract, making him available to Orange County once again.
“When we brought Thomas to the club in 2018, we knew he was an incredible professional that had played on the absolute highest level,” Orange County President of Soccer Operations, Oliver Wyss said. “Any player who’s performed on top European teams and represented his country in a FIFA World Cup is a top-quality player. His finishing abilities are second to none and it was clear his heart was set on coming back to Orange County and continuing what we started!”
“Thomas is a first class professional on and off the field and a great leader in the locker room. We have high hopes for him again, not only to produce and helps us win the USL Cup, but to be a role model for some of our younger players as well.”
Surrounded by some of those young players in 2018, Enevoldsen was the runner-up for the Golden Boot in 2018 and was a finalist for the USL Most Valuable Player Award. Now, players such as Darwin Jones and Aodhan Quinn, with another season of experience under their belts, reunite with Enevoldsen after the one-year absence.
“The stats said it all, but he just makes everyone better around him,” said Quinn, who had 12 goals and 15 assists in 2018. “We know if we get the ball in a tight situation, he’ll keep it for us, he’ll find a way out of it. And we know if we get him the ball, obviously it’s likely going to go in, or he’ll find another teammate. He creates chances. My stats that year when we played together was because he was able to score and get me the ball in good spots. Hopefully we can do that again.
Enevoldsen played in every game in 2018 and his 20 goals were a career high.
“It’s an every-day mindset, what you do in training, you work on different kinds of finishes, so when you get into those situations in games, you know what to do,” Enevoldsen said. “In this league, with so many great players, I know I’m going to have great chances to score goals, because I am a good finisher. I know if I get a good chance, I’ll put it in. I know, too, even if I miss a chance, I know I’ll get more. It’s all about staying sharp and don’t dwell on missed opportunities.”
Enevoldsen started his professional career in 2007 at Aalborg BK in the Danish Superliga where he won a league title and featured in the UEFA Cup, notably scoring against English Premier League Side
Tottenham Hotspur FC at White Hart Lane. He then had stints with FC Groningen (Eredivisie), KV Mechelen (Belgian Pro League) and NAC Breda (Eredivisie) between 2009-2018. During his time with FC Groningen, Enevoldsen featured in the UEFA Champions League, playing against storied sides such as Manchester United FC, Villarreal CF and Celtic FC.
A native of Aalborg, Denmark, Enevoldsen has represented his native country in 11 games at the national team level. He scored his first international goal on May 27, 2010, in Denmark’s 2-0 win against Senegal and started for Denmark in the 2010 FIFA World Cup versus Holland. Enevoldsen was also on the national team when OCSC minority owner Keisuke Honda scored one of his four career World Cup goals against Denmark in a 1-3 loss versus Japan in 2010.
“He’s an older guy, a veteran guy, someone whose played in the World Cup, so he brings a ton of experience,” Quinn said. “He can help the younger guys and guys that haven’t been at the high level that he has. He’s a great guy off the field.
“The hardest part of the game is scoring goals and that’s what he’s best at. We’re so happy to have him back. Now we have a good balance around him, so he should get even more assists. I think we’re going to be set up for success and he’ll be setting himself up for success.”