All-Time Denmark National Team Best XI (Laudrup, Eriksen, Schmeichel)

All-time Denmark best XI – Denmark national team is one of football national team from Nordic countries. Denmark first rose to fame in international football is when they qualified to World Cup for the first time in 1986. Before that, only amateurs players can represent national team so they don’t any achievement before 70s era.

Denmark have won 2 major trophies, 1992 UEFA Euro and 1995 FIFA Confederation Cup. Their best result in FIFA World Cup is reaching quarter-final in 1998. Denmark also reach semifinal in 3 others UEFA Euro edition (1964, 1984, 2020).

During 40s and 50s era, Denmark actually have many highly-rated players. But because football in Denmark still amateurs, they can’t represent national team and chose to move abroad, mostly they play in Italy. Players like Harald Nielsen, Karl Aage Praest, John Hansen and Karl Aage Hansen was among the best players who play in Italian League in that era.

After professional players could represent national team, Denmark achieve success in 80s era. They reach semifinal in Euro 1984 and progress to knockout round in World Cup 1986 when they qualified for the first time. Players like Morten Olsen, Soren Lerby, Preben Elkjaer, Michael Laudrup and the aging Ballon d’Or winner, Allan Simonsen were the key player of that Denmark team, who is dubbed as Danish Dynamite.

Denmark won their first major trophy, 1992 UEFA Euro. Although initially failed to qualified, Denmark chosen to replace Yugoslavia who is banned because of on-going Yugoslav war. Only have short preparation, Denmark achieve miracle and become the champions, complete one of the biggest surprise in football history. Players like Kasper Schmeichel, John Jensen, Kim Vilfort and Brian Laudrup were they key players for that title-winning campaign.

In the modern era, Denmark have decline and revival periods. They still manager to reach semifinal in 2020 UEFA Euro. Some star players from Denmark in 2000s era such as Dennis Rommedahl, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Daniel Agger, Christian Poulsen, Nicklas Bendtner, Simon Kjaer, Kasper Schmeichel, Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund.

All-Time Denmark Best XI

Of course it’s hard to select 11 of best Denmark players of all time in each position. Below is our selection of all-time Denmark national team best XI.

GOALKEEPER

1. Peter Schmeichel

Date of birth : 18 November 1963
Position : Goalkeeper
Caps / goals : 129 caps / 1 goal
Club career :

• 1981-1984 – Gladsaxe-Hero (Denmark)
• 1984-1987 – Hvidovre (Denmark)
• 1987-1991 – Brondby (Denmark)
• 1991-1999 – Manchester United (England)
• 1999-2001 – Sporting CP (Portugal)
• 2001-2002 – Aston Villa (England)
• 2002-2003 – Manchester City (England)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1998
• UEFA Euro 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000

Substitutes :

• Kasper Schmeichel (2013-current), 93 caps
• Thomas Sorensen (1999-2012), 101 caps
• Henry From (1957-1961), 31 caps
• Svend Jensen (1927-1939), 41 caps

DEFENDER

2. Morten Olsen

Date of birth : 14 August 1949
Position : Center-back, defensive midfielder
Caps / goals : 102 caps / 4 goals
Club career :

• 1970-1972 – B 1901 (Denmark)
• 1972-1976 – Cercle Brugge (Belgium)
• 1976-1980 – RWD Molenbeek (Belgium)
• 1980-1986 – Anderlecht (Belgium)
• 1986-1989 – FC Koln (Germany)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1986
• UEFA Euro 1984, 1988

3. Johnny Hansen

Date of birth : 14 November 1943
Position : Right-back, center-back
Caps / goals : 45 caps / 3 goals
Club career :

• 1962-1968 – Vejle BK (Denmark)
• 1968-1970 – Nurnberg (Germany)
• 1970-1976 – Bayern Munchen (Germany)
• 1976-1978 – Vejle BK (Denmark)

4. Simon Kjaer

Date of birth : 26 March 1989
Position : Center-back
Caps / goals : 126 caps / 5 goals
Club career :

• 2007-2008 – Midtjylland (Denmark)
• 2008-2010 – Palermo (Italy)
• 2010-2013 – Wolfsburg (Germany)
• 2011-2012 – AS Roma (Italy), loan
• 2013-2015 – Lille (France)
• 2015-2017 – Fenerbahce (Turkey)
• 2017-2020 – Sevilla (Spain)
• 2019-2020 – Atalanta (Italy), loan
• 2020-current- AC Milan (Italy)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2010, 2018, 2022
• UEFA Euro 2012, 2020

Substitutes :

• Daniel Agger (2005-2016), 75 caps, 11 goals
• Ivan Nielsen (1980-1989), 51 caps, 0 goal
• Per Rontved (1970-1982), 75 caps, 11 goals
• Lars Olsen (1986-1996), 84 caps, 4 goals
• Thomas Helveg (1994-2007), 108 caps, 2 goals
• John Sivebaek (1982-1992), 87 caps, 1 goal
• Jan Heintze (1987-2002), 86 caps, 4 goals

MIDFIELDER

5. Soren Lerby

Date of birth : 1 February 1958
Position : Midfielder
Caps / goals : 67 caps / 10 goals
Club career :

• 1975 – Fremad Amager (Denmark)
• 1975-1983 – Ajax (Netherlands)
• 1983-1986 – Bayern Munchen (Germany)
• 1986-1987 – AS Monaco (France)
• 1987-1990 – PSV (Netherlands)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1986
• UEFA Euro 1984, 1988

6. Christian Eriksen

Date of birth : 14 February 1992
Position : Midfielder
Caps / goals : 122 caps / 39 goals
Club career :

• 2010-2013 – Ajax (Netherlands)
• 2013-2020 – Tottenham Hotspur (England)
• 2020-2021 – Inter Milan (Italy)
• 2022 – Brentford (England)
• 2022-current – Manchester United (England)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2010, 2018, 2022
• UEFA Euro 2012, 2020

7. Brian Laudrup

Date of birth : 22 February 1969
Position : Winger, attacking midfielder, forward
Caps / goals : 82 caps / 21 goals
Club career :

• 1986-1989 – Brondby (Denmark)
• 1989-1990 – Bayer Uerdingen (Germany)
• 1990-1992 – Bayern Munchen (Germany)
• 1992-1993 – Fiorentina (Italy)
• 1993-1994 – AC Milan (Italy), loan
• 1994-1998 – Rangers (Scotland)
• 1998 – Chelsea (England)
• 1998-1999 – Copenhagen (Denmark)
• 1999-2000 – Ajax (Netherlands)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1998
• UEFA Euro 1992, 1996
• FIFA Confederation Cup 1995

8. Michael Laudrup

Date of birth : 15 June 1964
Position : Attacking midfielder, forward
Caps / goals : 104 caps / 37 goals
Club career :

• 1981-1982 – KB (Denmark)
• 1982-1983 – Brondby (Denmark)
• 1983-1985 – Lazio (Italy)
• 1985-1989 – Juventus (Italy)
• 1989-1994 – Barcelona (Spain)
• 1994-1996 – Real Madrid (Spain)
• 1996-1997 – Vissel Kobe (Japan)
• 1997-1998 – Ajax (Netherlands)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1986, 1998
• UEFA Euro 1984, 1988, 1996
• FIFA Confederation Cup 1995

Substitutes :

• Nils Middelboe (1908-1920), 15 caps, 7 goals
• Thomas Gravesen (1998-2006), 66 caps, 5 goals
• Jan Molby (1982-1990), 33 caps, 2 goals
• Christian Poulsen (2001-2012), 92 caps, 6 goals
• John Jensen (1987-1995), 69 caps, 3 goals
• Frank Arnesen (1977-1987), 52 caps, 14 goals
• Martin Jorgensen (1998-2011), 102 caps, 12 goals
• Jesper Olsen (1980-1990), 43 caps, 5 goals
• Dennis Rommedahl (2000-2013), 126 caps, 21 goals
• Kim Vilfort (1983-1996), 77 caps, 14 goals
• Jesper Gronkjaer (1999-2010), 80 caps, 5 goals

FORWARD

9. Preben Elkjaer

Date of birth : 11 September 1957
Position : Striker
Caps / goals : 69 caps / 38 goals
Club career :

• 1976 – Vanlose (Denmark)
• 1977-1978 – FC Koln (Germany)
• 1978-1984 – Lokeren (Belgium)
• 1984-1988 – Hellas Verona (Italy)
• 1988-1990 – Vejle BK (Denmark)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1986
• UEFA Euro 1984, 1988

10. Allan Simonsen

Date of birth : 15 December 1952
Position : Striker
Caps / goals : 55 caps / 20 goals
Club career :

• 1971-1972 – Vejle BK (Denmark)
• 1972-1979 – Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany)
• 1979-1982 – Barcelona (Spain)
• 1982-1983 – Charlton Athletic (England)
• 1983-1989 – Vejle BK (Denmark)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1986
• UEFA Euro 1984

11. Jon Dahl Tomasson

Date of birth : 29 August 1976
Position : Striker, second-striker
Caps / goals : 112 caps / 52 goals
Club career :

• 1992-1994 – Koge (Denmark)
• 1994-1997 – Heerenveen (Netherlands)
• 1997-1998 – Newcastle (England)
• 1998-2002 – Feyenoord (Netherlands)
• 2002-2005 – AC Milan (Italy)
• 2005-2007 – Stuttgart (Germany)
• 2007-2008 – Villarreal (Spain)
• 2008-2011 – Feyenoord (Netherlands)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2002, 2010
• UEFA Euro 2000, 2004

Substitutes :

• Harald Nielsen (1959-1960), 14 caps, 15 goals
• Karl Aage Praest (1945-1949), 24 caps, 17 goals
• John Angelo Hansen (1947-1948), 8 caps, 10 goals
• Henning Jensen (1972-1980), 21 caps, 9 goals
• Pauli Jorgensen (1925-1939), 47 caps, 44 goals
• Nicklas Bendtner (2006-2018), 81 caps, 30 goals
• Ebbe Sand (1998-2004), 66 caps, 22 goals
• Ole Madsen (1958-1969), 50 caps, 42 goals
• Karl Aage Hansen (1943-1948), 22 caps, 17 goals

Denmark National Team All-Time Best XI

That’s our pick for 11 of greatest Danish players of all time in each position. What do you think? Write down your pick in comment below.