Jan Mølby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jan Mølby

Mølby in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Jan Mølby
Date of birth	(1963-07-04) 4 July 1963 (age 62)
Place of birth	Kolding, Denmark
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1981–1982	Kolding	40	(0)
1982–1984	Ajax	57	(11)
1984–1996	Liverpool	218	(44)
1995	→ Barnsley (loan)	5	(0)
1995	→ Norwich City (loan)	3	(0)
1996–1998	Swansea City	41	(8)
Total		364	(63)
International career
1979	Denmark U-17	6	(2)
1980–1981	Denmark U-19	9	(0)
1981–1983	Denmark U-21	7	(0)
1982–1990	Denmark	33	(2)
Managerial career
1996–1997	Swansea City
1999–2002	Kidderminster Harriers
2002	Hull City
2003–2004	Kidderminster Harriers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jan Mølby (born 4 July 1963) is a Danish former professional footballer and manager. He played as a midfielder from 1982 to 1998. Jan started his career with Kolding in Denmark. He then moved to Ajax in the Netherlands. Most famously, he spent twelve years playing in England for Liverpool. He played 33 times for the Danish national team, scoring two goals.

After leaving Liverpool, Jan became a player-manager for Swansea City. He managed them for two years. Later, he managed Kidderminster Harriers. He helped them get promoted to the Football League in 2000. He also had a short time as manager of Hull City. He then returned to Kidderminster Harriers for another short period.

Jan Mølby's Club Career Highlights

Jan Mølby was born in Kolding, Denmark. He began his senior football career at Kolding, his hometown club. He became team captain at just 18 years old. On 1 July 1982, he joined Ajax in the Netherlands. There, he won both the Dutch Championship and the Dutch Cup in the 1982–83 season. This is known as winning "the double."

Joining Liverpool F.C.

Liverpool manager Joe Fagan invited Jan Mølby for a ten-day trial. Jan signed with Liverpool on 22 August 1984. He played his first game three days later. It was a 3–3 league draw against Norwich City. His first goal for Liverpool came on 1 December 1984. It was in a 3–1 league loss to Chelsea. In his first season, Liverpool did not win a major trophy. This was unusual for the club.

Becoming a Key Player at Liverpool

In the 1985–86 season, new player-manager Kenny Dalglish trusted Mølby. He made Jan a regular player in the first team. Mølby often started games as a central defender. He would then move into midfield with Steve McMahon. This strategy often worked very well. He scored 21 goals in 1985–86. This was his best season for goals.

The season ended with a fantastic performance in the FA Cup final. This was the first time two teams from Merseyside played each other in the final. Mølby was named man of the match. He helped create all three of Liverpool's goals.

Liverpool had just won the league title. Their rivals, Everton, led 1–0 at half-time. After the break, Liverpool, led by Mølby, fought back. In the 57th minute, he set up Ian Rush for the first goal. Six minutes later, he helped Craig Johnston score to take the lead. Mølby was also involved in the third goal. Rush scored again, sealing the win and completing Liverpool's "double" (winning the league and FA Cup).

Mølby also became known for scoring penalties. He started by scoring two penalties against Tottenham Hotspur in 1985. He also scored two goals in a 3–0 win against Aston Villa. He scored two more goals, including a penalty, in a 2–1 win against Manchester United in the Football League Cup.

He continued to play regularly in 1986–87. Liverpool finished second in the league that season. In the League Cup, he scored three penalties in one game. This was against Coventry City. Liverpool lost the final to Arsenal.

Challenges and Injuries

In the summer of 1987, Mølby got a foot injury. This was a big moment in his career. He missed the first three months of the 1987–88 season. John Barnes joined the team. Ronnie Whelan took Mølby's place in central midfield. Whelan and McMahon played very well together. Mølby found it hard to get his regular spot back.

In 1988–89, Mølby played more often. He played in central defense when Alan Hansen was injured. He scored the winning goal against Manchester United. In April 1989, Mølby and his teammates supported families affected by a sad event. They attended many funerals to show their care.

In the 1989–90 season, Mølby was often a substitute. He only started 12 league games. However, he played well when he did get a chance. He helped the team win the championship when Whelan was injured. This was Liverpool's last league title until 2020.

Mølby almost joined Johan Cruyff's Barcelona in November 1990. A transfer fee was agreed. He even scored a penalty in a 4–0 win against Luton Town. It was thought to be his last game for Liverpool. But the deal fell through, and he stayed at Anfield.

Another injury to Whelan in February 1991 gave Mølby another chance. He played many games in a row. He became the team's main penalty taker again. He scored all eight of his penalties that season.

New manager Graeme Souness initially praised Mølby. But he later left him out of the team. However, after Whelan got injured again, Mølby returned. He played a big part in Liverpool winning the FA Cup in 1992. He also played well in the UEFA Cup.

After an injury in October 1992, Mølby's career slowed down. Injuries often kept him out for at least three months. In his last three Premier League seasons, he started only about 30 games. All his goals came from penalties. This included a penalty in Liverpool's 6–1 win against Crystal Palace in 1994.

In early 1995–96, manager Roy Evans loaned him to Barnsley and Norwich City. In February 1996, Jan Mølby left Liverpool after more than ten years. He became player-manager of Swansea City. He was only 32, making him the youngest manager in the Football League or Premier League at that time.

During his time at Liverpool, he scored 62 goals. 42 of these were from penalties. He rarely missed penalties. His penalty record is considered one of the best. Steven Gerrard later broke his club record for most penalties scored in 2014.

Jan Mølby's International Career

Jan Mølby played his first game for the Danish national team at 18. This was against Norway on 15 June 1982. He played 33 games for Denmark between 1982 and 1990. He scored two goals. He was part of the Danish teams that played in the 1984 European Championship and the 1986 World Cup. It was hard for him to get a regular spot in midfield. Other players like Frank Arnesen and Jens-Jørn Bertelsen often played instead.

His international career ended when Richard Møller Nielsen became Denmark's manager in 1990. Mølby only played two more games under him. One was a friendly match. The other was a qualifying game for Euro 1992.

Jan Mølby's Managerial Career

Mølby became manager of Swansea City in February 1996. He was sacked in October 1997. Five months before, he had led Swansea to the Division Three playoff final. However, they lost to a last-minute goal. Swansea started the next season poorly. The club decided to find a new manager. They felt Mølby's success was more due to his playing skills than his managing skills.

For a while, Mølby worked as a TV pundit. Then, in April 1999, he was offered the manager's job at Kidderminster Harriers. They were in the Football Conference league. He brought in a few new players, including his former Liverpool teammate Mike Marsh. In his first season, Harriers won the Conference title. This meant they were promoted to the Football League.

Kidderminster played well in Division Three for two seasons. Then, Hull City wanted Mølby as their manager. He left Kidderminster for Hull. However, his time at Hull was short. He returned to Kidderminster in October 2003. This second time was not as successful. He resigned a year later. Kidderminster was relegated back to the Conference that season.

In 2007, there were rumors that Mølby might return to manage Swansea. But Mølby said he probably would not go back to football management.

Recent Years and Recognition

In April 2009, Jan Mølby was given a special honor. He was made an 'Honorary Scouser' by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool. This means he is recognized as someone who has made a great contribution to the city of Liverpool.

Mølby now appears on a podcast called "Mølby on the Spot."

A comedian named Troy Hawke (played by Milo McCabe) often jokes about Mølby. He says Mølby is the "non-consensual CEO of the Greeter’s Guild." The two met in March 2023. This was at the unveiling of a mural of Mølby in Liverpool.

Career Statistics

These tables show Jan Mølby's playing statistics for his clubs and national team.

Club

International

Honours and Achievements

Jan Mølby won many awards and titles during his playing and managing career.

Player Honours

Mølby (centre) playing for Ajax against rivals Feyenoord in 1982

Ajax

• Eredivisie (Dutch League): 1982–83
• KNVB Cup (Dutch Cup): 1982–83

Liverpool

• Football League First Division (English League): 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90
• FA Cup: 1985–86, 1991–92
• FA Charity Shield: 1986, 1988, 1989

Swansea City

• Football League Third Division play-offs runner-up: 1997

Individual Awards

• PFA Team of the Year: 1996–97 Third Division

Manager Honours

Kidderminster Harriers

• Football Conference: 1999–2000

See also

In Spanish: Jan Mølby para niños