Erik Rasmussen (footballer)

Erik Sandvad Rasmussen (born 24 December 1960), nicknamed "The Wizard" and "TryllErik", is a former Danish football player and manager. He played two games for the Denmark national football team. In March 2014 it was announced that he would be a 2014 inductee into the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame.[2]

Erik Rasmussen
Personal information
Full name Erik Sandvad Rasmussen
Date of birth (1960-12-24) 24 December 1960
Place of birth Brøndby, Denmark
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Køge
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1979 Køge
1980–1982 Herfølge
1982–1984 Køge
1984–1989 Wichita Wings (indoor) 217 (246)
1988–1989 Frem 36 (9)
1990–1991 Brøndby 73 (8)
1992 Helsingør 14 (10)
1992–1997 Køge[1] 331 (113)
1998–1999 Wichita Wings (indoor) 56 (112)
1998–1999 Baltimore Blast (indoor) 37 (18)
1999–2000 Skælskør
National team
1990–1991 Denmark 2 (0)
Teams managed
1992–1997 Køge
1999–2000 Skælskør
2000–2003 Næstved
2004–2008 Midtjylland
2009–2010 AGF
2012 Greve Fodbold
2017–2018 Vendsyssel FF
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Player

During his active career, he was a forward for Danish clubs Køge, Herfølge, Frem and Brøndby. In 1984, Rasmussen moved to the United States and signed with the Wichita Wings of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He played five seasons for the Wings. In 1988, he was the league's points leader and was named the MISL MVP.[3] In September 1989, but returned to Denmark and signed with Brøndby in order to make himself available to play for the national team.[4] In January 1998, he returned to the Wichita Wings who were now playing in the National Professional Soccer League.[5] He played for the Wings through the 1998–1999 season.[6][7] In June 1999, he then moved to the Baltimore Blast.[8][9]

Coach

After retiring, he managed a number of Danish lower league clubs. In January 2004, he replaced Troels Bech as manager of Midtjylland in the top-flight Danish Superliga.[10] In Midtjylland he led the team to a silver medal in the 2006–07 Danish Superliga. On 6 March 2008, he published he would leave Midtjylland at the end of the season for personal reasons. He took some time off going back to USA and with no active participation in football, except from being a pundit on Danish TV on some occasions. On 1 January 2009 he started as head coach for AGF. After a good start of the 2009/2010-season, AGF had a terrible spring that ended up in relegation to the Danish 1st Division. Four days after the season had ended Rasmussen was sacked.[11]

In October 2012 he replaced Benny Nielsen as manager of Greve Fodbold on a contract running until the end of 2012.[12]

In February 2017 he became new manager of Vendsyssel FF following a takeover of the club.[13] He led the club to 2nd place in his first season, but failed to get the club promoted via play-off. He resigned on 8 May 2018.[14]

References
  1. Number of matches and goals for Køge is for 1977–1979, 1982–1984 and 1992–1997 altogether.
  2. http://www.indoorsoccerhall.com/
  3. "The Year in American Soccer – 1988". Archived from the original on 2013-07-13. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  4. RASMUSSEN LEAVES WINGS FOR TEAM IN HIS HOMELAND Wichita Eagle, The (KS) – Tuesday, September 12, 1989
  5. ERIK RASMUSSEN : 'I'M HERE, AND I'M READY TO GO'. FORMER WINGS STAR WILL RETURN TO THE WICHITA LINEUP FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1989. Wichita Eagle, The (KS) – Friday, January 2, 1998
  6. NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS – 1997–1998 Archived January 28, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  7. NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS – 1998–1999 Archived January 28, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  8. RASMUSSEN SIGNS WITH BALTIMORE DANISH STAR DECIDES HE WANTS A NEW CHALLENGE AFTER SEVEN SEASONS IN WICHITA. Wichita Eagle, The (KS) – Thursday, June 10, 1999
  9. NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS – 1999–2000
  10. Erik Rasmussen ny træner i FC Midtjylland
  11. Erik Rasmussen fyret
  12. Erik Rasmussen ny træner i Greve
  13. Erik Rasmussen ny træner i Vendsyssel FF
  14. "Erik R. stopper i Vendsyssel - Askou overtager" (in Danish). bold.dk. 2018-05-08. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
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