View source for Niclas Jensen

{{Short description|Danish footballer (born 1974)}}
{{distinguish|Nicklas Jensen|Nicholas Jensen|Nick Jensen}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Niclas Jensen
| image          = Niclas Jensen 2008.jpg
| upright        = 
| caption        = Jensen with [[F.C. Copenhagen]] in 2008
| full_name      = Niclas Christian Monberg Jensen
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|8|17}}
| birth_place    = [[Copenhagen]], Denmark
| height         = 1.79 m
| position       = [[Left-back]]
| youthyears1    =
| youthclubs1    = [[Boldklubben 1893|B.93]]
| years1         = 1993–1996
| clubs1         = [[Lyngby FC]]
| caps1          = 92
| goals1         = 7
| years2         = 1996–1998
| clubs2         = [[PSV Eindhoven]]
| caps2          = 5
| goals2         = 0
| years3         = 1998–2002
| clubs3         = [[F.C. Copenhagen]]
| caps3          = 122
| goals3         = 7
| years4         = 2002–2003
| clubs4         = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| caps4          = 51
| goals4         = 2
| years5         = 2003–2005
| clubs5         = [[Borussia Dortmund]]
| caps5          = 43
| goals5         = 2
| years6         = 2005–2007
| clubs6         = [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
| caps6          = 16
| goals6         = 0
| years7         = 2007–2009
| clubs7         = [[F.C. Copenhagen]]
| caps7          = 37
| goals7         = 0
| totalcaps      = 366
| totalgoals     = 18
| nationalyears1 = 1990–1991
| nationalteam1  = Denmark U17
| nationalcaps1  = 15
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 1992–1993
| nationalteam2  = Denmark U19
| nationalcaps2  = 11
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 1994–1996
| nationalteam3  = [[Denmark under-21 national football team|Denmark U21]]
| nationalcaps3  = 18
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| nationalyears4 = 1998–2008
| nationalteam4  = [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]]
| nationalcaps4  = 62
| nationalgoals4 = 0
}}
'''Niclas Christian Monberg Jensen''' (born 17 August 1974) is a Danish former professional [[association football|football]] player and current [[sports agent|football agent]]. He played as a [[left-back]], and most notably won three [[Danish Superliga]] championships with [[F.C. Copenhagen]]. He played abroad for Dutch club [[PSV Eindhoven]], English clubs [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] and [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]], as well as German club [[Borussia Dortmund]]. Jensen played 62 games for the [[Denmark national football team|Denmark national team]] between 1998 and 2008, representing Denmark at the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] and [[2004 UEFA European Football Championship|2004 European Championship]]. He was named 1995 [[Danish Football Player of the Year#Young Players of the Year|Danish ''Under-21 Player of the Year'']].

He is the older brother of Denmark national team player [[Daniel Jensen]].

==Club career==
Born in [[Copenhagen]], Denmark, Jensen started playing football for Danish club [[Boldklubben 1893]] (B.93). He moved on to [[Lyngby Boldklub]] in the [[Danish Superliga]] championship in 1992. He made his Lyngby debut in April 1993.<ref name="df">{{cite web | url = http://www.danskfodbold.com/spiller.php?spillerid=10236&ligaid=2001 | title = Niclas Jensen | publisher = Danskfodbold.com | language = da}}</ref> Jensen played a total of 92 games and scored five goals for Lyngby in the Superliga between April 1993 and September 1996.<ref name="df"/>

In the fall of 1996, Jensen was one of several Lyngby players sold by Lyngby CEO [[Flemming Østergaard]].<ref>{{cite news | first = Jørgen | last = Pihl | title = Lyngby-direktør på vej væk | newspaper = [[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]] | date = 26 October 1996 | language = da}}</ref> Jensen was one of three Lyngby players sold to Dutch team [[PSV Eindhoven]], alongside [[Anders Nielsen (footballer, born 1972)|Anders Nielsen]] and [[Dennis Rommedahl]].<ref>{{cite news | first = Allan | last = Nielsen | title = Lyngby sælger ud | newspaper = [[Politiken]] | date = 26 September 1996| language = da}}</ref> In his first season at PSV, Jensen played three games as the club won the [[1996–97 Eredivisie]] championship.<ref>{{NFT player|pid=1873| accessdate = 25 August 2013}}</ref> Jensen played only five games in one and a half seasons at PSV, as he underwent two [[groin]] operations, and was used as back-up to [[Netherlands national football team|Dutch international]] [[Arthur Numan]].<ref name="berlingske">{{cite news | first = Mads | last = Steffensen | title = Så vender endnu en legionær hjem | newspaper = [[Berlingske Tidende]] | date = 3 March 1998 | language = da}}</ref>

In March 1998, Jensen returned to Denmark to play for [[F.C. Copenhagen]] (FCK) on a {{frac|4|1|2}}-year contract, brought in by FCK's new CEO Flemming Østergaard.<ref name="berlingske"/> Jensen went on to play almost five years for F.C. Copenhagen, winning the [[2000–01 Danish Superliga]] championship with the club. With former Lyngby teammate [[Thomas Rytter]] as right wingback, Jensen formed a wingback duo that was known as the best in the Superliga. Jensen played a total of 122 games and scored eight goals for FCK in the Superliga between April 1998 and December 2001.<ref name="df"/> In January 2002, he was sold to [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in the [[Football League First Division|English 1st Division]], in a [[transfer deal]] worth [[£]] 550,000.<ref>{{cite news | first = Mads Glenn | last = Wehlast | title = Månedsløn på halv million | newspaper = [[Ekstra Bladet]] | date = 15 January 2001 | language = da}}</ref>

Jensen played the remaining 18 games of the season, as Manchester City won promotion to the top-flight [[FA Premier League]] in the summer 2002. Returning from the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], he played 33 of Manchester City's 38 games in the [[2002–03 FA Premier League|2002–03 Premiership season]], as the club finished ninth in the Premier League. A high point came at home against [[Leeds United]] when Jensen scored a spectacular volley to win the game. Jensen played a total 51 league games, scoring two goals, for Manchester City.<ref name="sb">{{soccerbase|id=15861|name=Niclas Jensen}}</ref>

Niclas Jensen was bought by German team [[Borussia Dortmund]] in July 2003 for a fee in the region of £750,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/62/62354_nic_completes_dortmund_move.html |title=Nic completes Dortmund move |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=8 July 2003 |access-date=6 September 2010 |archive-date=12 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112153514/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/62/62354_nic_completes_dortmund_move.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He started well for Dortmund, but Jensen was eventually relegated to the role of substitute for Brazilian wingback [[Dedê]].<ref>{{cite news | first = Torben | last = Larsen | title = Fulham vil købe Niclas | newspaper = [[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]] | date = 9 July 2007 | language = da}}</ref> In his two seasons in the club, Jensen played 43 games and scored two goals for Dortmund in the Bundesliga.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/jensenniclas | title = Niclas Jensen | language = de | publisher = fussballdaten.de | access-date = 18 February 2012}}</ref> After two years at Dortmund, he moved back to England in July 2005, to play for [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] in the FA Premier League. At Fulham, he joined former Lyngby teammate [[Claus Jensen]].

In the first half of the [[2005–06 FA Premier League|2005–06 season]], Niclas Jensen was a Fulham regular.<ref name="sb"/> When the club signed a [[Loan (sports)|loan deal]] with [[England national football team|English international]] defender [[Wayne Bridge]] in January 2006, Jensen was dropped from the Fulham first team after the 14 January 2006 Premiership game against [[Newcastle United]].<ref name="sb"/> He would have to wait until September 2006, before he played his next Fulham game, being substituted off in a [[Football League Cup]] game against [[Wycombe Wanderers]].<ref name="sb"/> With only one competitive game for Fulham in almost a year, Jensen looked to leave Fulham in January 2007. It was rumoured the solution would be a move "home" to F.C. Copenhagen,<ref name="caruso">{{cite news | url = http://www.berlingske.dk/sport/niclas-jensen-klar-fck | title = Niclas Jensen klar for FCK | first = Jesper Dahl | last = Caruso | newspaper= [[Berlingske Tidende]] | date = 8 January 2007 | access-date = 18 February 2012 | language = da}}</ref> and his return to FCK was published in January 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://fck.dk/index.php?pageid=754&newsid=6317 | title = Niclas Jensen vender hjem til F.C. København | publisher = F.C. Copenhagen | date = 11 January 2007 | access-date = 18 February 2012 | language = da}}</ref> By waiting to move back to Denmark until January 2007, Jensen was eligible for preferential taxation rules.<ref name="caruso"/>

[[File:Niclas Jensen shooting FC Copenhagen FC Vestsjælland 05.04.2009.JPG|thumb|275px|right|Jensen playing for the FCK reserves against [[FC Vestsjælland]] in April 2009.]]
In his first half season back at FCK, Jensen played 12 of 14 games, as FCK won the [[2006–07 Danish Superliga|2006–07 Superliga]] championship.<ref name="df"/> In the following seasons, Jensen saw his playing time dwindling, as he became back-up for [[Sweden men's national football team|Swedish international]] [[Oscar Wendt]]. Jensen played seven of 33 games as FCK won the [[2008–09 Danish Superliga|2008–09 Superliga]] championship.<ref name="df"/> He did not play any Superliga games in the fall of 2009, and in October 2009, Jensen decided to end his playing career, in order to pursue a career as a [[Sports agent|football agent]].<ref>{{cite news | first = Christian | last = Heide-Jørgensen | url = http://politiken.dk/sport/fodbold/article815083.ece | title = FCK-veteran stopper karrieren | newspaper = [[Politiken]] | date = 23 October 2009 | access-date = 18 February 2012 | language = da}}</ref> Niclas Jensen played a total of 213 games and scored 10 goals for FCK in all competitions combined.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://fck.dk/saesonen/statistik/spillerstatistik/?search=1&play_playerid_fk=109 | title = Niclas Jensen | publisher = FCK.dk | access-date = 18 February 2012 | language = da | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121003135844/http://fck.dk/saesonen/statistik/spillerstatistik/?search=1&play_playerid_fk=109 | archive-date = 3 October 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

==International career==
While at B.93, Jensen made his debut for the Denmark under-17 national teams in July 1990, and he played three matches at the 1991 [[UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship]].<ref name="dbu">{{cite web | url = http://www.dbu.dk/landshold/landsholdsdatabasen/PlayerInfo/2304&allmatch=1#match | title = Niclas Jensen – Landskampsstatistik – Alle hold | publisher= FCK.dk | access-date = 18 February 2012 | language = da}}</ref> While playing for Lyngby, Jensen debuted for the [[Denmark national under-21 football team|Denmark under-21 national team]] in July 1994,<ref name="dbu"/> and he won the 1995 [[Danish Football Player of the Year#Young Players of the Year|Danish ''Under-21 Player of the Year'']] award.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dbu.dk/page.aspx?id=318 | title = Arlas talentpriser 2009 – 1987 | publisher = FCK.dk | access-date = 18 February 2012 | language = da | archive-date = 12 December 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181212144542/https://www.dbu.dk/page.aspx?id=318 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

While at F.C. Copenhagen, he was called up for the senior Denmark national team under national team coach [[Bo Johansson]]. Jensen debuted in a [[friendly match]] against the [[Czech Republic national football team|Czech Republic]] in August 1998.<ref name="dbu"/> Following his debut, Jensen would have to wait more than two years to play his second national team game. Under new national team coach [[Morten Olsen]], Jensen was recalled for a [[friendly match]] against [[Germany national football team|Germany]] in November 2000.<ref name="dbu"/>

He was selected for the Denmark national team at the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]],<ref name="slutrunde">{{cite web | url = http://www.dbu.dk/page.aspx?id=435 | title = Slutrundetrupper 1908–2004 | publisher = FCK.dk | access-date = 18 February 2012 | language = da | archive-date = 9 August 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120809060627/http://www.dbu.dk/page.aspx?id=435 | url-status = dead }}</ref> and in the progress of the tournament, he displaced [[Jan Heintze]] as Denmark's starting left wingback. In his time at Dortmund, Jensen was selected to represent Denmark at the [[2004 UEFA European Football Championship|2004 European Championship]].<ref name="slutrunde"/> He played Denmark's first three matches at the tournament, before being replaced by [[Kasper Bøgelund]] for Denmark's final game before elimination.

In January 2007, having only played few games for his club team Fulham, Jensen received an [[ultimatum]] from national manager Morten Olsen to either find himself a new club or be dropped from the Denmark national team.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/landsholdsfodbold/article257177.ece |title=Olsen til Niclas: Sidste udkald |first=Jakob |last=Rohde-Brøndum |newspaper=[[Ekstra Bladet]] |date=3 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105073310/http://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/landsholdsfodbold/article257177.ece |archive-date=5 January 2007 }}</ref> Jensen moved to F.C. Copenhagen, and was a part of the Denmark national team until he played his last national team game in March 2008.<ref name="dbu"/> He played a total 62 games for the Denmark national team.

==Honours==
'''PSV Eindhoven'''
* [[Eredivisie]]: [[1996–97 Eredivisie|1996–97]]

'''F.C. Copenhagen'''
* [[Danish Superliga]]: [[2000–01 Danish Superliga|2001–02]], [[2006–07 Danish Superliga|2006–07]], [[2008–09 Danish Superliga|2008–09]]
* [[Danish Cup]]: [[2008–09 Danish Cup|2008–09]]

'''Individual'''
* [[Danish Football Player of the Year#Young Players of the Year|Danish ''Under-21 Player of the Year'']]: 1995

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{DBU player|2304}}

{{Denmark squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Denmark squad UEFA Euro 2004}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jensen, Niclas}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Danish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Denmark men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Denmark men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Boldklubben af 1893 players]]
[[Category:Lyngby Boldklub players]]
[[Category:PSV Eindhoven players]]
[[Category:F.C. Copenhagen players]]
[[Category:Manchester City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Borussia Dortmund players]]
[[Category:Fulham F.C. players]]
[[Category:Danish Superliga players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Footballers from Copenhagen]]
[[Category:Danish sports agents]]