Mathias Jensen
A Danish midfield strategist whose precise passing and vision became the unexpected engine of Brentford's historic Premier League ascent.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Danish footballer·Birthday: January 1·Millennials
Biography
Mathias Jensen's path to the Premier League was not one of teenage superstardom, but of steady, intelligent progression. Born in Jersie, Denmark, he honed his craft at FC Nordsjælland, developing a reputation as a cerebral midfielder with a knack for controlling tempo. His 2019 move to Brentford, then in the Championship, proved a perfect match. Under the club's data-driven model, Jensen's understated skills—his ability to break lines with a pass, his set-piece delivery, his relentless work off the ball—became vital assets. He was instrumental in the Bees' 2021 promotion-winning campaign, a triumph that ended the club's 74-year top-flight absence. In the Premier League, his technical security and tactical discipline have made him a mainstay, embodying the smart, cohesive style that has kept Brentford competitive against financial giants. For the Danish national team, he has provided a reliable and creative option in a golden generation of talent.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mathias was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mathias Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Mathias's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played a pivotal role in Brentford's 2021 promotion to the Premier League, ending the club's 74-year absence from the top tier.
- Has been a consistent starter in central midfield for Brentford throughout their first several Premier League seasons.
- Represented Denmark at the UEFA European Championship in 2021.
- Won the Danish Cup with FC Nordsjælland in the 2010-11 season.
Did You Know?
His younger brother, Andreas Jensen, is also a professional footballer.
He scored Brentford's first ever Premier League goal at their new Gtech Community Stadium in August 2022.
He was named Brentford's Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season.
“My job is to find the right pass, not the spectacular one.”
