Jens Jørn Bertelsen
Encyclopedia
Jens Jørn Haahr Bertelsen (born February 15, 1952), known as Jens Jørn Bertelsen, is a Danish
former association football player in the defensive midfielder position. He played 362 matches and scored 42 goals for Danish club Esbjerg fB
, and played for a number of Europe
an clubs. He played 69 matches and scored two goals for the Denmark national football team
, and represented Denmark at the UEFA Euro 1984 and 1986 FIFA World Cup
tournaments.
suburb of Guldager, Bertelsen started playing football with small-time club Sædding-Guldager. When Sædding-Guldager coach and former Danish international Egon Jensen was hired by 3rd Division team Esbjerg fB
, Bertelsen followed him to the club, where he played alongside later Danish internationals Ole Kjær
, Ole Madsen, and John Lauridsen
. He made his Esbjerg debut at the age of 21, on April 1, 1973. He was a hard-working defensive midfielder, and helped the team win promotion
to the top-flight Danish 1st Division
. In 1976, he was named man of the match as Esbjerg won the Danish Cup
tournament, Esbjerg's first trophy in 11 years. In the 1st Division, Bertelsen helped Esbjerg finish third in 1977, second in 1978, and finally win the 1979 Danish football champions
hip. He was subsequently named 1979 Danish Player of the Year
by the Danish Football Association
.
He received a number of offers from European clubs, and decided to move abroad in May 1982. He signed a professional contract with Belgian
club R.F.C. Seraing
, and quickly settled into the team. He stayed two years in Belgium, before moving on to French
outfit Rouen FC when Seraing went bankrupt in 1984. After one season with relegation battlers
Rouen, he moved to Swiss
team FC Aarau
in the summer of 1985. Bertelsen returned to Esbjerg fB in 1987, where he ended his career at the end of the 1988 season.
in May 1975, and played five under-21 games until October 1975. He was called up for the senior Danish national team by national manager Kurt "Nikkelaj" Nielsen, and made his national team debut in a 0-0 draw with Norway
on June 24, 1976.
He played his second game in February 1978, and went on to become a mainstay in the team under new national manager Sepp Piontek. Bertelsen had a somewhat anonymous role in the defensive midfield, though his work rate made him an integral part of the team. While playing abroad, Bertelsen was called up by Piontek to represent Denmark at the UEFA Euro 1984. He played full time in all Denmark's four games before elimination in the semi-finals. He was also called up for the Danish squad at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
. He played three of Denmark's four games at the tournament. He played his last national team game in September 1987, at the age of 35.
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 in the defensive midfielder position. He played 362 matches and scored 42 goals for Danish club 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 played for a number of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an clubs. He played 69 matches and scored two goals 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...
, and represented Denmark at the UEFA Euro 1984 and 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
tournaments.
Club career
Born in the EsbjergEsbjerg
Esbjerg Municipality is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula in southwest Denmark. Its mayor is Johnny Søtrup, from the Venstre political party...
suburb of Guldager, Bertelsen started playing football with small-time club Sædding-Guldager. When Sædding-Guldager coach and former Danish international Egon Jensen was hired by 3rd Division team 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...
, Bertelsen followed him to the club, where he played alongside later Danish internationals Ole Kjær
Ole Kjær
Ole Kjær is a Danish former football player, who won the 1978 Danish Player of the Year award. He played as a goalkeeper, and most prominently represented Danish club Esbjerg fB, with whom he won the 1979 Danish Championship...
, Ole Madsen, and John Lauridsen
John Lauridsen
John Mikkelsen Lauridsen is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, gifted with field vision and able to shoot with both feet....
. He made his Esbjerg debut at the age of 21, on April 1, 1973. He was a hard-working defensive midfielder, and helped the team win promotion
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 top-flight 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...
. In 1976, he was named man of the match as Esbjerg won the Danish Cup
Danish Cup
The Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
tournament, Esbjerg's first trophy in 11 years. In the 1st Division, Bertelsen helped Esbjerg finish third in 1977, second in 1978, and finally win the 1979 Danish football champions
Danish football champions
The Danish football champions are the winners of the highest league of football in Denmark. The title has been contested since 1913, in a varying form of competitions. Since 1991, the winners have been found through the Danish Superliga championship...
hip. He was subsequently named 1979 Danish Player of the Year
Danish Player of the Year
The Danish Player of the Year award is an annual prize, which has been given to the best Danish football player by the Danish Football Player Association since 1963. The winner is decided in a vote amongst the professional Danish footballers....
by the Danish Football Association
Danish Football Association
The Danish Football Association is the governing body of football in Denmark. It is the organization of the Danish football clubs and runs the professional Danish football leagues and the men's and women's national teams. It is based in the city of Brøndby and is a founding member of both FIFA...
.
He received a number of offers from European clubs, and decided to move abroad in May 1982. He signed a professional contract with Belgian
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...
club R.F.C. Seraing
R.F.C. Seraing
R.F.C. Seraing is a Belgian football club from the municipality of Seraing, province of Liège.-History:It was created in 1900 as F.C. Sérésien and it registered to the FA the same year as the matricule n°17. The prefix Royal was added in 1928. The named changed in 1994 to R.F.C...
, and quickly settled into the team. He stayed two years in Belgium, before moving on to 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...
outfit Rouen FC when Seraing went bankrupt in 1984. After one season with relegation battlers
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...
Rouen, he moved to Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
team FC Aarau
FC Aarau
FC Aarau is a Swiss football club, based in Aarau. They play in the Swiss Challenge League.-History:FC Aarau was formed on 26 May 1902 by workers from a local brewery. The early days of the club were a success and they won the Swiss championship in 1911/12 and then again in 1913/14...
in the summer of 1985. Bertelsen returned to Esbjerg fB in 1987, where he ended his career at the end of the 1988 season.
International career
Bertelsen made his international debut with the Denmark national under-21 football teamDenmark 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 May 1975, and played five under-21 games until October 1975. He was called up for the senior Danish national team by national manager Kurt "Nikkelaj" Nielsen, and made his national team debut in a 0-0 draw with Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
on June 24, 1976.
He played his second game in February 1978, and went on to become a mainstay in the team under new national manager Sepp Piontek. Bertelsen had a somewhat anonymous role in the defensive midfield, though his work rate made him an integral part of the team. While playing abroad, Bertelsen was called up by Piontek to represent Denmark at the UEFA Euro 1984. He played full time in all Denmark's four games before elimination in the semi-finals. He was also called up for the Danish squad at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
. He played three of Denmark's four games at the tournament. He played his last national team game in September 1987, at the age of 35.
Honours
- 1976 Danish CupDanish CupThe Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
- 1979 Danish football championsDanish football championsThe Danish football champions are the winners of the highest league of football in Denmark. The title has been contested since 1913, in a varying form of competitions. Since 1991, the winners have been found through the Danish Superliga championship...
hip - 1979 Danish Player of the YearDanish Player of the YearThe Danish Player of the Year award is an annual prize, which has been given to the best Danish football player by the Danish Football Player Association since 1963. The winner is decided in a vote amongst the professional Danish footballers....