Stephan Maigaard Andersen (born 26 November 1981) is a Danish professional football player, who plays as a goalkeeper for VB 1968. He was a full international for the Denmark national team and was chosen to represent his country at UEFA Euro 2004, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012. Club career Early years Starting his career at the youth teams of Hvidovre IF, he moved youth setup of multiple Danish champions Brøndby IF. When he was no longer seen as a long-term prospect for the Brøndby goalkeeping position, he left Brøndby in the winter 1999, to rejoin Hvidovre. Andersen made his senior debut for Hvidovre IF in the lower league Danish 1st Division, and was recognized as a big talent. AB In March 2002, Hvidovre owner, and professional goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel chose to end his engagement in the club. Hvidovre actively sought to off-load Andersen, one of two professional players in the squad. He was initially wanted by a number of clubs in English football, including Schmeichel's club Aston Villa and Sunderland, the club of Danish international goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen. Sunderland opted to buy Norwegian international goalkeeper Thomas Myhre instead, and no other foreign offers materialized. Andersen moved to Akademisk Boldklub (AB) in the top-flight Danish Superliga championship in August 2002. Charlton Athletic He moved abroad to join English club Charlton Athletic in a DKK 8 million transfer deal in June 2004. In his first season with the London club, he only made two first team appearances. Due to an injury sustained by first choice goalkeeper Dean Kiely, Andersen started the 2005–06 season in the team. Charlton's poor mid-season form saw him dropped in favour of Kiely at first, then Thomas Myhre, who established himself as first choice as Charlton turned their season around. Andersen was reinstated into the lineup for the last two games of the season, when Myhre suffered an injury. In the 2006 summer transfer window, Andersen looked ready to join Leeds United on a season-long loan deal, but as Charlton insisted on a clause to allow the club to recall Andersen at any time during the season, the transfer fell through at the last moment. In the first half of the 2006–07 season, he saw the loaned-in Scott Carson become Charlton's starting goalkeeper. Brøndby IF In November 2006, Andersen signed a transfer deal to move back to Denmark to play for Superliga side Brøndby