Michael Laudrup

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Michael Laudrup
Personal information
Full name Michael Laudrup
Date of birth June 15, 1964 (age 42)
Place of birth    Copenhagen, Denmark
Height 183 cm
Nickname Michelino
Kongen - The King
Playing position Head Coach
(former Attacking midfielder or forward)
Club information
Current club Retired
Youth clubs

1973-1976
1977-1980		 Vanløse IF
Brøndby IF
KB
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1981
1982-1983
1983-1989
1983-1985
1989-1994
1994-1996
1996-1997
1997-1998		 KB
Brøndby IF
Juventus FC
SS Lazio (loan)
FC Barcelona
Real Madrid
Vissel Kobe
Ajax Amsterdam		 14 (3)
38 (24)
102 (16)
60 (9)
167 (40)
62 (12)
15 (6)
21 (11)   
National team
1982-1998 Denmark 104 (37)
Teams managed
2000-2002
2002-2006		 Denmark (assistant manager)
Brøndby IF

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Michael Laudrup (born June 15, 1964) is a Danish former professional football player and manager. His most prominent run of football came with Spanish club FC Barcelona, with whom he won four straight La Liga championships, as well as the 1992 European Cup. He most famously moved to arch rivals Real Madrid in 1994, with whom he won his fifth La Liga title in a row. He scored 37 goals in a total of 104 appearances for the Denmark national football team, which is only topped by Peter Schmeichel's 129 games. From November 1994, he captained his country for a total of 28 matches[1] before his retirement in June 1998.

In 1999 he was voted the Best Foreign Player in Spanish Football the previous 25 years[2] and in April 2000 he was knighted, as he received the Order of the Dannebrog. In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of Denmark by the Danish Football Association; their most outstanding player of the past 50 years.[3] He was officially named the best Danish footballer of all times by the Danish Football Association in November 2006.[4]

After ending his active career, he took up coaching, and became assistant manager of the Danish national team. He got his first manager job at former club Brøndby IF in 2002, who he guided to the 2005 Danish Superliga championship. He chose not to extend his contract with Brøndby IF in May 2006. In 2007 Brøndby IF decided to name a new lounge at the stadium "The Michael Laudrup Lounge" with the approval of Michael Laudrup.

Contents

[edit] Footballing family

Michael Laudrup is part of a family with three generations of footballers. He is the son of former Danish national team player Finn Laudrup and Michael's oldest son Mads Laudrup has been the team captain of various Danish youth national teams since January 2005, and his youngest son Andreas Laudrup was selected a part of the under-16 national team in March 2006.[5]

Michael Laudrup has a younger brother, Brian Laudrup, who was also a professional football player. Brian Laudrup was a part of the trophy winning Danish national team at the 1992 European Championship (Euro 1992), but Michael did not play in that championship due to differences with the national team coach Richard Møller Nielsen.[6] In 2004, both Laudrup brothers were named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers chosen by Pelé as part of the celebration of FIFA's 100th anniversary.

[edit] Playing style

A play-making midfielder, he was known as one of the most effective passers, as well as one of the most skillful and elegant players of the game and is still popular amongst fans. Michael Laudrup is the most technically accomplished football player to emerge from Denmark. He was ranked amongst the best players in Europe, and his talent was exceptional, with the French three time European footballer of the year award winner Michel Platini describing him as one of the most talented players ever, only lamenting his lack of selfishness causing him to score too few goals.[7] His team mate in Real Madrid, Raúl has in an interview in April 2006 called Laudrup the best player he has ever played with.[8] His team mate in Barcelona, Romário has stated the same and added that Laudrup in his opinion is the fifth best player in the history of the game (behind Pelé, Maradona, himself and Zinedine Zidane).[9] It remains a mystery why he never won the best player of the world award. Laudrup was known as a gentleman on the field and never received a red card. He preferred to out-play his immediate opponent rather than knock him down.

He was hugely admired for his outstanding technique, elegance, deep passes and dribbling. His vision was second to none. Jorge Valdano, the Argentinian coach of Laudrup in Real Madrid, said "he has eyes everywhere". His trademark move — looking one way and passing the other — fooled countless opponents during his career. The Laudrup dribble was perhaps the best-known part of his game, as he quickly moved the ball from one foot to the other away from the defender. His outstanding skills were combined with an immense creativity. He always played the attack in the least obvious way leaving the defence stranded. This has led to the expression "Made in Laudrup", widely used in Spain about his unique play. Numerous teammates of Laudrup have said:"Just run, he will always find a way of passing you the ball".

In FC Barcelona he played alongside Hristo Stoichkov, who scored many goals from Laudrup's passes, like Iván Zamorano (who called Laudrup el genio, the genius) during Laudrup's time at Real Madrid. Throughout his career his number of assists was impressive and almost always the highest of his team.

[edit] Biography

Born in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Michael Laudrup started playing football in father Finn Laudrup's childhood club Vanløse IF. When Finn Laudrup became player/coach of small time club Brøndby IF in 1973, the family moved to Brøndby and both Michael and Brian Laudrup started playing for the club as well. Michael followed his father to the top-flight Danish 1st Division club Kjøbenhavns Boldklub (KB) in 1976, while Brian remained at Brøndby.

[edit] National breakthrough

He made his senior debut for KB in 1981, and made his debut for the Danish under-19 national team in February 1981.[10] In all, he scored a combined total of 14 goals in 25 games at various youth levels. He went back to play for Brøndby in 1982, where his father had ended his career in 1981, contributing to the promotion of Brøndby to the 1st Division.

At Brøndby IF, Michael Laudrup scored two goals in the club's 1st Division debut game, as fellow promoted team B 1909 were beaten 7-1. He was subsequently called up for the Danish national team, and on his 18-year birthday June 15, 1982 he became the then second youngest Danish national team player ever, following Harald Nielsen. Laudrup scored 15 league goals in 1982, and ended the season as the third top goal scorer of the 1st Division. His accomplishments earned him the 1982 Danish Player of the Year award. He played part of the 1983 season for Brøndby, and scored 9 goals, before he was sold to defending Serie A champions Juventus F.C. from Italy in June 1983. It was the then biggest transfer deal in Danish football, worth around $1 million.[11]

[edit] Italian years

Under restriction of a maximum of two foreign players in the team, of which the club had Polish midfielder Zbigniew Boniek and Michel Platini, Juventus initially loaned him out to newly-promoted Rome club SS Lazio for a single season. He scored two goals in his Serie A debut, even though Lazio lost 2-4 to Hellas Verona. In his first year at the club, Lazio narrowly avoided relegation, but as Juventus wanted to keep Boniek and Platini, Laudrup stayed a second year at Lazio. Despite playing for the relegation battlers, Laudrup starred for the Danish national team at the Euro 1984, playing all four Denmark matches. Lazio started the 1984-85 season badly, and they finished dead last and were relegated to Serie B, with Laudrup scoring just a single goal that season.

Laudrup returned to the Juventus side in 1985 to replace Zbigniew Boniek, playing alongside Michel Platini. In his first year at the club, he won the 1985-86 Serie A championship, as well as the Intercontinental Cup trophy, and Laudrup was once again named 1985 Danish Player of the Year. He took part in the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, a performance which is best remembered for his exceptional solo dribble and goal in the 6-1 defeat of Uruguay.

The following season was no success for Laudrup, who suffered from injuries, like large parts of the Juventus team, including Platini. When Platini retired in 1987, Laudrup was expected to lead the team in his place, playing alongside newly-bought Welsh forward Ian Rush. But the 23-year old failed to live up to Platini's standards, and did not score any goals, despite playing all 30 games of the 1987-88 season. He was also a part of the disappointing Danish national team at the Euro 1988 tournament, though Laudrup experienced personal success as he scored one of Denmark's two goals.

[edit] Barcelona and Real Madrid

In 1989, he joined FC Barcelona of Spain where he enjoyed tremendous success, with former Dutch national team captain Johan Cruijff the coach. Michael Laudrup was one of the restricted three foreign players allowed in the team, alongside Dutch defender Ronald Koeman and Bulgarian striker Hristo Stoichkov, who were the pillars of Barça coach Johan Cruijff's Dream Team. The team won four consecutive La Liga championships from 1991 to 1994, as well as the 1992 European Cup, and Laudrup was twice elected the best player of the year in Spain during his Barcelona years. When Barça hired a fourth foreign star player, Brazilian striker Romário, in 1994 it meant the four foreigners would rotate as the three foreign players allowed in each match, and when Laudrup wasn't selected for the 1994 European Cup final 0-4 loss to AC Milan, his time at Barcelona was over.

In 1994 he completed a controversial move from Barça to Real Madrid after he fell out with Johan Cruijff. Laudrup went on to guide Real Madrid in a championship winning season that would end the Barça stranglehold, making Laudrup the only player ever to win the Spanish league five times in a row playing for two different clubs. After the initial success at Real, a lacklustre season would be in store for club, as well as country, and the Euro 1996 would leave no positives for him. Despite only playing two seasons at Real Madrid, Laudrup was voted the 12th best player in Real history in an internet survey by Spanish newspaper Marca when the club celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2002.[12]

He went on to play for Vissel Kobe in Japan, before he ended his playing career in a championship winning season at Dutch team Ajax Amsterdam in 1998. His last games would come at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, when he captained Denmark to the quarter-final, a tournament performance he crowned in the knock-out stage with a trademark assist. In the quarter-final against Nigeria, when he looked to his left, then launched a magnificent lob to his right, over the defenders. The pass was picked up by Ebbe Sand, who headed it past defender Taribo West, and converted the chance for the 3-0 goal in the 4-1 win against Nigeria. Sand had come on the field as a substitute seconds earlier, and the goal set a record for fastest goal scored by a substitute at a World Cup.

Following his retirement, Laudrup turned to play for Lyngby Boldklub's Old Boys team in his spare time.

[edit] Coaching career

Laudrup as Brøndby coach.
Laudrup as Brøndby coach.

After his playing career ended with Ajax Amsterdam, Laudrup became a coach at age 36 when he started serving as an assistant coach for the Danish national team coach Morten Olsen in 2000. The national team would play a 4-2-3-1 formation, depending on two fast wingers and with the aim to dominate games with a short-passing possession game. Together they led Denmark to the knock-out stage of 2002 FIFA World Cup, after which Michael Laudrup took the job as head coach for Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga. As his assistant coach, Laudrup paired up with former Danish championship winning coach John "Faxe" Jensen, who had played alongside him in the Danish national team.

At the start of his reign, Laudrup proclaimed a tactical scheme close to that which Olsen and he had coached at the national team. Laudrup renovated the Brøndby team by letting a large contingent of older and experienced players go, in favour of several new offensive players, and he gave the chance to young talents from the club's youth scheme. To ensure the defensive strength of the team, he hired the proven national team player Morten Wieghorst. In his first year as head coach, he managed the team to a Danish Cup win against Odense BK in the final. After finishing runners up twice, he finally led the team to The Double in 2005.

After finishing runners-up in the 2005-06 season, Michael Laudrup left Brøndby along with assistant coach John "Faxe" Jensen. He couldn't come to an agreement with Brøndby on renewing his contract, and therefore decided to leave the club. He was associated with several new jobs, including head coach of former club Real Madrid and rumours that he would replace Lars Lagerbäck as head coach for the Swedish national team. The former Brondby coach, who has also been linked with Real Betis and Levante, was offered the chance to take charge at the Estadio Balaidos. "It is correct that Michael Laudrup recently rejected to take over Celta," confirmed his agent Bayram Tutumlu to BT.

"It was a good and tempting offer, but Michael stands by his decision to not take charge of a club in the middle of the season. We have got three serious offers from Spanish clubs, but Michael won't accept any club. It needs to be a club with a good board and ambitions."

However, speculation is increasing to Michael being one of the favourites listed to take the role at Real Madrid in the summer, as Fabio Cappello's job is deemed insecure.

[edit] Titles

Player
Coach

[edit] Literature

  • (Italian) Bruno Bernardi, "Michael Laudrup", Italy, 1986
  • (Danish) Flemming Nielsen and Vagn Nielsen, "Fodboldkunstneren Michael Laudrup : rundt om en stjerne", Denmark, 1986
  • (Danish) Michael Laudrup, "Mod nye mål", Denmark, 1989, ISBN 87-559-0848-9
  • (Danish) Jakob Kvist, "Ambassadøren - en bog om Michael Laudrup", Denmark, 1996 (4th edition, 2001), ISBN 87-583-1285-4
  • (Danish) Palle "Banks" Jørgensen, "Landsholdenes 2198 profiler", Danmark, 2004, ISBN 87-89564-04-9

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Michael Laudrup started his last 27 matches as captain, while he had taken over the armband in the June 1 1994 1-2 loss to Norway, when then captain Lars Olsen was substituted.
  2. ^ IFHOC, The Gala in Barcelona, February 1, 1999
  3. ^ UEFA.com, Golden Players take center stage, 29 November 2003.
  4. ^ Michael Laudrup bedste spiller gennem tiderne, DBU.dk, November 13, 2006
  5. ^ Thomas Møller Johansen, "Laudrup d. V", B.T. article, March 11, 2006
  6. ^ Kvist (2001), p. 155
  7. ^ Frits Ahlstrøm, Laudrup is greatest Dane, UEFA, March 29, 2004
  8. ^ "Kongesønnens bøn: Kom til Madrid", Ekstra Bladet, April 16, 2006
  9. ^ Jakob Rubin, "Romarios eftermæle", Jyllands-Posten, March 9, 2004
  10. ^ (Danish) Laudrup, Michael at Peders Fodboldstatistik
  11. ^ Kvist (2001), p. 36
  12. ^ "Banks" Jørgensen (2004), p. 214

[edit] External links


Flag of Denmark Denmark squad - 1986 FIFA World Cup Flag of Denmark

1 Rasmussen | 2 Sivebæk | 3 Busk | 4 M. Olsen | 5 I. Nielsen | 6 Lerby | 7 Mølby | 8 J. Olsen | 9 Berggreen | 10 Elkjær Larsen | 11 Laudrup | 12 Bertelsen | 13 Frimann | 14 Simonsen | 15 Arnesen | 16 Qvist | 17 K. Nielsen | 18 Christensen | 19 Eriksen | 20 Bartram | 21 Andersen | 22 Høgh | Coach: Piontek
Flag of Denmark Denmark squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup Quarter-finalists Flag of Denmark

1 Schmeichel | 2 Schjønberg | 3 Rieper | 4 Høgh | 5 Heintze | 6 Helveg | 7 Nielsen | 8 Frandsen | 9 Molnar | 10 M. Laudrup | 11 B. Laudrup | 12 Colding | 13 Laursen | 14 Wieghorst | 15 Tøfting | 16 Krogh | 17 Goldbæk | 18 Møller | 19 Sand | 20 Henriksen | 21 Jørgensen | 22 Kjær | Coach: Johansson
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