View source for Ove Christensen

{{short description|Danish football manager}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ove Christensen
| fullname =
| image = Ove Christensen.jpg
| image_size = 240px
| caption = Ove Christensen in June 2011
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1950|3|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Brønderslev]], [[Denmark]]
| manageryears1 = 1982 | manageryears2 = 1983–1984 | manageryears3 = 1985–1988 | manageryears4 = 1989–1993 | manageryears5 = 1994–1995 | manageryears6 = 1995–1999 | manageryears7 = 1999–2000 | manageryears8 = 2000–2001 | manageryears9 = 2001–2003 | manageryears10 = 2003–2006 | manageryears11 = 2007–2009 | manageryears12 = 2009–2011 | manageryears13 =2011| manageryears14 =2011–2014 | manageryears15 =2014–2016 | manageryears16 =2017–
| managerclubs1 = [[Brønderslev IF]] | managerclubs2 = [[Vrå IF]] | managerclubs3 = [[Fortuna Hjørring]] (women) | managerclubs4 = [[Nørresundby FB|Nørresundby Boldklub]] | managerclubs5 = [[Fortuna Hjørring]] (women) | managerclubs6 = [[Viborg FF]] | managerclubs7 = [[Denmark]] U-17 & U-18 | managerclubs8 = [[Aarhus Gymnastik Forening]] | managerclubs9 = [[Akademisk Boldklub]] | managerclubs10 = [[Viborg FF]] | managerclubs11 = [[Vejle Boldklub]] | managerclubs12 = [[Randers FC]] | managerclubs13 =[[FC Hjørring]]| managerclubs14 =[[Viborg FF]] | managerclubs15 =[[Vendsyssel FF]] | managerclubs16 =[[Silkeborg KFUM]] (director of football)
}}

'''Ove Christensen''' (born 26 March 1950) is a Danish [[Association football|football]] manager who is currently the [[director of football]] of [[Denmark Series|Danish fourth tier]] club [[Silkeborg KFUM]]. He has managed a number of [[Danish Superliga]] clubs, and won the [[Elitedivisionen|Danish women's championship]] with [[Fortuna Hjørring]].

== Coaching career ==
Christensen started his career coaching lower-league clubs, beginning with [[Brønderslev IF]] in 1982. He managed [[Vrå IF]], before moving to the women's topflight [[Elitedivisionen]] team [[Fortuna Hjørring]] in 1985, staying there for three years.<ref name="tipsbladetprofile"/> He spent four years with men's team [[Nørresundby FB|Nørresundby Boldklub]], guiding the club to the second-tier [[Danish 1st Division]] in 1991,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/ove-christensen-en-stor-taktiker-med-en-stor-mund|title=Ove Christensen: En stor taktiker med en stor mund|website=Tipsbladet.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> with players such as later Danish champions [[Henrik Rasmussen (footballer)|Henrik Rasmussen]] and [[Jan Pedersen (footballer)|Jan Pedersen]].<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/artikel/dansk/fodboldens-skilsmisser-er-unoedigt-brutale|title=Fodboldens skilsmisser er unødigt brutale|website=Tipsbladet.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> He joined Fortuna Hjørring for a second stint in 1994, guiding the club to [[Double (association football)|the Double]] in 1995, by winning both the Elitedivisionen and the Danish Women's Cup.<ref name="tipsbladetprofile">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/profil-ove-christensen|title=Profil Ove Christensen|website=Tipsbladet.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref>

In 1995, Christensen was hired by [[Viborg FF]] in the men's Danish 1st Division, and guided the club to the top-flight [[Danish Superliga]].<ref name="tipsbladetprofile"/> He managed the club to the eighth-place finish of the [[Danish Superliga 1995-96]] season. In the following season, the club ended up 11th, and was [[Promotion and relegation|relegated]] to the 1st Division. He was allowed to retain his position at the club, and promptly guided the club to [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] for the Superliga the following season. In the [[Danish Superliga 1998-99]] season, he once more secured another eighth-place finish.

In July 1999, he was appointed by the [[Danish Football Association]] as manager of the [[Denmark national under-18 football team]], as Viborg agreed to release him from his contract.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dbu.dk/nyheder/|title=Nyheder|website=Dbu.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> In practicality, he also served as [[Flemming Serritslev]]'s assistant coach of the [[Denmark national under-21 football team]], and led that team on a few occasions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dbu.dk/landshold/landsholdsdatabasen/LBaseCoachInfo.aspx?coachid=4140&allmatch=1|title=Landsholdsdatabasen|website=Dbu.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> He left the position after a year, as he accepted the offer of coaching Superliga club [[Aarhus Gymnastikforening|AGF]].<ref name="auto"/>

He only spent six months in AGF, placing the team in ninth place after the first half of the [[Danish Superliga 2000-01]] season. In the winter break, Christensen handed in his resignation, criticizing the AGF management for a lack of support and presence.<ref>"Ove Christensen : Ingen ledelse i AGF", [[Ritzaus Bureau]], 20 January 2001.</ref> Less than two weeks later, he was appointed head coach of rival Superliga team [[Akademisk Boldklub|AB]],<ref>"Ove Christensen ny træner i AB", [[Ritzaus Bureau]], February 1, 2001.</ref> looking to avert relegation. He guided the team to a 10th place, nine points free of the relegation zone. The team also reached the 2001 [[Danish Cup]] final, but lost 1–4 to [[Silkeborg IF]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haslund.info/danmark/pt/200001/fina.asp |title=www.haslund.info - Pokalturneringen 2000/2001 - Finale |access-date=May 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023012843/http://www.haslund.info/danmark/pt/200001/fina.asp |archive-date=October 23, 2007 }}</ref> In the following two seasons, Christensen led AB to fifth and ninth-place finishes, respectively. He could not agree a contract extension with AB in the summer 2003, and left the club six months before time.<ref>"Ove Christensen stopper i AB med øjeblikkelig virkning", [[Ritzaus Bureau]], July 2, 2003.</ref>

He was appointed manager of his old club Viborg FF a few days later.<ref>"Ove Christensen ny Viborg -træner", [[Ritzaus Bureau]], July 5, 2003.</ref> He managed Viborg to two seventh-place finishes in his first two seasons with the team. As Viborg lost 2–3 to Silkeborg IF on 12 March 2006, Christensen set a record of 285 matches as coach in the Superliga, breaking the former record set by [[Peter Rudbæk]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/ove-c-quotjeg-foeler-mig-ikke-gammelquot|title=Ove C.: "Jeg føler mig ikke gammel"|website=Tipsbladet.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> As the positive surprise of the [[Danish Superliga 2005-06]] season,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/fra-graa-mus-til-frisk-pust|title=Fra grå mus til frisk pust|website=Tipsbladet.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> Viborg finished in fourth place, with the highest goal tally of the league. The club was off to a bad start of the [[Danish Superliga 2006-07]]. In July 2006, Christensen declared he wanted to leave the club after the season, and criticized the Viborg management for confused season preparations,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/ove-christensen-vil-vaek|title=Ove Christensen vil væk|website=Tipsbladet.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> and was in turn fired by the club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/ove-christensen-fyret-i-viborg|title=Ove Christensen fyret i Viborg|website=Tipsbladet.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref>

He was hired by Superliga relegation battlers [[Vejle Boldklub]] in April 2007. On 9 May 2007 he reclaimed the record of most matches as coach in the Superliga from [[Viggo Jensen (footballer born 1947)|Viggo Jensen]], when Vejle won 3–0 against [[Esbjerg fB]] in his 307th match.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/superliga/ove-christensen-saetter-rekord|title=Ove Christensen sætter rekord|date=8 May 2007|website=Dr.sk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> He could not keep Vejle from relegation, but guided the club to a bounce-back for the Superliga in 2008. At the winter break of the [[Danish Superliga 2008-09]] season, Vejle was placed one point into the relegation zone. With a series of transfer moves,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/danmark/se-alle-transfers-i-sas-ligaen|title=Se alle transfers i SAS Ligaen|website=Tipsbladet.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> the Vejle squad found renewed optimism before the second half of the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/sas-ligaen/priske-handlekraftig-ledelse-loefter-vejle|title=Priske: Handlekraftig ledelse løfter Vejle|website=Tipsbladet.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> As Vejle got three points in the first three games of the spring season, Vejle officials sacked Christensen on 17 March 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vejle-boldklub.dk/index.php?nyhedsarkivet&newsId=2269|title=Bot Verification|website=Vejle-boldklub.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> The sacking was criticized as premature,<ref name="auto1"/> and Vejle got nine points in the remaining 13 games and was relegated.

On 7 October 2009 he was appointed the successor of Superliga club [[Randers FC]]'s fired Head Coach [[John Jensen|John 'Faxe' Jensen]] on a contract for the remainder of the [[Danish Superliga 2009-10]] season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.randersfc.dk/index.php?afd=1&side=4020 |title=Randers FC - Ove Christensen er den nye cheftræner |access-date=2009-10-07 |archive-date=2011-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719115622/http://www.randersfc.dk/index.php?afd=1&side=4020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Randers had only two points after 11 games, and the goal of his appointment was to turn the team around and avoid relegation. Randers got six points in the last seven games before the winter break halfway through the season, leaving them 13 points deep in the relegation zone, with all experts forecasting nothing but relegation at the end of the upcoming spring season. In the winter break, Randers parted ways with seven players, bringing in four key signings in [[Anders Egholm]], [[Yura Movsisyan]], [[Søren Jensen (footballer)|Søren Jensen]], and [[Morten Karlsen]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/sas-liga/se-prisen-saadan-koebte-og-solgte-sas-ligaen|title=Se prisen: Sådan købte og solgte SAS Ligaen|website=Tipsbladet.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> With a historic comeback of 16 successive games without losing, Christensen guided Randers two points clear of relegation and kept the club in the top flight. On 17 May 2010 he signed a one-year extension of his contract.

He was sacked by Randers FC in April 2011 due to a series of bad results. On 7 May 2011 he was announced as the successor of [[Kim Poulsen]] at [[Danish 1st Division]] club [[FC Hjørring]] on a contract running for the rest of the [[2010-11 Danish 1st Division|2010–11 season]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/viasat-sport-divisionen/ove-christensen-ny-hjoerring-traener|title=Ove Christensen ny Hjørring-træner|website=Tipsbladet.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> On 29 June he was returned for a third spell as manager of [[Viborg FF]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/Viborg-bekraefter-Ove-C/|title=Viborg bekræfter Ove C.|website=Bold.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref>

In the [[2012-13 Danish 1st Division|2012–13 season]] he managed to get [[Viborg FF]] promoted back to the [[Danish Superliga]]. He had to resign in January 2014 with Viborg in an acceptable 9th place due to a knee injury that prevented him from performing his duties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/Viborg-bombe-Ove-Christensen-stopper/|title=Viborg-bombe: Ove Christensen stopper|website=Bold.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref>

In the summer of 2014 he became new manager of [[Danish 1st Division]] side [[Vendsyssel FF]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/vendsyssel-hyrer-ove-christensen/|title=Vendsyssel hyrer Ove Christensen|website=Bold.dk|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref> In his first season the club finished 4th in the Danish 1st Division - their best result ever. In his second season the club was in the contest for promotion, but began losing games in the spring of 2016. He left by mutual consent on 23 April 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://vendsysselff.dk/nyheder?id=1573 |title=Nyhedsarkiv - Vendsyssel FF |access-date=2016-04-23 |archive-date=2016-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602013502/http://vendsysselff.dk/nyheder?id=1573 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 17 January 2017, Christensen was appointed [[director of football]] in then [[Jutland Series]] (fifth division) side [[Silkeborg KFUM]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jensen |first1=Kenneth |title=Ove Christensen og Jesper Thygesen får job i serieklub |url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/ove-christensen-og-jesper-thygesen-skal-hjaelpe-serieklub |website=tipsbladet.dk |publisher=[[Tipsbladet]] |access-date=29 May 2020 |date=17 January 2017}}</ref> Under him, the club was promoted to the fourth division of Danish football.

==Honors==
* [[Elitedivisionen|Danish Champion]]: Fortuna Hjørring, 1994 (women)
* Danish Cup Winner: Fortuna Hjørring, 1995 (women)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ove Christensen}}
*[http://www.dbu.dk/landshold/landsholdsdatabasen/LBaseCoachInfo.aspx?coachid=4140 Danish national team coach profile]
*[http://www.danskfodbold.com/traener.php?ligaid=2001&coachid=4063 Danish Superliga coach statistics] at danskfodbold.com {{in lang|da}}

{{Viborg FF managers}}
{{AGF managers}}
{{Akademisk Boldklub managers}}
{{Vejle BK managers}}
{{Randers FC managers}}
{{Danish Football Manager of the Year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christensen, Ove}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Danish football managers]]
[[Category:Viborg FF managers]]
[[Category:Aarhus Gymnastikforening managers]]
[[Category:Akademisk Boldklub managers]]
[[Category:Vejle Boldklub managers]]
[[Category:Randers FC managers]]
[[Category:People from Brønderslev]]
[[Category:Vendsyssel FF managers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from the North Jutland Region]]