Eriksen impresses at his first appearance: gardening for a good cause!

Eriksen impresses at his first appearance: gardening for a good cause!

VfL Wolfsburg shows once again that social commitment and sport can go hand in hand. On September 18, 2025, a special work assignment took place in the garden of the AWO residential and nursing home in Wolfsburg, in which newcomer Christian Eriksen also actively helped. He painted flower boxes with a lot of enthusiasm and gave himself a little self-criticism for his painting skills. This appearance was not only a nice gesture, but also Eriksen's first official appearance for VfL after he failed to warm up in the last Bundesliga game against Cologne. The social project is part of the annual “We for You” day, on which the Wolfsburg professionals support the community. Twelve institutions from the region were selected for this campaign in order to strengthen social cohesion.

Christian Eriksen, Denmark's most capped player, has had an eventful career. He suffered a cardiac arrest during the European Championship game against Finland in 2021, which was saved through quick resuscitation measures. Thanks to an implanted defibrillator, Eriksen returned to the football circuit after an eight-month break at Brentford FC and even made it back to the Danish national team. “I want to help VfL Wolfsburg to stabilize and get better,” said Eriksen, who is now under contract in Wolfsburg until 2027.

A steep career with setbacks

Eriksen started his career at Odense Boldklub before moving to Ajax Amsterdam, where he won every title in the Netherlands. His path took him to Tottenham Hotspur, where he reached the 2018/19 Champions League final, and then to Inter Milan, where he won the Italian championship. In recent years he played for Manchester United until 2025 and won the FA Cup. Football legends such as Michael Laudrup and Luka Modrić have been compared to him, underlining the high reputation he enjoys in football.

Now, after all the ups and downs, Eriksen is full of energy. While the first steps in the new club were taken calmly, coach Paul Simonis is already praising his training performance, even if he points out the long break. The possible short appearance against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday increases the fans' anticipation of a comeback. Eriksen would like to recommend himself with strong performances not only for the next games, but also for the Danish national team and the 2026 World Cup.

A look at the health risks in football

His cardiac arrest raised awareness of the health risks in competitive sports. Every year around 65,000 people in Germany die of sudden cardiac death, which underlines the urgency of acting immediately in the event of a cardiac arrest. The availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public areas and the proper delivery of chest compressions are critical. Sports medicine experts express skepticism about returning to intense sports and advise carefully weighing the risks, but Eriksen shows that will and passion can get him back on the field.

His involvement in the nursing home's garden is a step in the right direction - both for him personally and for the community. Eriksen seems determined to enter the next chapter of his career on a positive footing.