Simon Kjær facts for kids
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Kjær playing for Sevilla in 2017
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Simon Thorup Kjær | ||
| Date of birth | 26 March 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Horsens, Denmark | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1993–2001 | Lund IF | ||
| 2001–2007 | Midtjylland | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2008 | Midtjylland | 19 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Palermo | 62 | (5) |
| 2010–2013 | VfL Wolfsburg | 57 | (3) |
| 2011–2012 | → Roma (loan) | 22 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Lille | 66 | (1) |
| 2015–2017 | Fenerbahçe | 54 | (3) |
| 2017–2020 | Sevilla | 46 | (2) |
| 2019–2020 | → Atalanta (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2020 | → AC Milan (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| 2020–2024 | AC Milan | 76 | (0) |
| Total | 422 | (14) | |
| International career | |||
| 2006 | Denmark U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Denmark U19 | 10 | (1) |
| 2008 | Denmark U20 | 1 | (0) |
| 2008–2011 | Denmark U21 | 2 | (0) |
| 2009–2024 | Denmark | 132 | (5) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Simon Thorup Kjær (born March 26, 1989) is a Danish former professional footballer. He played as a centre-back, which is a defensive position in football.
Kjær was recognized as a top young talent in Denmark. He was named the Danish under-19 talent of the year in 2007. In 2009, he received the Danish Talent of the Year award. He played 132 matches for the Danish national team. This included playing in the FIFA World Cup in 2010, 2018, and 2022. He also played in the UEFA European Championship in 2012, 2020, and 2024. Simon Kjær officially retired from professional football on January 13, 2025.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Starting at Midtjylland
Simon Kjær was born in Horsens, Denmark. He started playing football at age four. He joined a local club called Lund IF. Later, in 2004, he moved to the youth team of Danish Superliga club FC Midtjylland (FCM). His father, Jørn Kjær, worked there as the equipment manager.
Simon was one of the first players to come through FCM's special football academy. This was the first academy of its kind in Denmark. He first played in midfield. However, one of his coaches moved him to defense, where he played for the rest of his career. In April 2006, Simon was named the best player at a French youth tournament. Because of this, Midtjylland turned down offers from other clubs who wanted to sign him.
Kjær made his first team debut for Midtjylland in June 2006. Two months later, he signed his first professional contract. He joined the main squad in January 2007. He even had a successful tryout with Real Madrid in August 2007. But Midtjylland refused their offer. Instead, Simon signed a five-year contract with Midtjylland in September 2007.
He played his first Superliga match on September 30, 2007. Midtjylland won 2–0 against AGF. By October 2007, big clubs like Middlesbrough and Chelsea were interested in him. Simon played 15 games in the second half of the 2007–08 season. He became a strong defender for the team.
Moving to Palermo
In February 2008, Kjær signed a five-year contract with the Italian club Palermo. This move started in the summer of 2008. Midtjylland received about €4 million for the transfer.
Simon's start at Palermo was a bit tough. He had to compete for a spot and get used to playing in Italy. On October 26, 2008, he made his Palermo debut in a 3–1 loss against Fiorentina. His performance was praised after the match. He then started his first game three days later.
Kjær scored his first goal for Palermo in his third game on November 2, 2008. He also helped set up another goal in a 3–0 win against Chievo. He quickly became a regular starter in defense. His strong play earned him recognition as one of the best young players in Serie A. He scored two more goals that season. Simon ended the 2008–09 season as Palermo's top-scoring defender with three goals in 27 games.
In the 2009–10 season, Kjær continued to be a key player. He formed a strong defensive partnership with Cesare Bovo. He signed a better contract with Palermo in September 2009. In November 2009, he was named the 2009 Danish Talent of the Year. In January 2010, he was also named the Danish Footballer of the Year for 2009. He scored two goals that season, helping Palermo finish fifth in Serie A. This meant they qualified for the UEFA Europa League.
Playing for VfL Wolfsburg
On June 30, 2010, VfL Wolfsburg in Germany announced they were talking to Kjær. Many big clubs in Europe were interested in him. On July 8, 2010, his move to Wolfsburg was confirmed. The transfer fee was reportedly over £10 million. This made Kjær the most expensive Danish footballer ever at that time.
Kjær made his official debut for Wolfsburg on August 15, 2010. They won 2–1 against Preußen Münster in the DFB-Pokal cup. He played his first Bundesliga game five days later. Despite some criticism for his early performances, Kjær played in all 17 league matches in the first half of the 2010–11 season.
On January 22, 2011, Kjær scored his first Bundesliga goal. It was a header in the 83rd minute, giving Wolfsburg a 1–0 win against Mainz 05. This win was their first in eight matches. He continued to play regularly for the rest of the season. He made 34 appearances and scored once.
Loan to Roma
In August 2011, Kjær went on a season-long loan to Italian club Roma. Roma also had an option to buy him permanently.
He made his Roma debut on September 17, 2011, in a 0–0 draw against Inter Milan. However, in a match against rivals Lazio on October 16, 2011, he received a red card. This led to a penalty for the other team. After this, he missed four matches due to suspension and injury. He returned to play in November but soon got another injury. Roma decided not to sign him permanently after the season. He made 24 appearances for Roma.
Returning to Wolfsburg
After his loan at Roma ended, Kjær initially said he would not return to Wolfsburg. However, the coach changed his mind and wanted him back.
He played his first game back for Wolfsburg on the opening day of the 2012–13 season. He came on as a substitute in a 1–0 win against VfB Stuttgart. After a period on the bench, he returned to the starting lineup in October 2012. He scored his first goal of the season on December 2, 2012, in a 1–1 draw against Hamburger SV. He scored another goal in April 2013. He made 25 appearances and scored two goals that season.
Joining Lille LOSC
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On July 5, 2013, Simon Kjær signed a four-year deal with French club Lille. He felt it was the right move for his career.
Kjær made his Lille debut in the first game of the season. They won 1–0 against FC Lorient and kept a clean sheet. He quickly became a key defender for the team. He helped Lille keep many clean sheets that season. He scored his first goal for Lille in a cup match in January 2014. Simon had a great first season in France. Lille had the best defense in Europe, letting in only 26 goals in 38 matches. He was even named to the "Ligue 1 Team of the Season." He played 37 games and scored once.
In the 2014–15 season, Kjær helped Lille qualify for the UEFA Champions League. He scored his first Ligue 1 goal against Lorient. He also scored in his UEFA Europa League debut. Despite some injuries, he continued to be a regular starter. He made 42 appearances and scored three goals that season.
Moving to Fenerbahçe
On June 16, 2015, Kjær joined Turkish club Fenerbahçe. He signed a four-year deal for €7.65 million.
He made his Fenerbahçe debut in a UEFA Champions League qualifying match. He was sent off in the second leg, and Fenerbahçe was eliminated. He made his league debut soon after. In December 2015, Kjær scored his first goal for Fenerbahçe. He helped the team keep many clean sheets. He also helped them reach the final of the Turkish Cup. He played 45 games and scored two goals in his first season.
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At the start of the 2016–17 season, Kjær was captain for some matches. He scored in a UEFA Europa League match in September 2016. He continued to be a key defender. Despite some injuries, he played 43 games and scored three goals in his second season.
Playing for Sevilla
Fenerbahçe was banned from playing in European competitions, so Kjær wanted to leave. On August 2, 2017, he joined Spanish club Sevilla. He signed a four-year deal for €12.5 million.
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Kjær made his Sevilla debut in the first game of the season. He scored his first goal for the club in a Champions League match in October 2017. He became a regular starter for a few months. In January 2018, he scored his first league goal for Sevilla. He helped the team beat Manchester United in the Champions League. He scored another league goal in May 2018. He made 27 appearances and scored three goals that season.
In the 2018–19 season, Kjær continued to play regularly. He suffered a hamstring injury in October 2018. Despite some more injuries, he made 37 appearances.
Loan to Atalanta
On September 1, 2019, Kjær was loaned to Italian club Atalanta.
He made his Atalanta debut in a 2–0 win against Roma in September 2019. He played five games for them. However, he did not fit well with the team's coach. So, his loan ended early.
Joining AC Milan
On January 13, 2020, Kjær joined AC Milan on loan for the rest of the season. Milan had an option to buy him permanently. He chose the number 24 jersey, which was once worn by another Danish defender, Martin Laursen, who played for Milan.
On January 15, 2020, Kjær made his Milan debut in a cup match. Four days later, he played his first Serie A game for Milan. He suffered a muscle injury in February 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, league matches were suspended, which allowed him to recover. He returned to play in the Coppa Italia semi-finals. He played 19 games during his loan spell. Milan then bought him permanently from Sevilla for €3.5 million on July 15, 2020.
On March 11, 2021, Kjær scored his first goal for Milan. It was in a 1–1 draw against Manchester United in the Europa League.
On October 27, 2021, Kjær extended his contract with Milan until 2024.
On December 1, 2021, he suffered a serious knee injury during a game. He had surgery and was out for six months.
On May 22, 2022, Milan won the Serie A title. Kjær became a Serie A champion with his team. This was his first major trophy in his career.
On May 21, 2024, AC Milan announced that Kjær would leave the club after his contract ended. His last game was a home match against Salernitana.
Retirement from Football
On January 13, 2025, Simon Kjær officially announced his retirement from professional football. He was 35 years old.
Playing for Denmark
Youth National Teams
Kjær played for Denmark's youth national teams. He made one appearance for the Denmark U18 team in September 2006. He debuted for the Denmark national under-19 football team at age 17 in September 2006. He played 10 games and scored one goal for the U19 team. In 2007, he was named the Danish under-19 talent of the year.
He was called up for the Denmark national under-21 football team in May 2008. He made his debut in a loss against Germany U21s. He played two games for the U21 team. He also played one game for the Denmark U20 team in November 2008.
Senior National Team
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Simon Kjær was called up to the senior Danish national team in February 2009. The coach was impressed by his play for Palermo.
He played his first game for Denmark on June 6, 2009, in a World Cup qualification match against Sweden. Denmark won 1–0. Kjær became a regular starter for Denmark. He helped them qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
On May 28, 2010, Kjær was named to Denmark's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He started in Denmark's first two games. His long passes were praised, especially one that helped set up a goal against Cameroon. He felt playing in the World Cup made him a stronger player.
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In May 2012, he was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2012. Kjær started in all three group games. Denmark was eliminated in the group stage.
On March 22, 2013, he scored his first goal for Denmark in a 3–0 win against the Czech Republic. Denmark did not qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
Kjær scored his second goal for Denmark in November 2014. It was in a 3–1 win against Serbia. He helped the team keep several clean sheets. Denmark did not qualify for UEFA Euro 2016.
After the Euro 2016 qualification, Kjær became the captain of the Danish national team. He took over from Daniel Agger. He helped Denmark qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He also helped them keep four clean sheets in friendly matches before the tournament. In May 2018, Kjær was named to Denmark's squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He captained Denmark in the tournament. Denmark reached the knockout stage but lost to Croatia in a penalty shootout.
After the World Cup, Kjær continued to captain Denmark. He played his 100th match for Denmark on October 14, 2020, in a 1–0 win against England.
He captained the team for UEFA Euro 2020. On June 12, 2021, during their opening match, his teammate Christian Eriksen collapsed. Kjær was the first to help him and call for medical attention. He made sure Eriksen's breathing was clear and comforted Eriksen's wife. Eriksen was taken to the hospital and recovered. Denmark reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020. On August 27, 2021, Kjær received the UEFA President's Award for his actions.
On August 22, 2024, Kjær announced his retirement from international football. He scored five goals in 132 international games for Denmark.
Personal Life
Simon Kjær speaks Danish, English, and Italian. When he was growing up, he admired famous defenders like John Terry and Fabio Cannavaro. He supported Liverpool. His father supported his football career, but his mother, a teacher, was not as keen at first.
Simon married Elina Gollert, a Swedish national. They have two children, Milas and Viggo. They got married in the summer of 2017.
Career Achievements
AC Milan
- Serie A: 2021–22
Individual Awards
- Danish Talent of the Year: 2009
- Danish Player of the Year: 2009, 2021
- The Guardian Footballer of the Year: 2021
- Ballon d'Or nominee: 2021
Images for kids
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Kjær playing for Sevilla in 2017
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Kjær during his time at Palermo in 2009
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Kjær playing for Lille in 2014
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Kjær playing for Fenerbahçe in a UEFA Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2015
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Kjær training with Fenerbahçe in 2016
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Kjær attempting to make a tackle during a match against Spartak Moscow in 2017
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Kjær marking Eiður Guðjohnsen during a match between Denmark and Iceland in 2011
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Kjær (right) looking on as Daniel Agger attempts to take a header against the Netherlands at UEFA Euro 2012
See also
In Spanish: Simon Kjær para niños
