Jakob Poulsen
Encyclopedia
Jakob Bendix Uhd Poulsen (born 7 July 1983) is a Danish
professional football
player in the midfielder
position, playing for FC Midtjylland
. Poulsen started his senior career with Esbjerg fB
, before moving to Dutch side SC Heerenveen in 2006. He joined AGF Aarhus in the summer of 2008. He has played 12 games and scored one goal for the Denmark national football team
.
and Nicolai Høgh
in the Danish school tournament for Næsbjerg. He played youth football with Esbjerg fB
, and got his senior debut under coach Viggo Jensen in September 2001. In the team of new coach Ove Pedersen
, Poulsen established himself in the starting line-up. Having played 21 of 33 games in the Danish Superliga 2002-03
season while missing some games due to injury, Poulsen played all games of the Danish Superliga 2003-04
season, scoring seven goals as Esbjerg finished in third place. He played a total 107 games and scored 19 goals in the Superliga, before leaving the club.
In January 2006, Poulsen was sold to Dutch team SC Heerenveen, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club. At Heerenveen, he played alongside fellow Danes Hjalte Bo Nørregaard, Bo Storm
, Timmi Johansen
, and Ken Ilsø
. He suffered an injury in late February 2006, but returned to play seven games in his first half year with the team. By fall 2006 he was backup to right back Gianni Zuiverloon
, and stated he did not like coach Gertjan Verbeek
's motivational skills. He was used as right midfielder in the spring 2007, but could not establish himself in the starting line-up, and played most of his Heerenveen games as a substitute. He established himself in the team in early 2008, but under new coach Trond Sollied
his run in the starting line-up came to an end. As Sollied would not include him in more games, Poulsen decided to leave the club.
He moved back to Denmark in August 2008, signing a four-year contract with AGF Aarhus. He rejoined his former coach Ove Pedersen, and looked to restart his career by receiving more regular playing time. He debuted for AGF in August, and established himself as a right-sided midfielder in the starting line-up. He scored his first goal against AaB, which was named September 2008 goal of the month in a TV 2 Sport
poll. He was included in the team of the fall season by both TV 2 Sport and TV 3. AGF finished the Danish Superliga 2008-09
season in sixth place. He started the Danish Superliga 2009-10 season well, playing all 18 games, and was named 2009 Danish Superliga Player of the Year. A transfer offer from SS Lazio was accepted by AGF in January 2010, but Poulsen rejected the offer in order not to put his 2010 FIFA World Cup
participation in jeopardy. He suffered an ankle injury in February 2010, and only played six games in the spring season, as AGF were relegated
to the Danish 1st Division
.
Following the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, English Premier League club, Wigan Athletic, as well as German Bundesliga club, 1. FC Köln
, reportedly was interested in Poulsens services. However, on August 17, 2010 it was announced that Poulsen joined the Danish Superliga
side FC Midtjylland
.
in September 2000, and represented the team five times until October 2001. He was a part of the Danish under-20 national team at the Milk Cup
in July 2002, and played seven games for the team until June 2004. He debuted for the under-21 national team
in November 2003, coming on as a substitute to replace right back Allan Olesen
. He also played as a centre midfielder, attacking midfielder, and centre back for the team. He played a total 16 games for the under-21s until January 2006, scoring one goal in the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
. He was included in the Danish squad for the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
, but did not play any games at the tournament.
After strong performances for AGF, he was called up by national team coach Morten Olsen
for the Denmark League XI national football team
in January 2009. He impressed in January 2009, and Olsen saw him as a competitor with Lars Jacobsen
and Kasper Bøgelund
for the right back position, while Poulsen maintained he saw himself as a right midfielder. He was also a part of the League XI in January 2010.
He was called up for the Danish national team in February 2009, and made his senior international debut in a friendly match against Greece
, coming on as a substitute for Lars Jacobsen. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
game against Albania
in April 2009, he replaced Martin Jørgensen
in the midfield, and went on to secure himself a place in the starting line-up, as a central midfielder. In his seventh national team game, Poulsen scored his first international goal in the 1-0 win against Sweden
in November 2009, which secured the qualification for Denmark. He was one of five nominees for the 2009 Danish Footballer of the Year award, which eventually went to Nicklas Bendtner
. He played a total six qualification games, and was included in Olsen's final squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
.
In the 2010 FIFA World Cup
Poulsen came on as a substitute i Denmarks 2-1 win against Cameroon
, as well as the 3-1 loss to Japan
in the last group match.
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...
professional 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 in the 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...
position, playing for FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland is a professional Danish football team from Herning and Ikast. The team is a result of a merger between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad...
. Poulsen started his senior career with Esbjerg fB
Esbjerg fB
Esbjerg forenede Boldklubber also referred to as Esbjerg fB or simply EfB is a professional Danish football club from the port city of Esbjerg in West Jutland. The club was formed in 1924, as a merger between Esbjerg Boldklub af 1898 and Esbjerg Amatørklub af 1911. The club has training facilities...
, before moving to Dutch side SC Heerenveen in 2006. He joined AGF Aarhus in the summer of 2008. He has played 12 games and scored one goal 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...
.
Club career
As a schoolboy, Poulsen played alongside Anders EgholmAnders Egholm
Anders Høyen Egholm is a Danish professional football defender, who currently plays for Danish First Division side Randers FC.- Career :...
and Nicolai Høgh
Nicolai Høgh
Nicolai Høgh is a Danish professional football defender, who currently plays for the Danish Superliga side Esbjerg fB.-External links:*** at Danmarks Radio...
in the Danish school tournament for Næsbjerg. He played youth football with Esbjerg fB
Esbjerg fB
Esbjerg forenede Boldklubber also referred to as Esbjerg fB or simply EfB is a professional Danish football club from the port city of Esbjerg in West Jutland. The club was formed in 1924, as a merger between Esbjerg Boldklub af 1898 and Esbjerg Amatørklub af 1911. The club has training facilities...
, and got his senior debut under coach Viggo Jensen in September 2001. In the team of new coach Ove Pedersen
Ove Pedersen
Ove Pedersen is a Danish football manager and a former player, who managed FC Midtjylland and Esbjerg fB to bronze medals in the Danish Superliga. He was the manager of Danish club AGF until 31 December, on 1 January 2009 he returned as manager at Esbjerg fB, but resigned on 14 March 2011...
, Poulsen established himself in the starting line-up. Having played 21 of 33 games in the Danish Superliga 2002-03
Danish Superliga 2002-03
The 2002–03 Danish Superliga season was the 13th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association...
season while missing some games due to injury, Poulsen played all games of the Danish Superliga 2003-04
Danish Superliga 2003-04
The 2003-04 Danish Superliga season was the 14th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. It took place from the first match on July 26, 2003 to the final match on May 29, 2004....
season, scoring seven goals as Esbjerg finished in third place. He played a total 107 games and scored 19 goals in the Superliga, before leaving the club.
In January 2006, Poulsen was sold to Dutch team SC Heerenveen, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club. At Heerenveen, he played alongside fellow Danes Hjalte Bo Nørregaard, Bo Storm
Bo Storm
Bo Storm is a Danish footballer currently playing for Danish Superliga club HB Køge.He has played several games for the Danish youth national teams . Storm played youth football with AGF Aarhus, but began his career in a small town club called Odder...
, Timmi Johansen
Timmi Johansen
Timmi Johansen is a Danish footballer who currently plays for OB. He has played eleven games for the Denmark national under-21 football team. He played youth football with Hvidovre IF, before moving to SC Heerenveen in 2006....
, and Ken Ilsø
Ken Ilsø
Ken Ilsø Larsen is a Danish footballer who plays as a striker for Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga.-Career:Born in Copenhagen, Ilsø started his career at local amateur club Pioneren. His career progressed, and he played for different youth sides in Copenhagen...
. He suffered an injury in late February 2006, but returned to play seven games in his first half year with the team. By fall 2006 he was backup to right back Gianni Zuiverloon
Gianni Zuiverloon
Gianni Michel Eugene Zuiverloon is a Dutch footballer currently playing for Spanish La Liga outfit Mallorca as a right back.-Club career:...
, and stated he did not like coach Gertjan Verbeek
Gertjan Verbeek
Gertjan Verbeek is a former footballer and current manager of AZ.-Coaching career:After retiring from his playing career in 1994, Verbeek stayed with SC Heerenveen as an assistant-coach. He left for Heracles Almelo in 2001, and after a successful stint there was hired as the successor to Foppe de...
's motivational skills. He was used as right midfielder in the spring 2007, but could not establish himself in the starting line-up, and played most of his Heerenveen games as a substitute. He established himself in the team in early 2008, but under new coach Trond Sollied
Trond Sollied
Trond Johan Sollied is a Norwegian football manager and retired player, currently managing the Belgian first division team Gent....
his run in the starting line-up came to an end. As Sollied would not include him in more games, Poulsen decided to leave the club.
He moved back to Denmark in August 2008, signing a four-year contract with AGF Aarhus. He rejoined his former coach Ove Pedersen, and looked to restart his career by receiving more regular playing time. He debuted for AGF in August, and established himself as a right-sided midfielder in the starting line-up. He scored his first goal against AaB, which was named September 2008 goal of the month in a TV 2 Sport
TV 2 Sport (Denmark)
TV 2 Sport is a Danish sports channel operated as a joint-venture between Danish TV 2 and Swedish Modern Times Group.MTG launched a dedicated Danish version of its Viasat Sport channel in January 2002...
poll. He was included in the team of the fall season by both TV 2 Sport and TV 3. AGF finished the Danish Superliga 2008-09
Danish Superliga 2008-09
The 2008–09 Danish Superliga was the 19th season of Danish Superliga league championship, which determines the winners of the Danish football championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. The season started on 19 July 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009. The defending champions were Aalborg...
season in sixth place. He started the Danish Superliga 2009-10 season well, playing all 18 games, and was named 2009 Danish Superliga Player of the Year. A transfer offer from SS Lazio was accepted by AGF in January 2010, but Poulsen rejected the offer in order not to put his 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
participation in jeopardy. He suffered an ankle injury in February 2010, and only played six games in the spring season, as AGF were relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to the Danish 1st Division
Danish 1st Division
The 1st Division has been the name of the second highest football league in Denmark since 1991. From 1945 to 1991 the 1st Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark...
.
Following the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, English Premier League club, Wigan Athletic, as well as German Bundesliga club, 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
, reportedly was interested in Poulsens services. However, on August 17, 2010 it was announced that Poulsen joined the Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
side FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland is a professional Danish football team from Herning and Ikast. The team is a result of a merger between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad...
.
International career
Poulsen got his international debut with the Denmark national under-19 football teamDenmark national under-19 football team
The Denmark national under-19 football team was founded in 1950 as a under-18 team. In 2001, it was changed to a under-19 team.-Competitive record:...
in September 2000, and represented the team five times until October 2001. He was a part of the Danish under-20 national team at the Milk Cup
Milk Cup
The Milk Cup is an international youth football tournament held annually in Northern Ireland. The cup matches are mainly played in the North Coast area of Northern Ireland, with matches taking place in the towns of Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock, Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballymena and...
in July 2002, and played seven games for the team until June 2004. He debuted for the under-21 national team
Denmark national under-21 football team
The Denmark national under-21 football team has played since 1976 and is controlled by the Danish Football Association. Before 1976, the age limit was 23 years.-U-21 European Championship:*1978 – Quarterfinals*1980 to 1984 – Did not qualify...
in November 2003, coming on as a substitute to replace right back Allan Olesen
Allan Arenfeldt Olesen
Allan Arenfeldt Olesen is a Danish professional football player in the defender position, who plays for IFK Mariehamn in the Veikkausliiga. He has played for a number of Danish clubs and won the 2002 Danish Superliga championship with Brøndby IF...
. He also played as a centre midfielder, attacking midfielder, and centre back for the team. He played a total 16 games for the under-21s until January 2006, scoring one goal in the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
The qualifying groups for the UEFA U-21 Championship 2006, where possible, matched the 7- and 6-team World Cup 2006 qualifying groups of the senior European teams. The exceptions were where Andorra, Faroe Islands, Liechtenstein, and Northern Ireland were involved; none of whom entered an under-21...
. He was included in the Danish squad for the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:4 goals Klaas Jan Huntelaar3 goals Thomas Kahlenberg Nicky Hofs2 goals Bryan Bergougnoux Ruslan Fomin Artem Milevskiy...
, but did not play any games at the tournament.
After strong performances for AGF, he was called up by national team coach 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...
for the Denmark League XI national football team
Denmark League XI national football team
The Denmark League XI national football team is an unofficial national football team run by the Danish Football Association.The team generally consists of Danish players playing in the Danish Superliga, or other leagues if the clubs there agree to release them...
in January 2009. He impressed in January 2009, and Olsen saw him as a competitor with Lars Jacobsen
Lars Jacobsen
Lars Christian Jacobsen, , and raised in Odense on Funen, is a Danish footballer. He currently plays for F.C. Copenhagen.-Odense Boldklub:Jacobsen started his career with local top-flight team Odense Boldklub...
and Kasper Bøgelund
Kasper Bøgelund
Kasper Bøgelund Nielsen is a Danish footballer. He currently plays as a right back for AaB in the Danish Superliga...
for the right back position, while Poulsen maintained he saw himself as a right midfielder. He was also a part of the League XI in January 2010.
He was called up for the Danish national team in February 2009, and made his senior international debut in a friendly match against Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
, coming on as a substitute for Lars Jacobsen. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...
game against Albania
Albania national football team
The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
in April 2009, he replaced Martin Jørgensen
Martin Jørgensen
Lars Martin Jørgensen , more commonly known as Martin Jørgensen, is a Danish professional football player, who currently plays for Danish club AGF Aarhus. Jørgensen has played 101 matches and scored 12 goals for the Denmark national football team. He is the only player that has represented Denmark...
in the midfield, and went on to secure himself a place in the starting line-up, as a central midfielder. In his seventh national team game, Poulsen scored his first international goal in the 1-0 win against Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
in November 2009, which secured the qualification for Denmark. He was one of five nominees for the 2009 Danish Footballer of the Year award, which eventually went to Nicklas Bendtner
Nicklas Bendtner
Nicklas Bendtner , is a Danish international footballer who plays for Sunderland on loan from Arsenal as a striker...
. He played a total six qualification games, and was included in Olsen's final squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
.
In the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
Poulsen came on as a substitute i Denmarks 2-1 win against Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
, as well as the 3-1 loss to Japan
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
in the last group match.
International goals
- Scores and results list Denmark's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 10 October 2009 Copenhagen CopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, DenmarkDenmarkDenmark 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...
1–0 1–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qual. 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 1The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 1 was a UEFA qualifying group for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised 2006 fourth-place finishers Portugal, along with Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Albania and Malta....