When looking at Parken Stadium in early November, one could easily think that this was Old Trafford during the height of Wayne Rooney’s career.
The famous chant that reverberated through the stands, though, wasn’t an homage to the Manchester United great. Rather, in a poetic move, the supporters of Copenhagen were praising their new hero, Roony Bardghji, while also making fun of their distinguished guests.
Bardghji, who is only 17 years and 359 days old, made history when he stunned everyone with a winner in the 87th minute against the three-time European champions. Although the football legend surrounding the name Rooney is immense, Roony Bardghji, the man who is almost identical to it, seems destined to make his own unique mark.
The starting point of everything for Roony Bardghji
Bardghji is a Swedish national, but his roots are four thousand kilometers away in Kuwait, where his parents were Syrians.
His naming decision was influenced by his early involvement in football, which began when he was three years old and played with his dad, a die-hard Manchester United supporter. The pivotal moment in his football career came when, at the age of seven, his family moved to Scandinavia.
Bardghji, who excelled in amateur youth teams in southern Sweden, attracted Malmo’s attention in 2019.
At just 14, he was deemed ready to compete with older players and was promptly thrust into action with the club’s Under-19s. This elevation didn’t faze him, showcasing both dedication and exceptional skills. Jeffrey Aubynn, Malmo U19 coach, noted Bardghji’s commitment to improvement, highlighting his advanced technique, game understanding, and seamless teamwork at an impressively high level for his age.
Bardghji’s skill not only won his coach over but also resulted in a noteworthy transfer. He was signed by Copenhagen, a powerful Danish team that was situated directly across the Oresund Bridge, after just one year with Malmo.
The deal, which included a sizable signing-on fee, caused a commotion because it was purported to violate unofficial guidelines for youth player transfers.
The major breakthrough
Bardghji was still in Copenhagen’s U19 ranks when his outstanding play caught manager Jess Thorup’s attention, and he was called up to the first team by 2021. Regulations in the Danish Superliga state that players cannot debut as seniors until they turn sixteen.
Bardghji became the youngest player to represent FCK ever when Thorup, who saw his potential, quickly inserted the teenager into the starting lineup against AGF just six days after he turned sixteen.
Just one week later, in a match against AaB, Bardghji made history again by securing his place at Denmark’s top team. Bardghji cut inside from the right and unleashed a spectacular strike into the bottom corner from 25 yards out, showcasing a move that has become his trademark.
His status as a rising star in the football world was further cemented when he accomplished the incredible feat of becoming the youngest goal scorer in Danish top-flight history.
How are things progressing?
Since then, the incredibly gifted young player has been a regular member of the starting lineup. In January 2023, he signed a new contract. Even though his talent is obvious, Copenhagen has recently placed a strong emphasis on youth development, so he is not a lock to start.
His few appearances—just three—in FCK’s Champions League group stage matches during the 2023–24 season are indicative of this strategy. But even with these limited chances, Bardghji created history. He grabbed a loose ball in a memorable cameo against Manchester United after the defense mishandled an outswinging cross.
He struck a shot into the turf that looped into the net with expert precision, making him the winner of the match.
This made him not only the youngest player to score in the Champions League against United but also the youngest scorer in Copenhagen’s history. Six days prior to his birthday, another historic event occurred, which was the opposite of his previous milestone, which occurred six days after.
Although the Manchester United match thrust him into the public eye, it wasn’t his first memorable late performance of the year.
With FCK trailing 2-1 in the September derby against city rivals Brondby, Bardghji had just 11 minutes off the bench to turn things around. The end outcome? Copenhagen won 3-2 thanks to a five-minute brace from their rising star.
