Bjørn Kristensen
Encyclopedia
Bjørn Kristensen is a Danish
former professional football
player who most notably played for English
club Newcastle United
, where he was nicknamed "Benny". He played 20 matches and scored two goals for the Danish national team
, and represented his country at the 1988 European Championship
.
, Kristensen started his career with local top-flight team AGF Aarhus in 1982. His talent was soon discovered, as he played 12 games for the Danish under-21 national team
from 1983 to 1986. While at AGF, Kristensen won the 1986 Danish championship
as well as two Danish Cup
trophies. He made his national team debut in May 1987, and took part in a single match at the 1988 European Championship.
He joined Newcastle United in March 1989, as a 25-year-old, and became a popular figure amongst the fans for his versatility; he could play as a defender
or midfielder
. He is also remembered by "Toon" fans for having a strong long-range shot. He was the second Newcastle player to gain caps for the Danish national team after Preben Arentoft, playing two national team matches in 1991. He was loaned out
to Bristol City in November 1992, before he permanently left Newcastle in February 1993. He moved to Portsmouth FC, before ending his career in Denmark.
He joined defending Danish champions Aalborg BK (AaB) in the summer 1995. He made fine displays in the central defense of AaB, and took part in AaB's campaign in the international 1996 UEFA Champions League
tournament. Despite being an experienced player in a young squad, Kristensen suffered a number of injuries and only played a total of 22 games for AaB. He moved to Aarhus Fremad
in January 1997, and helped the club win promotion
for the top-flight Danish Superliga
championship.
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...
former professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who most notably played for English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, where he was nicknamed "Benny". He played 20 matches and scored two goals 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...
, and represented his country at the 1988 European Championship
1988 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1988 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was held in West Germany. West Germany won the right to host the tournament with five votes ahead of a joint bid from Norway, Sweden and Denmark, who gained 1 vote, and a bid from England. It was the eighth European Football...
.
Biography
Born in MallingMalling
Malling may refer to:* Malling Rural Sanitary District, Kent, England - * East Malling and West Malling, a village and town in the above Rural Sanitary District* Malling, Moselle, France* Malling, Denmark...
, Kristensen started his career with local top-flight team AGF Aarhus in 1982. His talent was soon discovered, as he played 12 games for the Danish under-21 national team
Denmark 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...
from 1983 to 1986. While at AGF, Kristensen won the 1986 Danish championship
Danish football champions
The Danish football champions are the winners of the highest league of football in Denmark. The title has been contested since 1913, in a varying form of competitions. Since 1991, the winners have been found through the Danish Superliga championship...
as well as two 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...
trophies. He made his national team debut in May 1987, and took part in a single match at the 1988 European Championship.
He joined Newcastle United in March 1989, as a 25-year-old, and became a popular figure amongst the fans for his versatility; he could play as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
or midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He is also remembered by "Toon" fans for having a strong long-range shot. He was the second Newcastle player to gain caps for the Danish national team after Preben Arentoft, playing two national team matches in 1991. He 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 Bristol City in November 1992, before he permanently left Newcastle in February 1993. He moved to Portsmouth FC, before ending his career in Denmark.
He joined defending Danish champions Aalborg BK (AaB) in the summer 1995. He made fine displays in the central defense of AaB, and took part in AaB's campaign in the international 1996 UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League 1995-96
The 1995–96 UEFA Champions League was the 41st season of UEFA's premier European club football tournament, and the fourth since its rebranding as the UEFA Champions League. The tournament was won by Juventus, who beat defending champions Ajax on penalties in the final for their first championship...
tournament. Despite being an experienced player in a young squad, Kristensen suffered a number of injuries and only played a total of 22 games for AaB. He moved to Aarhus Fremad
Aarhus Fremad
Aarhus Fremad is a Danish football club currently playing in the Danish 2nd Division West. They play at Riisvangen Stadion in Aarhus in Jutland, which has a capacity of 4,500.-History:...
in January 1997, 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 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.