Bruun Larsen on finding success at Burnley: "Happy to realize my potential."
The latest chapter in once highly-touted Danish winger Jacob Bruun Larsen's footballing career has led him to the English Premiership. The 25-year-old's career trajectory - after many unwelcome twists and turns - hasn't exactly worked out in the manner hoped. Immediately recognized as a super-talent at a young age, Bruun Larsen joined German super club Borussia Dortmund when he was only 16. At one point, the six-times-capped Danish international's estimated market worth rose to €20 million.
Bruun Larsen's footballing journey in the Bundesrepublik saw him cross paths with top-rated trainers Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel. The Danish talent also worked with current BVB trainer Edin Terzic whilst playing for the Dortmund U19s. Bruun Larsen worked together with retiring German footballing legend Marco Reus whilst with die Schwarzgelben, helped Dortmund capture the DFB-Pokal in t was a regular starter under Lucien Favre during the 2016/17 campaign, and was a regular starter under BVB gaffer Lucien Favre in the 2018/19 season.
With such a pedigree, it's understandably been a disappointment for Bruun Larsen to see his career stall after making a €9 million move to Hoffenheim during the January 2020 transfer window. The Dane - for reasons relating to injuries, form, and multiple coaching regimes - hasn't been able to find success at his current club. Hoffenheim have loaned him out twice. His estimated market worth has steadily declined from its peak down to €3 million. At long last, however, things appear to be looking up.
Bruun Larsen has scored six goals across all competitions for his current loan club this year. A key figure in Burnley's race to avoid relegation, there is now some talk of Bruun Larsen returning to the Danish national team. He last earned a call-up in 2022. In a recent interview with Henrik Stadnischenko of transfermarkt's German website, the winger first expressed gratitude for his return to form.
"The most important thing is that I'm injury-free for the first time in my career and can finally realize my potential," Bruun Larsen told Stadnischenko, "Things are in good shape at Burnley. Our belief that we can remain in the league is unshakable. My current focus is totally on staying in the league with Burnley."
Whether or not Bruun Larsen has a future in German football remains to be seen. Hoffenheim did sign him to a short-term contract extension as part of his current loan deal. He is due back in Sinsehim at the end of the season in order to fulfill working papers that run through the end of next season. Hoffenheim, and presumably other German clubs, will be interested in keeping him on given his vast experience with the language and league.
The player still speaks highly of his time with Dortmund, noting that it was an absolute privilege to learn from the likes of Klopp and Tuchel. Bruun Larsen also reserved specific praise for the likes of Reus, Terzic, Favre, and even BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl.
"The first few months in Germany were very tough, partly because German was and is a difficult language," Bruun Larsen said in the interview, "I still give BVB a lot of credit for that. The club also focuses on a good school education in addition to sports training. I had German lessons from day one, which meant learning German for four to five hours every day."
"I'm more reflective today than I was a few years ago," he noted when speaking about his current form surge. I know that to be successful, I have to get support from experts. I've been working with my own cook, my own athletics coach, and a psychology coach for a year now. I pay more attention to seemingly small things, such as getting the right amount of sleep."
"I've become aware of the fact that, if I want to perform at the top of my game, the details and overall conditions have to be right," he continued, "My performances are also down to the trust placed in me by Vincent Kompany. He recognizes my strengths and uses them accordingly. I'm given the freedom I need on the wing."