biography
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1972– )
|
| biography:
| Footballer, born in Hadsund, Jutland, Denmark. In 1992 he left his home team of Hadsund to join top club Brondby of Copenhagen, but only signed a professional contract in 1997 after completing his engineering degree. His 1997–8 season was very successful: Brondby completed the league and cup double, he finished top goal scorer (28), and was named Danish Footballer of the Year. He joined the 1998 FIFA World Cup squad in France, scoring in his very first game. Later that year he was operated on for testicular cancer, but soon made a successful return to football. In 1999 he joined Schalke 04 for £3·3 million, the highest fee the club has paid to date. Although a newcomer to the Bundesliga (German Football League), he was runner-up behind Oliver Kahn for both the 2000 and 2001 Footballer of the Year awards. He was a member of his country's squad for the World Cup in 2002. |
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