Preben Elkjær Larsen
Encyclopedia
Preben Elkjær Larsen known as Elkjær, is a retired Danish
professional footballer who played as a striker.
Amongst others, he played with Hellas Verona
in Italy
, helping it to the only major title of its history, the 1985 Serie A
. Additionally, Elkjær scored nearly 40 goals for the Danish national team
in 11 years, being a leading figure for the country at both Euro 1984 and the 1986 World Cup
(a first-ever appearance), winning the Bronze Ball award at the latter competition.
In 1984, Elkjær finished third (coming in second the following year) in the European Footballer of the Year awards.
, Elkjær's career started with Vanløse IF
in 1976, where he stayed for just one season, playing 15 games and scoring seven goals. He then joined 1. FC Köln
in Germany
, at the time one of Europe
's leading clubs. With the team, he won the 1978 domestic cup
(his entire campaign consisted of nine minutes in the final, against Hertha BSC), but never got on with the manager or the harsh, disciplined atmosphere of a German dressing room, and eventually left; one falling out with the legendary coach Hennes Weisweiler
earned a legendary status in Denmark: Weisweiler approached Elkjær and said that he had been informed that the player had spent the night at a nightclub in the company of a bottle of whiskey and a lady, and wanted to know if that was true. Elkjær replied that it was a lie, in fact it was a bottle of vodka and TWO ladies.
In February 1978, Elkjær moved to K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen in Belgium
where he stayed for five years, the longest spell at any club during his entire career. There, he earned two nicknames: Chefen fra Lokeren (Lit: The Boss from Lokeren) and Den Gale Mand fra Lokeren (Lit: The Crazy Man from Lokeren), surpassing the 100-goal mark in official matches (98 in the Belgian First Division alone).
in Italy
in the summer of 1984 and, in his first season with the team, he played an instrumental role as it won the Serie A
title, the scudetto, for the first time in its history; he aided to that conquest with a solo left-flank run against Juventus FC
(a 2–0 home win), where he lost his right boot, kept on running with the ball and ended up shooting home with his bootless right foot.
In 1984, Elkjær finished third and in 1985 second in the European Footballer of the Year awards, both times surpassed by Michel Platini
, who played for Juventus. During his four-year spell at Verona, he never scored in double digits, but never netted fewer than seven goals, for a total of 48 official ones.
.
Elkjær made his debut for the under-21s
in June 1976, scoring nine times in as many games; this included three goals in the quarter-finals of the 1978 European Under-21 Championship against Bulgaria
, though Denmark were eliminated on the away goals rule
.
On 22 June 1977, aged 19 years and 284 days, Elkjær made his debut for the senior national team
, scoring both goals in a 2–1 win against Finland
. He played a prominent role in UEFA Euro 1984, scoring two goals in four games, which helped pave the way for his move to Italian football. During the tournament, Denmark played attractive attacking football, but went out at the semi-final stage, losing to Spain
on penalties. Elkjær missed Denmark's last penalty kick
attempt, sending the ball high over the goal.
Elkjær also represented Denmark at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
as Denmark had qualified for that competition
for the first time, eventually progressing from the group stage as winners, only to be once again knocked out by Spain. During the tournament, he scored four goals, including a hat-trick
against Uruguay
, being named the most dynamic and powerful striker of the tournament, and winning the Bronze Ball award as the third best player.
Euro 1988 was Elkjær's last tournament participation. On 14 June 1988, he played the last game for his country, aged 30 years and 277 days, as Denmark lost 0–2 to West Germany
, finishing with three group stage defeats; In total, he played 69 international games, and scored 38 goals.
, his playing style was however not short of breath, being dominated by a rock-like determination. He never seemed to give up on a lost ball – from time to time resulting in a goal.
His style was an unorthodox combination of physical confrontations and great dribbling
abilities. Described as "powerful and dynamic", Elkjær could hardly be stopped when going on his own, one of his trademarks. His aggression was matched by few, and whenever he would receive the ball with his back to the goal he would immediately turn with the ball and attempt to head for goal.
Elkjær's aggressive style of play was well combined with the calmness and vision of the younger Michael Laudrup
when they played side by side on the national team, and they were named the "most effective" attacking duo of the 1986 World Cup.
in the Danish Superliga
in 1995.
In December 1996, he left the club to head TV sports channel TVS, a newly formed corporation between national TV stations DR
and TV2
, the Danish Football Association
and telecompany Tele Danmark
. The station was not a success, and was closed within a year of its opening.
Additionally, he worked as a UEFA Champions League
pundit at Danish TV3+
, alongside Brian Laudrup
and host Peter Schmeichel
.
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...
professional footballer who played as a striker.
Amongst others, he played with Hellas Verona
Hellas Verona F.C.
Hellas Verona Football Club is a professional Italian association football team, based in Verona, Veneto. The team's colours are yellow and blue and gialloblu is the team's most widely used nickname...
in Italy
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...
, helping it to the only major title of its history, the 1985 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...
. Additionally, Elkjær scored nearly 40 goals 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...
in 11 years, being a leading figure for the country at both Euro 1984 and the 1986 World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
(a first-ever appearance), winning the Bronze Ball award at the latter competition.
In 1984, Elkjær finished third (coming in second the following year) in the European Footballer of the Year awards.
Germany / Belgium
Born in CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Elkjær's career started with Vanløse IF
Vanløse IF
Vanløse IF is a Danish football club currently playing in the Danish 2nd Division East.- Squad :As of December 1, 2009 -Achievements:*2 seasons in the Highest Danish League...
in 1976, where he stayed for just one season, playing 15 games and scoring seven goals. He then joined 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, at the time one of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's leading clubs. With the team, he won the 1978 domestic cup
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
(his entire campaign consisted of nine minutes in the final, against Hertha BSC), but never got on with the manager or the harsh, disciplined atmosphere of a German dressing room, and eventually left; one falling out with the legendary coach Hennes Weisweiler
Hennes Weisweiler
Hans "Hennes" Weisweiler was a German football player and coach....
earned a legendary status in Denmark: Weisweiler approached Elkjær and said that he had been informed that the player had spent the night at a nightclub in the company of a bottle of whiskey and a lady, and wanted to know if that was true. Elkjær replied that it was a lie, in fact it was a bottle of vodka and TWO ladies.
In February 1978, Elkjær moved to K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
where he stayed for five years, the longest spell at any club during his entire career. There, he earned two nicknames: Chefen fra Lokeren (Lit: The Boss from Lokeren) and Den Gale Mand fra Lokeren (Lit: The Crazy Man from Lokeren), surpassing the 100-goal mark in official matches (98 in the Belgian First Division alone).
Verona
27-year old Elkjær signed for Hellas Verona F.C.Hellas Verona F.C.
Hellas Verona Football Club is a professional Italian association football team, based in Verona, Veneto. The team's colours are yellow and blue and gialloblu is the team's most widely used nickname...
in Italy
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...
in the summer of 1984 and, in his first season with the team, he played an instrumental role as it won the 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...
title, the scudetto, for the first time in its history; he aided to that conquest with a solo left-flank run against Juventus FC
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
(a 2–0 home win), where he lost his right boot, kept on running with the ball and ended up shooting home with his bootless right foot.
In 1984, Elkjær finished third and in 1985 second in the European Footballer of the Year awards, both times surpassed by Michel Platini
Michel Platini
Michel François Platini is a former French football player, manager and current president of UEFA. Platini was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He participated in the 1978, 1982...
, who played for Juventus. During his four-year spell at Verona, he never scored in double digits, but never netted fewer than seven goals, for a total of 48 official ones.
Return to Denmark / Retirement
In 1988, Elkjær made a comeback in Danish football with Vejle BK. He came to the club as the biggest star in the country, and attracted great crowds to the club's matches. Aged already 31, he suffered a number of injuries while at Vejle, and had a hard time living up to the high expectations of the crowds and never really achieved great success there, eventually retiring two years later, having only appeared a total of 26 matches combined.International career
While playing youth football for Frederiksberg Boldklub, Elkjær made his debut for the Danish under-19 national team, in October 1975. He played a total 11 games and scored six goals for the under-19 national team, including three in three games at the 1975 UEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
.
Elkjær made his debut for the under-21s
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...
in June 1976, scoring nine times in as many games; this included three goals in the quarter-finals of the 1978 European Under-21 Championship against Bulgaria
Bulgaria national under-21 football team
The Bulgaria national under-21 football team represents the under-21 football team of Bulgaria and is controlled by the Bulgarian Football Union. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years....
, though Denmark were eliminated on the away goals rule
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
.
On 22 June 1977, aged 19 years and 284 days, Elkjær made his debut for the senior 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...
, scoring both goals in a 2–1 win against Finland
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
. He played a prominent role in UEFA Euro 1984, scoring two goals in four games, which helped pave the way for his move to Italian football. During the tournament, Denmark played attractive attacking football, but went out at the semi-final stage, losing to Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
on penalties. Elkjær missed Denmark's last penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
attempt, sending the ball high over the goal.
Elkjær also represented Denmark at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
as Denmark had qualified for that competition
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
for the first time, eventually progressing from the group stage as winners, only to be once again knocked out by Spain. During the tournament, he scored four goals, including a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
against Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
, being named the most dynamic and powerful striker of the tournament, and winning the Bronze Ball award as the third best player.
Euro 1988 was Elkjær's last tournament participation. On 14 June 1988, he played the last game for his country, aged 30 years and 277 days, as Denmark lost 0–2 to West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
, finishing with three group stage defeats; In total, he played 69 international games, and scored 38 goals.
Playing style
Elkjær is regarded as one of Denmark's all-time greatest forwards. A notorious smokerTobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is the practice where tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke is inhaled. The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes...
, his playing style was however not short of breath, being dominated by a rock-like determination. He never seemed to give up on a lost ball – from time to time resulting in a goal.
His style was an unorthodox combination of physical confrontations and great dribbling
Dribbling
In sports, dribbling refers to the maneuvering of a ball around a defender through short skillful taps or kicks with either the legs , hands , stick or swimming strokes...
abilities. Described as "powerful and dynamic", Elkjær could hardly be stopped when going on his own, one of his trademarks. His aggression was matched by few, and whenever he would receive the ball with his back to the goal he would immediately turn with the ball and attempt to head for goal.
Elkjær's aggressive style of play was well combined with the calmness and vision of the younger Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup is a retired Danish footballer, who works as a manager and last coached La Liga side RCD Mallorca. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football. His most prominent run of football came with Spanish club Barcelona, with whom he won four straight La...
when they played side by side on the national team, and they were named the "most effective" attacking duo of the 1986 World Cup.
Retirement
After his retirement from playing, Elkjær took on the job as head coach of Silkeborg IFSilkeborg 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...
in 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...
in 1995.
In December 1996, he left the club to head TV sports channel TVS, a newly formed corporation between national TV stations DR
Danmarks Radio
DR – officially rendered into English as the Danish Broadcasting Corporation – is Denmark's national broadcasting corporation. Founded in 1925 as a public-service organization, it is today Denmark's oldest and largest electronic media enterprise...
and TV2
TV 2 (Denmark)
TV 2 is a publicly owned television station in Denmark based in Odense. The station began broadcasting on 1 October 1988, thereby ending the television monopoly previously exercised by the Danmarks Radio ....
, 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...
and telecompany Tele Danmark
TDC A/S
TDC A/S is the former telecom monopoly in Denmark. It is now privatized. Thus, it is the biggest company in all aspects of telecommunications in Denmark with landline, mobile, Internet, VHF maritime borderline-radio etc.By the end of 2004, the TDC Group had more than 13.4 mil. customers in Europe:...
. The station was not a success, and was closed within a year of its opening.
Additionally, he worked as a 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...
pundit at Danish TV3+
Viasat
Viasat is a DBS distributor and TV broadcaster, owned by the Swedish media conglomerate Modern Times Group. Broadcasting from London, the target markets are in the Nordic and the Baltic Countries...
, alongside Brian Laudrup
Brian Laudrup
Brian Laudrup is a Danish former football player and current football commentator, pundit and analyst on TV3+. Along with former international goalkeeper Lars Høgh, Laudrup manages a football academy for marginalized youth...
and host Peter Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel MBE is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and was voted the "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1992 and 1993...
.
Team
- German LeagueFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
: 1977–78 - German CupDFB-PokalThe DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
: 1976–77, 1977–78 - Italian LeagueSerie ASerie 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...
: 1984–85