US Virgin Islands Adventure
©US Virgin Islands, Lance Chardon
During his active career, Emil Berggreen wore the jerseys of traditional clubs such as Eintracht Braunschweig, SpVgg Greuther Fürth and FSV Mainz 05. It was only at the end of his career that things became exotic with his move to the American Virgin Islands. He now works on the Caribbean island as assistant coach of the senior national team and head coach of the U20. At Transfermarkt, the former center forward speaks in detail about his adventure.
It was a coincidence that Berggreen ended up in the U.S. Virgin Islands at all. The 32-year-old actually ended his career in 2024. But then he took the risk and was persuaded by his former teammate Jannick Liburd to move to the local Rovers Soccer Club. “What many people don’t know: The American Virgin Islands were part of Denmark a good 100 years ago. You can still find typical Danish street names there today. Part of my family was actually born in the Virgin Islands, so I already had a connection there. The change was actually very strange: After I posted a video about the end of my career on Instagram, Jannick and Terrence Jones, the trainer there, wrote to me. From that moment on I thought to myself: I’ll just try something exotic,” says Berggreen with a laugh.
He only played three games for the former national champions, two of them in the CFU Club Shield, a Caribbean club competition. This took him to Trinidad and Tobago, where his team met a club from Puerto Rico and one from the Turks and Caicos Islands. “The experience was fantastic. In fact, football is very important in Trinidad and Tobago. We played in a full national stadium. What was very noticeable: the duels were fought with a lot of hardness. Sometimes there were very hidden fouls. In Germany, some players would have been sent off with a red card,” describes the Dane, who also remembered his first training session on the Virgin Islands with a smile. “Most of the clubs are based on Saint Croix, one of the main islands of the Virgin Islands. Eight clubs share a common artificial turf. You can imagine what it will look like at some point. The boys don’t necessarily train in their club training clothes, but sometimes wear a Real Madrid or FC Barcelona jersey. During my first session, there was also a horse on the pitch,” reveals Berggreen.
Berggreen’s soft spot for the U.S. Virgin Islands: “This love is truly contagious”
Actually, the few games were supposed to remain a one-time exception, but the attacker fell in love with the country and the people. Last year he took over the position of assistant coach of the senior national team. “The people are absolutely warm and hospitable. Even in the first few days, I was invited to dinner extremely often. I could have stayed overnight if I had wanted. This love is really contagious. It was originally planned that I would only work as an athletic trainer, but after a few conversations it was clear: I would do more. I believe that with my experience I can help the young players in particular to improve. I am currently completing my B license with the Danish Football Association, and the A license course will start soon. I find it exciting to jump between worlds,” says Berggreen.
Emil Berggreen in the Eintracht Braunschweig jersey
When he talks about his playing career, his players listen to him because he achieved what they all dream of – making the jump to professional football. He probably had the best time between the beginning of 2015 and the beginning of 2016 in Braunschweig. At Eintracht he scored 16 goals in 28 games. “At this point I would like to thank the Eintracht fans once again who supported me. The games in the Eintracht stadium in particular were a cauldron. I think back, for example, to our 6-0 win against Karlsruher SC (August 30, 2015; editor). What impressed me and still gives me goosebumps to this day is the support after our defeat against Union in the 2014/2015 season Berlin and the associated missed promotion to the Bundesliga. Instead of being booed, we were celebrated,” the Dane reflects. Due to his performance, Mainz 05 became aware of him and signed him for a fee of 2.5 million euros, which upset some BTSV supporters. “I know that many fans were angry with me after the change. From today’s perspective, the change was probably too early. I was impatient and wanted to get into the Bundesliga as quickly as possible. Another year in the 2nd Bundesliga wouldn’t have done me any harm. I follow Eintracht to this day. I recently ordered the special jersey through Holm Stelzer, the Eintracht team manager. One of my dreams would be to complete an internship as part of my coaching training,” says Berggreen.
He describes his time in Mainz as a mental adventure. What this means: Injuries paved his way in a negative way. Knee problems, a torn cruciate ligament and muscular problems meant that he missed a large number of games and therefore spent more time in rehab than on the pitch. “The time was extremely mentally demanding. It wasn’t an easy time because I never had the feeling that I had arrived within the team. At times I used painkillers just to show myself again. I just didn’t want to give up my Bundesliga dream so easily,” says the 32-year-old.
I am proud that I was able to meet a lot of great people through football.
At the subsequent stops in Fürth, Twente Enschede and Sönderjyske Fodbold, Berggreen had to struggle with teething problems because his body kept going on strike here too. He ended his career at the age of 31. Actually. Until the request mentioned at the beginning arrived. “Of course you could now play the card and say what a great career I would have had. But I won’t do that. I’m proud that, despite six operations, I was able to play a lot of games in professional football. And I’m proud that I was able to get to know a lot of great people through football,” states the ex-professional.
Berggreen would like to help ensure that football in the US Virgin Islands increases in popularity, especially among children and young people. After all, it tends to lead a shadowy existence in the background of more popular sports like basketball and baseball. “But football still has its right to exist on the island. When you go to the supermarket or walk on the street, you are recognized and spoken to. FIFA supports in many areas. What I actually find exciting is the feeling of togetherness within the team. Before the games, we pray together or a player tells a story from the Bible,” says Berggreen.
To a certain extent, the Scandinavian also sees himself as a football development worker. The fact that football still has significant potential for improvement can also be seen from the fact that the league only has eight teams and is primarily played on an amateur basis. “One of our goals is, of course, to improve the league. A large proportion of the senior national players who are not active abroad work in normal jobs in addition to their national team career. For example, we have a police officer, a US Navy employee and a jewelry salesman on the team.”
Emil Berggreen (center) in action for SpVgg Greuther Fürth
In addition to his assistant coaching role with the national team, he is the head coach for the young talent, more specifically the U20. From Berggreen’s point of view, some players on his team definitely have potential for professional football. “I try to transfer my experience from European football into training and I’m thrilled with the euphoria and passion with which the boys get involved. Since we only have a limited number of young people who play football, it’s normal for us to have a few 15 and 16-year-olds who already play for the U20. At the moment we only have one U20 that competes in international duels. There are no U19, U18 or other junior teams yet “There are players like Donovan Berry and Connor Bass who are currently being watched by MLS teams. In terms of their sporting potential, I think they can have a professional career,” says Berggreen.
Berggreen’s goal as U20 coach in Paradise: “Continuously work forward”
However, the U20 head coach needs a pinch of frustration tolerance. In the past games there were only bankruptcies. The 0:14 defeat against Canada was particularly severe. “We have to put the defeats in perspective. Canada mainly played with 19-year-olds, our average age was significantly lower. Of course, it’s normal that you are physically inferior to your opponent. We will continue to suffer defeats, but it’s also about drawing conclusions and developing further. In our 3-6 win against Nicaragua, you could clearly see that we have improved in many areas, for example in the quality of our passes or our shots,” he concludes Ex-Braunschweiger.
For the nature lover Berggreen, his new home is an absolute dream and paradise. There are strictly protected national parks on the island, and the country also boasts spectacular bays and reefs. “When I have time, I try to see as much of the country as possible. In general, I am very grateful that my work allows me to go to countries that I would probably never see. Exploring the world through football is a lot of fun,” says Berggreen.
The question of what sporting goals he is pursuing with the senior national team puzzles him until he points to the FIFA world rankings. In that nation ranking, the American Virgin Islands, together with the neighboring island of the British Virgin Islands, occupy the third-to-last place. Behind: Anguilla and San Marino. “I think it would be presumptuous to say that we want to be at number 100 in the FIFA world rankings in two years. We want to improve from international match to international match and slowly but steadily work our way forward. If we manage to continue to support the current U20 national team well, I am sure that we will meet many opponents on equal terms in a few years,” explains Berggreen in conclusion.
By Henrik Stadnischenko
