Erik Sorensen
Encyclopedia
Erik Sørensen, also known by his full name Erik Lykke Sørensen, (born 22 January 1940) is a Danish
former association football player and manager. He was a goalkeeper, and played professionally in the 1960s and 1970s for Scottish
clubs Greenock Morton
and Rangers
, and later served as the manager of Morton. He played 15 games for the Denmark national football team
from 1963 to 1971.
, Sørensen made his breakthrough with local top-flight club B1913
in the amateur-only Danish championship. He made his debut for the Danish national team
in June 1963, and played five of Denmark's seven games in the successful qualification campaign for the 1964 European Nations' Cup tournament. Before the final tournament, Sørensen signed a professional contract and was banned from the amateur-only national team.
He signed with Scottish
team Greenock Morton
. Morton manager
Hal Stewart had originally wanted to sign another Danish goalkeeper, but was advised to sign Sørensen instead. Sørensen played in a trial game against Third Lanark dressed all in black. Morton refused to name the new player and he was dubbed by the media "The man in black" or "Mr. X". From 1963 to 1967, Sørensen played 102 league games for Morton.
In 1967, he was sold for £25,000 to rival Scottish club Rangers
. He played 30 games for Rangers, before returning to Morton in 1970. When the Danish Football Association abolished the rule of amateurism, Sørensen returned to the Danish national team in May 1971, eight years after his debut. He played a further five national team games, including a 1-0 win against Scotland
, before ending his international career in June 1971. He left Morton in 1973, having played a total 173 league games for the club.
He eventually became Morton manager for a short time in the mid 70s. He also ran a public house in Greenock
after he retired from the game. In the late 1970s he briefly returned to football to play for Danish amateur side Svendborg fB
.
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 association football player and manager. He was a goalkeeper, and played professionally in the 1960s and 1970s for Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
clubs Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
and Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, and later served as the manager of Morton. He played 15 games for the Denmark national football 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...
from 1963 to 1971.
Career
Born in OdenseOdense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
, Sørensen made his breakthrough with local top-flight club B1913
Boldklubben 1913
Boldklubben 1913 is a Danish football club currently playing in Danmarksserien. They play at Odense Atletik Stadion in Odense on Funen, which has a capacity of 8,000....
in the amateur-only Danish championship. He made his debut 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 June 1963, and played five of Denmark's seven games in the successful qualification campaign for the 1964 European Nations' Cup tournament. Before the final tournament, Sørensen signed a professional contract and was banned from the amateur-only national team.
He signed with Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
team Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
. Morton manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Hal Stewart had originally wanted to sign another Danish goalkeeper, but was advised to sign Sørensen instead. Sørensen played in a trial game against Third Lanark dressed all in black. Morton refused to name the new player and he was dubbed by the media "The man in black" or "Mr. X". From 1963 to 1967, Sørensen played 102 league games for Morton.
In 1967, he was sold for £25,000 to rival Scottish club Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
. He played 30 games for Rangers, before returning to Morton in 1970. When the Danish Football Association abolished the rule of amateurism, Sørensen returned to the Danish national team in May 1971, eight years after his debut. He played a further five national team games, including a 1-0 win 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...
, before ending his international career in June 1971. He left Morton in 1973, having played a total 173 league games for the club.
He eventually became Morton manager for a short time in the mid 70s. He also ran a public house in Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
after he retired from the game. In the late 1970s he briefly returned to football to play for Danish amateur side Svendborg fB
FC Svendborg
FC Svendborg is a Danish football team currently playing in the Danish 2nd Division West. They are the professional division of Svendborg fB. They play at Høje Bøge Stadion in Svendborg, which has a capacity of 7,000.-Squad:...
.