Harald Nielsen
Encyclopedia
Harald Ingemann Nielsen (born October 26, 1941) is a Danish
former football (soccer)
player, who most notably played professionally for Italian
club Bologna F.C.
where he was the league top scorer (capocannoniere
) in Bologna's 1964 Serie A
championship winning season. Harald Nielsen played 14 games for the Denmark national football team
in 1959 and 1960, scoring 15 goals, and he was known as Guld-Harald (Gold-Harald). He is a football entrepreneur having continuously worked for the professionalization of both the Danish national team and the national league.
and started his footballing career in hometown club Frederikshavn fI
, where he debuted in the second best Danish league in March 1959. From his position of center forward, Nielsen finished the top scorer of the league as Frederikshavn won promotion
to the Danish football champions
hip.
In the top Danish league, Nielsen debuted for Frederikshavn against Boldklubben Frem
in March 1960. Frederikshavn won 3-1, with Harald Nielsen scoring all three goals. The team finished the league in fifth place with Nielsen becoming league top scorer.
In 1961, Harald Nielsen moved abroad to play professionally for Bologna F.C.
in Italy. At Bologna, il freddo danese (the cold Dane) was a part of the 1963-64 Serie A winning squad, and he was the Italian league topscorer
in both 1963 and 1964. Following six seasons at Bologna, Harald Nielsen moved to Internazionale F.C. in 1967, in a transfer
deal which made him the most expensive player
in the world at the time. Although he started by winning the unofficial world cup for teams by beating Santos with Pele
1-0 in New York, Nielsen did not find the same degree of success with Inter as in Bologna, and following years at S.S.C. Napoli
and U.C. Sampdoria
a back injury kept him mostly off the field, he ended his career in 1970.
in Oslo
, as the youngest Danish national team player ever. Only 17 years old, he scored a single goal in the 4-2 win.
In the summer of 1960, he represented Denmark at the 1960 Summer Olympics
football tournament in Rome
. Denmark finished runners-up and Nielsen was the leading goals scorer of the tournament.
His international potential as a striker became obvious already on May 10, 1960, when he scored two goals in a Copenhagen XI
game against the 1958 Brazilian world champions team
, which two years earlier had another largely unknown 17-year-old Pelé
making his debut on the world stage. The two would meet again playing for their respective club teams later in their careers, but in a strange twist of fates while Pelé
was essentially banned from playing outside of Brazilian team(s), Nielsen would be banned from playing on the Danish national team. As the Danish Football Association
did not allow professionals to represent the Danish national team until 1971, Nielsen was banned from the national team at 19 years old when he joined Bologna, and would not play another national team match. This was a great frustration to Harald Nielsen, which he repeadedly voiced in interviews with Danish media.
works to Scandinavia
. He became involved in professionalising football in Denmark
in the 1970s, and in 1977 he and later Danish Minister of Science Helge Sander
planned to found a professional Danish football league. As a consequence of these plans, Danish Football Association finally allowed professional football in Denmark from 1978. Harald Nielsen along with Alex Friedman founded - and became the first chairman of FC København A/S later Parken Sport & Entertainment
whose primary activity was the Danish club FC København from 1992–1997, he stepped down from the board in 2007 and became the clubs first honorary member. To this day he watches all the home matches of FC København from Parken's A-stand. He is chairman and co-owner/founder of the largest summer house
building company in Denmark. He was president of the Rebild National Park
Society from 1997-2007. He led the Gunnar Nu Foundation for 18 years until 2009 and presided the distribution of over DKK 9 million to Danish sports in those years. He has written 6 books during his football career, which became known as the "Harald-Books" during the 1960s.
Individual
1963–64
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
former football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player, who most notably played professionally for Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
club Bologna F.C.
Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
where he was the league top scorer (capocannoniere
Capocannoniere
The Capocannoniere is the name given to the highest goalscorer in Italian football. The Serie A title is currently held by Antonio Di Natale.-SERIE A:...
) in Bologna's 1964 Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
championship winning season. Harald Nielsen played 14 games for the Denmark national football team
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
in 1959 and 1960, scoring 15 goals, and he was known as Guld-Harald (Gold-Harald). He is a football entrepreneur having continuously worked for the professionalization of both the Danish national team and the national league.
Club career
Harald Nielsen was born in FrederikshavnFrederikshavn
This article is about a Danish town. For the German town, see Friedrichshafen, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Frederikshavn is a Danish town in Frederikshavn municipality, Region Nordjylland on the northeast coast of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. Its name translates to...
and started his footballing career in hometown club Frederikshavn fI
Frederikshavn fI
Frederikshavn forenede Idrætsklubber is a Danish sports club based in Frederikshavn. The club has branches in football, handball, swimming, gymnastics and wrestling....
, where he debuted in the second best Danish league in March 1959. From his position of center forward, Nielsen finished the top scorer of the league as Frederikshavn won promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to the Danish football champions
Danish football champions
The Danish football champions are the winners of the highest league of football in Denmark. The title has been contested since 1913, in a varying form of competitions. Since 1991, the winners have been found through the Danish Superliga championship...
hip.
In the top Danish league, Nielsen debuted for Frederikshavn against Boldklubben Frem
Boldklubben Frem
Boldklubben Frem is a Danish sports club based in the Valby-Sydhavnen area of Copenhagen. It is best known for its semi-professional football team. Since its foundation in 1886, Frem has won the Danish Championships six times and the Danish Cup twice...
in March 1960. Frederikshavn won 3-1, with Harald Nielsen scoring all three goals. The team finished the league in fifth place with Nielsen becoming league top scorer.
In 1961, Harald Nielsen moved abroad to play professionally for Bologna F.C.
Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
in Italy. At Bologna, il freddo danese (the cold Dane) was a part of the 1963-64 Serie A winning squad, and he was the Italian league topscorer
Capocannoniere
The Capocannoniere is the name given to the highest goalscorer in Italian football. The Serie A title is currently held by Antonio Di Natale.-SERIE A:...
in both 1963 and 1964. Following six seasons at Bologna, Harald Nielsen moved to Internazionale F.C. in 1967, in a transfer
Transfer (football)
In professional association football, a transfer is the action taken whenever a player under contract moves between professional clubs. It refers to the transferring of a player's registration from one professional association football club to another. In general, the players can only be...
deal which made him the most expensive player
World football transfer record
This is a list of the progression of the world association football transfer record when measured in British pounds.-See also:*Highest transfer fees*Progression of British football transfer fee record-Notes:...
in the world at the time. Although he started by winning the unofficial world cup for teams by beating Santos with Pele
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
1-0 in New York, Nielsen did not find the same degree of success with Inter as in Bologna, and following years at S.S.C. Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
and U.C. Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...
a back injury kept him mostly off the field, he ended his career in 1970.
Italian Club Appearances and Goals
| Season | Team | League | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961/1962 | Bologna FC | Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
16 | 8 |
| 1962/1963 | Bologna FC | Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
29 | 19 |
| 1963/1964 | Bologna FC | Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
31 | 21 |
| 1964/1965 | Bologna FC | Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
31 | 13 |
| 1965/1966 | Bologna FC | Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
29 | 12 |
| 1966/1967 | Bologna FC | Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
21 | 8 |
| 1967/1968 | Internazionale FC | Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
8 | 2 |
| 1968/1969 | SSC Napoli | Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
10 | 2 |
| 1969/1970 | Sampdoria | Serie A Serie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
4 | 0 |
International career
Harald Nielsen made his debut for the Danish national team on September 13, 1959 against NorwayNorway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, as the youngest Danish national team player ever. Only 17 years old, he scored a single goal in the 4-2 win.
In the summer of 1960, he represented Denmark at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
football tournament in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Denmark finished runners-up and Nielsen was the leading goals scorer of the tournament.
His international potential as a striker became obvious already on May 10, 1960, when he scored two goals in a Copenhagen XI
Stævnet
Stævnet or Copenhagen XI were a Danish association football representative team which had its prime before 1970, however it was active until 1994. Stævnet participated in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the precursor of today's UEFA Cup, in 1955-58, 1958-60, 1961-62, 1962-63 and 1963-64.The Copenhagen...
game against the 1958 Brazilian world champions team
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
, which two years earlier had another largely unknown 17-year-old Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
making his debut on the world stage. The two would meet again playing for their respective club teams later in their careers, but in a strange twist of fates while Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
was essentially banned from playing outside of Brazilian team(s), Nielsen would be banned from playing on the Danish national team. As the Danish Football Association
Danish Football Association
The Danish Football Association is the governing body of football in Denmark. It is the organization of the Danish football clubs and runs the professional Danish football leagues and the men's and women's national teams. It is based in the city of Brøndby and is a founding member of both FIFA...
did not allow professionals to represent the Danish national team until 1971, Nielsen was banned from the national team at 19 years old when he joined Bologna, and would not play another national team match. This was a great frustration to Harald Nielsen, which he repeadedly voiced in interviews with Danish media.
Non-playing career
Harald Nielsen is a prolific entrepreneur who has started numerous companies. Just after ending his career he started a firm together with his wife, former actress Rudi Nielsen, which imports Italian leatherLeather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
works to Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. He became involved in professionalising football in Denmark
Football in Denmark
Association football is the national sport of Denmark, with 342,955 players and 1,647 clubs registered under the Danish FA.- League system :The top 4 levels in Denmark are governed by the Danish Football Association...
in the 1970s, and in 1977 he and later Danish Minister of Science Helge Sander
Helge Sander
Helge Mølsted Sander is a Danish politician. He is the former Danish Minister of Science, Technology and Development...
planned to found a professional Danish football league. As a consequence of these plans, Danish Football Association finally allowed professional football in Denmark from 1978. Harald Nielsen along with Alex Friedman founded - and became the first chairman of FC København A/S later Parken Sport & Entertainment
Parken Sport & Entertainment
Parken Sport & Entertainment A/S is a Danish company listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange. PS&E is a leading arranger of sport and entertainment events in Denmark and the Øresunds region. The group's primary activities are football club F.C...
whose primary activity was the Danish club FC København from 1992–1997, he stepped down from the board in 2007 and became the clubs first honorary member. To this day he watches all the home matches of FC København from Parken's A-stand. He is chairman and co-owner/founder of the largest summer house
Summer house
A summer house or summerhouse has traditionally referred to a building or shelter used for relaxation in warm weather. This would often take the form of a small, roofed building on the grounds of a larger one, but could also be built in a garden or park, often designed to provide cool shady places...
building company in Denmark. He was president of the Rebild National Park
Rebild National Park
Rebild National Park is a protected site located in Rebild municipality in Region Nordjylland in Denmark. It is situated in the geographic region of the Jutland peninsula known as Himmerland. The Rebild Festival is held in the national park every 4th of July.- History :The founder was Dr...
Society from 1997-2007. He led the Gunnar Nu Foundation for 18 years until 2009 and presided the distribution of over DKK 9 million to Danish sports in those years. He has written 6 books during his football career, which became known as the "Harald-Books" during the 1960s.
Honours
- 1960 Olympics in RomeFootball at the 1960 Summer OlympicsThe football tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics was held from 26 August to 10 September in 1960 throughout Italy.-Venues:-Medalists:-Group A:---------------------Group B:---------------------Group C:--------...
(Silver) - Topscorer in the Tournament 6 goals (Denmark) - 1961-1962 Mitropa CupMitropa CupThe Mitropa Cup, officially called the La Coupe de l'Europe Centrale was one of the first really international major European football cups for club sides...
Gold - Coupe Centrale D'Europe and Topscorer in the Tournament (Bologna F.C.) - 1962-1963 Mitropa CupMitropa CupThe Mitropa Cup, officially called the La Coupe de l'Europe Centrale was one of the first really international major European football cups for club sides...
Silver - Coupe Centrale D'Europe and Topscorer in the Tournament (Bologna F.C.) - 1963 Serie A - CapocannoniereCapocannoniereThe Capocannoniere is the name given to the highest goalscorer in Italian football. The Serie A title is currently held by Antonio Di Natale.-SERIE A:...
Topscorer in the tournament 21 goals (Bologna F.C.) - 1964 Serie A - Italian Championship and CapocannoniereCapocannoniereThe Capocannoniere is the name given to the highest goalscorer in Italian football. The Serie A title is currently held by Antonio Di Natale.-SERIE A:...
Topscorer in the tournament 19 goals (Bologna F.C.)
Individual
- Årets Fund :da:Årets fund (Oldest Danish Sports Prize), 1959
- First Danish Player of the YearDanish Player of the YearThe Danish Player of the Year award is an annual prize, which has been given to the best Danish football player by the Danish Football Player Association since 1963. The winner is decided in a vote amongst the professional Danish footballers....
, 1961 - Cavaliere/Knight Order of Merit of the Italian RepublicOrder of Merit of the Italian RepublicThe Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi in 1951...
, 1992 - Honorary President Rebild National ParkRebild National ParkRebild National Park is a protected site located in Rebild municipality in Region Nordjylland in Denmark. It is situated in the geographic region of the Jutland peninsula known as Himmerland. The Rebild Festival is held in the national park every 4th of July.- History :The founder was Dr...
Society, 2007 - First Honorary Member of F.C. CopenhagenF.C. CopenhagenF.C. Copenhagen is a professional Danish football club in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is part of the Parken Sport & Entertainment....
, 2007 - Admitted to the Danish Football Hall of Fame, 2010
Top scorers (capocannonieri) by season
1962–63Serie A 1962-63
-Final classification:-Results:-References and sources:*Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005-External links:...
1963–64
Literature
- {Danish} Joakim Jakobsen, "Guld-Harald: Topscorer, Idol, Rebel", Denmark, 2009
- {Italian} AA.VV. L’enciclopedia dei cento anni: 1909-2009 Bologna football club il secolo rossoblu, Bologna, Minerva Edizioni, 2009
- {Danish} John Lindskog, "Kaerlighed A/S - Historien om Guld-Harald og Rudi": Denmark, 2007
- {Italian} Fabrizio Calzia - Francesco Caremani, "Angeli e Diavoli RossoBlu", Italy, 2003