Ole Bjur
Encyclopedia
Ole Bjur is a former Danish
professional football (soccer)
player, who played a total 384 matches for Danish club Brøndby IF
, with whom he won three Danish Superliga
championships. He played as an attacking midfielder or right midfielder
, with a good technique and dribbling ability. He represented the Denmark national football team
on three occasions, scoring one goal.
He is the younger brother of Danish footballer Jan Bjur.
, Bjur started playing football with Vanløse IF
in the second-tier Danish 2nd Division
. When the structure of Danish football
was altered in 1991, Vanløse was placed in the second-tier Danish 1st Division
. At Vanløse, Bjur showed himself as a forward
with good finising and eye for the game, and was named 1991 Danish 1st Division Player of the Year. This attracted the attention of defending Danish champions Brøndby IF, and Bjur moved to the top-flight Danish Superliga
club in July 1991.
Under Brøndby manager Morten Olsen
, Bjur saw a lot of playing time, but had a hard time scoring goals. When Brøndby hired new manager Ebbe Skovdahl
in 1992, he went on to deploy Bjur in a right wingback position, where Bjur was immediately praised for his performance. From his wingback position, he would both engage in elegant, dribbling runs as well as hit precise crosses. In the opening of the 1993–94 Superliga
season, Bjur saw a slump in form. He got his only red card
while at Brøndby in September 1993, and was eventually left out of the Brøndby first team and played a number of games in the reserve team
. He returned to form in October 1993, and became one of Brøndby's leading men for set pieces
. With Skovdahls change of tactics, to a 3-4-3 formation in March 1994, Bjur was moved up to a forward position, behind the lone striker Mark Strudal
, where he reproduced the attacking play of his Vanløse days.
For the 1994–95 Superliga
season, Skovdahl changed the formation to a 4-4-2 system, and Bjur settled into the right-sided midfielder spot. He found a good understanding with right back Søren Colding
, and the two formed a dangerous pairing on Brøndby's right flank. Bjur was a part of the Brøndby which won the 1994 Danish Cup
, his first trophy in his Brøndby career, and was named 1994 Brøndby IF Player of the Year. In the 1995–96 Superliga
season, Bjur played all 32 games as Brøndby won their first Danish championship in five years. He also scored the winning goal in the 2–1 defeat of AS Roma in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup
tournament, though Brøndby were eventually eliminated on the away goals rule
.
With Brøndby, Bjur went on to win the 1996–97 Superliga
and 1997–98 Superliga
championships, as well as the 1998 Danish Cup trophy. He was a part of Brøndby's campaign in the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League
tournament, and played a total of 54 games for Brøndby in the European competitions. After more and more games of not feeling satisfied with his own performances, he decided to end his career in November 2000, 32 years old. He went on to concentrate on his studies at the University of Copenhagen
.
season, Bjur was touted as a coming man for the Danish national team. However, after his slump in form for Brøndby in fall 1993, he was not chosen for the Danish national team by national manager Richard Møller Nielsen
.
He was eventually included in the national team squad of newly appointed national manager Bo Johansson in the summer 1996. Bjur was called up for Johansson's first game in August 1996. He scored the winning goal in their debut match, as Denmark beat Sweden
1–0 in a friendly match. Bjur started the next national team match, but after 22 minutes, he suffered a minor concussion from a swung elbow, and had to be substituted off. Bjur was then displaced by midfielder Peter Nielsen
for the next national team games, before playing his last international game in August 1997.
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 (soccer)
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, who played a total 384 matches for Danish club Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF is a Danish professional football club based in Brøndbyvester, Brøndby, on the western outskirts of Copenhagen and is the biggest football club in Denmark with almost 2000 members. The club is also known as Brøndbyernes Idrætsforening, or Brøndby and BIF for short...
, with whom he won three 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...
championships. He played as an attacking midfielder or right 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...
, with a good technique and dribbling ability. He represented 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...
on three occasions, scoring one goal.
He is the younger brother of Danish footballer Jan Bjur.
Club career
Born in RødovreRødovre
Rødovre Kommune is a municipality in Region Hovedstaden on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. Its mayor is Erik Nielsen, a member of the Social Democrats political party who hold a majority of seats in the council.-History:The municipality was created in 1901 when the parish of Rødovre was...
, Bjur started playing football with Vanløse IF
Vanløse IF
Vanløse IF is a Danish football club currently playing in the Danish 2nd Division East.- Squad :As of December 1, 2009 -Achievements:*2 seasons in the Highest Danish League...
in the second-tier Danish 2nd Division
Danish 2nd Division
The 2nd Division is the third tier Danish football league, just after the 1st Division.It was founded in 1945, after World War II, as the second-best Danish football division. When the Danish Superliga was founded in 1991, the 2nd Division became the third level league...
. When the structure of Danish football
Football in Denmark
Association football is the national sport of Denmark, with 342,955 players and 1,647 clubs registered under the Danish FA.- League system :The top 4 levels in Denmark are governed by the Danish Football Association...
was altered in 1991, Vanløse was placed in the second-tier 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...
. At Vanløse, Bjur showed himself as a forward
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...
with good finising and eye for the game, and was named 1991 Danish 1st Division Player of the Year. This attracted the attention of defending Danish champions Brøndby IF, and Bjur moved to the top-flight 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...
club in July 1991.
Under Brøndby manager 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...
, Bjur saw a lot of playing time, but had a hard time scoring goals. When Brøndby hired new manager Ebbe Skovdahl
Ebbe Skovdahl
Ebbe Skovdahl Hansen is a retired Danish football manager. He most prominently was a successful manager at Brøndby IF, for whom he had also played in his active years...
in 1992, he went on to deploy Bjur in a right wingback position, where Bjur was immediately praised for his performance. From his wingback position, he would both engage in elegant, dribbling runs as well as hit precise crosses. In the opening of the 1993–94 Superliga
Danish Superliga 1993-94
The 1993-94 Danish Superliga season was the 4th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association....
season, Bjur saw a slump in form. He got his only red card
Red card
Red card may refer to:* A penalty card that is shown in many sports after a rules infraction* A suit of hearts or diamonds* Red Card , 1976 release by Streetwalkers* RedCard 20-03, 2002 extreme football video game...
while at Brøndby in September 1993, and was eventually left out of the Brøndby first team and played a number of games in the reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
. He returned to form in October 1993, and became one of Brøndby's leading men for set pieces
Set piece (football)
The term set piece or set play is used in association football and rugby to refer to a situation when the ball is returned to open play following a stoppage, particularly in a forward area of the pitch. Most often, the term is used to refer to free kicks and corners, but sometimes throw-ins. Many...
. With Skovdahls change of tactics, to a 3-4-3 formation in March 1994, Bjur was moved up to a forward position, behind the lone striker Mark Strudal
Mark Strudal
Mark Agner Boecking Strudal is a retired Danish footballer who played as a striker and scored three goals in nine games for the Danish national team...
, where he reproduced the attacking play of his Vanløse days.
For the 1994–95 Superliga
Danish Superliga 1994-95
The 1994-95 Danish Superliga season was the 5th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association....
season, Skovdahl changed the formation to a 4-4-2 system, and Bjur settled into the right-sided midfielder spot. He found a good understanding with right back Søren Colding
Søren Colding
Søren Colding is a Danish former professional football player, who most prominently captained Danish club Brøndby IF and VfL Bochum in Germany from his position of right back. He represented the Denmark national football team in 27 matches, and he was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and...
, and the two formed a dangerous pairing on Brøndby's right flank. Bjur was a part of the Brøndby which won the 1994 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...
, his first trophy in his Brøndby career, and was named 1994 Brøndby IF Player of the Year. In the 1995–96 Superliga
Danish Superliga 1995-96
The 1995-96 Danish Superliga season was the 6th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association....
season, Bjur played all 32 games as Brøndby won their first Danish championship in five years. He also scored the winning goal in the 2–1 defeat of AS Roma in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
tournament, though Brøndby were eventually eliminated on the away goals rule
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
.
With Brøndby, Bjur went on to win the 1996–97 Superliga
Danish Superliga 1996-97
The 1996-97 Danish Superliga season was the 7th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association...
and 1997–98 Superliga
Danish Superliga 1997-98
The 1997-98 Danish Superliga season was the 8th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. It took place from the first match on July 25, 1997 to final match on June 1, 1998....
championships, as well as the 1998 Danish Cup trophy. He was a part of Brøndby's campaign in the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
tournament, and played a total of 54 games for Brøndby in the European competitions. After more and more games of not feeling satisfied with his own performances, he decided to end his career in November 2000, 32 years old. He went on to concentrate on his studies at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
.
International career
Following his Brøndby breakthrough in the 1992–93 SuperligaDanish Superliga 1992-93
The 1992–93 Danish Superliga season was the 3rd season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association....
season, Bjur was touted as a coming man for the Danish national team. However, after his slump in form for Brøndby in fall 1993, he was not chosen for the Danish national team by national manager Richard Møller Nielsen
Richard Møller Nielsen
Richard Møller Nielsen , nicknamed Ricardo, is a Danish former football player and football manager. His greatest triumph came when he coached the Danish national football team which surprisingly won the 1992 European Championship tournament. In 1995, he was knighted as Knight 1st Degree of the...
.
He was eventually included in the national team squad of newly appointed national manager Bo Johansson in the summer 1996. Bjur was called up for Johansson's first game in August 1996. He scored the winning goal in their debut match, as Denmark beat 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...
1–0 in a friendly match. Bjur started the next national team match, but after 22 minutes, he suffered a minor concussion from a swung elbow, and had to be substituted off. Bjur was then displaced by midfielder Peter Nielsen
Peter Nielsen (footballer)
Peter Nielsen is a Danish former football player, now a coach. He won 10 international caps and scored one goal for the Denmark national football team, with whom he won Euro 1992, though he didn't play at the tournament....
for the next national team games, before playing his last international game in August 1997.
Honours
- 1991 Danish 1st DivisionDanish 1st DivisionThe 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...
Player of the Year - 1994 Brøndby IFBrøndby IFBrøndby IF is a Danish professional football club based in Brøndbyvester, Brøndby, on the western outskirts of Copenhagen and is the biggest football club in Denmark with almost 2000 members. The club is also known as Brøndbyernes Idrætsforening, or Brøndby and BIF for short...
Player of the Year - Danish SuperligaDanish SuperligaThe 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...
: 1995–96Danish Superliga 1995-96The 1995-96 Danish Superliga season was the 6th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association....
, 1996–97Danish Superliga 1996-97The 1996-97 Danish Superliga season was the 7th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association...
, 1997–98Danish Superliga 1997-98The 1997-98 Danish Superliga season was the 8th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. It took place from the first match on July 25, 1997 to final match on June 1, 1998.... - 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...
: 1993–94, 1997–98