Califf flourishes in Denmark

Danny Califf insists he wasn't happy after Villarreal, turning into perennial contenders in Spain, crushed his former club, Aalborg, 6-3 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"I can't help but have sympathy, especially having friends on the team and the way they've been performing in the league,'' Califf said Thursday, without a hint of sarcasm. "I would love for them to do well, but be under us.''

Califf is getting his wish, at least when it comes to the latter.

Aalborg's captain when it clinched the title in an American-infused Danish top division last season, he left following a bitter contract dispute and landed at cash cow FC Midtjylland.

So far so good, as Midtjylland sits three points off the top spot in Denmark and almost stunned Manchester City, speaking of wealth, in UEFA Cup qualifying. Call Califf's netting an own goal (allowing City to take the August tie to penalties) a minor blip.

Life isn't bad when it comes to Califf's international career, either. Thinking he had no chance of re-establishing himself when Bob Bradley took over as coach two years ago -- the pair didn't have the greatest relationship -- Califf was on the squad for the United States' two recent World Cup qualifiers, and he started against Trinidad and Tobago in a 2-1 loss Oct. 15.

"It's great to be back," the tattooed central defender said.

Califf, 28, spent 2½ years at Aalborg, his preferred destination in the aftermath of an MLS career with the L.A. Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes. In his two full seasons, Aalborg finished third and first, respectively. With his contract expiring June 30, Califf expected top brass to take quick action. He said it never happened.

According to Califf, Aalborg sporting director Lynge Jakobsen only reached out in February as the squad readied for its spring fixtures. Telling Jakobsen he wanted a two-year extension, Aalborg replied with a one-year offer. Jakobsen didn't return phone calls seeking comment.

The season not over, a "fed up" Califf agreed to a four-year contract with a grateful Midtjylland.

"We have followed him for some time, and we are happy to have added one of the biggest defensive profiles" in the league, Midtjylland general manager Jens Orgaard said at the time.

Califf spurned offers from the Bundesliga, where he's always wanted to play, largely to accommodate his family; Califf and wife Erin have a 3-year-old son, Blake, and 4-year-old daughter, Paige. He still hopes to move to Germany or England one day, although it's not a top priority.

"I'd love to use the Danish league as a springboard,'' he said. "At the same time, winning the championship was probably one of the most amazing things that ever happened to me in football.

"To go to another club with aspirations to do the same thing, it means a lot. Not a lot of people that play in Europe, even in some of the lower countries, are able to say they've won championships.''

FC Midtjylland, the result of a merger in 1999, is the two-time reigning Danish runner-up. It boasts a youth academy, uncommon in the country, and modern arena. Monday's 2-1 win over Aarhus, which features Americans Jeremiah White and Benny Feilhaber, extended Midtjylland's unbeaten home record to nearly 30 games. The Califfs live in Aarhus, not far from Midtjylland's base, and often spend time with the Whites in Denmark's second-largest city.

Aalborg, the Champions League thumping aside, is in a mighty slump, and without Califf has conceded 19 goals in 10 matches, the worst defensive record in the division. Califf does envy his old teammates a tad, given they've also hosted Manchester United and visited Celtic's famed Parkhead in Europe's most prestigious club tournament in the past month and a half.

"At the same time, I'm in a much better situation at a place that really values what I bring,'' said Califf, a native Californian and avid surfer. "I think that we're going to have the opportunity to play in the Champions League during my time at the club."

He might have the opportunity to play at soccer's biggest event, the World Cup, too. Califf represented the U.S. at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, 2003 Confederations Cup in France and 2007 Copa America in Venezuela, missing out on the 2002 and 2006 World Cups under Bruce Arena.

When Bradley, Arena's pal, was hired, Califf didn't expect a serious look.

The two knew each other from their MLS days.

"Bob and I hadn't had the best history,'' he said. "When I was in the league and he was coaching, I don't think I was anywhere near the kind of person back then that I am now, as far as my work ethic and everything like that.

"I don't think he held a very high opinion of me, so I wasn't so excited when he got the job. I was like, 'He's probably going to go in a completely different direction.' But he gave me an opportunity.''

Imagine how happy Califf would be if he finds himself on the plane to South Africa in 2010.

Ravi Ubha is a London-based freelance journalist covering Americans abroad for ESPNsoccernet. He also covers tennis for ESPN.com.