Michael Laudrup Appreciation

During the 6 months I have been writing for Bleacher Report, I have subconciously developed a series. Its called " ........ ... Appreciation". Every now and then, I have been looking back at certain players' careers. Sometimes illustrious, and sometimes less memorable.

This time, I'm looking at Danish Legend Michael Laudrup.

He was known as one of the most skilful and elegant players of the game and is still hugely popular amongst fans of the various clubs he played for. He scored 37 goals and played a total 104 appearances for the Denmark national football team, which is only topped by Peter Schmeichel's 129 games.

From November 1994, he captained his country for a total of 28 matches before his retirement in June 1998 (after the World Cup in France).

In 1999 he was voted the best foreign player in Spanish football over the last 25 years.

Michael Laudrup is part of a family with three generations of footballers. He is the son of former Danish national team player Finn Laudrup, and Michael's oldest son Mads is currently the captain of the Danish under-17 national team. His youngest son, Andreas, is a part of the under-16 national team.

Michael Laudrup has a younger brother, Brian Laudrup, who was also a professional football player and a very gifted one too. He notably played for Glasgow Rangers and Ajax, as well as a brief stint a Chelsea.

When he announced he would be leaving the Scottish giants, a wave of bids followed from Europe's top clubs. Brian Laudrup was a part of the winning Danish national team in the 1992 European Championship (Euro 1992), but Michael did not play in that championship due to differences with the then national team coach, Richard Møller Nielsen.

In 2004, both Laudrup brothers were named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers chosen by Pelé as part of the celebration of FIFA's 100th anniversary.

Laudrup is the most technically accomplished football player to emerge from Denmark, and in January 2006, he was named Denmark's finest footballer through the past 50 years as he received the UEFA Jubilee Award.

He was ranked amongst the best players in Europe, and his talent was exceptional, with the former French star Michel Platini describing him as one of the most talented players ever.

Laudrup was known as a gentleman on the field, and never received a red card. He preferred to out-play his immediate opponent rather than knock him down.

He was hugely admired for his outstanding technique, elegance, deep passes, and dribbling. His vision was second to none. Former Argentinean star Jorge Valdano and coach of Laudrup in Real Madrid said "he has eyes everywhere".

His trademark move—looking one way and passing the other—fooled countless opponents during his career (currently Ronaldinho takes the credit for that move).

The Laudrup dribble was perhaps the best-known part of his game, as he quickly moved the ball from one foot to the other, away from the defender. At Barcelona he played alongside Hristo Stoitchkov, who scored many goals from Laudrup's passes, like Ivan Zamorano (who called Laudrup "el genio"—the genius) during Laudrup's time at Real Madrid.

Throughout his career his number of assists was impressive, and almost always the highest of his team.

In 1994 he completed a controversial move from Barcelona to Real Madrid after he fell out with Johan Cruyff, and Laudrup went on to guide Real Madrid to a championship winning season, one that would end Barcelona's stranglehold.

It made Laudrup the only player ever to win the Spanish league five times in a row playing for two different clubs.

After the initial success at Real, a lacklustre season would be in store for club, as well as country, and the Euro 1996 would leave no positives for him.

Despite only playing two seasons at Real Madrid, Laudrup was voted the 12th best player in Real's history in an internet survey by Spanish newspaper Marca when the club celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2002.

He went on to play for Vissel Kobe in Japan, before he ended his playing career in a championship winning season at Dutch team Ajax in 1998. His last games would come at the 1998 World Cup, when he captained Denmark to the quarterfinal. 

A tournament performance he crowned by virtually destroying Nigeria on his own, at the last 16 stage. The real icing on the cake arrived late in the game, when he looked to his left, then launched a magnificent lob to his right, over the defenders, to find substitute Ebbe Sand who converted the chance to score the third goal in the 4-1 win against the Super Eagles.

Denmark were eventually eliminated by Brazil, in a fantastic match which ended 3-2 to the Brazilians. It took a superb goal from Rivaldo to finally kill off the Danish resistance.

Denmark more than matched the mighty South Americans and many felt they were unlucky to be going home. However, they arrived home in Copenhagen with their heads held high.

That was to be Michael's last game in action for Denmark.

In an emotional farewell, little brother Brian also announced he would retire from international football and eventually retire from football all together due to persistent injuries.

Michael and Brian Laudrup both ended their careers at Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam.

Through his career, Michael Laudrup graced many clubs—these are the clubs in order: Brondby, Lazio, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Vissel Kobe, and Ajax.

You can still have a look at my previous articles !!

Frank Lampard Appreciation!

Deco Appreciation!