Gunnar Orri Olsen: My FCK debut 'something I've worked for'

F.C. Copenhagen welcomed the club's 346th player to appear for the Lions on Thursday when young Icelander Gunnar Orri Olsen came off the bench in the 3-0 UEFA Conference League win at Debreceni VSC.

Olsen, 18, joined FCK Talent two years ago and signed a contract extension in 2025.

Discussing his Lions debut, the youngster said: "It's huge! It's something I've worked for, and the most important thing was of course that we came here and won, but it was great to make my debut, even if it was only for a few minutes."

Olsen came off the bench just after Andreas Cornelius had scored to make it 3-0, but by then the substitution with Mo Elyounoussi had already been prepared.

When Olsen joined FCK Talent from Icelandic side Stjarnan in the summer of 2024, Mikkel Køhler, Head of Recruitment FCK Talent, said of the then-16-year-old: "Gunnar is an attacking midfielder who can play several different positions. He has good speed and can drive the ball over really long distances, and at the same time he has goals and assists in his game. That makes him a player who can decide matches, and he has also shown that in his first period in Copenhagen."

Last season Olsen was part of our U19 squad that won the Double. He also had a strong spring personally and ended the season scoring twice in the cup final against AB.

Olsen was at FCK's summer training camp in Austria, but missed several training matches due to injury. However, he was ready for the start of the season and was on the bench in our last three matches without getting any action.

"Of course, playing senior football is different, it's faster, more technical and more physical, so I still have to get used to that," added Olsen. "But I've always been eager to improve. I just have to keep going and work my way up to more minutes and hopefully get a starting spot."