Allan Simonsen

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Simonsen started playing football with Vejle FC, before he joined the youth team of local top-flight club Vejle BK (VB) in 1963. He made his senior debut for VB on 24 March 1971. He won the 1971 and 1972 Danish championship with the club, as well as the 1972 Danish Cup. Following an impressive three goals in six matches at the 1972 Summer Olympics, Simonsen moved to Germany to play professionally for defending German Bundesliga champions Borussia Mönchengladbach. In his first two seasons with Borussia Mönchengladbach, he only played a combined 17 games and scored two goals. He was part of the team which won the 1972–73 German Cup trophy. He broke into the starting line-up for the 1974–75 season, playing all 34 games and scoring 18 goals as Mönchengladbach won the Bundesliga championship. Simonsen also scored ten goals in 12 games in the 1974–75 UEFA Cup, including two goals in the 5–1 final victory against Twente. In the following season, Simonsen scored 16 goals as Mönchengladbach regained the Bundesliga in the 1975–76 season. He scored four goals in six games of the 1975–76 European Cup, before Mönchengladbach were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Real Madrid on the away goals rule. 1977 was the greatest year in Simonsen's career. In the 1976–77 European Cup, he helped Mönchengladbach to the 1977 European Cup Final against Liverpool. In the final, Simonsen scored a memorable goal from a powerful shot to level the game at 1–1, but Mönchengladbach eventually lost 3–1. He was subsequently named the 1977 European Footballer of the Year, becoming the first Danish player to win that award. The race was tight, Simonsen edged past Kevin Keegan by three points and Michel Platini by four points. In the following two Bundesliga seasons, Simonsen continued his prolific goalscoring, as Mönchengladbach finished second and eighth respectively. He won another international trophy with Mönchengladbach in 1979, when he scored eight goals in eight games to guide the club to the final of the 1978–79 UEFA Cup. He scored the deciding goal in the 2–1 1979 UEFA Cup Final win against Red Star Belgrade. Simonsen had been approached by Barcelona in 1978, but Mönchengladbach refused to let him go. Instead, he waited for his contract to expire and moved to Barcelona in 1979, rejecting offers from Hamburger SV, Juventus, and several Arabian clubs.

In Their Own Story

The climax of Simonsen's European journey with Mönchengladbach arrived in May 1979 during the UEFA Cup Final against Red Star Belgrade. Having scored eight goals throughout the tournament, he delivered when it mattered most. In a tense 2–1 victory, Simonsen scored the deciding goal to secure the trophy for his club. This triumph added to his collection of two Bundesliga titles and one DFB-Pokal (1972–73) won earlier in his tenure. Despite offers from giants like Hamburger SV and Juventus in 1978, he waited for his contract to expire before moving to Barcelona in 1979. His time at Mönchengladbach remains a testament to his ability to perform on the biggest stages, highlighted by his unique record of scoring in three different European final matches across his career.

Reader's Guide

Simonsen spent three successful seasons with Barcelona. In his first season, he was the top goal scorer of the team with ten goals in 32 games, as Barcelona finished in fourth place in the 1979–80 La Liga season. The following season, Barcelona won the 1981 Copa del Rey. Simonsen's ten goals saw him as third top goalscorer behind Quini (20) and Bernd Schuster (11), as Barcelona finished in fifth place in the 1980–81 La Liga season. Simonsen was second goal scorer behind Quini, as the club finished second in the 1981–82 La Liga season. He also helped Barcelona reach the final of the 1981–82 European Cup Winners' Cup. In the 2–1 final victory against Standard Liège, Simonsen scored the deciding goal on a header. When Barcelona signed Diego Maradona in 1982, Spanish league restrictions meant Simonsen was to compete with Maradona and Schuster for only two places allowed for foreign players. Simonsen saw it as a personal insult, and asked Barcelona for his contract to be annulled. He made a shock move to English Second Division side Charlton Athletic for £300,000 in October 1982. He rejected offers from Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur. Despite scoring nine times in 16 appearances, the club had trouble funding his transfer and wages after three months, and he was put up for sale. His £1,300 per week wages had not been paid, and as a result, he was free to leave the club for nothing. Simonsen then chose to return to his childhood club VB in 1983. He missed the last half of the 1984 season for VB because of an injury sustained at the 1984 European Championship, but the club won the 1984 Danish championship without him. He returned as a profile of the top-flight Danish 1st Division, but never reached his former form. Simonsen retired from football in 1989 at age 37, and played his last game for VB in November 1989. He played a total 282 games and scored 104 goals, including 208 games and 89 goals in the league, for Vejle Boldklub.

Did You Know?

• Simonsen is the only footballer to have scored in the European Cup, UEFA Cup, and Cup Winners' Cup finals.
• He was named 1977 European Footballer of the Year, edging past Kevin Keegan by three points and Michel Platini by four points.
• Simonsen scored the deciding goal in the 1979 UEFA Cup Final against Red Star Belgrade.
• He scored a memorable goal from a powerful shot in the 1977 European Cup Final against Liverpool.

Rise to Global Stardom

Simonsen started his career at Vejle FC before joining Vejle BK (VB) youth in 1963. He made his senior debut on 24 March 1971, scoring in a 3–1 win against Karlskoga FF. Winning the Danish championship in 1971 and 1972, plus the 1972 Cup to complete The Double, he caught global attention with three goals in six matches at the 1972 Summer Olympics. This performance led to his move to Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1972. After a difficult start where he played only 17 games in two seasons, he flourished from 1974 onwards. The 1976–77 season was pivotal; despite losing the European Cup Final to Liverpool 3–1 after his equalizer, he was named European Footballer of the Year. He became the first Dane to win the award, beating Kevin Keegan and Michel Platini in a tight race.

European Trophy Cabinet

Simonsen holds a singular record in football history: he is the only player to score in the finals of the European Cup, UEFA Cup, and Cup Winners' Cup. His first major European final came with Mönchengladbach in the 1974–75 UEFA Cup, where he scored two goals in a 5–1 win over Twente. He added a second UEFA Cup in 1978–79, scoring the winner in the 2–1 final against Red Star Belgrade after netting eight goals in the tournament. His European Cup final appearance came in 1977 against Liverpool, where he scored the equalizer before his team lost. Later, moving to Barcelona, he won the 1981–82 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In the 2–1 final victory against Standard Liège, Simonsen headed in the deciding goal. These three distinct European trophies highlight his unparalleled consistency in finals across different eras and competitions.

International Representation

Simonsen earned 55 caps for Denmark, scoring 20 goals according to the Danish Football Association. His international career began with a friendly against Iceland in July 1972 under manager Rudi Strittich, where he scored twice in a 5–2 win. He represented Denmark at the 1972 Summer Olympics, scoring three goals in the first three matches before being substituted due to fatigue in later games. Under Sepp Piontek, he was crucial for the 1984 European Championship qualification, scoring a vital penalty against Peter Shilton in a 1–0 win over England at Wembley Stadium in September 1983. This victory secured Denmark's first major tournament appearance since 1972. He played at the 1984 European Championship until breaking his leg against France and later featured in one match as a substitute for West Germany at the 1986 World Cup, Denmark's debut tournament.

Career Transitions and Retirement

In 1979, Simonsen moved to Barcelona after rejecting offers from Hamburger SV, Juventus, and Arabian clubs. He spent three successful seasons there, winning the 1980–81 Copa del Rey and the 1981–82 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. However, the arrival of Diego Maradona in 1982 created a conflict over foreign player limits, which Simonsen viewed as an insult. He demanded his contract be annulled and moved to English Second Division side Charlton Athletic for £300,000 in October 1982. After scoring nine goals in 16 games, the club could not fund his wages or transfer, leaving him free to leave. He returned to Vejle Boldklub in 1983, missing half of the 1984 season due to a leg injury from the European Championship. He retired in November 1989 at age 37 after playing 282 games and scoring 104 goals for VB.