Back to the Soccer Newsfeed

A Week Inside a Soccer Club When the Money Runs Out

KONGENS LYNGBY, Denmark — Mads Byder sent the text message to everyone he could think of, anyone who had the money — and maybe the madness — to help. In the end, he copied and pasted the message 15 times, changing the name of the recipient, but nothing else.

All the texts started the same way: “Hey, long time no see.” And they all cut quickly to the chase. “You have seen what is happening,” he wrote. “This is not an investment — it is fun. And sometimes, you have to invest with the heart.”

Byder did not have time to be creative.