Coach
Morten Olsen
14.08.49
Denmark coach since July 2000
Captained Denmark at their first World Cup in 1986 and now leading his country to the finals for a second time as coach (after 2002). Extended his contract with the national team in January to take charge of the 2012 European Championship campaign.
Goalkeepers
Stephan Andersen
26-11-81
Brondby
6 caps. 0 goals.
The long-term deputy to Sorensen, but barely had a chance since a debut in 2004. He spent three years with Charlton Athletic but played just 17 games in England. Andersen has impressed at Brondby and was Danish keeper of the year in 2008. Started his career at Schmeichel’s first club Hvidovre.
Kim Christensen
16-7-79
IFK Gothenburg
0 caps. 0 goals.
Best known for the infamous moment when he was captured on film kicking the goalpost inwards to make the goal smaller in a Swedish league match against Orebro in September 2009. Amazingly, he escaped any punishment. Another good penalty stopper, and also takes spot kicks in shoot-outs, scoring in the Swedish cup final of 2008. Another product of Hvidovre.
Thomas Sorensen
12-6-76
Stoke City
86 caps. 0 goals.
He has been the regular goalkeeper for Denmark since succeeding Peter Schmeichel and played at both the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. Sorensen is a good shot-stopper, but more vulnerable under the high ball. He is also a brilliant penalty saver, keeping out a spot-kick against Sweden during the 1-0 win that clinched qualification. Played in the Premier League for 12 years with Sunderland, Aston Villa and Stoke.
Defenders
Daniel Agger
12-12-84
Liverpool
29 caps. 3 goals.
He is an elegant, classy left-footed central defender with a fierce long-range shot and a happy knack of scoring in big matches like Champions League semi-finals. Began at Brondby and joined Liverpool in January 2006 where his career has been hampered by foot and back injuries. Owns a pub in Denmark and two restaurants in Liverpool.
Anders Christensen
26-7-77
OB Odense
6 caps. 0 goals.
Very much a later developer to the elite level of football, having spent many years in obscurity at Gent and Esbjerg. Has now become a key part of the Danish set-up after a good debut against Holland in 2008. Prefers to play in central defence, but a very useful utility footballer.
Lars Jacobsen
20-9-79
Blackburn
29 caps. 0 goals.
Jacobsen is a sold full-back who can play either side, but prefers the right. He has had a typical modern itinerant career switching between the Bundesliga and the Premier League with spells at Hamburg, Nuremberg, Everton and Blackburn. A succession of injuries has blighted his last few seasons, although he did feature in the 2009 FA Cup Final.
Michael Jakobsen
2-1-86
Aab Aalborg
5 caps. 0 goals.
Versatile defender who has become an ever-present at Aab Aalborg after playing just 10 minutes first team football at PSV Eindhoven, whom he joined as a 16-year-old from B93. Impressed for Aab in the 2008 Champions League campaign.
Simon Kjaer
26-3-89
Palermo
8 caps. 0 goals.
Both Real Madrid and Chelsea tried to sign Kjaer when he was a teenager at FC Midtjylland, but the tall ball-playing defender chose a move to Serie A with Palermo where he felt he would get immediate first-team experience. Now, once again, a target for the major clubs of Spain and England. A Denmark regular since his debut in February 2009,
Per Kroldrup
31-7-79
Fiorentina
27 caps.0 goals.
Pony-tailed central defender who has played most of his professional career in Italy at Udinese and Fiorentina. Had a brief spell in the Premier League with Everton after a £5million transfer in 2005, but after sustaining an injury in pre-season he played just one match, a 4-0 defeat, for the club. It has been labelled one of the worst transfers in history.
William Kvist
24-2-85
FC Copenhagen
12 caps. 0 goals.
He is an extremely versatile player who prefers central midfield but is considered by many critics to be a better right back. He won youth sports titles in the same season at football and handball, and could have become an international in either discipline. The handball background means he has a very long throw-in.
Patrick Mtiliga
28.01.81
Málaga
2 caps 0 goals.
Defender who is most frequently used as a left fullback. In January 2010 against Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo broke Mtiliga’s nose by hitting him in the face with his elbow.
Simon Poulsen
07.10.84
AZ Alkmaar
4 caps 0 goals
In December 2007, Poulsen transferred from FC Midtjylland to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar for a record-breaking fee of €3,000,000.
Midfielders
Mikkel Beckmann
24.10.83
Randers FC
3 caps 0 goals
In his second season at Randers, Beckmann established scored seven goals in 15 games, to help the club avert what looked like certain relegation from the Superliga.
Thomas Enevoldsen
27.07.87
FC Groningen
4 caps 1 goal
Son of former professional footballer Peter Enevoldsen, Thomas Enevoldsen started his career in Peter’s former club Aalborg Boldspilklub (AaB).
Christian Eriksen
14-2-92
Ajax Amsterdam
1 cap. 0 goals.
Eriksen is one of the most dazzling young talents in world football, a shooting star since his debut for Ajax only in January. Already, all the major clubs from Real Madrid to Manchester United are chasing his genuine No.10 playmaking potential. Seen as the successor to Michael Laudrup.
Jesper Gronkjaer
12-8-77
FC Copenhagen
76 caps. 5 goals.
Well-travelled winger who has been at Ajax, Chelsea, Stuttgart and Atletico Madrid before returning to become a Danish champion with FC Copenhagen. Born in Greenland, his international debut was a nightmare, a bad back pass in the first minute gifting a goal to Italy. Speed on the wing has always been his main asset, and is now a little diminished by a succession of injuries. A veteran of the 2002 World Cup.
Daniel Jensen
25-6-79
Werder Bremen
47 caps. 3 goals.
Scored the most vital goal in qualifying, the 93rd minute winner that gave Denmark a 3-2 win away to Portugal and kick-started their progress to the World Cup. After spells at Heerenveen and Real Murcia this elegant central midfielder has spent six years at Werder Bremen. Played twice at Euro 2004.
Martin Jorgensen
6-10-75
AGF Aarhus
93 caps. 12 goals.
One of the few survivors in football from the 1998 World Cup where he scored in Denmark’s 3-2 quarter-final defeat to Brazil. After 13 years in Serie A with Udinese and Fiorentina he has just returned to hometown club AGF Aarhus. A dazzling winger notable for his trademark slalom style of running, and a scorer of vital goals.
Thomas Kahlenberg
20-3-83
Wolfsburg
29 caps. 3 goals.
He has had a mixed career with Brondby, Auxerre and now Wolfsburg, where injury ruined his first few months this season. Kahlenberg’s talent has never quite fully blossomed but he scored the winner in a crucial 1-0 World Cup qualifier away to Sweden in June 2009. Taken as a youngster to Euro 2004, but did not play.
Christian Poulsen
28-2-80
Juventus
71 caps. 5 goals.
Poulsen is a tough-tackling and highly successful central midfielder, winner of the UEFA Cup with Seville and Serie A runner-up with Juventus. Career littered with controversy. He was spat at by Francesco Totti at Euro 2004, and it was Poulsen’s punch on Swedish striker Markus Rosenberg that saw him sent off in A Euro 2008 qualifier and the match then abandoned when a fan assaulted the referee.
Jakob Poulsen
7-7-83
AGF Aarhus
10 caps 1 goal
Hard-running player who scored winner at home to Sweden in qualifiers but struggling with long-term injury. Danish Superliga Player of the Year in 2009.
Dennis Rommedahl
22-7-78
Ajax Amsterdam
93 caps. 16 goals.
Incredibly fast winger who has flattered to deceive for much of his career, but currently enjoying an Indian summer with Ajax Amsterdam. Had several seasons with Charlton in the Premier League, but spent the bulk of his career in Holland with PSV and Ajax. A decent goalscoring record too.
Michael Silberbauer
7-7-81
Utrecht
14 caps. 1 goal.
Another utility player of good technique and tidy passing. He can play in central midfield or on the flanks. Won three Danish Superliga titles with FC Copenhagen, but then took a sideways professional move to FC Utrecht in Holland that has restricted his international chances.
Forwards
Nicklas Bendtner
16-1-88
Arsenal
32 caps. 11 goals.
Hugely self-confident striker who scored three times in qualifying, and has enjoyed a fine second half to the Premier League season with Arsenal following return from injury. He is the current Danish player of the year, and won the goal of the year award for his strike against Portugal in qualifying.
Soren Larsen
6-9-81
Duisburg
17 caps. 11 goals
Scoring record looks better than it is, nine of his goals against Malta, Albania and Georgia. When he played for Schalke 04, he earned the nickname “Der Dänische Joker” (The Danish joker), “The Blonde Bomber” and “Die Waffe” (The weapon), referring to his ability to come on as a substitute and score.
Jon Dahl Tomasson
29-8-76
Feyenoord
107 caps. 51 goals.
The talisman of Denmark’s team for a decade, scorer of 51 goals, second only to Poul Nielsen’s 52. Has been waiting more then two years to match Nielsen. Scored four times at the 2002 World Cup to win the bronze shoe, and won the Champions League with Milan in 2003. Peripatetic career with Feyenoord, Newcastle, Milan, Stuttgart, Villareal and now Feyenoord again.
