Thomas Røll
Encyclopedia
Thomas Christopher Røll Larsen (born 12 March 1977) is a retired Danish
professional footballer. He played 293 games in the Danish Superliga
with Silkeborg IF
, F.C. Copenhagen
, FC Midtjylland
, and Vejle Boldklub
, winning the international 1996 Intertoto Cup
and a Danish Cup
trophy with Silkeborg IF as well as three Superliga championships with F.C. Copenhagen. He also played eight matches for the Danish national team
, scoring once.
, Røll also lived on Funen
, before he started playing football in Bylderup Bov near the Danish-German
border. He was accepted into the youth academy of Silkeborg IF
, and went on to play for a local club in Tønder
, before moving to Silkeborg in autumn 1994. At Silkeborg's youth academy, Røll played alongside future Danish international defender Martin Laursen
. Røll began his senior career as a forward
for Silkeborg under manager Preben Elkjær, who believed Røll lacked only temper to become a star in Danish football
. Røll debuted in the top-flight Danish Superliga
championship in May 1996, and was a part of the Silkeborg team which won the international 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup
competition, beating Croatia
n team HNK Segesta in the final games.
Røll quickly established himself in the first team, and played 29 of 33 league games during the 1996-97 Superliga
season. He played six seasons for Silkeborg IF, and eventually settled as the playmaker
of the team. In his position of deep-lying forward, he especially experienced a successful striking
partnership with Henrik Pedersen
. He helped Silkeborg win silver medal
s in the 1997-98 Superliga
and bronze medal
s in the 2000-01 Superliga
season, as well as the 2001 Danish Cup
trophy.
(FCK) in a transfer deal reportedly worth DKK 7 million. Røll signed a five-year contract, and the move was seen as an opportunity for Røll to attract the attention of clubs abroad, with Silkeborg getting a part of the future transfer earnings. He predominantly played on the flanks for FCK, and only occasionally got the chance to play in his familiar deep-lying forward position, as when he scored two goals against Aarhus GF in October 2001. Røll played five seasons at FCK, and helped the club win three Danish Superliga championships. Initially an important part of the FCK first team, a number of injuries caused him to play fewer and fewer games for the club.
Røll suffered an injured Achilles tendon in March 2004, returned to the FCK squad at the start of the 2004-05 Superliga
season in July 2004, but suffered another injury in October 2004. He had a hard time re-entering the FCK starting line-up, and was loaned out
to his former club Silkeborg IF in February 2005. He played the second half of the 2004-05 Superliga
season for Silkeborg, helping the club avoid relegation
. Back in FCK, Røll injured his ankle
in July 2005, and was soon out of the FCK starting line-up.
(FCM) on a free transfer. Røll suffered another injury before playing any games for FCM, and underwent rehabilitation until January 2007. He played 18 Superliga games for FCM, before moving on loan to Danish 1st Division
team Vejle BK. He made his Vejle debut in March 2008, and helped the club win promotion
for the Superliga. His loan deal was extended by another six months, and he played 15 of 17 games for Vejle in the first half of the 2008-09 Superliga
season. He pleaded for FCM to let him stay in Vejle at the end of his loan. In February 2009, he was bought by 1st Division team Viborg FF
on 2 February 2009, and signed a contract until the summer 2010. Viborg were forced to make economical cuts in the summer 2009, and Røll chose to end his career after 14 years in professional football.
in February 1997, at the age of 19. He scored a goal in his debut against the Israel under-21s
; in a game the Denmark under-21s won 2-1.
While at FCK, Røll made his Danish national team debut under national manager Morten Olsen
in October 2002. On November 20, 2002, he became the first non-white player ever to score for Denmark
. In March 2004, Røll played a national team match despite suffering a sore Achilles tendon
. The Achilles tendon subsequently needed surgery, which caused Røll three months of rehabilitation, and he was dropped from the national team.
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. He played 293 games in 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...
with Silkeborg IF
Silkeborg 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...
, F.C. Copenhagen
F.C. Copenhagen
F.C. Copenhagen is a professional Danish football club in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is part of the Parken Sport & Entertainment....
, 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...
, and Vejle Boldklub
Vejle Boldklub
Vejle Boldklub is a Danish football club with proud traditions from the town of Vejle. The club has won the Danish championship five times and the Danish cup title six times....
, winning the international 1996 Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
and a 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...
trophy with Silkeborg IF as well as three Superliga championships with F.C. Copenhagen. He also played eight matches for the Danish 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...
, scoring once.
Silkeborg IF
Born in 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...
, Røll also lived on Funen
Funen
Funen , with a size of 2,984 km² , is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants . The main city is Odense, connected to the...
, before he started playing football in Bylderup Bov near the Danish-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...
border. He was accepted into the youth academy of Silkeborg IF
Silkeborg 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...
, and went on to play for a local club in Tønder
Tønder
Tønder is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,278 km², and has a total population of 40,367...
, before moving to Silkeborg in autumn 1994. At Silkeborg's youth academy, Røll played alongside future Danish international defender Martin Laursen
Martin Laursen
Martin Laursen is a Danish former footballer who played in the centre back position. He played three seasons for Italian club AC Milan, with whom he won the 2003 UEFA Champions League and the 2004 Serie A championship. He also played for Italian clubs Hellas Verona and Parma FC, and was the team...
. Røll began his senior career 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...
for Silkeborg under manager Preben Elkjær, who believed Røll lacked only temper to become a star in 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...
. Røll debuted in 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...
championship in May 1996, and was a part of the Silkeborg team which won the international 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
competition, beating Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n team HNK Segesta in the final games.
Røll quickly established himself in the first team, and played 29 of 33 league games during 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...
season. He played six seasons for Silkeborg IF, and eventually settled as the playmaker
Playmaker
In association football, a playmaker is a player who controls the flow of the team's offensive play, and is often involved in passing moves which lead to goals....
of the team. In his position of deep-lying forward, he especially experienced a successful striking
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...
partnership with Henrik Pedersen
Henrik Pedersen
Henrik Pedersen is a Danish footballer who currently plays as a striker for Silkeborg IF, having left Hull City by mutual consent for family reasons. He has played three games for the Danish national team.-Career:...
. He helped Silkeborg win silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
s in the 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....
and bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
s in the 2000-01 Superliga
Danish Superliga 2000-01
The 2000–01 Danish Superliga season was the 11th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association...
season, as well as the 2001 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...
trophy.
F.C. Copenhagen
In June 2001, the financially struggling Silkeborg IF sold Røll to the defending Danish champions F.C. CopenhagenF.C. Copenhagen
F.C. Copenhagen is a professional Danish football club in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is part of the Parken Sport & Entertainment....
(FCK) in a transfer deal reportedly worth DKK 7 million. Røll signed a five-year contract, and the move was seen as an opportunity for Røll to attract the attention of clubs abroad, with Silkeborg getting a part of the future transfer earnings. He predominantly played on the flanks for FCK, and only occasionally got the chance to play in his familiar deep-lying forward position, as when he scored two goals against Aarhus GF in October 2001. Røll played five seasons at FCK, and helped the club win three Danish Superliga championships. Initially an important part of the FCK first team, a number of injuries caused him to play fewer and fewer games for the club.
Røll suffered an injured Achilles tendon in March 2004, returned to the FCK squad at the start of the 2004-05 Superliga
Danish Superliga 2004-05
The 2004-05 Danish Superliga season was the 15th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. It took place from the first match on July 24, 2004 to the final match on June 19, 2005....
season in July 2004, but suffered another injury in October 2004. He had a hard time re-entering the FCK starting line-up, and was loaned out
Loan (football)
In sports, a loan involves a particular player being allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long....
to his former club Silkeborg IF in February 2005. He played the second half of the 2004-05 Superliga
Danish Superliga 2004-05
The 2004-05 Danish Superliga season was the 15th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association. It took place from the first match on July 24, 2004 to the final match on June 19, 2005....
season for Silkeborg, helping the club avoid relegation
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...
. Back in FCK, Røll injured his ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
in July 2005, and was soon out of the FCK starting line-up.
Last years
With his FCK contract expiring in the summer 2006, he moved to league rivals FC MidtjyllandFC 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...
(FCM) on a free transfer. Røll suffered another injury before playing any games for FCM, and underwent rehabilitation until January 2007. He played 18 Superliga games for FCM, before moving on loan to 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...
team Vejle BK. He made his Vejle debut in March 2008, and helped the club 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...
for the Superliga. His loan deal was extended by another six months, and he played 15 of 17 games for Vejle in the first half of the 2008-09 Superliga
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. He pleaded for FCM to let him stay in Vejle at the end of his loan. In February 2009, he was bought by 1st Division team 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...
on 2 February 2009, and signed a contract until the summer 2010. Viborg were forced to make economical cuts in the summer 2009, and Røll chose to end his career after 14 years in professional football.
International career
While at Silkeborg, Røll was called up for 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...
in February 1997, at the age of 19. He scored a goal in his debut against the Israel under-21s
Israel national under-21 football team
Israel's national Under-21 team , also known as Israel Under-21s or Israel U-21s, is considered to be the feeder team for the Israel national football team...
; in a game the Denmark under-21s won 2-1.
While at FCK, Røll made his Danish national team debut under national 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...
in October 2002. On November 20, 2002, he became the first non-white player ever to score for Denmark
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 March 2004, Røll played a national team match despite suffering a sore 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:...
. The Achilles tendon subsequently needed surgery, which caused Røll three months of rehabilitation, and he was dropped from the national team.
Honours
- Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: 1996 - 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...
: 2001 - 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...
: 2003, 2004, 2006