:Søren Larsen

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Søren Larsen

| image = S04 Soren Larsen 01.jpg

| full_name = Søren Larsen

| height = 1.93 m

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|9|6|df=y}}

| birth_place = Køge, Denmark

| position = Striker

| years1 = 1997–2001

| clubs1 = Køge BK

| caps1 = 39

| goals1 = 12

| years2 = 2001–2004

| clubs2 = Brøndby

| caps2 = 1

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2002–2003

| clubs3 = → Frem (loan)

| caps3 = 8

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2003–2004

| clubs4 = Frem

| caps4 = 31

| goals4 = 11

| years5 = 2004–2005

| clubs5 = Djurgården

| caps5 = 13

| goals5 = 10

| years6 = 2005–2008

| clubs6 = Schalke 04

| caps6 = 51

| goals6 = 10

| years7 = 2008–2011

| clubs7 = Toulouse

| caps7 = 9

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2009–2010

| clubs8 = → MSV Duisburg (loan)

| caps8 = 10

| goals8 = 5

| years9 = 2011

| clubs9 = → Feyenoord (loan)

| caps9 = 6

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2011–2014

| clubs10 = AGF

| caps10 = 61

| goals10 = 16

| totalcaps = 229

| totalgoals = 66

| nationalyears1 = 1997–1998

| nationalteam1 = Denmark U17

| nationalcaps1 = 20

| nationalgoals1 = 6

| nationalyears2 = 1998–2001

| nationalteam2 = Denmark U19

| nationalcaps2 = 11

| nationalgoals2 = 4

| nationalyears3 = 2003

| nationalteam3 = Denmark U21

| nationalcaps3 = 3

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2005–2010

| nationalteam4 = Denmark

| nationalcaps4 = 20{{cite web|url=https://www.dbu.dk/landshold/landsholdsdatabasen/playerInfo/4479|publisher=Dansk Boldspil Union|title=Søren Larsen|access-date=11 March 2025}}

| nationalgoals4 = 11

}}

Søren Larsen ({{IPA|da|ˈsœːɐ̯n̩ ˈlɑːsn̩}}; born 6 September 1981) is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a striker. He was a strong player with a decent header and good sense of positioning. He played in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, France, and the Netherlands during a career that spanned between 1997 and 2014. A full international between 2005 and 2010, he won 20 caps and scored 11 goals for the Denmark national team and was a squad member at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.{{cite news|url=http://www.vm-guide.dk/danmarks-endelige-vm-trup-paa-23-spillere/ |title=Danmarks endelige VM-trup på 23 spillere |publisher= VM-guide.dk|date=28 May 2010|access-date=11 March 2025|language=da}}

Club career

Larsen started his professional career at Danish club Køge Boldklub in Køge, Denmark.

In 2001, he was sold to multiple Danish championship winners Brøndby IF in the top-flight Danish Superliga.{{cite web|url=https://brondby.com/nyheder/herrer/2001/august/soren-larsen-hard-start|publisher=Brøndby IF|title=Søren Larsen: Hård start|date=18 August 2001|access-date=11 March 2025|language=da}} At Brøndby he did not enjoy much success, and only played a single game in the 2001–02 Superliga season, which Brøndby went on to win, although he became well known for his bellyflop goal celebration, a result of which he was injured.{{cn|date=March 2025}} He was sent on loan to fellow Danish club BK Frem by then-Brøndby manager Michael Laudrup.{{cite web|url=https://app.jv.dk/indland/soeren-larsen-viste-maalnaesen-i-glimt|publisher=Jydske-Vestkysten|title=Søren Larsen viste målnæsen i glimt|date=6 September 2021|access-date=11 March 2025|work=Ritzau|language=da}}

In 2004, he was sold to Swedish club Djurgårdens IF, playing just two matches before being sidelined for the remainder of 2004 with a groin injury. When Djurgården won 2005 Swedish Cup and the 2005 Allsvenskan Larsen was a key player until he was sold.

After a two-month-long controversy Larsen was sold to German club FC Schalke 04 on 31 July 2005, signing a four-year contract.{{cite news|url=http://www.bold.dk/nyt/index.php?vis=48226|publisher=bold.dk|title=Larsen fire år i 04 |language= Danish |date= 1 August 2005 | access-date =31 August 2009}} At Schalke 04, he earned the nickname "Der Dänische Joker" (The Danish joker), "The Blonde Bomber" and "Die Waffe" (The weapon), referring to his ability to come on as a substitute and score the game-tying or -winning goal.{{cn|date=March 2025}} He was, however, not able to keep up the good performances due to injuries, and he later lost his place in the Schalke team. He became fed up with his role on the bench and decided to look for a new club.{{cite news|url=https://politiken.dk/sport/fodbold/art4754677/S%C3%B8ren-Larsen-s%C3%A6lges-til-Toulouse|publisher=Politiken|title=Søren Larsen sælges til Toulouse|date=17 July 2008|access-date=11 March 2025|language=da}}

On 18 July 2008, Larsen moved to Toulouse as a replacement for the outgoing Johan Elmander. On 24 January 2009, he scored his first four goals for the club in an 8–0 win against amateur team Schirrhein in the Coupe de France, but after one year he turned back to Germany and signed a one-year loan deal with MSV Duisburg.{{cite web|url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/generelle/soeren-larsen-til-duisburg|publisher=tipsbladet|title=Søren Larsen til Duisburg|date=31 August 2009|access-date=11 March 2025|language=da}} Larsen scored five goals in ten games and returned to Toulouse. In 2011, he moved to Feyenoord on loan.{{cite web|url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/fodbold/udenlandsk_fodbold/holland/article4250440.ece|publisher=Ekstra-bladet|title=Søren Larsen til Feyenoord|date=31 January 2011|access-date=11 March 2025|language=da}} On 12 July 2011, despite having two years remaining on his contract, he left Toulouse by mutual consent.{{cite news|url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/fodbold/udenlandsk_fodbold/franskfodbold/article4090003.ece|publisher=Ekstra-bladet|title=Søren Larsen fri af Toulouse|date=12 July 2011|access-date=11 March 2025|language=da}}

On 13 July 2011, he signed a three-year contract with the Danish Superliga side AGF Aarhus, and made his debut appearance for the first team only five days later, at home against Lyngby Boldklub.{{cite news | url = http://avisen.dk/agf-fik-droemmestart-mod-svage-lyngby_149336.aspx | title = AGF fik drømmestart mod svage Lyngby | date = 2011-07-18 | publisher = avisen.dk | author = Jonas Sahl |language=da}} On 30 July 2011, he scored his first goal, an important equalizer in the 2–2 draw home against Odense BK.{{cite news | url = http://sporten.tv2.dk/article.php/id-42029276:s%C3%B8ren-larsen-p%C3%A5-tavlen-for-agf.html | title = Søren Larsen på tavlen for AGF | publisher = TV2 Danmark|website=sporten.tv2.dk | date = 2011-07-30 | access-date = 31 July 2011 | archive-date = 4 March 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210304142004/https://sport.tv2.dk/article.php/id-42029276%3As | url-status = dead }} In the first two games of September 2011, Larsen scored an impressive seven goals: On 1 September 2011 he scored four goals in a 5–2 win in a Cup match against 1. Division side Blokhus FC.{{cn|date=March 2025}} On 12 September 2011, he netted a hat-trick in a 4–2 win against FC Midtjylland.{{cite news|url=https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/superliga/larsen-vidste-han-var-ved-vaere-klar|publisher=Danmarks Radio|title=Larsen vidste han var ved at være klar|date=12 September 2011|access-date=11 March 2025|language=da|author=Troels Trads Hansen}}

On 18 February 2014, he announced that he would be retiring immediately due to a knee injury.{{cite news|url=https://stiften.dk/navne/40-aar-i-agf-fik-soeren-larsen-lysten-til-at-spille-fodbold-tilbage|publisher=Aarhus Stiftstidende|title=40 år: I AGF fik Søren Larsen lysten til at spille fodbold tilbage|date=5 September 2021|access-date=11 March 2025|language=da}}

International career

On 2 June 2005, Larsen was handed his international debut by Denmark manager Morten Olsen, when he came on as a substitute in the 1–0 win over Finland.{{cite news|url=https://politiken.dk/sport/fodbold/art4867842/S%C3%B8ren-Larsen-var-en-fremtidsinvestering|publisher=Politiken|title=Søren Larsen var en fremtidsinvestering|date=25 October 2005|access-date=11 March 2025|language=da|author=Bo Moshage}} He continued his good form by sensationally scoring six goals in his first five national team matches from June to September 2005. Larsen was named in Olsen's final 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Larsen scored eleven goals in 20 games for Denmark.

Career statistics

= International =

:Scores and results list Denmark's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Sören Larsen

class="wikitable" ! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
1	rowspan="2" \| 8 June 2005	rowspan="2" \| Copenhagen, Denmark	rowspan="2" \| {{fb\|ALB}}	1–0	rowspan="2" \| 3–1	rowspan="2" \| 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2	2–0
3	7 August 2005	Copenhagen, Denmark	{{fb\|ENG}}	4–1	4–1	Friendly
4	3 September 2005	Istanbul, Turkey	{{fb\|TUR}}	2–2	2–2	2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier
5	rowspan="2" \| 7 September 2005	rowspan="2" \| Copenhagen, Denmark	rowspan="2" \| {{fb\|GEO}}	5–1	rowspan="2" \| 6–1	rowspan="2" \| 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier
6	6–1
7	rowspan="2" \| 11 October 2008	rowspan="2" \| Copenhagen, Denmark	rowspan="2" \| {{fb\|MLT}}	1–0	rowspan="2" \| 3–0	rowspan="2" \| 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
8	3–0
9	rowspan="2" \| 28 March 2009	rowspan="2" \| Attard, Malta	rowspan="2" \| {{fb\|MLT}}	1–0	rowspan="2" \| 3–0	rowspan="2" \| 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
10	2–0
11	1 April 2009	Copenhagen, Denmark	{{fb\|ALB}}	2–0	3–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier

Honours

Brøndby

Danish Superliga: 2001–02

Djurgårdens IF

Allsvenskan: 2005{{cite web | url = http://www.difarkivet.se/dif_sm_guld_seniorer.pdf | title = Djurgårdens IF SM-guld på seniornivå | language = Swedish | website = difarkivet.se | date = 12 December 2017 | access-date = 30 January 2018 }}
Svenska Cupen: 2004

Schalke 04

DFB-Ligapokal: 2005{{Cite web |url=https://www.dfb.de/historie/dfbde-archiv/archiv-ehemalige-wettbewerbe/premiere-ligapokal/alle-wettbewerbe/?spieledb_path=%2Fmatches%2F1820718 |title=Ligapokal, 2005, Finale|publisher=dfb.de |access-date=5 November 2020}}

References

External links

{{DBU player|4479}}
[https://www.danskfodbold.com/spiller.php?ligaid=2001&spillerid=10269 Søren Larsen] official Danish Superliga statistics at danskfodbold.com {{in lang|da}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005323/http://www.bkfrem.dk/default.asp?id=19&spillerid=116&todo=arkiv Boldklubben Frem profile] {{in lang|da}}
{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004108/http://www.brondby.com/player.asp?sid=44&id=33 |date=dmy |title=Brøndby IF profile {{in lang|da}} }}
{{Fussballdaten|larsensoeren}}

Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Køge Municipality

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:Danish men's footballers

Category:Denmark men's youth international footballers

Category:Denmark men's under-21 international footballers

Category:Denmark men's international footballers

Category:Danish expatriate men's footballers

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands