Martin S. Jensen
Encyclopedia
Martin Sejr Jensen known as Martin S. Jensen, is a Danish
former professional football
goalkeeper, who played 134 games in the top-flight Danish Superliga
championship from 2001 to 2007, representing Esbjerg fB
, Odense BK
, Randers FC
, and AaB Aalborg. He won the Danish Cup
with Randers and the Danish Superliga with AaB.
, before moving to nearby top-flight Superliga club Odense BK
(OB) in 1996, where he served as an understudy to Danish international
keeper Lars Høgh
. He moved on to lower-league club Randers Freja, and played almost 100 games for Freja from 1998 to 2000, helping the team win promotion
for the second-tier Danish 1st Division
.
Jensen joined rival Danish 1st Division team Esbjerg fB
in the Winter 2000, and eventually surpassed Benny Gall
as the starting goalkeeper. Jensen helped Esbjerg win promotion to the Danish Superliga, and played all 33 games as Esbjerg finished 7th in the 2001–02 Danish Superliga season. In the Winter 2002, Esbjerg brought in new keeper Lars Winde
. When Jensen made his dissatisfaction known, he was handed a free transfer
, and rejoined with OB in January 2003, signing a two-year contract.
At OB, Jensen initially served as the understudy once more, this time to Det Gyldne Bur
-winning goalkeeper Karim Zaza
. When Zaza was sold in the Summer 2003, Jensen was handed a place in the starting line-up which he kept for 18 games. In the Winter 2003, OB bought a new Det Gyldne Bur-winning keeper in Arek Onyszko, and Jensen was demoted to the bench. In July 2004, Jensen announced his desire to let his OB contract expire at the end of the year 2004, as he had already agreed to join newly promoted team Randers FC
, a club merger based on his former team Randers Freja. In August 2004, OB and Randers agreed on a transfer move, allowing Jensen to immediately join Randers.
At Randers, Jensen quickly established himself as the starting goalkeeper ahead of Christian Kemph. The season did not end well for Jensen, as Randers were relegated
to the Danish 1st Division. As a 1st Division team, Randers and Jensen managed to win the 2005–06 Danish Cup, beating Superliga club Esbjerg fB 1-0 in extra time
in the final. That same season, Randers won promotion for the Superliga, and Jensen signed a two-year contract extension in June 2006. In the following 2006–07 Danish Superliga season, Jensen missed only a single game (through suspension), as Randers finished eighth. When Randers bought Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard
as their new starting goalkeeper in the 2007 summer transfer window, Jensen was not allowed to train with the first team, but was instead demoted to the youth team. Following a public dispute with Randers due to what Jensen contested as unfair treatment, he was released from all contractual obligations with the club on July 16, 2007.
Jensen soon after chose to join AaB Aalborg, signing a half-year contract with the club. He was brought in as a backup keeper, as AaB's newly bought first choice Karim Zaza was still recovering from a shoulder operation. Jensen was AaB's starting goalkeeper in the first seven games of the 2007–08 Danish Superliga season, including a 0-5 defeat to his former team Randers FC, and he also helped AaB beat KAA Gent to advance to the 2007–08 UEFA Cup. When Zaza returned to fitness in September 2007, Jensen found himself as the second choice keeper for the Superliga games, but saw playing time in the Danish Cup tournament instead. In his six months at AaB, Jensen played 12 matches in all competitions for the club, in a season that would ultimately lead to AaB winning the Danish Superliga title in May 2008. By then, Jensen had already moved on.
In January 2008, he joined Skive IK
in the Danish 1st Division as goalkeeper and assistant manager
on a two-year contract. He had already agreed an extended contract with AaB, but AaB chose not to stop his dreams of gaining manager experience. Jensen stated that "I helped them out in a situation, as they help me in this situation". As his contract with Skive expired in the winter 2009, Jensen was offered an extension, but he decided to end his career both as a player and manager.
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 professional football
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...
goalkeeper, who played 134 games in the top-flight 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...
championship from 2001 to 2007, representing Esbjerg fB
Esbjerg fB
Esbjerg forenede Boldklubber also referred to as Esbjerg fB or simply EfB is a professional Danish football club from the port city of Esbjerg in West Jutland. The club was formed in 1924, as a merger between Esbjerg Boldklub af 1898 and Esbjerg Amatørklub af 1911. The club has training facilities...
, Odense BK
Odense BK
Odense Boldklub is a Danish professional football club based in the town of Odense. The club has won three Danish championships and five Danish Cup trophies. OB play in the Danish Superliga and their home field is TRE-FOR Park in Odense on Funen...
, Randers FC
Randers FC
Randers FC is a Danish professional football team based in Randers, which plays in the top-flight Danish Superliga championship. Founded as a merger on January 1, 2003, the club builds upon the license of Randers Freja, a former three-time Danish Cup winning team...
, and AaB Aalborg. He won the Danish Cup
Danish Cup
The Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
with Randers and the Danish Superliga with AaB.
Biography
Martin S. Jensen began his career with local amateur club Korup near OdenseOdense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
, before moving to nearby top-flight Superliga club Odense BK
Odense BK
Odense Boldklub is a Danish professional football club based in the town of Odense. The club has won three Danish championships and five Danish Cup trophies. OB play in the Danish Superliga and their home field is TRE-FOR Park in Odense on Funen...
(OB) in 1996, where he served as an understudy to Danish international
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...
keeper Lars Høgh
Lars Høgh
Poul Lars Høgh Pedersen is a Danish former football player, who played his entire career as a goalkeeper for Odense BK. He won three Danish football championships and three Danish Cup trophies with OB, and won the Danish Best Goalkeeper of the Year award five times...
. He moved on to lower-league club Randers Freja, and played almost 100 games for Freja from 1998 to 2000, helping the team win 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...
for the second-tier Danish 1st Division
Danish 1st Division
The 1st Division has been the name of the second highest football league in Denmark since 1991. From 1945 to 1991 the 1st Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark...
.
Jensen joined rival Danish 1st Division team Esbjerg fB
Esbjerg fB
Esbjerg forenede Boldklubber also referred to as Esbjerg fB or simply EfB is a professional Danish football club from the port city of Esbjerg in West Jutland. The club was formed in 1924, as a merger between Esbjerg Boldklub af 1898 and Esbjerg Amatørklub af 1911. The club has training facilities...
in the Winter 2000, and eventually surpassed Benny Gall
Benny Gall
Benny Gall is a Danish former football goalkeeper. He is currently manager at Elite 3000 Helsingør. He har previously been the manager of B93's 2nd Division East team. Before his job at B93, he was the manager of F.C...
as the starting goalkeeper. Jensen helped Esbjerg win promotion to the Danish Superliga, and played all 33 games as Esbjerg finished 7th in the 2001–02 Danish Superliga season. In the Winter 2002, Esbjerg brought in new keeper Lars Winde
Lars Winde
Lars Winde is a Danish professional football goalkeeper, who currently plays for the Danish Superliga side Esbjerg fB. He has also played for Superliga team Aalborg BK , as well as Austrian Bundesliga club SW Bregenz...
. When Jensen made his dissatisfaction known, he was handed a free transfer
Free transfer
In professional association football, a free transfer, also known as a Bosman transfer, involves a professional association football club releasing a player once the player's contract has expired or made available just before the end of the contract....
, and rejoined with OB in January 2003, signing a two-year contract.
At OB, Jensen initially served as the understudy once more, this time to Det Gyldne Bur
Det Gyldne Bur
Det Gyldne Bur is an award given to the best goalkeeper in Danish football each year. The winner is found by votes among the goalkeepers in the two top divisions of Danish football; the Danish Superliga and Danish 1st Division. The award has been handed out by Danish sports paper TIPS-Bladet since...
-winning goalkeeper Karim Zaza
Karim Zaza
Karim Zaza is a Danish-Moroccan professional footballer, who currently plays for the Danish 1st Division side FC Hjørring. Born in Denmark to Moroccan parents, he established himself as one of the top goalkeepers of Danish football with three consecutive Danish Goalkeeper of the Year awards from...
. When Zaza was sold in the Summer 2003, Jensen was handed a place in the starting line-up which he kept for 18 games. In the Winter 2003, OB bought a new Det Gyldne Bur-winning keeper in Arek Onyszko, and Jensen was demoted to the bench. In July 2004, Jensen announced his desire to let his OB contract expire at the end of the year 2004, as he had already agreed to join newly promoted team Randers FC
Randers FC
Randers FC is a Danish professional football team based in Randers, which plays in the top-flight Danish Superliga championship. Founded as a merger on January 1, 2003, the club builds upon the license of Randers Freja, a former three-time Danish Cup winning team...
, a club merger based on his former team Randers Freja. In August 2004, OB and Randers agreed on a transfer move, allowing Jensen to immediately join Randers.
At Randers, Jensen quickly established himself as the starting goalkeeper ahead of Christian Kemph. The season did not end well for Jensen, as Randers were relegated
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 1st Division. As a 1st Division team, Randers and Jensen managed to win the 2005–06 Danish Cup, beating Superliga club Esbjerg fB 1-0 in extra time
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
in the final. That same season, Randers won promotion for the Superliga, and Jensen signed a two-year contract extension in June 2006. In the following 2006–07 Danish Superliga season, Jensen missed only a single game (through suspension), as Randers finished eighth. When Randers bought Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard
Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard
Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard is a Danish professional football goalkeeper who is currently a Free Agent. He has played for Manchester City and Blackpool in England, as well as German club Hertha BSC...
as their new starting goalkeeper in the 2007 summer transfer window, Jensen was not allowed to train with the first team, but was instead demoted to the youth team. Following a public dispute with Randers due to what Jensen contested as unfair treatment, he was released from all contractual obligations with the club on July 16, 2007.
Jensen soon after chose to join AaB Aalborg, signing a half-year contract with the club. He was brought in as a backup keeper, as AaB's newly bought first choice Karim Zaza was still recovering from a shoulder operation. Jensen was AaB's starting goalkeeper in the first seven games of the 2007–08 Danish Superliga season, including a 0-5 defeat to his former team Randers FC, and he also helped AaB beat KAA Gent to advance to the 2007–08 UEFA Cup. When Zaza returned to fitness in September 2007, Jensen found himself as the second choice keeper for the Superliga games, but saw playing time in the Danish Cup tournament instead. In his six months at AaB, Jensen played 12 matches in all competitions for the club, in a season that would ultimately lead to AaB winning the Danish Superliga title in May 2008. By then, Jensen had already moved on.
In January 2008, he joined Skive IK
Skive IK
Skive IK is a Danish football club currently playing in the Danish 1st Division. They play at Skive Stadion in Skive in Jutland, which has a capacity of 10,000.- Current squad :- External links :...
in the Danish 1st Division as goalkeeper and assistant manager
Assistant Manager
An assistant manager is an employee of an organization with manager's authority. Examples of this position can be found in retail and other service businesses where the need to have more than one member of daily operations management is important....
on a two-year contract. He had already agreed an extended contract with AaB, but AaB chose not to stop his dreams of gaining manager experience. Jensen stated that "I helped them out in a situation, as they help me in this situation". As his contract with Skive expired in the winter 2009, Jensen was offered an extension, but he decided to end his career both as a player and manager.