After arriving from Brondby in 2010, Nicolai Boilesen made his professional debut for Eredivisie record champions Ajax in 2011 and went on to play 73 games for the Amsterdam side. Manager Frank de Boer named Boilesen the third captain ahead of the 2014/15 season, during which Boilesen went on to wear the armband that season.
During the 2015/16 season, De Boer froze Boilesen out of the squad and refused to play the Dane at all. Boilesen left the club the following summer and joined FC Copenhagen, the club he'd remain loyal to for the remaining nine years of his career and played 187 games for.
"Coming to F.C. Copenhagen is the best decision I've ever made and I've enjoyed every moment," Boilesen said on the club website of FC Copenhagen. "I would really just like to thank you for nine years, for better or worse. A big thank you to the fans who have always supported me and I can promise that I remember all the great experiences with you behind me. And I'll never forget the support I've received when I've been out injured."
Lingering injury trouble
Boilesen's career has been littered with injuries, starting with an injury in his early Ajax days which kept him sidelined for 517 days. Over the years, the left-back annex centre-half kept struggling with injury issues, costing him a total of 336 games throughout his 14-year career.
"At the same time, there are a lot of people to whom I also owe a big thank you," he continued. "All those at Parken and at Number 10 who have made everyday life flow and function."
"It's very special that I've now said it out loud that I'm ending my career. There are so many things I'm proud to have achieved through football. But I also have to admit that I probably would have thought I could have played even more games if it hadn't been for the injuries, which is also the reason why I'm calling it quits."
The 22-time Danish international, who featured at EURO 2020 in the round of 16 victory over Wales, played his last game for FC Copenhagen against Galatasaray on December 12th, 2023, when the Turkish giants were toppled 1-0 at Parken.
Boilesen, who ends his career with a total of 283 professional games behind his name, ends his statement with a final word to the fans: "It hurts to say goodbye to what I've enjoyed every single day. But I feel lucky to have been given this unique opportunity,"