27-25: Great Danes get their due
Friday, 27 February 2004
uefa.com
The countdown from No50 to No1 in UEFA's Jubilee poll to find the best European player of the past 50 years continued this week with the players ranked between 27 and 25.
Recent stars
Two famous Danish names of recent times were among the three players - Peter Schmeichel, the inspirational goalkeeper, and supremely talented playmaker Michael Laudrup - with Dutch legend and current AFC Ajax coach Ronald Koeman sandwiched between the two.
*Peter Schmeichel
At No 27 with 66,463 votes was the former Danish No1, who was a fixture in the Manchester United FC side for almost a decade. The giant goalkeeper was the foundation of his country’s surprise success at EURO '92 and helped United to much domestic success, before his career with the club climaxed with victory in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final.
*Ronald Koeman
An accomplished sweeper, the 1988 UEFA European Championship winner amassed 66,661 votes to occupy 26th position in the poll. The same year that the Dutch triumphed in West Germany, Koeman was part of the PSV Eindhoven side that captured both the domestic double and the European Champion Clubs' Cup. He moved to FC Barcelona the following season and there won four league titles as well as scoring the only goal of the 1992 European Cup final - still Barcelona's only success in the competition.
*Michael Laudrup
Son of Finn Laudrup, a former Danish international, and elder brother of Brian, 67,484 votes meant that Michael was placed 25th in the poll. He came to widespread attention with a virtuso performance in Denmark's 6-1 win against Uruguay at the 1986 FIFA World Cup finals, but missed his country's European Championship triumph six years later after a disagreement with coach Richard Møller Nielsen. Laudrup enjoyed a glittering club career, winning the European/South American Cup with Juventus FC , the European Cup with FC Barcelona and a total of five Spanish league titles. He also won the Dutch league and cup double with AFC Ajax and now coaches Brøndby IF.
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Just me ranting about the danes. Everyone knows that Schmeichel and Laudrup were great players, but they're always forgotten when making these lists of greatest players in football. Finally they get a mention, but I'm still a bit dissapointed about their rank. Laudrup should at least be in the top 15, while Schmeichels position is ok considering he's "only" a goalkeeper.
I'm always amazed when people talk of the old stars and leave out Laudrup. Sure, I'm biased cuz I'm danish, but you can't deny that this dude was one of the best ever. How he never picked up the golden ball is beyond me... maybe he would have, if he had won the Euro 92', but he was on vacation and we have Richard Møller to thank for that... that arse!
Show the love for a man, who was not only a big part of Barca's dreamteam, but also an important man for Juventus' success in the mid 80's.
</rant>
Friday, 27 February 2004
uefa.com
The countdown from No50 to No1 in UEFA's Jubilee poll to find the best European player of the past 50 years continued this week with the players ranked between 27 and 25.
Recent stars
Two famous Danish names of recent times were among the three players - Peter Schmeichel, the inspirational goalkeeper, and supremely talented playmaker Michael Laudrup - with Dutch legend and current AFC Ajax coach Ronald Koeman sandwiched between the two.
*Peter Schmeichel
At No 27 with 66,463 votes was the former Danish No1, who was a fixture in the Manchester United FC side for almost a decade. The giant goalkeeper was the foundation of his country’s surprise success at EURO '92 and helped United to much domestic success, before his career with the club climaxed with victory in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final.
*Ronald Koeman
An accomplished sweeper, the 1988 UEFA European Championship winner amassed 66,661 votes to occupy 26th position in the poll. The same year that the Dutch triumphed in West Germany, Koeman was part of the PSV Eindhoven side that captured both the domestic double and the European Champion Clubs' Cup. He moved to FC Barcelona the following season and there won four league titles as well as scoring the only goal of the 1992 European Cup final - still Barcelona's only success in the competition.
*Michael Laudrup
Son of Finn Laudrup, a former Danish international, and elder brother of Brian, 67,484 votes meant that Michael was placed 25th in the poll. He came to widespread attention with a virtuso performance in Denmark's 6-1 win against Uruguay at the 1986 FIFA World Cup finals, but missed his country's European Championship triumph six years later after a disagreement with coach Richard Møller Nielsen. Laudrup enjoyed a glittering club career, winning the European/South American Cup with Juventus FC , the European Cup with FC Barcelona and a total of five Spanish league titles. He also won the Dutch league and cup double with AFC Ajax and now coaches Brøndby IF.
-------------------------------------------------------
Just me ranting about the danes. Everyone knows that Schmeichel and Laudrup were great players, but they're always forgotten when making these lists of greatest players in football. Finally they get a mention, but I'm still a bit dissapointed about their rank. Laudrup should at least be in the top 15, while Schmeichels position is ok considering he's "only" a goalkeeper.
I'm always amazed when people talk of the old stars and leave out Laudrup. Sure, I'm biased cuz I'm danish, but you can't deny that this dude was one of the best ever. How he never picked up the golden ball is beyond me... maybe he would have, if he had won the Euro 92', but he was on vacation and we have Richard Møller to thank for that... that arse!
Show the love for a man, who was not only a big part of Barca's dreamteam, but also an important man for Juventus' success in the mid 80's.
</rant>
