{{short description|Danish footballer (born 1965)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Kenneth Birkedal | fullname = Kenneth Birkedal | image = Frem Centennial Match (1986) - Birkedal (cropped).jpg | caption = Birkedal playing for BK Frem in 1986 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|11|19|df=y}} | birth_place = Copenhagen, Denmark | height = | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Holstebro (assistant) | youthyears1 = 1976–1979 | youthclubs1 = Sylvia | youthyears2 = 1980–1983 | youthclubs2 = BK Frem | years1 = 1984–1986 | clubs1 = BK Frem | caps1 = 90 | goals1 = 12 | years2 = 1987 | clubs2 = B 1903 | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 1988–1991 | clubs3 = BK Frem | caps3 = 108 | goals3 = 4 | years4 = 1991–1992 | clubs4 = B 1903 | caps4 = 31 | goals4 = | years5 = 1992 | clubs5 = Copenhagen | caps5 = 5 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 1993 | clubs6 = BK Frem | caps6 = 18 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 1993–1994 | clubs7 = Herfølge | caps7 = 30 | goals7 = 1 | years8 = 1994–1996 | clubs8 = BK Frem | caps8 = 66 | goals8 = 14 | years9 = 1997–1998 | clubs9 = Holstebro | caps9 = 30 | goals9 = 2 | nationalyears1 = 1982–1984 | nationalteam1 = Denmark U19 | nationalcaps1 = 29 | nationalgoals1 = 3 | manageryears1 = 2000–? | managerclubs1 = Måbjerg IF | manageryears2 = 2021– | managerclubs2 = Holstebro (assistant) }}
'''Kenneth Birkedal''' (born 19 November 1965) is a Danish football coach and former professional footballer who is assistant manager of Danish 3rd Division club Holstebro.
==Coaching career== Birkedal has held various coaching roles since retiring from professional football. After initially playing for Holstebro's first team upon moving to the town, he transitioned into coaching. He served as a head coach of Måbjerg IF before becoming an assistant coach for Holstebro's first team. He later coached FS Holstebro's U17 team for five years, working alongside his son.<ref name="HO17" /> In 2021, Birkedal returned to Holstebro as an assistant coach for the first team competing in the Danish 3rd Division.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Strægaard |first1=Morten Munk |title=HB skifter ud på trænerbænken |url=https://dagbladet-holstebro-struer.dk/sport/hb-skifter-ud-paa-traenerbaenken |access-date=27 October 2024 |work=Dagbladet Holstebro-Struer |date=14 April 2021 |language=da}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Strægaard |first1=Morten Munk |title=Assistenttræner forlænger i HB |url=https://ugeavisen.dk/holstebroonsdag/assistenttraener-forlaenger-i-hb |access-date=27 October 2024 |work=Holstebro Onsdag |date=26 May 2024 |language=da}}</ref>
==Personal life== After ending his football career in 1996, Birkedal moved from his hometown Copenhagen to Holstebro to open an acupuncture clinic, Birkedal Akupunktur & Massage, where he treats patients for various conditions, including sports injuries, pain, and allergies.<ref>{{cite web |title=BIRKEDAL AKUPUNKTUR & MASSAGE |url=http://www.k-birkedal.dk/ |website=BIRKEDAL AKUPUNKTUR & MASSAGE |access-date=27 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616064015/http://www.k-birkedal.dk/ |archive-date=16 June 2024 |language=da}}</ref> Trained as a reflexologist and acupuncturist, he now focuses on helping clients with techniques that include acupuncture.<ref name="HO17">{{cite news |last1=Pirchert |first1=Ninna |title=Fodbold-talent lever af at bruge sine hænder |url=https://ugeavisen.dk/holstebroonsdag/fodbold-talent-lever-af-at-bruge-sine-haender |access-date=27 October 2024 |work=Holstebro Onsdag |date=29 March 2017 |language=da}}</ref>
Birkedal lives in Holstebro with his wife, Karin, a pedagogue, and their three children.<ref name="HO17" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://archive.today/20080301063839/http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/U-19/Birkedal_Kenneth.htm Unofficial national team profile] *{{in lang|da}} [http://www.bkfrem.dk/default.asp?id=19&spillerid=179&todo=arkiv Boldklubben Frem profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092806/http://www.bkfrem.dk/default.asp?id=19&spillerid=179&todo=arkiv |date=2007-09-29 }} *[http://nipserstat.dk/nipserstat/SimpleResponse?player=Kenneth+Birkedal&queryType=PlayerQuery&playerOperator=or&scorerOperator=or Nipserstat F.C. Copenhagen profile] *[http://aku-net.dk/default.asp?module=behandler&bid=89&siteID=1 Praktiserende Akupunktører profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009112731/http://aku-net.dk/default.asp?module=behandler&bid=89&siteID=1 |date=9 October 2007 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birkedal, Kenneth}} Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Danish men's footballers Category:Boldklubben Frem players Category:F.C. Copenhagen players Category:Herfølge Boldklub players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Footballers from Copenhagen Category:Boldklubben 1903 players Category:Holstebro Boldklub players Category:Denmark men's youth international footballers Category:Danish football managers Category:Association football coaches Category:20th-century Danish sportsmen
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