Stig Tøfting
Encyclopedia
Stig Tøfting nickname
d Tøffe, and The Lawn Mower, is a former Danish
professional footballer and assistant coach, who most recently was the assistant of Erik Rasmussen
at AGF.
Tøfting played most of his career as a defensive midfielder
, and he was a hard-hitter who often engaged in rash tackles. He started his career with AGF Aarhus
, with whom he won two Danish Cup
s, and most notably went on to play for German
clubs Hamburger SV
and MSV Duisburg
, as well as Bolton Wanderers in England
. He ended his career in 2007 with Randers FC
, having won the 2006 Danish Cup with the team.
He played 41 matches for the Danish national football team
between 1993 and 2002, in which he scored 2 goals. With Thomas Gravesen
, Tøfting formed a fearsome midfield duo on the national team from 1998 to 2002, playing the Euro 2000
and 2002 FIFA World Cup
together.
, Stig Tøfting started his career at Aarhus Gymnastik Forening
(AGF), a team he would frequently return to throughout his career. He made his senior debut for the club on October 29, 1989, in the 1-0 victory against Aalborg BK. He won the 1992 Danish Cup
with the team, and made his debut for the Danish national football team
in January 1993.
In June 1993, Tøfting moved from AGF to German
team Hamburger SV
(HSV) in a transfer deal worth DEM
500,000. He took part in HSV's first three games of the 1993-94 Bundesliga season
, before a knee injury side-lined him. He returned to the team in December 1993, but had a hard time forcing his way into the first team due to league restrictions on the number of foreign players in the starting line-up. He was loaned out to Danish club Odense BK
, playing 12 games in the last half of the 1993-94 Superliga season
as Odense finished in fourth place. He was loaned out to AGF in the first half of the 1994-95 Superliga season
, before returning to HSV in winter 1994. He played a further three games for HSV as a substitute, before he was once again loaned out to AGF in April 1995.
Tøfting returned to AGF on a permanent contract in June 1995 in a transfer deal worth DKK 1,2 million. He was named Man of the Match
as he won his second Danish Cup triumph with AGF, and was called up for Denmark once again, after a three year hiatus.
, and was suspended from the club in October 1997. Tøfting agreed a DKK 1 million move to defending Superliga champions Brøndby IF
, but as Odense increased their asking price to DKK 2 millions, the move fell through. He eventually moved back to Germany to play for MSV Duisburg
in January 1998, in a DKK 600,000 transfer deal. Despite being a newly promoted
team in the 1997-98 Bundesliga season
, Duisburg reached the 1998 German Cup final, where they were defeated by Bayern Munich.
In June 1999, Stig Tøfting received a 20-days suspended jail sentence
for assault, while on holiday in Aarhus. He played on for Duisburg without any repercussions from manager Friedhelm Funkel. In the 1999-00 Bundesliga season
, Duisburg were dead last in the tournament, and Tøfting was loaned out to AGF in the last part of the 1999-2000 Superliga season.
As his contract with Duisburg expired in summer 2000, he moved back to former club HSV. With HSV, he took part in the UEFA Champions League
tournament. When HSV manager Frank Pagelsdorf
was fired in September 2001, Tøfting was worried about his status under new manager Kurt Jara
, and he moved to English club Bolton Wanderers in February 2002.
tournament. In his fourth game for Bolton in March 2002, he suffered an injury which caused a two-month long recovery. He returned to play the last game of the 2001-02 Premier League season
in May 2002, and was called up for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
He returned injured to Bolton following the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He struggled to secure a place in the Bolton starting line-up, and saw his playing time reduced to one league game and an appearance in an English League Cup defeat to Bury FC during the first months of the season. He returned took part in several games in the winter 2002, his last game being the January 2003 FA Cup
defeat to Sunderland AFC.
In celebrations among the Danish players following the 2002 FIFA World Cup, at "Café Ketchup" in Copenhagen
, Tøfting had head-butted the proprietor of the café. He stood trial for the incident in October 2002 and was convicted to four months in jail. After the conviction, he got his Bolton contract reduced until summer 2003. He served his jail time from April to July 2003.
to play for Tianjin Taida. When his Taida contract expired in December 2003, he once again returned to AGF in February 2004. In July 2004, Tøfting was once more under charges for violence after he pushed a man in the chest following a traffic dispute, and received two fines of DKK 1,000 each. In December 2004, Tøfting was fired from AGF following a bust-up at an AGF players' Christmas
lunch.
He agreed a contract with Swedish
club BK Häcken
in February 2005. At its expiry in January 2006, Tøfting moved back to Denmark to play for Randers FC
in the second tier of Danish football
, the Danish 1st Division
. With Randers, Tøfting won the 2006 Danish Cup, and he helped the club gain promotion to the 2006-07 Danish Superliga
championship. Tøfting ended his playing career for Randers on December 1, 2007, where his last match was a 0-2 defeat to Viborg FF
.
at the 1992 Summer Olympics
. He played full time in Denmark's three matches at the tournament, though the team didn't advance beyond the group stage.
He made his debut with the Danish senior national team on January 30, 1993, in a 2-2 friendly match draw with the United States
. He made his debut under Denmark coach Richard Møller Nielsen
, who dubbed Tøfting Plæneklipperen (the Lawn mower
). He then took part in a 1994 FIFA World Cup
qualification game in March 1993. After his permanent move back to AGF, he was called up for Denmark once again in June 1996, after a three year hiatus. He was included in Møller Nielsen's squad for the 1996 European Championship (Euro 1996), where he played the last 21 minutes of the 0-3 loss to Croatia
, which eliminated Denmark from the Euro 1996 tournament. Under the new Denmark boss, Swedish
coach Bo Johansson who was appointed in June 1996, Tøfting was initially left out of the Danish national team again.
In his second season with MSV Duisburg, Tøfting was called up for his fourth international appearance in May 1998 by Bo Johansson. He was once more part of a Denmark squad at a big tournament, when he was picked for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
. He again occupied the role as a bit-part player, with 60 minutes of play in two games his share of Denmark's five matches before elimination. Following the World Cup, he became a mainstay in Johansson's team, only missing one game under Johansson in 1999 and 2000. He was picked for the Danish Euro 2000
team. This time he took part in all Denmark's matches, but to no avail, as the team was eliminated in the group stage, having conceded eight goals in three games.
When Morten Olsen
was appointed new Denmark coach after Euro 2000, Tøfting kept his place in the Danish team. He only missed five games under Olsen up until his international retirement, and was included in the Danish squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. During the 2002 World Cup, Danish weekly gossip magazine
Se & Hør
ran a story that Tøfting, when aged 13, had returned home from school to find the bodies of his parents. His mother had been shot by his father, who shortly thereafter turned the gun on himself. The story had been kept secret for years, as Tøfting had not yet told his children. Following the incident, Se & Hør chief editor Peter Salskov was fired. Tøfting played in all Denmark's matches at the tournament. His last appearance for the Danish national team would be the 0-3 defeat to England
in the first knock-out round, as he announced his international retirement following the match, having played a total 41 international games for Denmark.
, while Tøfting continued his active playing career. Tøfting continued as assistant coach when Randers appointed Colin Todd
as head coach in the Summer 2007. When Randers appointed John Faxe Jensen
as new manager in January 2009, Tøfting's contract was not renewed, and he left Randers in the Summer 2009.
In April 2010 he was named new assistant coach for Erik Rasmussen
at AGF Aarhus. At the end of the season that same year, Erik Rasmussen was sacked, due to the club being relegated. Stig left the club at the same time.
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d Tøffe, and The Lawn Mower, is a former Danish
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 footballer and assistant coach, who most recently was the assistant of Erik Rasmussen
Erik Rasmussen (footballer)
Erik Sandvad Rasmussen , nicknamed "The Wizard" and "TryllErik", is a former Danish football player and manager. He played two games for the Denmark national football team.-Player:...
at AGF.
Tøfting played most of his career as a defensive 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...
, and he was a hard-hitter who often engaged in rash tackles. He started his career with AGF Aarhus
Aarhus Gymnastik Forening
Aarhus Gymnastikforening is one of the oldest sport clubs in Denmark. AGF participates in a variety of activities in both individual and team sports. AGF is best known for its football team which has the longest streak in the Danish top division and also holds the record for most number of cup wins...
, with whom he won two 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...
s, and most notably went on to play for German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
clubs Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
and MSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg is a German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed "the Zebras" for their traditional striped jerseys, the club was one of the original members of the Bundesliga when it was formed in 1963.-Early years:...
, as well as Bolton Wanderers in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He ended his career in 2007 with Randers FC
Randers FC
Randers FC is a Danish professional football team based in Randers, which plays in the top-flight Danish Superliga championship. Founded as a merger on January 1, 2003, the club builds upon the license of Randers Freja, a former three-time Danish Cup winning team...
, having won the 2006 Danish Cup with the team.
He played 41 matches for the Danish 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...
between 1993 and 2002, in which he scored 2 goals. With Thomas Gravesen
Thomas Gravesen
Thomas Gravesen is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He has played for teams such as Hamburger SV, Everton F.C., Real Madrid CF and Celtic F.C.....
, Tøfting formed a fearsome midfield duo on the national team from 1998 to 2002, playing the Euro 2000
2000 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, or Euro 2000, was the 11th UEFA European Football Championship, which is held every four years and organized by UEFA, association football's governing body in Europe....
and 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
together.
Early career
Born in a suburb of AarhusAarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
, Stig Tøfting started his career at Aarhus Gymnastik Forening
Aarhus Gymnastik Forening
Aarhus Gymnastikforening is one of the oldest sport clubs in Denmark. AGF participates in a variety of activities in both individual and team sports. AGF is best known for its football team which has the longest streak in the Danish top division and also holds the record for most number of cup wins...
(AGF), a team he would frequently return to throughout his career. He made his senior debut for the club on October 29, 1989, in the 1-0 victory against Aalborg BK. He won the 1992 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...
with the team, and made his debut for the Danish 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...
in January 1993.
In June 1993, Tøfting moved from AGF to German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
team Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
(HSV) in a transfer deal worth DEM
German mark
The Deutsche Mark |mark]], abbreviated "DM") was the official currency of West Germany and Germany until the adoption of the euro in 2002. It is commonly called the "Deutschmark" in English but not in German. Germans often say "Mark" or "D-Mark"...
500,000. He took part in HSV's first three games of the 1993-94 Bundesliga season
Fußball-Bundesliga 1993/94
-League table:-Top goalscorers:18 goals Stefan Kuntz Anthony Yeboah 17 goals Stéphane Chapuisat Paulo Sérgio Toni Polster -League table:-Top goalscorers:18 goals Stefan Kuntz (1. FC Kaiserslautern) Anthony Yeboah (Eintracht Frankfurt)17 goals Stéphane Chapuisat (Borussia Dortmund) Paulo Sérgio...
, before a knee injury side-lined him. He returned to the team in December 1993, but had a hard time forcing his way into the first team due to league restrictions on the number of foreign players in the starting line-up. He was loaned out to Danish club Odense BK
Odense BK
Odense Boldklub is a Danish professional football club based in the town of Odense. The club has won three Danish championships and five Danish Cup trophies. OB play in the Danish Superliga and their home field is TRE-FOR Park in Odense on Funen...
, playing 12 games in the last half of the 1993-94 Superliga season
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....
as Odense finished in fourth place. He was loaned out to AGF in the first half of the 1994-95 Superliga season
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....
, before returning to HSV in winter 1994. He played a further three games for HSV as a substitute, before he was once again loaned out to AGF in April 1995.
Tøfting returned to AGF on a permanent contract in June 1995 in a transfer deal worth DKK 1,2 million. He was named Man of the Match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
as he won his second Danish Cup triumph with AGF, and was called up for Denmark once again, after a three year hiatus.
German success
As his contract expired in the summer 1997, Tøfting moved from AGF to league rivals Odense BK on a free transfer. He did not get along well with Odense coach Roald PoulsenRoald Poulsen
Roald Poulsen is a Danish football manager, who most prominently won the 1989 Danish championship with Odense BK and managed the Zambia national football team....
, and was suspended from the club in October 1997. Tøfting agreed a DKK 1 million move to defending Superliga champions 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...
, but as Odense increased their asking price to DKK 2 millions, the move fell through. He eventually moved back to Germany to play for MSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg is a German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed "the Zebras" for their traditional striped jerseys, the club was one of the original members of the Bundesliga when it was formed in 1963.-Early years:...
in January 1998, in a DKK 600,000 transfer deal. Despite being a newly promoted
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...
team in the 1997-98 Bundesliga season
Fußball-Bundesliga 1997/98
-League table:-Top goalscorers:22 goals Ulf Kirsten 21 goals Olaf Marschall 14 goals Stéphane Chapuisat Michael Preetz ...
, Duisburg reached the 1998 German Cup final, where they were defeated by Bayern Munich.
In June 1999, Stig Tøfting received a 20-days suspended jail sentence
Suspended sentence
A suspended sentence is a legal term for a judge's delaying of a defendant's serving of a sentence after they have been found guilty, in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation...
for assault, while on holiday in Aarhus. He played on for Duisburg without any repercussions from manager Friedhelm Funkel. In the 1999-00 Bundesliga season
Fußball-Bundesliga 1999/2000
-League table:-Top goalscorers:19 goals Martin Max 17 goals Ulf Kirsten 14 goals Élber Ebbe Sand ...
, Duisburg were dead last in the tournament, and Tøfting was loaned out to AGF in the last part of the 1999-2000 Superliga season.
As his contract with Duisburg expired in summer 2000, he moved back to former club HSV. With HSV, he took part in the 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. When HSV manager Frank Pagelsdorf
Frank Pagelsdorf
Frank Pagelsdorf is a German football manager formerly managing Al-Nasr Sports Club.-Coaching career:He was manager of Hamburger SV from 1997 to 2001. He has also had a brief time as manager in UAE.-External links:* *...
was fired in September 2001, Tøfting was worried about his status under new manager Kurt Jara
Kurt Jara
Kurt Jara is a retired Austrian footballer.-Club career:Jara started his professional career with local side FC Wacker Innsbruck before moving to Spanish outfit Valencia CF in 1973. After two seasons in La Liga he joined German Bundesliga team MSV Duisburg where he spent 5 seasons and reached the...
, and he moved to English club Bolton Wanderers in February 2002.
Bolton
In moving to Bolton, Tøfting hoped to secure his place in the Danish national team for the up-coming 2002 FIFA World Cup2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
tournament. In his fourth game for Bolton in March 2002, he suffered an injury which caused a two-month long recovery. He returned to play the last game of the 2001-02 Premier League season
FA Premier League 2001-02
The 2001–02 FA Premier League season was the tenth season of the competition. It began with a new sponsor, Barclaycard, and was titled the FA Barclaycard Premiership, replacing the previous sponsor, Carling...
in May 2002, and was called up for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
He returned injured to Bolton following the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He struggled to secure a place in the Bolton starting line-up, and saw his playing time reduced to one league game and an appearance in an English League Cup defeat to Bury FC during the first months of the season. He returned took part in several games in the winter 2002, his last game being the January 2003 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
defeat to Sunderland AFC.
In celebrations among the Danish players following the 2002 FIFA World Cup, at "Café Ketchup" in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen 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...
, Tøfting had head-butted the proprietor of the café. He stood trial for the incident in October 2002 and was convicted to four months in jail. After the conviction, he got his Bolton contract reduced until summer 2003. He served his jail time from April to July 2003.
Football nomad
He was released early from prison in July 2003, in order to move to ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to play for Tianjin Taida. When his Taida contract expired in December 2003, he once again returned to AGF in February 2004. In July 2004, Tøfting was once more under charges for violence after he pushed a man in the chest following a traffic dispute, and received two fines of DKK 1,000 each. In December 2004, Tøfting was fired from AGF following a bust-up at an AGF players' Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
lunch.
He agreed a contract with Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
club BK Häcken
BK Häcken
BK Häcken is a Swedish football club based in Gothenburg. The club, formed on 2 August 1940, is currently playing in the Swedish premier division, Allsvenskan after being promoted in 2008.- The beginning :...
in February 2005. At its expiry in January 2006, Tøfting moved back to Denmark to play for Randers FC
Randers FC
Randers FC is a Danish professional football team based in Randers, which plays in the top-flight Danish Superliga championship. Founded as a merger on January 1, 2003, the club builds upon the license of Randers Freja, a former three-time Danish Cup winning team...
in the second tier 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...
, 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...
. With Randers, Tøfting won the 2006 Danish Cup, and he helped the club gain promotion to the 2006-07 Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga 2006-07
The 2006–07 Danish Superliga season was the 17th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, which determined the winners of the Danish football championship. It was governed by the Danish Football Association. It took place from the first match on July 19, 2006 to the final match on May...
championship. Tøfting ended his playing career for Randers on December 1, 2007, where his last match was a 0-2 defeat to Viborg FF
Viborg FF
Viborg FF is a Danish professional football club located in Viborg. The full name of the club is Viborg Fodsports Forening , but the name is frequently abbreviated as Viborg FF or VFF. The club was founded in 1896, but would have to wait more than a century before winning its only countrywide...
.
International career
While playing for AGF Aarhus, Tøfting was among the players selected to represent the Danish under-21 national 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...
at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. He played full time in Denmark's three matches at the tournament, though the team didn't advance beyond the group stage.
He made his debut with the Danish senior national team on January 30, 1993, in a 2-2 friendly match draw with the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. He made his debut under Denmark coach 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...
, who dubbed Tøfting Plæneklipperen (the Lawn mower
Lawn mower
A lawn mower is a machine that uses a revolving blade or blades to cut a lawn at an even length.Lawn mowers employing a blade that rotates about a vertical axis are known as rotary mowers, while those employing a blade assembly that rotates about a horizontal axis are known as cylinder or reel...
). He then took part in a 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
qualification game in March 1993. After his permanent move back to AGF, he was called up for Denmark once again in June 1996, after a three year hiatus. He was included in Møller Nielsen's squad for the 1996 European Championship (Euro 1996), where he played the last 21 minutes of the 0-3 loss to Croatia
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
, which eliminated Denmark from the Euro 1996 tournament. Under the new Denmark boss, Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
coach Bo Johansson who was appointed in June 1996, Tøfting was initially left out of the Danish national team again.
In his second season with MSV Duisburg, Tøfting was called up for his fourth international appearance in May 1998 by Bo Johansson. He was once more part of a Denmark squad at a big tournament, when he was picked for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
. He again occupied the role as a bit-part player, with 60 minutes of play in two games his share of Denmark's five matches before elimination. Following the World Cup, he became a mainstay in Johansson's team, only missing one game under Johansson in 1999 and 2000. He was picked for the Danish Euro 2000
2000 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, or Euro 2000, was the 11th UEFA European Football Championship, which is held every four years and organized by UEFA, association football's governing body in Europe....
team. This time he took part in all Denmark's matches, but to no avail, as the team was eliminated in the group stage, having conceded eight goals in three games.
When 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...
was appointed new Denmark coach after Euro 2000, Tøfting kept his place in the Danish team. He only missed five games under Olsen up until his international retirement, and was included in the Danish squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. During the 2002 World Cup, Danish weekly gossip magazine
Gossip magazine
Gossip magazines feature scandalous stories about the personal lives of celebrities. This genre of magazine flourished in North America in the 1950s and early 1960s. The title Confidential alone boasted a monthly circulation in excess of ten million, and it had many competitors, with names like...
Se & Hør
Se og Hør (Denmark)
Se og Hør is a Danish tabloid-magazine weekly published by Aller Press A/S.-External links:*...
ran a story that Tøfting, when aged 13, had returned home from school to find the bodies of his parents. His mother had been shot by his father, who shortly thereafter turned the gun on himself. The story had been kept secret for years, as Tøfting had not yet told his children. Following the incident, Se & Hør chief editor Peter Salskov was fired. Tøfting played in all Denmark's matches at the tournament. His last appearance for the Danish national team would be the 0-3 defeat to England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the first knock-out round, as he announced his international retirement following the match, having played a total 41 international games for Denmark.
Coaching career
In November 2006, Tøfting took on the role of assistant coach at Randers, working under Randers head coach Lars OlsenLars Olsen
Lars Christian Olsen is a Danish former professional association football player and manager, who currently coaches Faroe Islands national team. He started his coaching career with Randers FC in 2003, guiding them to promotion for the Danish Superliga. He led the team to the 2006 Danish Cup...
, while Tøfting continued his active playing career. Tøfting continued as assistant coach when Randers appointed Colin Todd
Colin Todd
Colin Todd is an English football manager and former player. As a player, he made more than 600 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sunderland, Derby County, Everton, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Oxford United and Luton Town, and also played in the North American Soccer League...
as head coach in the Summer 2007. When Randers appointed John Faxe Jensen
John Jensen
John Jensen , nicknamed Faxe, is a former Danish international footballer who is unemployed. He is known for his temper and is often outspoken in interviews. His playing career lasted over a decade, during which he played most famously for Arsenal F.C...
as new manager in January 2009, Tøfting's contract was not renewed, and he left Randers in the Summer 2009.
In April 2010 he was named new assistant coach for Erik Rasmussen
Erik Rasmussen (footballer)
Erik Sandvad Rasmussen , nicknamed "The Wizard" and "TryllErik", is a former Danish football player and manager. He played two games for the Denmark national football team.-Player:...
at AGF Aarhus. At the end of the season that same year, Erik Rasmussen was sacked, due to the club being relegated. Stig left the club at the same time.