Michael Laudrup

Lore & Background

During his playing career, Laudrup won league titles with Ajax, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus, playing mainly as an attacking midfielder. He became a key member of Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team' at Barcelona, where he claimed nine trophies, including four successive La Liga titles from 1991 to 1994 and the European Cup in 1992. He moved to arch-rivals Real Madrid in 1994, winning his fifth consecutive La Liga title. Laudrup made his debut for the Denmark national team on his 18th birthday in 1982, scoring 37 goals in 104 appearances. He starred in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, and from November 1994 he captained Denmark for 28 matches, including the victorious 1995 Confederations Cup tournament. He played alongside his brother Brian in the Denmark team that reached the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Cup, and retired after that tournament.

Reader's Guide

Laudrup began his senior career at KB in 1981, then played for Brøndby, helping them gain promotion. He was sold to Juventus in 1983 but was loaned to Lazio for two seasons. He returned to Juventus in 1985, winning Serie A and the Intercontinental Cup. After an unsuccessful 1987–88 season, he joined Barcelona in 1989, where he enjoyed major success under Johan Cruyff. He moved to Real Madrid in 1994 after falling out with Cruyff. After retiring as a player, he became assistant manager of the Denmark national team, then managed Brøndby (winning the 2005 Danish Superliga), Getafe, Swansea City (winning the 2013 League Cup), and Qatari clubs Lekhwiya and Al Rayyan.

Did You Know?

• Laudrup was voted the Best Foreign Player in Spanish Football over the preceding 25-year period in 1999.
• He was knighted with the Order of the Dannebrog in April 2000.
• In November 2003, he was selected as the Golden Player of Denmark by the Danish Football Union.
• He was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list in 2004.
• In April 2013, Marca readers named him in the 'Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history'.