Scandinavians in the Football League 1978-92 – Appendix
An overview of the Scandinavian and Nordic footballers who played in the Football League between 1978 and 1992.
Denmark
Kurt Bakholt
Born: 12.08.1963 Odense
Signed from: Vejle, January 1986
Football League Career: QPR (1986) – 1 appearance
*
Tommy Christensen
Born: 20.07.1961 Hillerød
Signed from: Elche (Spain), November 1985
Football League Career: Leicester City (1985) – 2 appearances; Portsmouth (1985) – 3 appearances, 2 goals
International Career: Denmark (1983); 1 cap
*
Lars Elstrup
Born: 24.03.1963 Råby
Signed from: Odense, August 1989 [£850,000]
Football League Career: Luton Town (1989-91) – 60 appearances, 19 goals
International Career: Denmark (1988-93); 34 caps, 13 goals
Played at the 1992 European Championship
Viggo Jacobsen
Born: 11.08.1953 Copenhagen
Signed from: Kastrup, November 1979 [£40,000 combined]
Football League Career: Charlton Athletic (1979-80) – 9 appearances
*
Bjørn Kristensen
Born: 10.10.1963 Malling
Signed from: AGF, March 1989 [£260,000]
Football League Career: Newcastle United (1989-93) – 80 appearances, 4 goals; Bristol City, loan (1992) – 4 appearances; Portsmouth, £120,000 (1993-95) – 71 appearances, 1 goal
International Career: Denmark (1987-93); 20 caps, 2 goals
Played at the 1988 European Championship
*
Jan Mølby
Born: 04.07.1963 Kolding
Signed from: Ajax, August 1984 [£200,000]
Football League Career: Liverpool (1984-96) – 218 appearances, 44 goals; Barnsley, loan (1995) – 5 appearances; Norwich City, loan (1995) – 3 appearances; Swansea City (1996-97) – 41 appearances, 8 goals
International Career: Denmark (1982-90); 33 caps, 2 goals
Played at the 1986 World Cup; in the 1984 European Championship squad
Managed Swansea City (1996-97, player-manager); Kidderminster Harriers (1999-2002; 2003-04); Hull City (2002)
Henrik Mortensen
Born: 12.01.1968 Odder
Signed from: AGF, October 1989 [£350,000]
Football League Career: Norwich City (1989-91) – 23 appearances, 2 goals
*
Kent Nielsen
Born: 28.12.1961 Frederiksburg
Signed from: Brøndby, June 1989 [£500,000]
Football League Career: Aston Villa (1989-91) – 79 appearances, 4 goals
International Career: Denmark (1983-92); 54 caps, 3 goals
Played at the 1992 European Championship; in the 1986 World Cup squad
*
Jesper Olsen
Born: 20.03.1961 Faxe
Signed from: Ajax, July 1984 [£350,000]
Football League Career: Manchester United (1984-88) – 139 appearances, 21 goals
International Career: Denmark (1980-90); 43 caps, 5 goals
Played at the 1986 World Cup & the 1984 European Championship; in the 1988 European Championship squad
*
Johnny Ostergaard
Born: 06.02.1965 Herning
Signed from: Ikast, November 1979 [£40,000 combined]
Football League Career: Charlton Athletic (1979-80) – 12 appearances, 1 goal
Above: Frank Pingel & Bjørn Kristensen, Newcastle United
Frank Pingel
Born: 09.05.1964 Vejlby
Signed from: AGF, January 1989
Football League Career: Newcastle United (1988-89) – 14 appearances, 1 goal
International Career: Denmark (1991-94); 11 caps, 5 goals
*
Peter Schmeichel
Born: 18.11.1963 Gladsaxe
Signed from: Brøndby, August 1991 [£505,000]
Football League Career: Manchester United (1991-99) – 292 appearances; Aston Villa (2001-02) – 29 appearances, 1 goal; Manchester City (2002-03) – 29 appearances
International Career: Denmark (1987-2001); 129 caps, 1 goal
Played at the 1998 World Cup & the 1988, 1992, 1996 & 2000 European Championships
*
Allan Simonsen
Born: 15.12.1952 Vejle
Signed from: Barcelona, November 1982 [£320,000]
Football League Career: Charlton Athletic (1982-83) – 16 appearances, 9 goals
International Career: Denmark (1972-85); 55 caps, 20 goals
Played at the 1986 World Cup & the 1984 European Championship
*
John Sivebæk
Born: 25.10.1961 Vejle
Signed from: Vejle, February 1986 [£285,000]
Football League Career: Manchester United (1986-87) – 31 appearances, 1 goal
International Career: Denmark (1982-92); 87 caps, 1 goal
Played at the 1986 World Cup & the 1984, 1988 and 1992 European Championships
Finland
Pertti Jantunen
Born: 25.06.1952 Lahti
Signed from: IFK Eskilsuna (Sweden), March 1979 [£50,000]
Football League Career: Bristol City (1979-80) – 8 appearances, 1 goal
International Career: Finland (1975-78); 26 caps, 1 goal
*
Aki Lahtinen
Born: 31.10.1958 Jyväskylä
Signed from: Oulun Palloseura, September 1981
Football League Career: Notts County (1981-85) – 45 appearances, 2 goals
International Career: Finland (1979-89); 56 caps
*
Jari Rantanen
Born: 31.12.1961 Helsinki
Signed from: IFK Göteborg, September 1987
Football League Career: Leicester City (1987-89) – 13 appearances, 3 goals
International Career: Finland (1984-89); 29 caps, 4 goals
Pertti Jantunen – Aki Lahtinen – Jari Rantanen (Finland)
Iceland
Guðni Bergsson
Born: 21.07.1965 Reykjavik
Signed from: Valur, December 1988 [£100,000]
Football League Career: Tottenham Hotspur (1988-95) – 72 appearances, 2 goals; Bolton Wanderers, £65,000 (1995-2003) – 270 appearances, 22 goals
International Career: Iceland (1984-2003); 80 caps, 1 goal
*
Sigurður ‘Siggi’ Jónsson
Born: 27.09.1966 Akranes
Signed from: IA Akranes, February 1985
Football League Career: Sheffield Wednesday (1985-89) – 67 appearances, 5 goals; Barnsley, loan (1986) – 18 appearances; Arsenal, £475,000 (1989-91) – 8 appearances, 1 goal
International Career: Iceland (1983-99); 65 caps, 3 goals
*
Þorvaldur ‘Toddy’ Örlygsson
Born: 02.08.1966 Odense, Denmark
Signed from: KA, December 1989 [£175,000]
Football League Career: Nottingham Forest (1989-93) – 37 appearances, 2 goals; Stoke City (1993-95) – 90 appearances, 16 goals; Oldham Athletic (1995-99) – 76 appearances, 1 goal
International Career: Iceland (1987-95); 41 caps, 7 goals
Norway
Einar Jan Aas
Born: 12.10.1955 Moss
Signed from: Bayern Munich, March 1981
Football League Career: Nottingham Forest (1981-82) – 21 appearances, 1 goal
International Career: Norway (1977-86); 35 caps, 3 goals
*
Vetle Andersen
Born: 20.04.1964 Kristiansand
Signed from: Lyngby, December 1989
Football League Career: West Bromwich Albion (1989-90) – 1 appearance
*
Gunnar Halle
Born: 11.08.1965 Larvik
Signed from: Lillestrøm, February 1991 [£280,000]
Football League Career: Oldham Athletic (1991-96) – 188 appearances, 17 goals; Leeds United, £400,000 (1996-99) – 70 appearances, 4 goals; Bradford City, £200,000 (1999-2002) – 83 appearances, 1 goal; Wolverhampton Wanderers (2002) – 5 appearances
International Career: Norway (1987-99); 64 caps, 5 goals
Played at the 1994 & 1998 World Cups
Åge Hareide
Born: 23.09.1953 Hareid
Signed from: Molde, October 1981 [£10,000]
Football League Career: Manchester City (1981-82) – 24 appearances; Norwich City (1982-84) – 40 appearances, 2 goals
International Career: Norway (1976-86); 50 caps, 5 goals
*
Erland Johnsen
Born: 05.04.1967 Fredrikstad
Signed from: Bayern Munich, December 1989 [£300,000]
Football League Career: Chelsea (1989-97) – 145 appearances, 1 goal
International Career: Norway (1987-95); 24 caps, 2 goals
Played at the 1994 World Cup
*
Pål Lydersen
Born: 10.09.1965 Kristiansand
Signed from: IK Start, November 1991 [£500,000]
Football League Career: Arsenal (1991-95) – 15 appearances
International Career: Norway (1990-94); 20 caps, 1 goal
Kjetil Osvold
Born: 05.06.1961 Ålesund
Signed from: Lillestrøm, March 1987
Football League Career: Nottingham Forest (1987-88) – 7 appearances; Leicester City, loan (1987) – 4 appearances
International Career: Norway (1984-89); 37 caps, 3 goals
*
Erik Thorstvedt
Born: 28.10.1962 Stavanger
Signed from: IFK Göteborg, December 1988 [£400,000]
Football League Career: Tottenham Hotspur (1988-96) – 173 appearances
International Career: Norway (1982-96); 97 caps
Played at the 1994 World Cup
Sweden
Glenn Hysén
Born: 30.10.1959 Gothenburg
Signed from: Fiorentina, July 1989 [£600,000]
Football League Career: Liverpool (1989-92) – 72 appearances, 2 goals
International Career: Sweden (1981-90); 68 caps, 7 goals
Played at the 1990 World Cup
*
Anders Limpar
Born: 24.09.1965 Solna
Signed from: Cremonese, August 1990 [£1 million]
Football League Career: Arsenal (1990-94) – 96 appearances, 17 goals; Everton, £1.6 million (1994-97) – 66 appearances, 5 goals; Birmingham City, £100,000 (1997) – 4 appearances
International Career: Sweden (1987-96); 58 caps, 6 goals
Played at the 1990 & 1994 World Cups & the 1992 European Championship
Glenn Hysén – Anders Limpar – Jan Möller (Sweden)
Jan Möller
Born: 17.09.1953 Malmö
Signed from: Malmö, December 1980
Football League Career: Bristol City (1980-82) – 48 appearances
International Career: Sweden (1979-88); 17 caps
In the 1978 World Cup squad
*
Roland Nilsson
Born: 27.11.1963 Helsingborg
Signed from: IFK Göteborg, November 1989 [£375,000]
Football League Career: Sheffield Wednesday (1989-94) – 151 appearances, 2 goals; Coventry City (1997-99 & 2001-02) 69 appearances
International Career: Sweden (1986-2000); 116 caps, 1 goal
Played at the 1990 & 1994 World Cups & the 1992 European Championship
Managed Coventry City 2001-02
*
Stefan Rehn
Born: 22.09.1966 Stockholm
Signed from: Djurgårdens, June 1989 [£400,000]
Football League Career: Everton (1989-90) – 4 appearances
International Career: Sweden (1988-95); 45 caps, 6 goals
Played at the 1994 World Cup; in the 1992 European Championship squad
Several images courtesy of Peter Lythe, Miles McClagan (@TheSkyStrikers) & Shahan Petrossian (Soccer Nostalgia).
The arrival of foreign players, including Scandinavian and Nordic, to the Football League at the end of the 1970s is one of the topics discussed in my book Before the Premier League: A History of the Football League’s Last Decades.