Martin Laursen Biography | Martin Laursen News

Laursen started his senior career with Danish club Silkeborg IF, whom he helped steer to second place in the 1997–98 Superliga season. After three seasons at Silkeborg, he moved to Italy to play for then Serie B outfit Hellas Verona in August 1998. The contact with Verona was mediated by former Verona player and Silkeborg manager Preben Elkjær. Laursen was plagued by a knee injury for the majority of his first season at Verona, where the club won promotion to the top-flight Serie A. Laursen conquered a place in the starting line-up during his second season in Italy, and he made his debut for the Denmark national team in a friendly match against Portugal in March 2000. He was a part of the Denmark squad at the 2000 European Championship (Euro 2000), though he did not play a single game due to injury. Laursen was often known as Lionheart Laursen by his loyal fans, describing his courage and great ability to time his headers. He played his greater games for Aston Villa, helping them accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.

A step up
Seeking a high profile move, Parma, who already jointly owned Laursen with Verona, made a successful bid for his services. Following only three weeks of training at the club, Laursen was eventually picked up by A.C. Milan in a £8.7 million bid, who needed depth in their squad due to injuries. Laursen started out strong for his new club, scoring two goals in his first four league matches, but as Milan's regular defenders came back from injury, he saw his playing time diminishing.

Laursen's breakthrough with the national team came at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when he played full time in all four Denmark games before elimination. Laursen scored his first goal for his country in September 2003, in the Euro 2004 qualifying tournament, an all-important goal in injury time of the penultimate qualification match. His goal levelled the game with Romania to 2–2, and kept Denmark in the race for a place at the final competition. Laursen and the Denmark team secured qualification when they drew the last game, thus winning their qualification group.

Though winning silverware with A.C. Milan in 2003, Laursen failed to appear in the 2002-03 UEFA Champions League final. Due to the presence of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, Laursen failed to establish himself in Milan's first team in the long run.

 Premiership move
On May 21, 2004, he was bought by English Premiership side Aston Villa F.C. for £3 million, on a four-year contract. He played a solid Euro 2004 for Denmark, again playing full time in all Denmark's games, before he moved to play for Aston Villa. His debut with Villa came against Southampton F.C. on August 14, 2004, a match which ended 2–0 in Villa's favour.

Laursen's time at Villa however has proven frustrating. He made a few encouraging performances on and off, during the 2004–05 season, but the knee injury that has plagued him earlier in his career returned and kept Laursen at playing a single match for Aston Villa during the 2005–06 season. After a re-occurrence of the knee injury during the summer 2006 off-season, his playing future at club and international level was seen to be in doubt. He underwent a full rehabilitation in Bologna, where he spent most of the 2005–06 season, and returned to the Aston Villa side in August 2006.

After his absence from the Danish national team for more than one and a half years, he was called up in November 2006, but had to withdraw due to yet another knee injury. This season, Martin Laursen looks to be fulfilling his potential. The former AC Milan player has been at Villa since 2004, but a recurring knee injury saw him spending lengthy spells on the sidelines.

The Danish international has finally returned to form, and has been an integral part of Martin O'Neills plans. Cool on the ball, and great in the air, Laursen has distinguished himself as one of the leagues top defenders.

Laursen has become a somewhat prolific goalscorer for Aston Villa during the 2007–08 season, scoring 6 goals from centre back including three goals against Tottenham Hotspur, two of which came in a thrilling 4–4 draw at White Hart Lane, the other coming in a 2–1 home victory for Aston Villa over Tottenham Hotspur.

Laursen agreed terms on a new 2 and a half year deal with Aston Villa on 17 January 2008  He was voted the Supporters Player of the Year in 2008, following his impressive form in the 2007/2008 season.

In Aston Villa's first game of the season, in the Intertoto Cup, Laursen captained the side and continued his goal-scoring record from set pieces by scoring Villa's second goal against Odense BK, which eventually finished 2-2.

It is thought that Laursen may well replace Gareth Barry as club captain for Aston Villa on a permanent basis for the 2008-2009 season.

Laursen started his senior career with Danish club Silkeborg IF, whom he helped steer to second place in the 1997–98 Superliga season. After three seasons at Silkeborg, he moved to Italy to play for then Serie B outfit Hellas Verona in August 1998. The contact with Verona was mediated by former Verona player and Silkeborg manager Preben Elkjær. Laursen was plagued by a knee injury for the majority of his first season at Verona, where the club won promotion to the top-flight Serie A. Laursen conquered a place in the starting line-up during his second season in Italy, and he made his debut for the Denmark national team in a friendly match against Portugal in March 2000. He was a part of the Denmark squad at the 2000 European Championship (Euro 2000), though he did not play a single game due to injury. Laursen was often known as Lionheart Laursen by his loyal fans, describing his courage and great ability to time his headers. He played his greater games for Aston Villa, helping them accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.

A step up
Seeking a high profile move, Parma, who already jointly owned Laursen with Verona, made a successful bid for his services. Following only three weeks of training at the club, Laursen was eventually picked up by A.C. Milan in a £8.7 million bid, who needed depth in their squad due to injuries. Laursen started out strong for his new club, scoring two goals in his first four league matches, but as Milan's regular defenders came back from injury, he saw his playing time diminishing.

Laursen's breakthrough with the national team came at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when he played full time in all four Denmark games before elimination. Laursen scored his first goal for his country in September 2003, in the Euro 2004 qualifying tournament, an all-important goal in injury time of the penultimate qualification match. His goal levelled the game with Romania to 2–2, and kept Denmark in the race for a place at the final competition. Laursen and the Denmark team secured qualification when they drew the last game, thus winning their qualification group.

Though winning silverware with A.C. Milan in 2003, Laursen failed to appear in the 2002-03 UEFA Champions League final. Due to the presence of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, Laursen failed to establish himself in Milan's first team in the long run.

 Premiership move
On May 21, 2004, he was bought by English Premiership side Aston Villa F.C. for £3 million, on a four-year contract. He played a solid Euro 2004 for Denmark, again playing full time in all Denmark's games, before he moved to play for Aston Villa. His debut with Villa came against Southampton F.C. on August 14, 2004, a match which ended 2–0 in Villa's favour.

Laursen's time at Villa however has proven frustrating. He made a few encouraging performances on and off, during the 2004–05 season, but the knee injury that has plagued him earlier in his career returned and kept Laursen at playing a single match for Aston Villa during the 2005–06 season. After a re-occurrence of the knee injury during the summer 2006 off-season, his playing future at club and international level was seen to be in doubt. He underwent a full rehabilitation in Bologna, where he spent most of the 2005–06 season, and returned to the Aston Villa side in August 2006.

After his absence from the Danish national team for more than one and a half years, he was called up in November 2006, but had to withdraw due to yet another knee injury. This season, Martin Laursen looks to be fulfilling his potential. The former AC Milan player has been at Villa since 2004, but a recurring knee injury saw him spending lengthy spells on the sidelines.

The Danish international has finally returned to form, and has been an integral part of Martin O'Neills plans. Cool on the ball, and great in the air, Laursen has distinguished himself as one of the leagues top defenders.

Laursen has become a somewhat prolific goalscorer for Aston Villa during the 2007–08 season, scoring 6 goals from centre back including three goals against Tottenham Hotspur, two of which came in a thrilling 4–4 draw at White Hart Lane, the other coming in a 2–1 home victory for Aston Villa over Tottenham Hotspur.

Laursen agreed terms on a new 2 and a half year deal with Aston Villa on 17 January 2008  He was voted the Supporters Player of the Year in 2008, following his impressive form in the 2007/2008 season.

In Aston Villa's first game of the season, in the Intertoto Cup, Laursen captained the side and continued his goal-scoring record from set pieces by scoring Villa's second goal against Odense BK, which eventually finished 2-2.

It is thought that Laursen may well replace Gareth Barry as club captain for Aston Villa on a permanent basis for the 2008-2009 season.