Thomas Gravesen facts for kids

Thomas Gravesen, born on March 11, 1976, is a famous former football player from Denmark. He was a midfielder, known for his strong and energetic style of play.

He played for several big clubs in different countries. These included Vejle Boldklub in Denmark, Hamburger SV in Germany, Everton in England, Real Madrid in Spain, and Celtic in Scotland.

Thomas also played for the Danish national team 66 times. He scored five goals for his country. He represented Denmark in major tournaments like Euro 2000, the 2002 World Cup, and Euro 2004.

Playing for Clubs

Starting at Vejle Boldklub

Thomas Gravesen started his football journey in 1995 with his hometown club, Vejle Boldklub, in Denmark. He played as a defensive midfielder, helping his team win silver medals in the 1996–97 season. After showing great talent, he moved to the German team Hamburger SV in 1997. He played 94 games for Hamburger SV over three years.

Time at Everton

After playing in the Euro 2000 tournament, Thomas joined the English club Everton. He quickly became a fan favorite because of his exciting style of play. He was a very important player for Everton, helping them climb high in the Premier League table during the 2004–05 season.

Playing for Real Madrid

In January 2005, Thomas Gravesen made a big move to Real Madrid in Spain. This was a huge step for his career. He scored a goal in one of his first games for Real Madrid, helping them win 4–0 against Espanyol.

He was brought in to strengthen Real Madrid's midfield. However, he sometimes found himself on the bench. In August 2006, there was a small incident during a training session with a teammate. Despite this, he was a dedicated player.

Joining Celtic

On August 30, 2006, Thomas signed a three-year deal with Celtic, a big club in Scotland. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal for Celtic against their rivals, Rangers. He even scored his first career hat-trick (three goals in one game) against St Mirren.

Even though he had a strong start, he later found it harder to keep his place in the starting team. In August 2008, Thomas and Celtic decided to part ways.

Loan Back to Everton

Before leaving Celtic, Thomas Gravesen returned to Everton for a season-long loan in August 2007. In his first game back, he helped set up the winning goal. He also assisted a goal in a European match. However, his second time at Everton was not as impactful as his first. After the 2007–08 season, his loan ended, and he went back to Celtic.

Retirement from Football

On January 27, 2009, Thomas Gravesen announced that he was retiring from professional football. He had been released by Celtic and decided not to look for a new club. Later, in 2013, it was reported that he had been successful with investments and was living in Las Vegas. He now lives in a private community in Los Angeles.

Playing for Denmark

Thomas Gravesen first played for the Danish national team on August 19, 1998. He was chosen to play in the Euro 2000.

He became a key player for Denmark under the new national team coach, Morten Olsen. Thomas played an important role in the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 campaigns. In a World Cup qualifying game against Iceland, he scored two goals in a 6–0 win.

He played in all four of Denmark's matches at the 2002 World Cup. He missed the first group match at Euro 2004 because of a suspension, but he played in the remaining three games. On September 15, 2006, Thomas decided to end his international career to focus on his club team, Celtic.

Honours

Celtic

• Scottish Premier League: 2006–07
• Scottish Cup: 2006–07

See also

In Spanish: Thomas Gravesen para niños