Player Profile

Agger was voted Denmark’s most promising player three years running from 2004 to 2006. He made his Brøndby debut on 25 July 2004 in a league match against OB Odense after being on the club's books since he was 12 years old. He got his big break earlier than expected because Brøndby's experienced centre-half, Andreas Jakobsson, was sold to Southampton. Agger was voted Brøndby's best player three games in a row soon after his emergence and he was established in the first team at only 19 years of age. Agger went from strength to strength and earned his big move to Liverpool after only 49 first-team games for Brøndby. Rafa was so confident about Agger's abilities that he declared: "He will be a Liverpool centre back for the next ten years." Agger fitted straight into the Liverpool team and a testament to his abilities was that the great Sami Hyypia was forced to make way, for a while at least. The Danish defender scored the best goal of Liverpool's 2006/07 season with a fantastic shot outside the penalty area against West Ham in front of the Kop in only his second League game. His stylish play earned him rave reviews and he showed his strong character against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final at Anfield. He had difficulty in containing Didier Drogba in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, but was Man of the Match at in the second leg at Anfield, scoring Liverpool's goal as well.

An injury to his metatarsal in September 2007 wrecked the 2007/08 season for him as he underwent an operation that kept him out until the start of the 2008/09 season. The emergence of Martin Skrtel kept Agger on the bench until the middle of October 2008 when the Slovakian injured his knee. The Dane was clearly not in his best form but managed to get a good run in the side until Skrtel was fit again at the end of January. Agger seemed to be regaining his old form at the end of the season, but a recurrence of a back injury kept him on the sidelines for the first two months of the 2009/10 season. Agger figured in 23 League and 13 cup matches during the 2009/10 season. Agger featured sometimes at left-back, but most often in his more familiar position of centre-back. He reached his century of Liverpool matches when picked for the home leg with Unirea Urziceni on 25 February 2010. Agger improved his match fitness by featuring in Denmark's three matches in the World Cup 2010 but unfortunately, the Danes could not get past the group stage, finishing third behind the Netherlands and Japan.

Will we ever see a fully-fit Daniel Agger for the whole of a season has been the immediate question regarding Agger's Reds' career. Sadly 2010/11 was no exception. Agger was concussed in the first Premier League match of the season against Arsenal and also had other injuries that kept him out of contention in the first half of the season. Roy Hodgson preferred Martin Skrtel to Agger but the Dane's fortunes were revived when Kenny Dalglish replaced Hodgson. Unfortunately, his injury jinx struck again when he was forced to leave the field at West Bromwich Albion early in March. That was Agger's final appearance of a very disruptive season. Not suffering from injuries as much as in some previous seasons, Denmark's captain was able to play in two-thirds of Liverpool's first-team matches in 2011/12, forming a great partnership with Martin Skrtel. Agger's silky skills and forward movement fit nicely with the Slovakian's steely determination. Agger should have by now played around 300+ games for Liverpool. There is no question about his ability as he is generally considered the best defender in the squad, but the fact remains he has only been fit for 50% of Liverpool's games since he joined in January 2006. There was much speculation about Agger's Liverpool future at the start of the 2012/13 season, speculation which was finally ended when he signed a new long-term contract with the club on 5 October 2012. In November 2012 Agger was voted the Danish Footballer of the Year for the second time in his career, an achievement he first earned in 2007.

In 2012/13 Agger played in more Premier League matches (35) than in any of his previous six full seasons as a Liverpool player. He reached two hundred Liverpool appearances in the home Europa League tie against Zenit in February, and he added three more goals to take his total for the club into double figures. Agger was appointed as the club's vice-captain on the eve of the 2013/14 season, which turned out to be a frustrating campaign for Denmark's captain. He was again troubled by injuries but also saw his manager often prefer a Skrtel & Sakho combination for the central defence positions. He didn't let the team down when he was selected though and also added a couple of goals to his resume: at Anfield against Hull City on New Year's Day and against Newcastle United on the final day of the season. After eight and a half years as a Liverpool player, Daniel Agger returned to Denmark right at the end of the summer transfer-window of 2014. "The opportunity arose for me to return home to Brøndby' and at this stage of my career, it felt like the right decision for me," Agger told the official Liverpool site. "I wouldn't leave here to go anywhere else and that has been proven by my actions in recent seasons - I have turned down many offers to move to other Premier League and European clubs." He remained troubled by injury though, playing eighteen times in 2014/15, scoring once. the following season he managed 22 league appearances and remained captain of Denmark but he was unable to help them to Euro 2016, as they lost a playoff to Sweden.

In June 2016 Agger announced his retirement from football at only 31 years of age after an injury-hit second part of his career with Liverpool and then Brøndby. Agger held a news conference in his homeland to explain the decision: "I'm pulling the plug now. It's been difficult, I've had my doubts up until the end. But every time I've thought it through I've reached the same conclusion, and that is to stop." He wrote on Twitter: "Thank you for your support. A great experience. It's sad, but it is the right decision to stop. I'm proud of my career."

After several years away from the professional game, Daniel Agger returned to football in a new capacity in March 2021 when he was appointed head coach of HB Køge in the Danish First Division. It was his first senior management role, taken on alongside his former Liverpool teammate Lars Jacobsen, who joined as assistant. Agger’s first season in charge saw Køge maintain their status in the second tier, and the following campaign brought gradual progress as the team aimed to stabilise and build a platform for the future. Known for his calm demeanour and emphasis on tactical organisation, Agger began to translate the leadership qualities he had shown as a player into coaching.

Away from the dugout, Agger remained a prominent figure in Denmark, continuing his involvement in business interests such as his successful tattoo company and waste management venture. He also maintained close ties with Liverpool, regularly appearing at Legends matches and club events, where his popularity among supporters remained undiminished.

In June 2023, Agger and Jacobsen stepped down from their posts at HB Køge after two full seasons, with Agger stating his desire to take time away from coaching before deciding on his next step.