For Kjeld Reinfeldt nothing comes between him and Liverpool. It has been that way since childhood and for the last 15 years or so he has racked up the miles following The Reds home and away, as well as racking up the bills… £20,000 a season and counting.
He is not alone in Denmark supporting Jürgen Klopp’s men and it was fellow fan, artist Jon Pilkington, from Liverpool via Copenhagen, who drew Lower Block’s attention to Reinfeldt and visited him at his home to take these pictures and discuss all things Liverpool with him.
Anfield Road his house is called, in Skaelskjor, 70 miles from Copenhagen. But most weeks he will be hundreds of miles away in his quest to continue his support for the club which so far has cost him in the region of £300,000… plus another £30k to make his Anfield as authentic as possible.
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Memorabilia is everywhere, from the club crest on his gates, to the badges and flags that adorn every room of his house and surround his BBQ.
Some neighbours think he must be mad. Reinfeldt is unmarried, but daughter Caroline understands his devotion.
“Caroline thinks it’s a good way to live your life and live your dream,” he says. “She is very happy about the way I am and following Liverpool.”
Kjeld Reinfeldt
“The average Danish fella has to ask his wife about going to the game, whereas the culture in England is different. Football is a priority.”
The local brewery team leader has been a fan since 1977, stemming from the televised European Cup final from Rome where Liverpool beat Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1.
“The people around me were supporting Allan Simonsen, a Danish player for Borussia Mönchengladbach, “Reinfeldt recalls, “but my Dad wouldn’t allow me to support a German side in the house, so I chose Liverpool.”
He has had a season ticket since the mid 90s, but it was televised football at his home that kept him hooked.
“Liverpool winning the European Cup just after I had started watching football every Saturday on Danish TV,” he said. “English football was always televised. Jan Mølby scoring a penalty against Crystal Palace in the 90s was a big moment for me.”
His favourite memories feature the “miracle of Istanbul” in 2005, with a seemingly unlikely comeback from 3-0 down, and the Barcelona Semi-Final comeback to then go on and win the Champions League in 2019, beating Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
“If I had to pick one, probably against Barcelona,” he said. “The atmosphere in Anfield was electric”.
A favourite kit would be the New Balance green away strip, while great Dane Jan Mølby, with 218 appearances for Liverpool, alongside Steven Gerrard, are favourite players, but Reinfeldt is keen on all aspects of the English game.
“I love the culture, the people, the social side around the game – before and after,” he explained.
“It differs from the Danish way of living. In Denmark you live life sort of: family, car, house, vacation… all before footy.
“The average Danish fella has to ask his wife about going to the game, whereas the culture in England is different. Football is a priority.”
Liverpool has made the biggest impression on his life, along with daughter Caroline, he adds.
“It means everything – with all good friends that came from going to the match and travelling, all the glory memories over the years,” he said. “Biggest impact to my life… alongside my daughter.”
Neighbours think he’s a bit mad, but that doesn’t concern Reinfeldt as he cooks up a BBQ, with imaginary guests from the past and present that he would like to share steak and potatoes with that include Bob Paisley, Gerard Houllier and King Kenny Dalglish.
His trips worldwide are riddled with memories. The furthest he has travelled has been to Qatar for the World Club Championship, while his very first trip to Anfield was a 48 hour epic, driving from Esbjerg to Harwich to London and onto Liverpool.
Disappointments include a late cancelled match at Fulham, due to bad weather, days after a European game against Utrecht had been deemed OK to play. He was also non pleased either over one club signing when then manager Roy Hodgson signed former Denmark Captain Christian Poulsen from Juventus and he made just 12 appearances.
Reinfeldt lists that transfer high up in the few disappointments that following Liverpool have presented.
Reinfeldt knows his football and his Liverpool. And he knows just who he’d like to see joining The Reds. Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse would be ideal, he reckons.
If you enjoyed that, you may also like This is Anfield, a photographic documentary by Alex Amorós on the area of Anfield.
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