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{{Short description|Danish footballer (born 1961)}}
{{About|the Danish footballer|the Danish long-distance runner|Jesper Olsen (runner)|the Danish speedway rider|Jesper Olsen (speedway rider)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jesper Olsen
| image = Jesper Olsen (1981) Bestanddeelnr 931-5871 (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Olsen in July 1981
| fullname = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|3|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Faxe]], Denmark
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=6}}
| position = [[Midfielder#Winger|Left winger]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| years1 = 1977–1981
| clubs1 = [[Næstved BK|Næstved]]
| caps1 = 72
| goals1 = 15
| years2 = 1981–1984
| clubs2 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| caps2 = 85
| goals2 = 23
| years3 = 1984–1988
| clubs3 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| caps3 = 149
| goals3 = 24
| years4 = 1988
| clubs4 = [[Næstved BK|Næstved]]
| caps4 = 2
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 1988–1990
| clubs5 = [[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|Bordeaux]]
| caps5 = 54
| goals5 = 3
| years6 = 1990–1992
| clubs6 = [[SM Caen|Caen]]
| caps6 = 58
| goals6 = 0
| totalcaps = 402
| totalgoals = 59
| nationalyears1 = 1980–1990
| nationalteam1 = [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]]
| nationalcaps1 = 43
| nationalgoals1 = 5
| manageryears1 = 2010–2011
| managerclubs1 = [[Melbourne Heart]] (assistant)
}}
'''Jesper Olsen''' (born 20 March 1961) is a Danish former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Midfielder#Winger|left winger]]. He is best remembered for representing [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] of the Netherlands and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] of England. He was a regular player for the [[Denmark national football team|Danish national team]], scoring five goals in 43 matches. He represented Denmark at the [[1984 UEFA European Football Championship|Euro 1984]] and [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]] tournaments.

==Career==
'''<big>Næstved IF</big>'''

He started his senior career for [[Næstved BK|Næstved IF]], and made his debut for the Danish national team in a July 1980 [[friendly match]] against the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]]. He had a trial with Arsenal FC in 1978–79, scoring a goal in a reserve team game. Ajax initially tried to sign Olsen in May 1980, but it was not until 1981 that he moved to the Netherlands.

===Ajax===
[[File:Jesper Olsen (l) omspeelt Peter van de Ven, Bestanddeelnr 932-7816.jpg|left|thumbnail|Olsen in November 1983 (Ajax-Roda JC 5–2).]]
While playing for Ajax, Olsen became well known for his part in the infamous "passed penalty" routine he performed with [[Johan Cruyff]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ajax.nl/web/show/id=154417/contentid=64914 |title=Ajax - de 'extra's' van Cruijff |access-date=13 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303063517/http://www.ajax.nl/web/show/id=154417/contentid=64914 |archive-date=3 March 2008}}</ref> When Cruyff was awarded a [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty kick]] in a Dutch [[Eredivisie]] league match against [[Helmond Sport]] on 5 December 1982, with Ajax leading 1–0, Cruyff passed the ball sideways to Olsen, who returned it to Cruyff, with the Dutchman then slotting the ball past the bemused [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] to make the score 2–0. It was allowed by the referee because the penalty is a direct free kick, so it can also be taken indirectly.

During his stay with Ajax, Olsen earned the nickname ''De Vlo'' (The Flea) due to his posture and his ability to twist, turn and jump to avoid tackles. He was also called "The Untouchable". The Ajax coach in the 1981–82 season, Kurt Linder, regarded him the most surprisingly talented player in the young Ajax squad, both technically and tactically phenomenal. [[Frank Rijkaard]], [[Gerald Vanenburg]], [[Wim Kieft]] and captain [[Soren Lerby]] also played for Ajax then.

Olsen won the 1981–82 Eredivisie championship in his first season at the club (117 goals for and 42 goals against). The next season, 1982–83, Ajax successfully defended the Eredivisie title, and also won the [[Dutch Cup]] to complete [[Double (association football)|The Double]], with also young players [[Jan Molby]] and [[Marco van Basten]] in the squad. In the 1983–84 season, Olsen was the best player in the match Ajax-Feyenoord (8-2!). Olsen scored twice in the qualification tournament for [[UEFA Euro 1984|Euro 1984]], including a last-minute equaliser in the 2–2 draw against [[England national football team|England]]. He was selected to represent Denmark at the finals tournament, and played two games, including Denmark's semi-final against [[Spain national football team|Spain]]. The game ended a draw, but even though Olsen scored in the [[Penalty shootout (association football)|penalty shootout]], Denmark were eliminated when [[Preben Elkjær]] missed his shot.

===Manchester United===
Olsen moved from Ajax to England in July 1984, joining Manchester United for a fee of £350,000, signed by manager [[Ron Atkinson]]. He scored a total of 24 goals for the Reds in more than four years at [[Old Trafford]], including a hat-trick against [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] in a 3–0 [[Football League First Division]] home win on 22 February 1986.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/manchester-united-results-1985-86.html |title=Manchester United Results 1985-86, Division One, FA Cup, League Cup |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905231124/http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/manchester-united-results-1985-86.html |archive-date=5 September 2011}}</ref> He succeeded [[Netherlands|Dutchman]] [[Arnold Muhren]] as United's regular left winger, at a time when foreign players were still relatively rare in the English game.

He collected an [[FA Cup]] winner's medal in 1985, when United beat [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] 1–0 in the [[1985 FA Cup Final|final]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]], having ousted veteran Dutch midfielder [[Arnold Mühren]] on the left wing that season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redcafe.net/wiki/Jesper_Olsen |title=Jesper Olsen - RedCafe.net |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721090947/http://www.redcafe.net/wiki/Jesper_Olsen |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}</ref> He also helped them establish a runaway lead at the top of the First Division in the first half of the [[1985–86 in English football|1985–86 season]], where they won their first 10 league games and remained top of the table until well into the new year before floundering and finishing fourth in the table.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2008/nov/27/scott-murray-85-86-football-season | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Scott | last=Murray | title=Football: Scott Murray on the absorbing 1985–86 season | date=27 November 2008}}</ref>

Atkinson signed winger [[Peter Barnes (footballer)|Peter Barnes]] for United at the start of the [[1985–86 in English football|1985–86 season]], who provided cover on the left wing when Olsen was out of action with injury, but after Olsen regained his fitness and form, Barnes was sold to [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in January 1987.

Already an established member of the Danish national team, he was called up to the Danish squad for the 1986 World Cup, and scored two goals in the three preliminary group stage matches, but he will always be remembered for making a grave mistake in the round of 16 match against Spain. He gave Denmark the lead on a penalty kick, but just before half-time he collected a ball from goalkeeper [[Lars Høgh]]. When he tried to return the ball to Høgh, his pass ended up straight in front of [[Emilio Butragueño]] instead. The Spanish striker levelled the game, and eventually went on to score four goals in the game that Denmark lost 5–1. Consequently, the term ''en rigtig Jesper Olsen'' (a real Jesper Olsen) entered the [[Danish language|Danish]] lexicon.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Knowledge: The footballers who have moves named after them |access-date=21 November 2007 |publisher=Guardian Unlimited (Football) |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/theknowledge/story/0,,2201917,00.html | location=London | first=Tom | last=Bryant | date=31 October 2007}}</ref>

During October 1986, Olsen had a training ground bust-up with midfield colleague [[Remi Moses]] and by the end of the month he was put on the transfer list by manager [[Ron Atkinson]]. However, Atkinson was sacked as manager a week later due to United's dismal start to the season, and his successor [[Alex Ferguson]] took Olsen off the transfer list and he would stay at [[Old Trafford]] for two more years, even passing up the chance to sign [[John Barnes (footballer)|John Barnes]] from [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] in the summer of 1987 due to his faith in Olsen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=adRHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vY4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6512,3363552&dq=manchester-united%20atkinson&hl=en|title=New Straits Times - Google News Archive Search}}</ref>

Through his later years at [[Old Trafford]], Olsen had a hard time adapting to the changing English game, and saw his footballing development stagnate.<ref>Kim Simmelsgaard, "Så bli'r Olsen englænder", ''[[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]]'', 20 October 1991</ref> He was selected for the Denmark team at the Euro 1988, but did not play any games at the tournament.

===Bordeaux and Caen===
Olsen's Manchester United career ended in the [[1988–89 in English football|1988–89 season]], and he transferred to [[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|Bordeaux]] of France for £400,000 in November 1988. In his [[1987–88 in English football|final full season]] at Old Trafford, United had finished runners-up to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in the league. His final United goal had come on 12 December 1987 in a 3–1 home win over [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/manchester-united-results-1987-88.html |title=Manchester United Results 1987-88, Division One, FA Cup, League Cup |access-date=29 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111023012/http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/manchester-united-results-1987-88.html |archive-date=11 November 2010 }}</ref>

In 1990, he left Bordeaux to play as a wingback for [[SM Caen|Caen]]. After suffering a serious injury, he left Caen and retired in 1992, despite being offered the chance to return to English football with [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] and [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]].<ref>"Så er det slut med Jesper Olsen", ''[[Politiken]]'', 4 July 1992</ref>

==Retirement==
Olsen has maintained a low profile since his retirement as a player, and now lives in [[Brighton, Victoria]], Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/danish-soccer-star-jesper-olsen-who-played-in-the-1986-world-cup-will-be-at-werribee-plaza-this-weekend/news-story/d3b68d6477b3a93817b31b8511e7466c|title=Danish soccer star Jesper Olsen, who played in the 1986 World Cup, will be at Werribee Plaza this weekend}}</ref> In 2003, he founded and commenced operating the Fun Football Group in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.funfootball.com.au/files/Fun_Football_Group_Company_Profile_Dec09.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=20 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524163525/http://www.funfootball.com.au/files/Fun_Football_Group_Company_Profile_Dec09.pdf |archive-date=24 May 2010 }}</ref>

He was admitted to hospital on 4 May 2006 after suffering a [[subarachnoid hemorrhage|subarachnoid haemorrhage]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4754099.stm Olsen suffers brain haemorrhage], ''BBC Sport'', 9 May 2006</ref> He had just returned from jogging, when he first felt the effects of the haemorrhage, and said, "It was frightening to feel the loss of control".

After recovering from the haemorrhage, Olsen visited Australia coach [[Guus Hiddink]] at the Australian [[2006 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] preparation camp in Melbourne. Olsen was acquainted with Hiddink through his friends [[Søren Lerby]] and [[Frank Arnesen]]. "I'm doing well, but it was a quite scary experience", Olsen told the Dutch newspaper ''[[De Telegraaf]]''. The newspaper described Jesper Olsen as looking somewhat fatigued, but otherwise appearing as his usual self. {{Citation needed|date=May 2017}}

In 2011 the Fun Football Group became a part of the Football Star Academy,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballstaracademy.com.au/Coach_profiles.asp?id=12802|title=Football Star Academy - FSA - Soccer schools In Australia}}</ref> of which Olsen was appointed as Director of coaching. He oversees the Elite training program, and passes on his worldly knowledge and experiences to new budding football stars.

Football Star Academy was instrumental in [[George Lambadaridis]] being given a chance to participate in European Football in a move to Club Belgian [[Club Brugge K.V.]], and works with Clubs all over Europe such as [[Panathinaikos F.C.]] in Greece, and [[Ipswich Town F.C.]] in England to link Australian talent to international opportunities.

==Managerial career==
From January 2010 to May 2011, Olsen was one of the Assistant Managers of [[A-League]] club, [[Melbourne Heart]], assisting head coach John Van't Schip.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribalfootball.com/olsen-and-milicic-unveiled-melbourne-heart%E2%80%99s-assistants-451281 |title=Olsen and Milicic unveiled as Melbourne Heart's assistants &#124; Australi… |access-date=18 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205004612/http://www.tribalfootball.com/olsen-and-milicic-unveiled-melbourne-heart%E2%80%99s-assistants-451281 |archive-date=5 February 2013}}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Ajax'''
*[[Eredivisie]]: [[1981–82 Eredivisie|1981–82]], [[1982–83 Eredivisie|1982–83]]
*[[KNVB Cup]]: [[1982–83 KNVB Cup|1982–83]]

'''Manchester United'''
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1985 FA Cup Final|1984–85]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{DBU player|3778}}
*{{NFT|19481}}

{{Denmark Squad 1984 European Championship}}
{{Denmark Squad 1986 World Cup}}
{{Denmark Squad 1988 European Championship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olsen, Jesper}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Faxe Municipality]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Danish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Næstved Boldklub players]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax players]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. players]]
[[Category:FC Girondins de Bordeaux players]]
[[Category:Stade Malherbe Caen players]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Melbourne City FC non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Denmark men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Denmark men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1984 players]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1988 players]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Footballers from Region Zealand]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:20th-century Danish sportsmen]]