Jakob Kjeldbjerg
Encyclopedia
Jakob Kjeldbjerg Jensen (born 21 October 1969) is a Danish
former footballer who played as a central defender
. Kjeldbjerg won 14 caps and scored one goal for the Danish national team
, and represented Denmark at the 1992 Summer Olympics
.
and Viborg FF
, before moving to Danish top-flight team Silkeborg IF
. He was selected team captain for the Danish under-21 national team
which competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
, and won the 1992 Danish under-21 Player of the Year award. He made his national team debut in November 1992, and scored his only national team goal in a 2–2 draw with the United States
in January 1993. He played in the 1993 Artemio Franchi Trophy
game against Argentina
, where he was praised for his effective marking of Argentinian playmaker Maradona.
In August 1993, he moved abroad in England
. He was bought by Chelsea
in the FA Premier League
, in a transfer deal worth £485,000. Eighty years after Nils Middelboe
made his Chelsea debut in 1913, Kjeldbjerg became the second Dane to play for the club. He stayed with Chelsea for four years, and featured in the side which lost to Manchester United
in the 1994 FA Cup final
. In a game against Millwall
in February 1995, Kjeldbjerg dislocated his shoulder, the first incident in a long list of injuries. He injured a ligament
in his left knee, and was unable to fully recover. He ended his professional football career in 1997, when only in his 28th year.
In May 1998, he began hosting football matches from the Danish Superliga
and UEFA Champions League
, for the Danish television channel TV3
. In 2002, he became the host in TV3's Danish version of the Survivor
-concept reality show: Robinson Ekspeditionen
. In August 2007, he became the new host for Onside, a popular football TV magazine.
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 footballer who played as a central defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. Kjeldbjerg won 14 caps and scored one goal for the Danish national 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...
, and represented Denmark at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
.
Biography
Kjeldberg started playing football lower-league clubs Holstebro BKHolstebro BK
Holstebro BK is a Danish football club currently playing in the Denmark Series. They play at Holstebro Idrætspark in Holstebro, West Jutland, which has a capacity of 15,000.-External links:...
and Viborg FF
Viborg FF
Viborg FF is a Danish professional football club located in Viborg. The full name of the club is Viborg Fodsports Forening , but the name is frequently abbreviated as Viborg FF or VFF. The club was founded in 1896, but would have to wait more than a century before winning its only countrywide...
, before moving to Danish top-flight team Silkeborg IF
Silkeborg IF
Silkeborg IF is a Danish professional football club based in the city of Silkeborg, in the middle of Jutland. Silkeborg IF plays in the Danish Superliga. The club was founded in 1917 and they first reach the highest level of football in Denmark in 1987, at that time called 1st division today known...
. He was selected team captain for the Danish under-21 national team
Denmark national under-21 football team
The Denmark national under-21 football team has played since 1976 and is controlled by the Danish Football Association. Before 1976, the age limit was 23 years.-U-21 European Championship:*1978 – Quarterfinals*1980 to 1984 – Did not qualify...
which competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, and won the 1992 Danish under-21 Player of the Year award. He made his national team debut in November 1992, and scored his only national team goal in a 2–2 draw with the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in January 1993. He played in the 1993 Artemio Franchi Trophy
Artemio Franchi Trophy
The Artemio Franchi Trophy was a competition held twice between the champions of the European Football Championship and the Copa América...
game against Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
, where he was praised for his effective marking of Argentinian playmaker Maradona.
In August 1993, he moved abroad in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was bought by Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
, in a transfer deal worth £485,000. Eighty years after Nils Middelboe
Nils Middelboe
Nils Middelboe was a Danish athlete and football player as well as a football referee, who most prominently represented the Denmark national football team at the 1908, 1912 and 1920 Summer Olympics, winning silver medals in 1908 and 1912...
made his Chelsea debut in 1913, Kjeldbjerg became the second Dane to play for the club. He stayed with Chelsea for four years, and featured in the side which lost to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in the 1994 FA Cup final
FA Cup Final 1994
The 1994 FA Cup Final was the 49th FA Cup final to be held since the Second World War and was contested between Manchester United and Chelsea. United went into the final as Premier League champions, having won the title by eight points over Blackburn Rovers. They were bidding to become only the...
. In a game against Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in February 1995, Kjeldbjerg dislocated his shoulder, the first incident in a long list of injuries. He injured a ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
in his left knee, and was unable to fully recover. He ended his professional football career in 1997, when only in his 28th year.
In May 1998, he began hosting football matches from the Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
and UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, for the Danish television channel TV3
TV3 (Viasat)
TV3 is the brand name used by Viasat's flagship channels in Scandinavia, the Baltic States, and Slovenia. Viasat is part of the Swedish media company Modern Times Group...
. In 2002, he became the host in TV3's Danish version of the Survivor
Survivor (TV series)
Survivor is a reality television game show format produced in many countries throughout the world. In the show, contestants are isolated in the wilderness and compete for cash and other prizes. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other tribe...
-concept reality show: Robinson Ekspeditionen
Robinson Ekspeditionen
Robinson Ekspeditionen is a popular Danish reality television program debuting in 1998. In the spring of 1998 TV3 purchased the broadcast rights to air their own version of Expedition Robinson. Following the success of the Swedish version, Denmark was the first country to adopt their own version of...
. In August 2007, he became the new host for Onside, a popular football TV magazine.