Søren Andersen
Encyclopedia
Søren Andersen is a Danish
former professional footballer
. He played as a striker
, and most prominently represented English
club Bristol City
, Spanish
club Rayo Vallecano
, as well as several Danish clubs. He won the 1992 Danish Cup
with AGF Aarhus
. Andersen played 12 games for the Denmark national team
, though he did not score, and represented Denmark at the 1992 Summer Olympics
and 1996 European Championship
tournaments.
, joining AGF Aarhus
in August 1989. He made his debut for the Danish under-21 national team
in April 1990. He won the 1992 Danish Cup
with AGF, and was included in the Danish under-21 squad for the 1992 Summer Olympics
by coach Viggo Jensen. He played a single match at the tournament; his seventh and last games for the under-21 national team. He made his debut for the senior Danish national team in January 1993, under national coach Richard Møller Nielsen
.
Having scored 51 goals in 109 league games for AGF, Andersen moved abroad in October 1993. He went on to play for Spanish
club UE Lleida
in the La Liga
championship. He played a single season at Lleida, where he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 win against multiple Spanish champions Real Madrid
. When Lleida were relegated to the Segunda División
at the end of the season, Andersen moved to Segunda División rivals Rayo Vallecano
. He played 12 games for Rayo, scoring a single goal.
In January 1995, Andersen moved to Swedish
club IFK Norrkoping
, before going back to Denmark. He went on to play for defending Danish champions
Aalborg Boldspilklub (AaB) in August 1995. At Aalborg, he was poised to replace striker Erik Bo Andersen
who had been sold to Rangers FC. Søren Andersen became an instant success, and was called up for the Danish squad at the 1996 European Championship
, where he played a single match. He was AaB's lead goalscorer in the 1996-97 season
with 14 goals, the fifth highest tally of the league. He scored a total of 36 goals in 77 games for AaB, including five goals in a single game against Viborg FF
.
In July 1998, Andersen moved to England
, joining Bristol City
in the First Division
for a fee of £425,000. He scored both City goals on his debut, a 2-2 draw at home to Oxford United
. In the 1998-99 season
, in which City were relegated, he scored 10 goals out of 29 in a forward partnership with Ade Akinbiyi
. He left City in September 1999, returning to Denmark to join Odense BK
, costing the Danish side £200,000. He left Odense to rejoin his former club AGF Aarhus in November 2001. He was injured in early March 2002, badly breaking his arm in a collision with Sweden international
goalkeeper Magnus Kihlstedt
, in a game against Kihlstedt's club FC København. He ended his career in March 2003, due to chronically aching achilles tendon
s.
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 professional footballer
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...
. He played as a striker
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...
, and most prominently represented English
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...
club Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
, Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
club Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
, as well as several Danish clubs. 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 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...
. Andersen played 12 games for the Denmark 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...
, though he did not score, and represented Denmark 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...
and 1996 European Championship
1996 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1996 UEFA European Football Championship was hosted by England, who won the right to host the tournament ahead of bids from Austria, Portugal and the Netherlands. It was the tenth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and endorsed by UEFA. It was the first to use the...
tournaments.
Biography
Andersen began his career as a junior with Silkeborg IFSilkeborg IF
Silkeborg IF is a Danish professional football club based in the city of Silkeborg, in the middle of Jutland. Silkeborg IF plays in the Danish Superliga. The club was founded in 1917 and they first reach the highest level of football in Denmark in 1987, at that time called 1st division today known...
, joining 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...
in August 1989. He made his debut for the Danish 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 April 1990. 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 AGF, and was included in the Danish under-21 squad for 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...
by coach Viggo Jensen. He played a single match at the tournament; his seventh and last games for the under-21 national team. He made his debut for the senior Danish national team in January 1993, under national 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...
.
Having scored 51 goals in 109 league games for AGF, Andersen moved abroad in October 1993. He went on to play for Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
club UE Lleida
UE Lleida
Club Lleida Esportiu is a Spanish football team based in Lleida, Catalonia. Founded in 2011, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Camp d'Esports, with a capacity of 13,500 seats.-History:...
in the La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
championship. He played a single season at Lleida, where he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 win against multiple Spanish champions Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
. When Lleida were relegated to the Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
at the end of the season, Andersen moved to Segunda División rivals Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
. He played 12 games for Rayo, scoring a single goal.
In January 1995, Andersen moved to 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 IFK Norrkoping
IFK Norrköping
IFK Norrköping is a Swedish football club based in Norrköping. The club, formed on 29 May 1897, is currently playing in the first division of Swedish football, Allsvenskan...
, before going back to Denmark. He went on to play for defending Danish 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...
Aalborg Boldspilklub (AaB) in August 1995. At Aalborg, he was poised to replace striker Erik Bo Andersen
Erik Bo Andersen
Erik Bo Andersen is a Danish former professional footballer who played six matches for the Danish national team and represented Denmark at the 1996 European Championship...
who had been sold to Rangers FC. Søren Andersen became an instant success, and was called up for the Danish squad at the 1996 European Championship
1996 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1996 UEFA European Football Championship was hosted by England, who won the right to host the tournament ahead of bids from Austria, Portugal and the Netherlands. It was the tenth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and endorsed by UEFA. It was the first to use the...
, where he played a single match. He was AaB's lead goalscorer in the 1996-97 season
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...
with 14 goals, the fifth highest tally of the league. He scored a total of 36 goals in 77 games for AaB, including five goals in a single game against 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...
.
In July 1998, Andersen moved to 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...
, joining Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
for a fee of £425,000. He scored both City goals on his debut, a 2-2 draw at home to Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. In the 1998-99 season
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
, in which City were relegated, he scored 10 goals out of 29 in a forward partnership with Ade Akinbiyi
Ade Akinbiyi
Adeola Peter Oluwatoyin "Ade" Akinbiyi is a professional footballer.Akinbiyi has had a much-travelled career with many different clubs with transfer fees totalling more than £11.5 million during his career, including being Leicester City's record signing .Born in England, Akinbiyi qualifies to...
. He left City in September 1999, returning to Denmark to join 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...
, costing the Danish side £200,000. He left Odense to rejoin his former club AGF Aarhus in November 2001. He was injured in early March 2002, badly breaking his arm in a collision with Sweden international
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...
goalkeeper Magnus Kihlstedt
Magnus Kihlstedt
Magnus Kihlstedt is a former Swedish football goalkeeper. As of 2004 he had 13 matches for the national team. He has become Danish league and cup champion with FC København.-Clubs:*Munkedals IF - 1988...
, in a game against Kihlstedt's club FC København. He ended his career in March 2003, due to chronically aching achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
s.