Brian Laudrup facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Brian Laudrup

Laudrup in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Brian Laudrup
Date of birth	(1969-02-22) 22 February 1969 (age 56)
Place of birth	Vienna, Austria
Height	1.86 m
Playing position	Forward Winger Midfielder
Youth career
0000–1986	Brøndby
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1986–1989	Brøndby	49	(13)
1989–1990	Bayer Uerdingen	34	(6)
1990–1992	Bayern Munich	53	(11)
1992–1994	Fiorentina	31	(5)
1993–1994	→ Milan (loan)	9	(1)
1994–1998	Rangers	116	(33)
1998	Chelsea	7	(0)
1998–1999	Copenhagen	12	(2)
1999–2000	Ajax	31	(13)
Total		342	(84)
National team
1984	Denmark U17	6	(0)
1985–1987	Denmark U19	12	(6)
1987–1988	Denmark U21	5	(0)
1987–1998	Denmark	82	(21)
Honours Men's football Representing  Denmark UEFA European Championship Winner 1992 Sweden FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 1995 Saudi Arabia CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions Runner-up 1993 Argentina
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Brian Laudrup, born on February 22, 1969, is a famous Danish former football player. He was known as one of the most talented players of his time. Brian played as a midfielder, a winger, or a forward. Today, he works for TV sports channels and runs a football academy for young people. Brian comes from a football family; his father, Finn Laudrup, was also a Danish footballer, and his older brother, Michael Laudrup, became a football legend too.

During his career, Brian played for many top clubs in Europe. He started at Brøndby in Denmark, where he won two Danish championships. He then moved to clubs in Germany and Italy. With Milan, he won the Italian league title and the Champions League in 1994. Brian was a key player for Rangers in Scotland, helping them win three league titles in the 1990s. He also won the 1998 UEFA Super Cup with Chelsea. After short spells with Copenhagen and Ajax, he retired in 2000 due to injuries.

Brian also played 82 matches for the Danish national team, scoring 21 goals. He was a very important part of the Danish teams that won the European Championship in 1992 and the Confederations Cup in 1995. He won the Danish Football Player of the Year award four times, which was a record back then. In 1992, FIFA ranked him as the fifth-best player in the world. In 2004, the legendary player Pelé named Brian as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers, alongside his brother Michael.

Early Life and Family

Brian Laudrup grew up in a football-loving family. His father, Finn Laudrup, was a Danish national player, and his older brother, Michael Laudrup, also became a famous Danish international. Brian was born in Vienna, Austria, because his father was playing football there at the time for Wiener SC.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at Brøndby

Brian began his professional career at Brøndby in Denmark. He quickly became a star player. He helped Brøndby win the Danish First Division in both 1987 and 1988. His talent was clear, and soon bigger clubs from other countries noticed him.

Moving to Germany

In 1989, Brian decided to join Bayer Uerdingen in Germany. He wanted to play for a club with less pressure. He scored 6 goals in 34 matches in his first season. His great performances earned him the title of Danish Football Player of the Year in 1989. German sports magazines praised him highly.

Because he felt Uerdingen wasn't getting stronger, Brian looked to leave in 1990.

Playing for Bayern Munich

Brian's impressive skills led to a move to Bayern Munich in May 1990. He became the most expensive player in the German league at that time. In his first season, he scored 9 goals in 33 games, helping Bayern finish second in the league. He was very popular with fans and experts.

In August 1991, Brian suffered a serious knee injury. This kept him out for a while. Even with the injury, he was named Danish Football Player of the Year again in 1992. He also finished fifth in the FIFA World Player of the Year vote.

Time in Italy with Fiorentina and Milan

In 1992, Brian moved to Italy to play for Fiorentina in Serie A, which was one of the best leagues in the world. Fiorentina started well, but later had a tough time and were surprisingly relegated.

Despite this, Brian played well. He was then loaned to AC Milan for the 1993–94 season. Milan had many world-class players, and Brian didn't play as often as he liked due to a squad rotation system and rules about how many foreign players could play. However, Milan won the Italian league title and the Champions League that season.

Success with Rangers

In 1994, Brian joined Rangers in Scotland. He quickly made a huge impact. He helped Rangers win their seventh league title in a row. He won both the Scottish Football Writers' and Scottish PFA Player of the Year awards. He also won his third Danish Player of the Year award.

In the 1995–96 season, Brian and Paul Gascoigne were key players as Rangers won their eighth league championship. Brian was amazing in the Scottish Cup Final against Hearts. He set up three goals and scored two himself in a 5–1 win. This game is still known as the Laudrup Final.

His third season, 1996–97, saw Rangers try to win their ninth league title in a row. Brian scored 16 goals in 33 league games, including the goal that secured the historic "nine-in-a-row" title. He won the Scottish Football Writers' award again and his fourth Danish Player of the Year award.

Brian left Rangers after the 1997–99 season. He later said his time at Rangers was "the four best years of my career."

Brief Spell at Chelsea

Brian joined Chelsea in the summer of 1998. He helped Chelsea win the 1998 UEFA Super Cup in his first game. However, he wasn't happy with the club's squad rotation system. He scored his only Chelsea goal in a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup match against Copenhagen. Even though his time was short, his performances were praised.

Return to Denmark and Final Club

After Chelsea, Brian moved back to Denmark to play for Copenhagen in 1999. This was a short period.

Later in 1999, he joined Ajax in the Netherlands. He had a good season, scoring 15 goals in 38 matches. However, injuries meant he could not play another season. He was forced to retire from football at age 31 in 2000, ending a very successful career.

International Career for Denmark

Brian Laudrup played for Denmark's national teams from a young age. He made his debut for the Under-17 team in 1984. He then played for the Under-19 and Under-21 teams.

Senior Team Debut

Brian made his debut for the senior Danish national team on November 18, 1987, when he was 18 years old. He scored his first goal for Denmark in April 1988. He was supposed to play in the UEFA Euro 1988, but he broke his collarbone just before the tournament.

In 1990, Brian, along with his brother Michael, decided to leave the national team for a short time. They felt there was a lack of respect for the coach.

European Champion at Euro 1992

Brian returned to the national team in April 1992. That year, he traveled with Denmark to the European Championship in Sweden. Denmark played with a strong defensive strategy, and Brian was one of the few attacking players. Even though he didn't score, his skill and speed were vital. Denmark went on to win the tournament, which was a huge surprise! Brian was voted fifth in the 1992 FIFA World Player of the Year poll.

Confederations Cup 1995 Success

Brian was a key player when Denmark won the Confederations Cup in 1995. He scored an amazing goal against Saudi Arabia, dribbling past three defenders. FIFA calls it one of the best goals in the tournament's history. Denmark beat Argentina 2–0 in the final, and Brian helped set up the second goal. He won the Golden Ball award as the best player of the tournament.

Euro 1996 and World Cup 1998

Brian helped Denmark qualify for Euro 1996. He scored three goals in the tournament, but Denmark was knocked out early.

With four goals in seven matches, Brian was important for Denmark qualifying for the 1998 World Cup. This was the only World Cup of his career. He played brilliantly, scoring two goals and assisting three others. He scored in the 4–1 win against Nigeria in the knockout round. His last match for Denmark was the quarter-final against Brazil, where Denmark lost 3–2. Brian set up the first goal and scored to make it 2–2.

The quarter-final was Denmark's best World Cup result ever. After the tournament, Brian decided to retire from international football. He had played 82 matches and scored 21 goals over 11 years.

Player Style

Brian Laudrup was known for his elegant, technical, and creative playing style. He was very fast and had amazing control of the ball. He could dribble past defenders easily to create chances for his teammates. He was also a powerful and accurate shooter.

Even though he could score many goals, Brian was very unselfish. He often enjoyed setting up goals for others more than scoring them himself. He could play in many attacking positions, like a winger on either side, or as an attacking midfielder behind the forwards. He was a versatile player who could adapt to different roles on the field.

Life After Football

After retiring from playing, Brian Laudrup became a football expert and commentator. He works for Discovery Networks Denmark, covering the Premier League and Danish national team matches.

He is also involved in a youth football camp called "Laudrup & Høgh ProCamp," which he co-coaches with former national team goalkeeper Lars Høgh.

Personal Life

Brian Laudrup is married to Mette. They have a son named Nicolai and a daughter named Rasmine.

In September 2010, Brian announced that he had lymphoma, a type of cancer, and was getting treatment. Three months later, he shared the good news that there were no signs of the disease left.

Career Statistics

Honours and Awards

Brøndby

• Danish 1st Division: 1987, 1988

Bayern Munich

• German Supercup: 1990

AC Milan

• Italian League: 1993–94
• Champions League: 1993–94

Rangers

• Scottish Premier Division: 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97
• Scottish Cup: 1995–96
• Scottish League Cup: 1996–97

Chelsea

• UEFA Super Cup: 1998

Denmark National Team

• European Championship: 1992
• Confederations Cup: 1995

Individual Awards

• Danish Football Player of the Year: 1989, 1992, 1995, 1997
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1992
• Best Player (FIFA Confederations Cup): 1995
• Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year: 1994–95, 1996–97
• Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1994–95
• 1998 FIFA World Cup All-star team
• FIFA 100 (named one of the greatest living footballers)
• Denmark Hall of Fame
• Scottish Football Hall of Fame
• Brondby Wall of Honour
• Glasgow Rangers Hall of Fame