There is obvious irony in the fact that the goalkeeper who hammered one of the final nails in Julen Lopetegui’s coffin – Mads Hermansen – may now be a deciding factor in how long Graham Potter staves off the grim reaper at West Ham United.
Nine months ago, Lopetegui took his Hammers side to the King Power Stadium and found himself on the wrong end of a defeat which, to look at the statistics, almost defies the laws of reality.
West Ham United mustered 31 shots. Ten of which hit the target.
The Hammers somehow scored only one goal from an ‘XG’ of nearly four, while Leicester City beat Lukasz Fabianski three times from an ‘expected goals’ tally which barely crept over one. Well, we say ‘somehow’. The explanation is a pretty simple one.
It was, to quote Ruud van Nistelrooy on his first game in charge of the Foxes, a truly ‘unbelievable’ goalkeeping performance; Mads Hermansen’s cat-like denial of Jarrod Bowen through a crowded penalty area the highlight moment of a Man of the Match display.
Flash forward to August, seven months after the coffin lid slammed on Lopetegui, the Spaniard’s successor at the London Stadium will be hoping Hermansen can produce similar heroics on a weekly basis 120 miles southeast.
Hammers News’ chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey revealed that Mads Hermansen had emerged as West Ham’s first-choice goalkeeping target. The Dane’s impressive ‘footwork’, as well as his occasionally awe-striking shot-stopping, goes some way to explaining why Graham Potter – a possession-based coach who likes to build from the back – is such a big fan.
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Though Potter is not the only West Ham coach who will be greeting Hermansen’s imminent, £18 million arrival with a fist raised in delight.
Mads Hermansen during Leicester City Pre-Season Training
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
West Ham United to reunite Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen with Casper Ankergren
As far back as June, Hammers News reported that West Ham were showing serious interest in Hermansen. The subsequent arrival of Casper Ankergren as the club’s first-team goalkeeping coach, meanwhile, appeared an appointment made with half an eye on the man between the sticks at Leicester City.
Ankergren, the former Leeds and Brighton ace, was a driving force behind Hermansen’s emergence as arguably the most exciting goalkeeper in Scandinavia, after all.
During two years honing his talents under Ankergren’s watchful eye at Danish giants Brondby IF, Hermansen claimed the club’s Player of the Year award before securing his big break at the King Power.
“There are many people in Brondby that I would like to thank. Not least my goalkeeping coaches and teammates over the years,” a grateful Hermansen said when joining the Foxes for a bargain £5 million a couple of summers back.
“They have all helped to make me the goalkeeper and person that I am today, and have contributed to all training sessions being developmental, tough and not least fun. Most recently, Casper Ankergren has helped to raise my level and challenged me.
“Not only technically, but also mentally.”
Casper Ankergren during Brighton and Hove Albion v Partick Thistle: Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images
West Ham’s goalkeeping coach called Hermansen ‘amazing’ at Brondby
Ankergren’s abiding memory of Hermansen’s highly-impressive, 70-game spell at Brondby, meanwhile, is presumably his remarkable triple-save during a narrow 2-1 defeat by Nordsjaelland in March 2023.
Not content with denying now-Lyon forward Ernest Nuamah from the penalty spot, Hermansen then sprang back up and dived to his left, keeping out a follow-up effort from point-blank range. And, as the ball broke loose for a third time, there he was again.
Having also denied Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer in a Premier League clash just last season, Hermansen’s ability to pull off dramatic spot-kick denials is just another reason why West Ham placed him right at the top of their goalkeeping shortlist.
“It was a really, really good game from Mads,” Ankergren said, barely able to believe what he had just seen Hermansen do. “His saves were of different types, where he had to adjust his position quickly and react quickly. Then, of course he saves a penalty kick.
“We goalkeepers can all save a penalty. Of course there is some gut feeling in a penalty save and some preparation. But, it’s the things that happen after the first save that are amazing. I’ve seen double saves, but I haven’t seen many triple saves!
“He shows how fast and athletic he is.
“He has been really, really good,” Ankergren added, a younger Hermansen developing into a leader and embracing the ball-playing tasks asked of him. “He has trained really well, and it shows in the games he plays.
“It is obvious that he has a slightly different role now, but I also think that he has become better at dominating the field. Mads has become more mature.
“We have talked a lot about him taking on more responsibility now that he is a little older and has played a few games for Brondby and has been captain of the U21 [Danish] national team. He has happily taken that on his shoulders.
“The more games you play, the faster you move up the hierarchy. We still have to remember that he is only 22.”
Now 24, Mads Hermansen faces the biggest, most high-profile challenge of his footballing career. But with Casper Ankergren by his side again, it’s a challenge he will be ready to embrace.