Morten Olsen

Morten Olsen

For the Danish music composer, see Morten Olsen (composer).

Morten Per Olsen (born 14 August 1949) is a Danish football manager and former football player. He has been the head coach of the Danish national team since 2000, guiding Denmark to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2004 European Championship, 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2012 European Championship. He has also managed Brøndby IF to two Danish Superliga championships and Ajax Amsterdam to the Double of the 1998 Dutch Eredivisie championship and Dutch Cup trophy. His career as a coach is remarkable in that he has been fired in all of his clubs. He is the only person ever in football to achieve 100 national matches for his country both as player as well as coach.

In his active career, Olsen predominantly played as a defensive midfielder and libero. He played professionally in Belgium and Germany, and won the 1983 UEFA Cup and three Belgian First Division championships with RSC Anderlecht. Olsen played a total 102 matches and scored four goals for the Danish national team from 1970 to 1989, and was named 1983 and 1986 Danish Player of the Year. He captained the Danish national team in 50 games during the 1980s, and represented Denmark at the 1984 European Championship, 1986 FIFA World Cup, and 1988 European Championship. Towards the end of his active career, Olsen was characterized as the most important player in the history of Danish football.