Danish international says stress nearly ended his career during dream move

Rasmus Nissen Kristensen had fulfilled a childhood dream when he moved from Salzburg to Leeds in 2022 to play in the Premier League. But the experience left him close to walking away from football.

“You tend to downplay something when it is in the past. I have also told myself that it was not that bad. But it was,” Kristensen says in an interview with TV 2, published in a new book due out next week.

The Denmark defender says his mental reserves were completely drained at Leeds. “I could not enjoy it at all. I was affected by stress, nervousness and performance anxiety, and I could neither sleep nor eat. It was not fun at all,” he says.

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You tend to downplay something when it is in the past. I have also told myself that it was not that bad. But it was.

Kristensen began his overseas career at Ajax before moving to Salzburg and then Leeds. Although he played regularly for the English club, he was struggling away from the pitch. Leeds’ relegation made a transfer or loan move a natural option, and he spent a year at AS Roma before joining Eintracht Frankfurt on loan in the 2024-25 season.

He performed well in Germany, and the loan became a permanent contract a year ago. Kristensen says he was in a better place and playing well, but accepted the chance to return to Denmark when it arose. He rejoined FC Midtjylland this summer after eight years abroad. Since making his international debut in 2021, he has won 34 caps and scored two goals for Denmark.

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I could not enjoy it at all. I was affected by stress, nervousness and performance anxiety, and I could neither sleep nor eat. It was not fun at all.