Thomas Christiansen
Encyclopedia
Thomas Christiansen Tarín (born 11 March 1973) is a retired Spanish
footballer of Danish
descent.
A left-footed striker, he played for a number of clubs in Danish
, Spanish
, and German football
, being crowned the top goalscorer of the 2002–03 Bundesliga.
He also briefly represented the Spanish national team
, in a 15-year professional career.
to a Spanish
mother, Christiansen was raised in Denmark
. He started playing football aged nine in Avedøre IF, and played for Brøndby IF
for a single year in 1988, before moving on to Hvidovre IF
.
Christiansen trained with the youth team of Spanish
giants Real Madrid
, but when his mother forbid him to join the club, he moved to another Danish club, Boldklubben af 1893. In May 1991, Christiansen scored six goals in a youth team match against Kjøbenhavns Boldklub
, and went back to Spain to train with the youth team of defending La Liga
champions FC Barcelona
, Real Madrid's archrivals.
was club manager, with a dream of playing alongside the club's Danish playmaker
Michael Laudrup
. he played his first match in Spain with FC Barcelona B
, the reserve team of the club, where he soon was joined by compatriot midfielder
Ronnie Ekelund
. During this period, he was frequently called up to train with the first team.
When he joined Barcelona, Christiansen signed a contract clause saying he would be a Spanish citizen, and thereby not count towards the foreigner quota in the league. After becoming naturalized, he was called-up for the under-21 national team
in December 1992, and scored a goal as Germany
was defeated 2–1.
Still playing for Barcelona's B team, Christiansen was called up for the senior Spanish senior team
by manager Javier Clemente
, in January 1993. He made his debut against Mexico
, and impressed in a game which featured few regulars for the national side. He prolonged his Barcelona contract until 1997, and made his official debut for the club when he played the last seven minutes of the UEFA Super Cup final – first leg – against SV Werder Bremen
. He played his first full Barcelona match in a Spanish Cup
contest against Atlético Madrid, and was once more selected to the national team, appearing as a substitute in Spain's 1994 FIFA World Cup
qualification match
against Lithuania
, and scoring with a smart flick of the heel, in a 5–0 home win.
Without having played any league games for Barcelona, Christiansen was put on loan
at then-first divisioner Sporting de Gijón
, in February 1993. He was mostly injured during that stint, but managed four league goals. He returned to Barcelona in July, but another injury in the pre-season meant he would see no further playing time under Cruyff. Other loans followed, first at CA Osasuna
in 1994, and then at Racing de Santander
in the 1994–95 season. At Santander, he started well, and after his first league match, was recalled to the Spanish national team, only to pull out due to injury.
club Manchester City
in October 1995, but Christiansen wanted to stay in Spain, being instead sold to Real Oviedo
in January of the following year for DKK
4.6 million. Following a good start, Christiansen failed to score any goals in his second season there (31 games), and was sold to Segunda División
club Villarreal CF
in November 1997. He helped the Valencian
win promotion
in 1998, but the following season was no success, with only a single league goal scored and club relegation.
A proposed deal with a Mexican
team never materialized, and Christiansen was without a club in 1999. He went on to play for Spanish lower league club Terrassa FC
, also based in Catalonia
, finishing that season at Panionios F.C. in Greece
, before returning to Denmark in August 2000, signing with defending Danish champions
Herfølge BK, and showed good form when he scored two goals in a win over eventual runners-up Brøndby.
to play for VfL Bochum
in the Bundesliga
. In his first year at the club, Bochum were relegated to the second division
, and the player experienced a déjà vu
, as his old club Herfølge were also relegated that season. With 17 goals in the following season, he was the North Rhine-Westphalia
's top scorer as the club won promotion; he added 21 in next year's top flight, being crowned joint league top scorer with Élber Giovane.
Following that achievement, Christiansen was recruited by Hannover 96
to replace striker Fredi Bobic in June 2003, wearing number 9. He scored nine goals in his first year at the club, but could not reproduce his form from Bochum. He suffered several injuries, including a knee
operation and two shinbone injuries. In the summer 2006, Hannover chose not to prolong his contract, and he left the club, retiring shortly after.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer of Danish
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...
descent.
A left-footed striker, he played for a number of clubs in Danish
Football in Denmark
Association football is the national sport of Denmark, with 342,955 players and 1,647 clubs registered under the Danish FA.- League system :The top 4 levels in Denmark are governed by the Danish Football Association...
, Spanish
Football in Spain
Football is the most popular sport in Spain. The Royal Spanish Football Federation is the national governing body and it organizes La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spain national football team, current champion of the FIFA World Cup...
, and German football
Football in Germany
Association football is the most popular sport in Germany. The German Football Association is the sport's national governing body, with 6.6 million members organized in over 26,000 football clubs. There is a league system, with the 1. and 2. Bundesliga on top, and the winner of the first...
, being crowned the top goalscorer of the 2002–03 Bundesliga.
He also briefly represented the Spanish national team
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, in a 15-year professional career.
Early years
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...
to a Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
mother, Christiansen was raised in Denmark
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...
. He started playing football aged nine in Avedøre IF, and played for Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF is a Danish professional football club based in Brøndbyvester, Brøndby, on the western outskirts of Copenhagen and is the biggest football club in Denmark with almost 2000 members. The club is also known as Brøndbyernes Idrætsforening, or Brøndby and BIF for short...
for a single year in 1988, before moving on to Hvidovre IF
Hvidovre IF
Hvidovre IF is a Danish football club, founded on 15 October 1925 in Hvidovre.- Current squad :As of 2011-03-21...
.
Christiansen trained with the youth team of Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
giants Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, but when his mother forbid him to join the club, he moved to another Danish club, Boldklubben af 1893. In May 1991, Christiansen scored six goals in a youth team match against Kjøbenhavns Boldklub
Kjøbenhavns Boldklub
Kjøbenhavns Boldklub or KB is a Danish sports club based in Copenhagen. The club was founded April 26, 1876 on the grassy fields in outer Copenhagen which later became Fælledparken. Football and cricket has been played in KB since 1879, making KB the oldest football club on Continental Europe and...
, and went back to Spain to train with the youth team of defending La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
champions FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Real Madrid's archrivals.
Barcelona
Christiansen signed a four-year contract with Barcelona in July 1991, when Johan CruyffJohan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff OON , known as Johan Cruyff, is a retired Dutch footballer and is currently the manager of the Catalan national team as well as a member of the AFC Ajax board of directors. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974, which is a record jointly held with...
was club manager, with a dream of playing alongside the club's Danish playmaker
Playmaker
In association football, a playmaker is a player who controls the flow of the team's offensive play, and is often involved in passing moves which lead to goals....
Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup is a retired Danish footballer, who works as a manager and last coached La Liga side RCD Mallorca. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football. His most prominent run of football came with Spanish club Barcelona, with whom he won four straight La...
. he played his first match in Spain with FC Barcelona B
FC Barcelona B
Futbol Club Barcelona B is a Spanish football team. They are the reserve team of FC Barcelona. Reserve teams in the Spanish football league system play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their...
, the reserve team of the club, where he soon was joined by compatriot 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...
Ronnie Ekelund
Ronnie Ekelund
Ronnie Michael Ekelund is a Danish football player in the forward position, who played professionally in both Europe and the United States...
. During this period, he was frequently called up to train with the first team.
When he joined Barcelona, Christiansen signed a contract clause saying he would be a Spanish citizen, and thereby not count towards the foreigner quota in the league. After becoming naturalized, he was called-up for the under-21 national team
Spain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
in December 1992, and scored a goal as Germany
Germany national under-21 football team
The Germany national under-21 football team represents the under-21s of Germany in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and is controlled by the German Football Association , the governing body of football in Germany....
was defeated 2–1.
Still playing for Barcelona's B team, Christiansen was called up for the senior Spanish senior team
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
by manager Javier Clemente
Javier Clemente
Javier Clemente Lázaro, is a Spanish football manager. The veteran La Liga manager has spent most of his career at two clubs: Athletic Bilbao and RCD Espanyol. Between 1992 and 1998, he managed Spain and went 31 games unbeaten. He was also the the first foreign manager of Serbia. His most recent...
, in January 1993. He made his debut against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, and impressed in a game which featured few regulars for the national side. He prolonged his Barcelona contract until 1997, and made his official debut for the club when he played the last seven minutes of the UEFA Super Cup final – first leg – against SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
. He played his first full Barcelona match in a Spanish Cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
contest against Atlético Madrid, and was once more selected to the national team, appearing as a substitute in Spain's 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
qualification match
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification....
against Lithuania
Lithuania national football team
The national football team of Lithuania is under the auspices of the Lithuanian Football Federation. It played its first match in 1923. In 1940, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union; the country regained its independence in 1990 and played their first match as a new nation against Georgia on...
, and scoring with a smart flick of the heel, in a 5–0 home win.
Without having played any league games for Barcelona, Christiansen was put on loan
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....
at then-first divisioner Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
, in February 1993. He was mostly injured during that stint, but managed four league goals. He returned to Barcelona in July, but another injury in the pre-season meant he would see no further playing time under Cruyff. Other loans followed, first at CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
in 1994, and then at Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
in the 1994–95 season. At Santander, he started well, and after his first league match, was recalled to the Spanish national team, only to pull out due to injury.
Mixed success
Spanish league regulations stated that following three years of loan contracts, Barcelona had to compensate Christiansen financially, if they declined any proposed transfer deal. He was first sold to EnglishEngland
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 Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in October 1995, but Christiansen wanted to stay in Spain, being instead sold to Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a Spanish football club based in Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded on 26 March 1926, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2....
in January of the following year for DKK
Danish krone
The krone is the official currency of the Kingdom of Denmark consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is subdivided into 100 øre...
4.6 million. Following a good start, Christiansen failed to score any goals in his second season there (31 games), and was sold to Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
club Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
in November 1997. He helped the Valencian
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
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...
in 1998, but the following season was no success, with only a single league goal scored and club relegation.
A proposed deal with a Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
team never materialized, and Christiansen was without a club in 1999. He went on to play for Spanish lower league club Terrassa FC
Terrassa FC
Terrassa Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Terrassa, Barcelona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1906, it currently plays in 3ª - Group 5, holding home matches at Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa, with a capacity of 11.500 spectators.-History:In 1914, Terrassa's...
, also based in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, finishing that season at Panionios F.C. in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, before returning to Denmark in August 2000, signing with defending Danish champions
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...
Herfølge BK, and showed good form when he scored two goals in a win over eventual runners-up Brøndby.
Breakthrough in Germany
In January 2001, Christiansen moved to GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to play for VfL Bochum
VfL Bochum
Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft, commonly referred to as simply VfL Bochum, is a German association football club based in the city of Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia.-Founding to World War II:...
in the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
. In his first year at the club, Bochum were relegated to the second division
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
, and the player experienced a déjà vu
Déjà vu
Déjà vu is the experience of feeling sure that one has already witnessed or experienced a current situation, even though the exact circumstances of the prior encounter are uncertain and were perhaps imagined...
, as his old club Herfølge were also relegated that season. With 17 goals in the following season, he was the North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
's top scorer as the club won promotion; he added 21 in next year's top flight, being crowned joint league top scorer with Élber Giovane.
Following that achievement, Christiansen was recruited by Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
to replace striker Fredi Bobic in June 2003, wearing number 9. He scored nine goals in his first year at the club, but could not reproduce his form from Bochum. He suffered several injuries, including a knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
operation and two shinbone injuries. In the summer 2006, Hannover chose not to prolong his contract, and he left the club, retiring shortly after.