Dennis Cagara
Encyclopedia
Dennis Mengoy Cagara is a Danish
professional footballer of Filipino
descent who plays as a left back. He is currently playing for Lyngby Boldklub
and the Philippines national team
. Cagara has also represented Denmark at various youth levels.
His older brother Sunny Cagara, who is an entertainer, participated in Talent 2009 (the Danish version of America's Got Talent
).
to a Filipino father and a Danish mother, Cagara started playing youth football at Brøndby IF
. While at Brøndby, he made his international debut for the Danish under-16 national team in November 2000. Cagara turned professional in March 2001, as he signed a 2½ year contract with Brøndby. In April 2002, Cagara was reportedly scouted by Ajax Amsterdam
scout Leo Beenhakker
, but was found playing too nervously. Cagara represented Denmark at the 2002 European Under-17 Championship
. He played full time in all Denmark's four games, though he missed one of the penalty kick
s as Denmark were eliminated by penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals.
Cagara made his senior debut for Brøndby at age 17 years and 220 days on 10 October 2002, making him the youngest debutant of the Danish Superliga
championship, and the fourth youngest debutant in Brøndby club history, Cagara played seven league games for the club in the 2002–03 Superliga
season, and was a part of the Brøndby team which won the 2003 Danish Cup
trophy. At the age of 18, Cagara made his debut for the Denmark national under-21 football team
on 6 June 2003. In July 2003, Cagara signed a pre-contract with German
club Hertha BSC, starting on 1 January 2004. In the fall of 2003, Cagara suffered from hepatitis
, and he only played one game for Brøndby in the 2003–04 season, against Dinamo Minsk in the 2003–04 UEFA Cup.
At 18 years of age, Cagara moved abroad to play for Hertha in the winter transfer window
of January 2004. He played the last eight games of the 2003–04 Bundesliga season for Hertha, and helped the club avoid relegation. In the 2004–05 season, Cagara played for Hertha's reserve team. In the summer 2005, Cagara was loaned out
to Dynamo Dresden
in the lower Second Bundesliga
division. He spent the entire 2005–06 season at Dresden, playing 28 games and scoring two goals. He suffered an injured Achilles tendon
in May 2006, and could not represent Denmark at the 2006 European Under-21 Championship
.
He re-entered the Hertha first team squad for the 2006–07 Bundesliga season. His injury recovered slowly, and he did not play any games for Hertha during that season, as Malik Fathi
became Hertha's starting left defender. Cagara expressed desire to rejoin Brøndby in November 2006, which Hertha denied in the short term.
A week before the transfer dealine passed, on 22 August 2007, Dennis Cagara agreed a loan to the Copenhagen based club FC Nordsjælland
. His explosive and offensive playing style made him a fan favourite and he quickly became a regular starter at the club. Having started the last 6 matches, he scored a brilliant long range half-volley goal against Superliga Champions FC Copenhagen in the 87th minute which gave his side points. The goal was the first FCK had conceded at home in months. On 22 May 2008 he signed a two-year contract with FC Nordsjælland, "moving" to club on a Bosman transfer
.
On 23 January 2010, he was granted a free transfer by FC Nordsjælland
and signed a contract for the rest of the 2009–10 season with AGF Aarhus.
On 16 March 2011, he signed a contract for the rest of the season with Randers FC
. He never made any first-team appearances for the club and was released at the end of the season.
On 7 October 2011, Cagara made his debut for the Philippines at the senior level at a friendly match against Singapore. The match ended up 0-2 in favor of Singapore.
Danes
Danish people or Danes are the nation and ethnic group that is native to Denmark, and who speak Danish.The first mention of Danes within the Danish territory is on the Jelling Rune Stone which mentions how Harald Bluetooth converted the Danes to Christianity in the 10th century...
professional footballer of Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
descent who plays as a left back. He is currently playing for Lyngby Boldklub
Lyngby Boldklub
Lyngby Boldklub is a professional Danish football club founded in 1921. It is based at Lyngby Stadion in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark. From 1994 to 2001 the club was known as Lyngby FC.-History:...
and the Philippines national team
Philippines national football team
The Philippines national football team is the national football team of the Philippines and represents the country in international football. The team is controlled by the Philippine Football Federation , the governing body of football in the Philippines....
. Cagara has also represented Denmark at various youth levels.
His older brother Sunny Cagara, who is an entertainer, participated in Talent 2009 (the Danish version of America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
).
Biography
Born in GlostrupGlostrup
Glostrup Kommune is a suburban municipality and town in Region Hovedstaden on the island of Zealand approx. 10 km west of Copenhagen in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 13 km², and has a total population of 20,673 . Its Zip code is 2600...
to a Filipino father and a Danish mother, Cagara started playing youth football at Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF is a Danish professional football club based in Brøndbyvester, Brøndby, on the western outskirts of Copenhagen and is the biggest football club in Denmark with almost 2000 members. The club is also known as Brøndbyernes Idrætsforening, or Brøndby and BIF for short...
. While at Brøndby, he made his international debut for the Danish under-16 national team in November 2000. Cagara turned professional in March 2001, as he signed a 2½ year contract with Brøndby. In April 2002, Cagara was reportedly scouted by Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
scout Leo Beenhakker
Leo Beenhakker
Leo Beenhakker is an international Dutch football coach, who is the current Sports Director of Újpest FC.- Coaching career :...
, but was found playing too nervously. Cagara represented Denmark at the 2002 European Under-17 Championship
2002 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Group C:---------------------Group D:---------------------Quarterfinals:-------------Semifinals:-----Third Place Playoff:-Final:-References:**...
. He played full time in all Denmark's four games, though he missed one of the penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
s as Denmark were eliminated by penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals.
Cagara made his senior debut for Brøndby at age 17 years and 220 days on 10 October 2002, making him the youngest debutant of the Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
championship, and the fourth youngest debutant in Brøndby club history, Cagara played seven league games for the club in the 2002–03 Superliga
Danish Superliga 2002-03
The 2002–03 Danish Superliga season was the 13th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association...
season, and was a part of the Brøndby team which won the 2003 Danish Cup
Danish Cup
The Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
trophy. At the age of 18, Cagara made his debut for the Denmark national under-21 football team
Denmark national under-21 football team
The Denmark national under-21 football team has played since 1976 and is controlled by the Danish Football Association. Before 1976, the age limit was 23 years.-U-21 European Championship:*1978 – Quarterfinals*1980 to 1984 – Did not qualify...
on 6 June 2003. In July 2003, Cagara signed a pre-contract with German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
club Hertha BSC, starting on 1 January 2004. In the fall of 2003, Cagara suffered from hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
, and he only played one game for Brøndby in the 2003–04 season, against Dinamo Minsk in the 2003–04 UEFA Cup.
At 18 years of age, Cagara moved abroad to play for Hertha in the winter transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
of January 2004. He played the last eight games of the 2003–04 Bundesliga season for Hertha, and helped the club avoid relegation. In the 2004–05 season, Cagara played for Hertha's reserve team. In the summer 2005, Cagara was loaned out
Loan (football)
In sports, a loan involves a particular player being allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long....
to Dynamo Dresden
Dynamo Dresden
SG Dynamo Dresden are a German association football club, based in Dresden, Saxony. They were founded in 1950, as a club affiliated with the East German police, and became one of the most popular and successful clubs in East German football, winning eight league titles...
in the lower Second Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
division. He spent the entire 2005–06 season at Dresden, playing 28 games and scoring two goals. He suffered an injured Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
in May 2006, and could not represent Denmark at the 2006 European Under-21 Championship
2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:4 goals Klaas Jan Huntelaar3 goals Thomas Kahlenberg Nicky Hofs2 goals Bryan Bergougnoux Ruslan Fomin Artem Milevskiy...
.
He re-entered the Hertha first team squad for the 2006–07 Bundesliga season. His injury recovered slowly, and he did not play any games for Hertha during that season, as Malik Fathi
Malik Fathi
Malik Fathi is a German football player of Turkish and German descent who currently plays for FSV Mainz 05.-Career:In 2003–2008 he has played as a defender for Hertha BSC...
became Hertha's starting left defender. Cagara expressed desire to rejoin Brøndby in November 2006, which Hertha denied in the short term.
A week before the transfer dealine passed, on 22 August 2007, Dennis Cagara agreed a loan to the Copenhagen based club FC Nordsjælland
FC Nordsjælland
Football Club Nordsjælland is a professional Danish football team from the North Zealand town of Farum, Denmark. Founded as Farum Boldklub from the merger of the town's two football clubs Farum IK and Stavnsholt BK in 1991, the club changed its name to F.C...
. His explosive and offensive playing style made him a fan favourite and he quickly became a regular starter at the club. Having started the last 6 matches, he scored a brilliant long range half-volley goal against Superliga Champions FC Copenhagen in the 87th minute which gave his side points. The goal was the first FCK had conceded at home in months. On 22 May 2008 he signed a two-year contract with FC Nordsjælland, "moving" to club on a Bosman transfer
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
.
On 23 January 2010, he was granted a free transfer by FC Nordsjælland
FC Nordsjælland
Football Club Nordsjælland is a professional Danish football team from the North Zealand town of Farum, Denmark. Founded as Farum Boldklub from the merger of the town's two football clubs Farum IK and Stavnsholt BK in 1991, the club changed its name to F.C...
and signed a contract for the rest of the 2009–10 season with AGF Aarhus.
On 16 March 2011, he signed a contract for the rest of the season with Randers FC
Randers FC
Randers FC is a Danish professional football team based in Randers, which plays in the top-flight Danish Superliga championship. Founded as a merger on January 1, 2003, the club builds upon the license of Randers Freja, a former three-time Danish Cup winning team...
. He never made any first-team appearances for the club and was released at the end of the season.
On 7 October 2011, Cagara made his debut for the Philippines at the senior level at a friendly match against Singapore. The match ended up 0-2 in favor of Singapore.