FootballerDanishDefenderManager

Ivan Nielsen

Ivan Nielsen is a Danish former professional central defender, known for his career with Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven, winning the European Cup with PSV, and earning 51 caps for Denmark.

1. Biography

1.1. Early Life

Ivan Nielsen was born on 9 October 1956, in Frederiksberg, a municipality within the Copenhagen Capital Region of Denmark.

1.2. Early Career

Nielsen began his senior football career in 1975 with Fremad Amager. His talent was recognized early, leading to his debut for the Danish U-21 national team in September 1977. He went on to play six matches for the U-21 national team, scoring one goal. In 1979, he transitioned to professional football abroad, joining Feyenoord Rotterdam in the Dutch Eredivisie.

2. Professional Career

2.1. Feyenoord

Nielsen joined Feyenoord Rotterdam in 1979, marking the start of his professional career in the Netherlands. He quickly became an integral part of the team, contributing to their victory in the KNVB Cup during the 1979-80 season. His strong performances at the club level led to his debut for the Danish national team in November 1980, under the management of Sepp Piontek. In the 1983-84 season, Nielsen played a key role as Feyenoord achieved a domestic double, winning both the Eredivisie championship and the KNVB Cup. Over his seven seasons with Feyenoord, from 1979 to 1986, he made 195 appearances and scored 14 goals. He also participated in the 1984 European Championship with Denmark, playing all four of the team's matches as they reached the semi-finals. Nielsen was also selected for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, where he played three games, helping Denmark reach the round of 16. He departed Feyenoord in 1986.

2.2. PSV Eindhoven

In 1986, Nielsen moved to PSV Eindhoven, the reigning Eredivisie champions, where he reunited with fellow Danish internationals Frank Arnesen and Jan Heintze. His time at PSV was highly successful, marked by a period of significant domestic dominance. Nielsen helped PSV secure three consecutive Eredivisie championships from 1987 to 1989. Concurrently, the team also won three consecutive KNVB Cups from 1988 to 1990.

His most notable achievement with PSV was the triumph in the 1988 European Cup. In the final match against S.L. Benfica of Portugal, the game was decided by a penalty shootout. Nielsen successfully converted his penalty, contributing to PSV's victory and their first European Cup title. He also represented the Danish national team at the 1988 European Championship. Although the tournament was largely disappointing for the Danish squad, Nielsen was recognized as one of the few veteran players who performed consistently well. He played 83 matches and scored 5 goals for PSV during his four seasons with the club.

2.3. Denmark National Team

Ivan Nielsen earned 51 caps for the Danish national team between his debut in November 1980 and his retirement from international football in November 1989. Despite his long and distinguished international career, he never scored a goal for the national team. He was a key defender for Denmark in three major tournaments: the 1984 European Championship, where Denmark reached the semi-finals; the 1986 FIFA World Cup, where they advanced to the round of 16; and the 1988 European Championship.

2.4. Later Career

After four successful seasons with PSV, Nielsen returned to Denmark in 1990 to conclude his playing career. He rejoined his former club, Fremad Amager, for a single season. In 1991, he transferred to B 1903, where he made 25 appearances and scored 1 goal. When B 1903 merged with KB to form F.C. Copenhagen in 1992, Nielsen became part of the newly established club. He was a member of the FC Copenhagen team that won the 1993 Danish Superliga championship in the club's inaugural season, contributing 2 goals in 20 appearances. Following this championship, he moved to Næstved IF, where he eventually retired from professional football.

3. Playing Style

Ivan Nielsen was known for his formidable presence as a central defender. Standing at 76 in (192 cm), he possessed a strong physique and exceptional stamina, which made him a tough man-marker on the field. His defensive prowess was particularly evident in a match during the 1986 FIFA World Cup where he successfully contained Uruguayan star Enzo Francescoli, limiting his ability to influence the game.

During this match, Nielsen received a booking in the 7th minute for a strong tackle on Francescoli. Later in the first half, he committed another foul on Francescoli at the edge of the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. Francescoli converted the penalty, scoring Uruguay's only goal in a match that Denmark ultimately won 6-1.

4. Honours

Ivan Nielsen achieved significant team honours throughout his professional career:

Feyenoord

  • Eredivisie: 1983-84
  • KNVB Cup: 1979-80, 1983-84

PSV Eindhoven

  • Eredivisie: 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89
  • KNVB Cup: 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90
  • European Cup: 1987-88

FC Copenhagen

  • Danish Superliga: 1992-93

5. Post-retirement Activities

Following his retirement as a player, Ivan Nielsen transitioned into coaching. He managed his former club Næstved and later Dragør Boldklub. Beyond football, he also ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing his own plumbing business in Copenhagen.