Benny Nielsen (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Jørgen "Benny" Nielsen is a Danish
former football
player. His position on the field was usually striker
, although he also could play as midfielder
. Nielsen played 28 matches for Denmark
, scoring 7 goals. He made his début against Scotland
in a 1–0 loss.
Nielsen started playing football with Brederød IF. He made his a-team début with AB
. In 1971, he left Denmark for Belgium
. His Belgian career took off immediately, with a hat trick in a cup match
against SK Gullegem. One season later, fellow Danishman Morten Olsen
became Nielsen's teammate.
In 1974, Nielsen went to RWDM
. The team became national champions that season. Just like with Cercle, Nielsen would also stay three seasons for the Brussels
team RWDM, as he went to their main rivals Anderlecht
. This was again quite a successful move, as Anderlecht won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
that season
. In 1981, Nielsen won the national title with Anderlecht. This was also his last season in Belgium. Nielsen ended his career with French
side AS Saint-Étienne
.
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 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...
player. His position on the field was usually striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, although he also could play as midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. Nielsen played 28 matches for Denmark
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 7 goals. He made his début against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in a 1–0 loss.
Nielsen started playing football with Brederød IF. He made his a-team début with AB
Akademisk Boldklub
Akademisk Boldklub or AB is a Danish professional football club from Copenhagen,currently playing at the second highest level in Danish domestic football, the 1st Division.-History:...
. In 1971, he left Denmark for 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...
. His Belgian career took off immediately, with a hat trick in a cup match
Belgian Cup
The Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
against SK Gullegem. One season later, fellow Danishman Morten Olsen
Morten Olsen
Morten Per Olsen is a Danish football manager and former football player. He has been the head coach of the Danish national team since 2000, guiding Denmark to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2004 European Championship and 2010 FIFA World Cup...
became Nielsen's teammate.
In 1974, Nielsen went to RWDM
R.W.D. Molenbeek
Racing White Daring Molenbeek was a Belgian football club founded in 1909 as White Star Club de Bruxelles. It then became a member of the Belgian Football Association later the same year as White Star Athletic Club and received the matricule n°47....
. The team became national champions that season. Just like with Cercle, Nielsen would also stay three seasons for the Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
team RWDM, as he went to their main rivals Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
. This was again quite a successful move, as Anderlecht won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
that season
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1977-78
The season 1977-78 of the European Cup Winners' Cup was won by RSC Anderlecht in the final comfortably against FK Austria Wien. It was Anderlecht's third consecutive final, the best record in the competition, of which they won two.-Qualifying match:...
. In 1981, Nielsen won the national title with Anderlecht. This was also his last season in Belgium. Nielsen ended his career with French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
side AS Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
.