John Jensen (born 3 May 1965), nicknamed Faxe (Danish pronunciation:[ˈfɑksə]),[1] is a Danish football manager and former player.
A former midfielder, his playing career lasted almost two entire decades, including a stint with Arsenal in England and three stints with Brøndby IF in Denmark. He scored four goals in 69 caps for the Denmark national team, entering Danish footballing folklore during the 1992 European Championship tournament, when he scored the opening goal in Denmark's 2–0 victory over Germany in the final.
Club career
Early career
Jensen started his career at Brøndby IF, and was an important part of the team which won the Danish championship in 1987, crowned by a call-up to the Denmark national team and the Danish Player of the Year award in 1987. After impressing in the UEFA Euro 1988, he spent a brief, unhappy spell in the Bundesliga team Hamburger SV, and was back with Brøndby in March 1990, where he took part in the club's successful 1991 UEFA Cup campaign which reached the semi-final of the tournament.[2]
In his first season at Highbury, after making his Arsenal League debut on the opening day of the season versus Norwich City, he struggled at first to make any sort of impact within the English game and, although a great tackler and a work rate second to none, he found the pace of the Premier League too frenzied. He missed the 1993 Football League Cup Final versus Sheffield Wednesday but bounced back to put in two sterling performances in the FA Cup Final against the same opposition two months later.
In 1993-94, he was of paramount importance to the side. His bustling, combative style was a vital influence in Arsenals midfield, until a knee ligament injury he received in an international friendly match with Denmark versus Hungary, which resulted him missing the 1994 European Cup Winners Cup Final, after playing in all previous ties. Along with Ian Wright he was later granted a medal.
On 21 February 1995 George Graham, who had led Arsenal to six trophies in eight seasons, lost his job after a Premier League inquiry found he had accepted an illegal £425,000 payment from Norwegian agent Rune Hauge following Arsenal’s recruiting of Pål Lydersen and Jensen, two of Hauge’s clients.[7]
14 February 1996 Jensen played his last game for Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final versus Aston Villa, and left Highbury in March 1996, after 138 competitive appearances for the club.[8][9][10]
Return to Denmark
After leaving Arsenal he rejoined his old club, Brøndby IF. In 1999, he moved on to Herfølge, where he was part of the squad that won the 1999–2000 Danish Superliga.[11]
International career
Jensen scored four goals in 69 appearances for the Denmark national team between 1987 and 1995. When he appeared at Euro 1992, he scored the first goal in the Final of an eventual 2–0 victory against Germany.
During the years he spent at Arsenal, Jensen scored two goals in 21 games for the Denmark national team: one against Albania in 1993 and one against Belgium in 1994.
Coaching career
Jensen retired from full-time playing in 1999 and accepted the job of player/manager at Herfølge BK, a small Danish club, and immediately made a name for himself by winning the Danish Superliga on his first attempt. However, Herfølge's success was short-lived, and they were relegated from the Superliga in the 2001 season. Jensen's reputation with his old club was good enough to secure him a move back to Brøndby IF, as assistant manager to Michael Laudrup, a position he held until June 2006, when Jensen and Laudrup did not extend their contracts with the club.
When Laudrup in 2007 was named new manager at Spanish side Getafe, Jensen followed him as assistant manager. Laudrup quit Getafe after only one season, taking Jensen with him.[12] On 12 January 2009, Jensen started as manager of Danish Superliga side Randers FC. On 6 October 2009, Jensen was sacked from Randers FC after a series of nine losses and two draws in 11 matches.
On 12 January 2011, he signed a six-month contract with Blackburn Rovers to become assistant manager and work alongside Steve Kean.[13] On 23 May 2011, he signed a new deal one-year deal to remain as Steve Kean's assistant at Blackburn.
In September 2018, it was announced that Jensen would take temporary charge of the Denmark national team for their replacement team's friendly match against Slovakia, following a dispute between the Danish Football Union and players, which also involved incumbent head coach Åge Hareide. "When I say yes to help it's because I feel very strongly for the national team as an institution, and because the most important thing must be that the games will be played after all", said Jensen.[16][17]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
