John Sivebæk

Infobox Football biography
playername= John Sivebæk


fullname = John Sivebæk
nickname =
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1961|10|25|df=y
cityofbirth = Vejle
countryofbirth = Denmark
height =
position = Wingback
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1980-1985
1986-1987
1987-1991
1991-1992
1992-1994
1994-1995
1995-1997
clubs = Vejle BK
Manchester United
AS Saint-Étienne
AS Monaco
Pescara Calcio
Vejle BK
AGF Aarhus
caps(goals) = 296 (41)
31 (1)
129 (1)
23 (0)
61 (2)
28 (0)
nationalyears = 1980-1983
1982-1992
nationalteam = Denmark u-21
Denmark
nationalcaps(goals) = 13 (0)
87 (1)

John Sivebæk (born 25 October, 1961 in Vejle) is a Danish former football defender, who most notably won the 1984 Danish championship with Vejle Boldklub and played for English club Manchester United. He scored one goal in 87 appearances for the Danish national team, and represented his country at the 1986 World Cup as well as three European Championships, including the triumphant 1992 European Championship tournament.

His son Christian Sivebæk is also a professional football player.

Biography

Sivebæk started his career with hometown club Vejle Boldklub in 1980. He was a part of the Vejle team that won the 1981 Danish Cup. He made his debut for the Danish national team in a May 1982 friendly match against Sweden. He was a part of the Danish squad at the 1984 European Championship, where he played in three of Denmark's four games.

He and Vejle won the 1984 Danish championship trophy, and he scored his only national team goal, in a 1986 World Cup qualification game against the Republic of Ireland in November 1985. In the winter 1985, Sivebæk moved to England to play for Manchester United, joining fellow Dane Jesper Olsen. He scored one goal in his time at Manchester United, namely the first Manchester United goal under newly hired manager Alex Ferguson in November 1986.Paul Fletcher, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6116652.stm The man who set Fergie on his way] , "BBC Sport", November 4, 2006] In his time at Manchester United, he was selected to represent Denmark at the 1986 World Cup, where he played two of Denmark's four games before elimination.

In 1987, Sivebæk was told he would not be a first team regular at Manchester United, and he moved to French club AS Saint-Étienne. While at Saint-Étienne, he was selected for the 1988 European Championship, where he played two of Denmark's three games. In 1991, he changed from Saint-Étienne to league rivals AS Monaco. While at Monaco, he was called up to the Danish squad for the 1992 European Championship. He played full time in Denmark's first four games and helped the team reach the final against Germany. He took part in the final, but suffered an injury and was substituted in favour of Claus Christiansen, and watched from the bench as Denmark won 2-0. He ended his national team career later that year, following the 1994 World Cup qualification game against Northern Ireland in November 1992.

He went to Italy to play for Pescara Calcio in 1992. He moved back to Denmark in 1994, to play for childhood club Vejle BK. He played a single season for Vejle, for a total 226 games and 23 goals for the club. He ended his career with Danish club AGF Aarhus in 1997. After retiring, he became a football agent with "Proactive Scandinavia", and most notably advises Thomas Gravesen.

Honours

*1981 Danish Cup
*1984 Danish championship
*1992 European Championship

References

External links

* [http://www.dbu.dk/lbase/playerInfo.aspx?playerid=3826 Danish national team profile]
*da icon [http://vejle-boldklub.dk/statistik-spillernavn.asp?Spillere=John%20Siveb%E6k Vejle Boldklub profile]
* [http://www.national-football-teams.com/php/spieler.php?id=15111 National Football Teams statistics]
*fr icon [http://a.s.monaco.free.fr/joueurs/sivebaek/fiche.php A.S. Monaco Profile]