43 Facts About Morten Olsen

Morten Olsen was the head coach of the Denmark national team for 15 years from 2000 until 2015, guiding Denmark to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2004 European Championship, 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2012 European Championship.

Morten Olsen is one of only two persons ever in football, alongside Didier Deschamps, to achieve 100 national matches for his country both as player as well as coach.

Morten Olsen played professionally in Belgium and Germany, and won the 1983 UEFA Cup and three Belgian First Division championships with Anderlecht.

Morten Olsen played a total 102 matches and scored four goals for the Danish national team from 1970 to 1989, and was named 1983 and 1986 Danish Player of the Year.

Morten Olsen captained the Danish national team in 50 games during the 1980s, and represented Denmark at the 1984 European Championship, 1986 FIFA World Cup, and 1988 European Championship.

Towards the end of his active career, Morten Olsen was characterized as the most important player in the history of Danish football.

Morten Olsen started his career playing as a right winger.

At B 1901, Morten Olsen was moved from right winger to central midfielder, in order to accommodate another right winger in the squad.

Morten Olsen played three seasons at B 1901, before he moved abroad to play professionally with Belgian club Cercle Brugge in 1972, who had been promoted to the top-flight Belgian First Division championship one year earlier.

At Brugge, Morten Olsen played alongside fellow Danish international Benny Nielsen, who had recommended Morten Olsen to Brugge manager Urbain Braems.

Morten Olsen joined Danish internationals Benny Nielsen and Kresten Bjerre at Molenbeek.

In 1980, Morten Olsen moved to 16-time Belgian champions Anderlecht, to play alongside Danish internationals Benny Nielsen and Kenneth Brylle.

Morten Olsen played six years at Anderlecht, winning three Belgian championships with the club, and he was eventually named Anderlecht team captain.

Morten Olsen was named 1983 Danish Player of the Year.

Morten Olsen scored a goal in the first leg, but missed his shot in the deciding penalty shoot-out which Tottenham won.

Aged 36 years old, Morten Olsen left Anderlecht following the 1986 World Cup.

Morten Olsen played 80 games and scored two goals for Koln in the Bundesliga, before retiring from his active career in June 1989,39 years of age.

Three weeks later, he was called up for the senior Danish national team under the Austria national team manager Rudi Strittich, and Morten Olsen made his national team debut in September 1970 against Norway.

Morten Olsen played his first national team game as a right winger, but eventually settled as a defensive midfielder.

Morten Olsen helped Denmark qualify for the 1972 Summer Olympics, but could not participate at the tournament, as he had signed a professional contract with Cercle Brugge beforehand.

Morten Olsen captained the Danish team that qualified for the 1984 European Championship; Denmark's first international tournament participation since the 1972 Olympics.

Morten Olsen captained Denmark at the 1986 World Cup, Denmark's first World Cup participation, which ended in a second round defeat to Spain.

Morten Olsen was identified as one of the overall top performers at the World Cup, and he was named 1986 Danish Player of the Year.

Morten Olsen captained Denmark at the 1988 European Championship, which ended in the preliminary group stage.

Morten Olsen ended his international career following the 1988 European Championship, having played 99 national team games, but was called up again 10 months later.

Morten Olsen became the first Dane to play 100 games for the national team in April 1989, before ending his national team career in June 1989.

Morten Olsen played a record 102 games and scored four goals for the national team, and set a record of 50 games as Danish national team captain.

Morten Olsen played a wide variety of positions, including right winger, central midfielder, and libero.

Morten Olsen eventually found his place as a central midfielder.

Morten Olsen gradually took on a strong leadership role, a trait he worked hard to develop.

At the age of 32, Morten Olsen was moved back to the libero position, which transformed him from an established player to an international star-player.

Morten Olsen employed a wide variety of skills for a defensive player, including attacking surges and technical dribbling, taking advantage of his acceleration and vision of the game.

Morten Olsen provided long passes from his deep position, while his forward surges helped create numerical advantages in the midfield.

Morten Olsen was a consummate professional, known as a gentleman of the game.

Morten Olsen would have to wait for almost two years until Ajax in the Netherlands hired him on a contract starting from July 1997.

Morten Olsen attracted Danish national team captain Michael Laudrup to the club, and together they won the Double of the Eredivisie championship and Dutch Cup trophy, as well as reaching the quarter-finals in the UEFA Cup.

Morten Olsen failed to qualify Denmark for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but prolonged his contract with DBU in November 2005.

In March 2008, Morten Olsen stated that he would like to see Michael Laudrup succeed him as coach of the Danish national team.

Morten Olsen did not qualify Denmark for the 2008 European Championship, and in August 2008 Morten Olsen stated that he planned to let his contract expire in 2010, in order to return to coaching on club level.

In January 2010, Morten Olsen extended his contract until and including the 2012 European Championship.

On 13 December 2013, Morten Olsen further extended his contract to stay on as national coach until June 2016.

On 17 March 2015, Morten Olsen stated that he would step down when his contract with Denmark ends, after the Euro, in 2016.

Morten Olsen has been married to his Belgian wife and lived in Beersel near Brussels.