From Sandnes to the Superliga: How the 16-Year-Old Readyed Himself for Professional Football in Denmark
From Sandnes to the Superliga: How the 16-Year-Old Readyed Himself for Professional Football in Denmark
An extra training environment has played a small, but vital, key role in the meteoric career of Anestis Tricholidis.
The 16-year-old center-back is ready for the Danish Superliga club AC Horsens. According to reports, the transfer from Sandnes Ulf will secure the Norwegian club a fee just under 8 million NOK.
Behind his remarkable and rapid rise lies not only systematic and disciplined effort in his daily club routine, but also targeted extra training through the international academy NF Academy.
Here we train on things we don’t usually work on back home in Norway. The Portuguese methodology of learning the game by playing it has given me several strengths when playing as a center-back against older opponents in the OBOS-ligaen, Anestis Tricholidis said in July while participating in one of NF Academy’s programs outside Lisbon, Portugal.
At the time, he had been granted a holiday from his club team in Norway. Those who want to become the best often train while everyone else is resting.
Read more about all the NF Academy International Programs
From Sandnes to the Superliga: How the 16-Year-Old Readyed Himself for Professional Football in Denmark
An extra training environment has played a small, but vital, key role in the meteoric career of Anestis Tricholidis.
The 16-year-old center-back is ready for the Danish Superliga club AC Horsens. According to reports, the transfer from Sandnes Ulf will secure the Norwegian club a fee just under 8 million NOK.
Behind his remarkable and rapid rise lies not only systematic and disciplined effort in his daily club routine, but also targeted extra training through the international academy NF Academy.
Here we train on things we don’t usually work on back home in Norway. The Portuguese methodology of learning the game by playing it has given me several strengths when playing as a center-back against older opponents in the OBOS-ligaen, Anestis Tricholidis said in July while participating in one of NF Academy’s programs outside Lisbon, Portugal.
At the time, he had been granted a holiday from his club team in Norway. Those who want to become the best often train while everyone else is resting.
Read more about all the NF Academy International Programs
Extra Training Environment
The story of the young, talented center-back began in 2014, when he arrived in Norway and Sandnes. Since then, the boy with Greek parents has made massive strides on the football pitch.
In November 2025, he signed his first professional contract with Sandnes Ulf as a 15-year-old. The contract was later extended until 2029, but after just 14 appearances in the OBOS-ligaen during his debut season, he is now moving on to the Danish Superliga.
Alongside his daily development within his own club, Tricholidis has used NF Academy as a supplementary development environment since 2023. By participating in a series of the academy’s programs, he has acquired valuable international experience and core expertise that has served as an important springboard for his further career.
Through the academy, which has strong roots in Scandinavia, he has played in tournaments such as the Riga Cup and the Costa Daurada Cup.
He has also taken part in Team Training and International Trials in Norway, as well as NF High Performance and Elite Experience in Portugal, to name a few.
It started with a local program back home, and since then I have been to Denmark, Portugal, and Spain several times, Tricholidis explains.
Shaped as a player
As recently as July, he participated in the High Performance program in Portugal, while his teammates back home in Norway were on holiday. One month later, he is ready for professional life in Denmark.
This is a very good program with a high level that gives you an opportunity to take your next step toward becoming a professional player, the 16-year-old says about his stay in Portugal.
He makes no secret of the fact that the international experience provided by NF Academy has shaped him as a defender.
The academy has given the youngster a taste of what is required on the international stage, and he has, among other things, been able to train with the Portuguese giants Sporting CP.
It is actually a dream of mine to play for Sporting, he admits.
Initially, however, it is Danish football that awaits the major talent, who has signed a three-year contract with AC Horsens. With references from matches all across Europe and knowledge gained from high-level international professional coaches, he feels ready for the challenge that awaits in Denmark.
The programs give you a foretaste of both living and training like a professional player, and they tell you a lot about what it takes to succeed. NF Academy gives you insight into and experience with different cultures.
I have played a bit in Greece, but mostly in Norway, and my dream is to play abroad in Europe. With NF Academy, you play against teams from other parts of Europe, and you get training and experience in facing different types of individual players and teams, Anestis Tricholidis concludes.
Read more about International Programs 2027
Anestis Tricholidis path with NF Academy
UPCOMING NF ACADEMY EVENTS
NF International Tranining Camps
| Date | Program | Country | Place | Age Group | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 - 10 Oct 2026 | NF Elite Experience Fall Week 41 |
Portugal | Lisbon / Estoril | 2011-2017 | |||
| 11 - 17 Oct 2026 | NF Elite Experience Fall Week 42 |
Portugal | Lisbon / Estoril | 2011-2017 | |||
| 25 - 31 Oct 2026 | NF Elite Experience Fall Week 44 |
Portugal | Lisbon / Estoril | 2011-2017 | |||
| 14 - 20 Feb 2027 | NF Elite Experience Winter Week 7 |
Portugal | Lisbon / Estoril | 2012-2018 | |||
| 21 - 27 Feb 2027 | NF Elite Experience Winter Week 8 |
Portugal | Lisbon / Estoril | 2012-2018 | |||
| 28 Feb - 06 Mar 2027 | NF Elite Experience Winter Week 9 |
Portugal | Lisbon / Estoril | 2012-2018 | |||
| 05 - 15 Jul 2027 | NF High Performance | Portugal | Rio Maior | 2012-2009 | |||
NF International Tournaments
| Date | Program | Country | Place | Age Group | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 - 17 Jan 2027 | NF Selection Riga Cup | Latvia | Riga | 2015 | |||
| 20 - 24 Jan 2026 | NF Selection Riga Cup | Latvia | Riga | 2014 | |||
| 27 - 31 Jan 2027 | NF Selection Riga Cup | Latvia | Riga | 2013 | |||
| 03 - 07 Feb 2027 | NF Selection Riga Cup | Latvia | Riga | 2012 | |||
| 10 - 14 feb 2027 | NF Selection Riga Cup | Latvia | Riga | 2010-2011 | |||
| 20 - 25 Mar 2027 | NF Selection Costa Daurada (BOYS) | Spain | Salou | 2011-2017 | |||
| 20 - 25 Mar 2027 | NF Selection Costa Daurada (GIRLS) | Spain | Salou | 2011-2014 | |||
| 25 - 28 March 2027 | NF Selection Future Cup | Sweden | Gothenburg | 2010-2015 | |||
Check the complete Event Calendar here.
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