Thomas Gravesen: Difference between revisions
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Gravesen played a key role in Everton's rise to the upper reaches of the [[FA Premier League 2004-05|2004-05 Premiership]] table, from his position as an [[attacking midfielder]], however as his contract was due to expire in the summer of 2005 enabling him to leave for free, Everton sold Gravesen to Real Madrid for a fee of £2.5 million, on [[January 14]], [[2005]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/e/everton/4176451.stm Gravesen completes switch to Real], [[BBC Sport]], January 14, 2005</ref> At Real Madrid, he looked to fill a hole in the defensive midfield, a position somewhat different from his time at Everton.<ref name="times"/> He found immediate playing success at Real Madrid, as he scored in one of his first games, a 4-0 win against [[RCD Espanyol]].<ref>[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-2-2005_pg2_10 Real Madrid crush Espanyol 4-0 to make it six in a row], [[Daily Times]], February 7, 2005</ref> However, Gravesen would eventually find himself benched, and following public outcry over his tough style of play and the sacking of Real coach [[Vanderlei Luxemburgo]] and sporting director [[Arrigo Sacchi]], who were in charge of acquiring Gravesen, he looked ready to leave Real Madrid in the winter of 2005, especially since [[Manchester United]] from England showed interest.<ref>Andy Hunter, [http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/man_united/article331777.ece United weigh up a January move for Gravesen], ''[[The Independent]] article'', December 8, 2005</ref> However, new coach [[Juan Ramón López Caro|López Caro]] would revive Gravesen's career at Real, picking him regularly, using him in the holding role in the new 4-1-4-1 formation Real adopted. Towards the end of the season, Gravesen once again found himself out of the team, and in May 2006 a number of clubs were reported to be interested in him.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/5032248.stm Wednesday's gossip column], [[BBC Sport]], May 31, 2006</ref> |
Gravesen played a key role in Everton's rise to the upper reaches of the [[FA Premier League 2004-05|2004-05 Premiership]] table, from his position as an [[attacking midfielder]], however as his contract was due to expire in the summer of 2005 enabling him to leave for free, Everton sold Gravesen to Real Madrid for a fee of £2.5 million, on [[January 14]], [[2005]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/e/everton/4176451.stm Gravesen completes switch to Real], [[BBC Sport]], January 14, 2005</ref> At Real Madrid, he looked to fill a hole in the defensive midfield, a position somewhat different from his time at Everton.<ref name="times"/> He found immediate playing success at Real Madrid, as he scored in one of his first games, a 4-0 win against [[RCD Espanyol]].<ref>[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-2-2005_pg2_10 Real Madrid crush Espanyol 4-0 to make it six in a row], [[Daily Times]], February 7, 2005</ref> However, Gravesen would eventually find himself benched, and following public outcry over his tough style of play and the sacking of Real coach [[Vanderlei Luxemburgo]] and sporting director [[Arrigo Sacchi]], who were in charge of acquiring Gravesen, he looked ready to leave Real Madrid in the winter of 2005, especially since [[Manchester United]] from England showed interest.<ref>Andy Hunter, [http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/man_united/article331777.ece United weigh up a January move for Gravesen], ''[[The Independent]] article'', December 8, 2005</ref> However, new coach [[Juan Ramón López Caro|López Caro]] would revive Gravesen's career at Real, picking him regularly, using him in the holding role in the new 4-1-4-1 formation Real adopted. Towards the end of the season, Gravesen once again found himself out of the team, and in May 2006 a number of clubs were reported to be interested in him.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/5032248.stm Wednesday's gossip column], [[BBC Sport]], May 31, 2006</ref> |
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In August 2006, a scuffle erupted at a Real Madrid training session, following a hard tackle by Gravesen on teammate [[Robinho]], who retaliated by hitting Gravesen.<ref>{{da icon}} [http://politiken.dk/fodbold/article169451.ece Gravesen: Jeg var et fejlkøb], ''[[Politiken]]'', September 6, 2006</ref> [[Fabio Capello]], the recently appointed Real Madrid manager, said about Gravesen: "The way he is, we won't have problems with him. He's just a little bit particular. I don't mess with him, he works well tactically. His behaviour is like this, and I don't like it, everything has to be done like he wants it to be done".<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.marca.es/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/real_madrid/es/desarrollo/676906.html El Madrid abre la puerta a Gravesen], [[Marca]], August 2, 2006</ref> Gravesen looked likely to leave Real Madrid before the start of the [[La Liga season 2006/2007|2006-07 season]], with his agent [[John Sivebæk]] confirming that a number of clubs - including [[Newcastle United]] in England<ref>Alex Livie, [http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=409632&plid=3980&clid=4&cpid=8 Grav likes look of Magpies], ''[[Sky Sports]]'', August 13, 2006</ref> and [[Scotland|Scottish]] club [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]<ref>Simon Fudge, [http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=410128&CPID=14&clid=61&lid=10&title=Grav+considers+Bhoys Grav considers Bhoys], ''[[Sky Sports]]'', August 16, 2006</ref> - were interested in signing the midfielder. On August 28, Gravesen attended [[Celtic Park]] in [[Glasgow]] for a [[medical examination]] and, on [[August 30]], he signed a three year deal (with the option of a fourth year) with the club, for a speculated fee of around £2m. There was a period of uncertainty as to whether Gravesen would sign for Celtic, after rumours of a failed medical and an eleventh-hour bid by Newcastle arose.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5290454.stm Celtic complete Gravesen capture], [[BBC Sport]], August 30, 2006</ref> |
In August 2006, a scuffle erupted at a Real Madrid training session, following a hard tackle by Gravesen on teammate [[Robinho]], who retaliated by hitting Gravesen.<ref>{{da icon}} [http://politiken.dk/fodbold/article169451.ece Gravesen: Jeg var et fejlkøb], ''[[Politiken]]'', September 6, 2006</ref> [[Fabio Capello]], the recently appointed Real Madrid manager, said about Gravesen: "The way he is, we won't have problems with him. He's just a little bit particular. I don't mess with him, he works well tactically. His behaviour is like this, and I don't like it, everything has to be done like he wants it to be done".<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.marca.es/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/real_madrid/es/desarrollo/676906.html El Madrid abre la puerta a Gravesen], [[Marca]], August 2, 2006</ref> Gravesen looked likely to leave Real Madrid before the start of the [[La Liga season 2006/2007|2006-07 season]], with his agent [[John Sivebæk]] confirming that a number of clubs - including [[Newcastle United]] in England<ref>Alex Livie, [http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=409632&plid=3980&clid=4&cpid=8 Grav likes look of Magpies], ''[[Sky Sports]]'', August 13, 2006</ref> and [[Scotland|Scottish]] club [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]<ref>Simon Fudge, [http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=410128&CPID=14&clid=61&lid=10&title=Grav+considers+Bhoys Grav considers Bhoys], ''[[Sky Sports]]'', August 16, 2006</ref> - were interested in signing the midfielder. On August 28, Gravesen attended [[Celtic Park]] in [[Glasgow]] for a [[medical examination]] and, on [[August 30]], he signed a three year deal (with the option of a fourth year) with the club, for a speculated fee of around £2m. There was a period of uncertainty as to whether Gravesen would sign for Celtic, after false rumours of a failed medical and an eleventh-hour bid by Newcastle arose.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5290454.stm Celtic complete Gravesen capture], [[BBC Sport]], August 30, 2006</ref> |
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==Honours== |
==Honours== |
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Revision as of 01:42, 9 September 2006
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Gravesen | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Celtic | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of September 1, 2006 | |||
Thomas Gravesen (born March 11, 1976) is a Danish professional football (soccer) player who operates as a midfielder for Scottish Premier League club Celtic. For the Denmark national football team, Gravesen has been capped 63 times, scoring 5 goals, and he has been a constant part of the Danish team under coach Morten Olsen.
Biography
Born in Vejle, Gravesen's career started in 1995 with hometown club Vejle Boldklub (VB) in the Danish Superliga, alongside a handful of youths making it through the VB youth scheme, including good friend Kaspar Dalgas. At VB, Thomas Gravesen would play both as a sweeper and defensive midfielder, and after he won silver medals in the 1996-97 Superliga season, Gravesen moved to German team Hamburger SV in 1997. While playing for Hamburger SV, he debuted for the Danish national team in 1998, and Gravesen was selected to play for Denmark at the 2000 European Championship (Euro 2000) by coach Bo Johansson, despite concern from Johansson that he was not "psychologically stable" (stabil i sin psyke) enough.[1] Following the Euro 2000 tournament, he went to English club Everton F.C. where he quickly became a favourite amongst the fans.
While at Everton, new Danish national team coach Morten Olsen would fully support Gravesen and made him one of his pivotal players in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the Template:Ec2 campaigns. Especially his display in the 2002 World Cup qualifying game with Iceland, where Gravesen scored two goals in a 6-0 win, was so impressive that American boxer Mike Tyson asked for his shirt[2] and wore it throughout his stay at Denmark. He played all four of Denmark's matches at the 2002 World Cup, though Gravesen and his partner in the Danish midfield duo, Stig Tøfting, would justify their pit bull images when they ganged up to play a prank on teammate Jesper Grønkjær at a World Cup training session.[3] He missed the first group match at Euro 2004, as he was suspended due to a sending off in the last qualifying match before the tournament but he played the remaining three games before Denmark were eliminated.
Gravesen played a key role in Everton's rise to the upper reaches of the 2004-05 Premiership table, from his position as an attacking midfielder, however as his contract was due to expire in the summer of 2005 enabling him to leave for free, Everton sold Gravesen to Real Madrid for a fee of £2.5 million, on January 14, 2005.[4] At Real Madrid, he looked to fill a hole in the defensive midfield, a position somewhat different from his time at Everton.[2] He found immediate playing success at Real Madrid, as he scored in one of his first games, a 4-0 win against RCD Espanyol.[5] However, Gravesen would eventually find himself benched, and following public outcry over his tough style of play and the sacking of Real coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo and sporting director Arrigo Sacchi, who were in charge of acquiring Gravesen, he looked ready to leave Real Madrid in the winter of 2005, especially since Manchester United from England showed interest.[6] However, new coach López Caro would revive Gravesen's career at Real, picking him regularly, using him in the holding role in the new 4-1-4-1 formation Real adopted. Towards the end of the season, Gravesen once again found himself out of the team, and in May 2006 a number of clubs were reported to be interested in him.[7]
In August 2006, a scuffle erupted at a Real Madrid training session, following a hard tackle by Gravesen on teammate Robinho, who retaliated by hitting Gravesen.[8] Fabio Capello, the recently appointed Real Madrid manager, said about Gravesen: "The way he is, we won't have problems with him. He's just a little bit particular. I don't mess with him, he works well tactically. His behaviour is like this, and I don't like it, everything has to be done like he wants it to be done".[9] Gravesen looked likely to leave Real Madrid before the start of the 2006-07 season, with his agent John Sivebæk confirming that a number of clubs - including Newcastle United in England[10] and Scottish club Celtic[11] - were interested in signing the midfielder. On August 28, Gravesen attended Celtic Park in Glasgow for a medical examination and, on August 30, he signed a three year deal (with the option of a fourth year) with the club, for a speculated fee of around £2m. There was a period of uncertainty as to whether Gravesen would sign for Celtic, after false rumours of a failed medical and an eleventh-hour bid by Newcastle arose.[12]
Honours
- Danish Superliga: 1996-97 runner-up, with Vejle BK
- Spanish La Liga: 2004-05 runner-up, with Real Madrid
References
- ^ Klaus Moe, "Psykisk for ustabil", B.T. article, April 19, 2000
- ^ a b Oliver Kay, Real yearn for steel of Gravesen, The Times article, January 13, 2005
- ^ Template:Da icon Lars Møller, Thomas Gravesen i billeder, Danmarks Radio, 2005
- ^ Gravesen completes switch to Real, BBC Sport, January 14, 2005
- ^ Real Madrid crush Espanyol 4-0 to make it six in a row, Daily Times, February 7, 2005
- ^ Andy Hunter, United weigh up a January move for Gravesen, The Independent article, December 8, 2005
- ^ Wednesday's gossip column, BBC Sport, May 31, 2006
- ^ Template:Da icon Gravesen: Jeg var et fejlkøb, Politiken, September 6, 2006
- ^ Template:Es icon El Madrid abre la puerta a Gravesen, Marca, August 2, 2006
- ^ Alex Livie, Grav likes look of Magpies, Sky Sports, August 13, 2006
- ^ Simon Fudge, Grav considers Bhoys, Sky Sports, August 16, 2006
- ^ Celtic complete Gravesen capture, BBC Sport, August 30, 2006
Further reading
- Thomas Gravesen, told to Kurt Lassen, "Min version" (My version), Denmark, 2005, ISBN 87-91693-51-9
External links
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