Anja Andersen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anja Andersen |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 15 February 1969 Odense, Denmark |
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| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior clubs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Stjernen IF |
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| Vejle Allested |
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| ASH 72 |
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| IF Jarl Arden |
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1986–1987
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Aalborg KFUM |
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1987–1988
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Ikast FS |
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1989
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Viborg HK |
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1989–1993
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 Bækkelagets SK |
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1993–1996
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 TuS Walle Bremen |
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1996–1999
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Bækkelagets SK |
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| National team 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1989–1998
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Denmark |
133 | (725) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams managed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2000–2008
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Slagelse DT |
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2006
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 Serbia & Montenegro |
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2008–2010
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FC Copenhagen |
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2011
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 Oltchim Vâlcea |
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2011–2012
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Viborg HK (Men's team) |
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2013–2015
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DHG Odense |
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Medal record
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| 1 National team caps and goals correct as of 3 February 2011 |
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Anja Jul Andersen (born 15 February 1969) is a famous Danish former team handball player. She is also a successful coach. Anja is known for winning many big titles. These include an Olympic gold medal, a World Championship, and two European Championships. In 1997, she was named the best female handball player in the world. Many people think she is one of the greatest female handball players ever. She was added to the Danish Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
Contents
Anja Andersen's Amazing Handball Career
Anja Andersen was a very skilled offensive player. She was also known for her exciting playing style. She loved to try daring tricks during matches. Anja was a key part of Danish handball's success in the 1990s. Her unique style made everyone have an opinion about her. After winning gold in 1994, the national team became known as "the iron ladies." They became national sports heroes.
The Danish team had many great players in the 1990s. But Anja was the most famous and talked about. Her skills were never doubted. However, she sometimes had disagreements with her coach. During the 1996 Summer Olympics, her coach, Ulrik Wilbek, briefly removed her from the team. This was due to differences about her playing style. She later returned to the team.
Anja played 133 matches for the Danish national team. She scored an amazing 725 goals. Anja also brought a new kind of showmanship to handball. She was inspired by basketball teams like the Harlem Globetrotters. She created a playing style that was fun for the audience to watch. After she stopped playing, she created a "dream team." This team played against a Danish team in 2000 and 2001. These matches were very popular. Anja stopped playing in 1999 because of a heart condition.
Anja Andersen as a Coach
After her playing career, Anja Andersen started coaching. She first coached the Danish Women's Handball League club Slagelse. She helped them reach the top league. She also led them to win the Champions League three times. These wins were in 2003/04, 2004/05, and 2006/07. In 2006, she also coached the national team of Serbia.
In 2008, she moved to coach FCK Håndbold. She left FCK Håndbold in 2010 when the club closed. She decided to take a break from coaching for a while. In February 2011, Anja became the coach of Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea in Romania. The club hoped she would help them win the Champions League. However, she was fired in March 2011. This was after less than two months due to poor results. In 2015, she decided to take a break from coaching.
Anja Andersen's Awards and Achievements
Anja Andersen won many awards as a player and a coach.
Player Achievements
- 1987: Silver medal at the World Junior Championship.
- 1992: Won the Norwegian League with Bækkelaget.
- 1993 World Women's Handball Championship: Silver medal.
- 1994 European Women's Handball Championship: Gold medal.
- 1995 World Women's Handball Championship: Bronze medal.
- 1996 Summer Olympics: Gold medal.
- 1996 European Women's Handball Championship: Gold medal.
- 1997 World Women's Handball Championship: Gold medal.
- 1997: Named IHF World Player of the Year. She was the only Danish player to win this until 2012.
Coaching Achievements
- 2003, 2005, 2007: Won the Danish Women's Handball League with Slagelse.
- 2004, 2005, 2007: Won the EHF Women's Champions League with Slagelse.
Special Recognition
- 1994: Ranked as the world's second-best handball player.
- 1997: Named the world's best handball player.
- 2007: Inducted into the Danish Hall of Fame.
- 2009: Received the Mathilde Prize for her unique coaching style.
See also
In Spanish: Anja Andersen para niños
