Jesper Olsen
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| Jesper Olsen | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jesper Olsen | |
| Date of birth | March 20, 1961 | |
| Place of birth | Fakse, Denmark | |
| Playing position | Left winger | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1977-1981 1981-1984 1984-1988 1988 1989-1990 1990-1992 |
Næstved IF Ajax Amsterdam Manchester United Næstved BK Girondins de Bordeaux SM Caen |
64 (11) 85 (23) 139 (21) 2 (1) 54 (3) 58 (0) |
| National team | ||
| 1980-1990 | Denmark | 43 (5) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Jesper Olsen (born March 20, 1961 in Fakse) is a Danish former professional football player who most notably played for Ajax Amsterdam and Manchester United. Jesper Olsen was a regular left-winger for the Danish national team, scoring five goals in 43 matches. He represented Denmark at the Euro 1984 and 1986 World Cup tournaments.
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[edit] Biography
He started his senior career for Næstved IF, and made his debut for the Danish national team in a July 1980 friendly match against the Soviet Union. He had a trial with Arsenal FC in 1978-79, scoring a goal in a reserve team game. After a failed attempt by Ajax July 1980 to get Jesper Olsen to Amsterdam, he moved abroad in July 1981 to play professionally for Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He now resides in Melbourne, Australia and is a partner in the successful Fun Football Schools[1].
[edit] Ajax Amsterdam
While playing for Ajax Amsterdam, he became well known for his part in the infamous "passed penalty"[citation needed]routine he performed with Johan Cruyff. When Cruyff was awarded a penalty kick in a Dutch Eredivisie league match against Helmond Sport on 5 December 1982 (5-0), with Ajax leading 1-0, Cruyff passed the ball sideways to Olsen, who returned it to Cruyff, with the Dutchman then slotting the ball past the bemused goalkeeper (2-0). It was allowed by the referee because the penalty is a direct free kick, so it can also be taken indirectly. During his stay with Ajax, he earned the nickname De Vlo (The Flea) due to his posture and his ability to twist, turn and jump to avoid tackles. Also he was called "The Untouchable". Ajax-coach in the season 1981-1982, Kurt Linder regarded him the most surprising talented player in the young Ajax-squad, technically-tactically phenomenal.
He won the 1981-1982 Eredivisie championship in his first season at the club (goal difference +75 (117-42)). The next season 1982-1983, Ajax successfully defended the Eredivisie title (goal difference +65 (106-41)), and also won the Dutch Cup to complete The Double. Olsen scored twice in the qualification tournament for the Euro 1984, including a last-minute equaliser in the 2-2 draw against England. He was selected to represent Denmark at the Euro 1984 main tournament, and played two games, including Denmark's semi-final against Spain. The game ended a draw, but even though Olsen scored in the penalty shootout, Denmark were eliminated when Preben Elkjær missed his shot.
[edit] Manchester United
Jesper moved from Ajax to England in July 1984, joining English club Manchester United. He helped United win the 1985 FA Cup, and he scored a total of 24 goals in his five-year spell at the club. He was called up to the Danish squad for the 1986 World Cup. He scored two goals in the three preliminary group stage matches, but he will always be remembered for making a grave mistake in the round of 16 match against Spain. He gave Denmark the lead on a penalty kick, but just before half-time he collected a ball from goalkeeper Lars Høgh. When he tried to return the ball to Høgh, his pass ended up straight in front of Emilio Butragueño instead. The Spanish striker levelled the game, and eventually went on to score four goals in the game that Denmark lost 1-5. Consequently, the term a rigtig Jesper Olsen (a real Jesper Olsen) entered the Danish lexicon.[2]
Through his later years at Manchester, Olsen had a hard time adapting to the English game, and saw his footballing development stagnate.[3] He was selected for the Denmark team at the Euro 1988, but did not play any games at the tournament. Olsen's Manchester United career ended in the 1988-89 season, and he transferred to FC Girondins de Bordeaux of France, later moving on to play as a wingback for SM Caen. After suffering a serious injury, he left Caen and retired in 1992, despite being offered the chance to return to English football with Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest.[4]
[edit] Retirement
He has maintained a low profile since his retirement as a player, and was admitted to hospital on May 4, 2006 after suffering a subarachnoid hemorrhage.[5]
[edit] Honours
- Dutch Eredivisie: 1982 and 1983
- Dutch Cup: 1983
- FA Cup: 1985
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ http:/www.funfootball.com.au
- ^ The Knowledge: The footballers who have moves named after them. Guardian Unlimited (Football). Retrieved on 21 November 2007.
- ^ Kim Simmelsgaard, "Så bli'r Olsen englænder", B.T., October 20, 1991
- ^ "Så er det slut med Jesper Olsen", Politiken, July 4, 1992
- ^ Olsen suffers brain haemorrhage, BBC Sport, May 9, 2006
[edit] External links
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