Kresten Bjerre
Encyclopedia
Kresten Bjerre is a Danish
retired football (soccer)
player, who played professionally for Houston Stars
in the United States
, and Europe
an clubs PSV Eindhoven and R.W.D. Molenbeek
. As a defender
, he obtained a total 22 caps for the Danish national team
, for which he scored twelve goals in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
, Bjerre started playing football with local clubs Boldklubben Sylvia and Akademisk Boldklub
(AB). He helped AB win the 1967 Danish football championship, and made his national team debut in May 1967. He played eight national team games until October 1967, scoring eight goals. He scored a hat-trick
against Iceland
, in a most remarkable 14-2 victory. He also scored two goals as Denmark beat the Netherlands
3-2 in the qualification for the 1968 European Championship
.
In early 1968, he moved abroad to play professionally for American team Houston Stars
in the NASL
championship. Due to the Danish rules of amateurism, his national team career went on a hiatus. He played the 1968 season for Houston Stars, When the team folded after the season, Bjerre moved back to Europe
. He went on to play for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands
. In 1969, he moved on to Belgian
club R.W.D. Molenbeek
. He was one of the best paid footballers in the Belgian League, and was the first foreign player to be named team captain in Belgian football
. While at Molenbeek, the Danish rules of amateurism were abolished, and Bjerre re-entered the Danish national team in May 1971. He played 14 additional national team games, scoring a further four goals. In his last 13 Danish national games, Kresten Bjerre served as national team captain.
The lacking professionalism of the Danish national team did not sit well with Bjerre, and he became a Belgian citizen in order for Danish international Benny Nielsen
to take his place in Molenbeek's restricted quota of foreign players. This meant Bjerre's final farewell to the Danish national team in November 1973, though he changed back to Danish citizenship after retiring. Bjerre went on to concentrate on his Molenbeek career, and won the 1975 Belgian League championship with the team. He was a part of the Molenbeek team that reached the semi-finals of the European 1977 UEFA Cup
tournament, before retiring at the end of that season.
He moved back to Denmark, where he became a football coach. Under his coaching, Køge BK
reached the 1979 Danish Cup
final, where the team lost to B 1903. He later coached Holbæk B&I
, Herfølge BK, and AB, as well as a number of minor Danish clubs. He went on to become the park manager of BK Frem's stadium Valby Idrætspark
.
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...
retired football (soccer)
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 played professionally for Houston Stars
Houston Stars
The Houston Stars were a soccer team based out of Houston, Texas that played in the United Soccer Association. The league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The Houston club was actually Bangu Atlético Clube from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an clubs PSV Eindhoven and R.W.D. Molenbeek
R.W.D. Molenbeek
Racing White Daring Molenbeek was a Belgian football club founded in 1909 as White Star Club de Bruxelles. It then became a member of the Belgian Football Association later the same year as White Star Athletic Club and received the matricule n°47....
. 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....
, he obtained a total 22 caps 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...
, for which he scored twelve goals in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Biography
Born in CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Bjerre started playing football with local clubs Boldklubben Sylvia and Akademisk Boldklub
Akademisk Boldklub
Akademisk Boldklub or AB is a Danish professional football club from Copenhagen,currently playing at the second highest level in Danish domestic football, the 1st Division.-History:...
(AB). He helped AB win the 1967 Danish football championship, and made his national team debut in May 1967. He played eight national team games until October 1967, scoring eight goals. He scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
against Iceland
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
, in a most remarkable 14-2 victory. He also scored two goals as Denmark beat the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
3-2 in the qualification for the 1968 European Championship
1968 UEFA European Football Championship
-Semi-finals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Replay:-Top scorers:There were 7 goals scored in 4 matches, for an average of 1.75 goals per game.2 goals Dragan Džajić...
.
In early 1968, he moved abroad to play professionally for American team Houston Stars
Houston Stars
The Houston Stars were a soccer team based out of Houston, Texas that played in the United Soccer Association. The league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The Houston club was actually Bangu Atlético Clube from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...
in the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
championship. Due to the Danish rules of amateurism, his national team career went on a hiatus. He played the 1968 season for Houston Stars, When the team folded after the season, Bjerre moved back to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He went on to play for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. In 1969, he moved on to Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
club R.W.D. Molenbeek
R.W.D. Molenbeek
Racing White Daring Molenbeek was a Belgian football club founded in 1909 as White Star Club de Bruxelles. It then became a member of the Belgian Football Association later the same year as White Star Athletic Club and received the matricule n°47....
. He was one of the best paid footballers in the Belgian League, and was the first foreign player to be named team captain in Belgian football
Football in Belgium
Football, a sport which has been played in Belgium since the end of the 19th century, is that country's most popular sport. The national association was founded in 1895 with the intention of bringing some order and organization to the sport...
. While at Molenbeek, the Danish rules of amateurism were abolished, and Bjerre re-entered the Danish national team in May 1971. He played 14 additional national team games, scoring a further four goals. In his last 13 Danish national games, Kresten Bjerre served as national team captain.
The lacking professionalism of the Danish national team did not sit well with Bjerre, and he became a Belgian citizen in order for Danish international Benny Nielsen
Benny Nielsen (footballer)
Jørgen "Benny" Nielsen is a Danish former football player. His position on the field was usually striker, although he also could play as midfielder. Nielsen played 28 matches for Denmark, scoring 7 goals. He made his début against Scotland in a 1–0 loss....
to take his place in Molenbeek's restricted quota of foreign players. This meant Bjerre's final farewell to the Danish national team in November 1973, though he changed back to Danish citizenship after retiring. Bjerre went on to concentrate on his Molenbeek career, and won the 1975 Belgian League championship with the team. He was a part of the Molenbeek team that reached the semi-finals of the European 1977 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
tournament, before retiring at the end of that season.
He moved back to Denmark, where he became a football coach. Under his coaching, Køge BK
Køge BK
Køge Boldklub is a Danish football club from Køge, Zealand, they currently compete in the Sjællandsserie.-History:In 1954, the club became the first outside Copenhagen to win the Danish Championship....
reached the 1979 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...
final, where the team lost to B 1903. He later coached Holbæk B&I
Holbæk B&I
Holbæk Bold- & Idrætsforening is a Danish football club currently playing in Sjællandsserien Pool 1. They play at Holbæk Stadion in Holbæk on Zealand, which has a capacity of 10,500....
, Herfølge BK, and AB, as well as a number of minor Danish clubs. He went on to become the park manager of BK Frem's stadium Valby Idrætspark
Valby Idrætspark
Valby Idrætspark is a multi-purpose stadium in the district of Valby, in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Boldklubben Frem. Valby Idrætspark has hosted a total of nine Danish FA-recognized internationals.In 2006 the Copenhagen...
.