Jan Mølby

Jan Mølby

Mølby in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Jan Mølby
Date of birth	(1963-07-04)4 July 1963
Place of birth	Kolding,Denmark
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1981–1982	Kolding	40	(0)
1982–1984	Ajax	57	(11)
1984–1996	Liverpool	218	(44)
1995	→Barnsley(loan)	5	(0)
1995	→Norwich City(loan)	3	(0)
1996–1998	Swansea City	41	(8)
Total		364	(63)
International career
1979	Denmark U-17	6	(2)
1980–1981	Denmark U-19	9	(0)
1981–1983	Denmark U-21	7	(0)
1982–1990	Denmark	33	(2)
Managerial career
1996–1997	Swansea City
1999–2002	Kidderminster Harriers
2002	Hull City
2003–2004	Kidderminster Harriers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jan Mølby(Danish pronunciation:[ˈmølpy];born 4 July 1963) is a Danish former professionalfootballerand manager. As a player, he was amidfielderfrom 1982 to 1998. After starting his career withKolding,he moved on toAjaxbefore spending twelve years playing in England withLiverpool.He wascapped33 times byDenmark,scoring twice.

After leaving Liverpool he became player-manager ofSwansea City,where he spent two years, and then managedKidderminster Harriers,guiding them to promotion to theFootball Leaguein 2000. He later had a brief spell as manager ofHull Cityand then a brief spell back in charge of Kidderminster Harriers.

Club career

Born inKolding,Mølby started his senior playing career atKolding,the biggest football club of his hometown, where he became team captain at the age of 18, before joiningAjaxon 1 July 1982, where he won the Dutch Championship and the Dutch Cup (the double) in the 1982–83 season.

Liverpool managerJoe Faganinvited Mølby to have a ten-day trial and finally signed him on 22 August 1984. He made his debut three days later on 26 August in the 3–3 league draw withNorwich CityatCarrow Road.His first goal for Liverpool came on 1 December 1984 in the 3–1 league defeat toChelseaatStamford Bridge.He failed to shine for Liverpool in his first season as the team endured a comparatively poor season, failing to win a major trophy for the first time since 1975.

In 1985–86, new player-managerKenny Dalglishput faith in Mølby, installing him as a regular in the first team. On a number of occasions, Mølby began matches as a third central defender or deep-lying sweeper, before moving into midfield alongsideSteve McMahon,often with devastating effect, as the match wore on. He scored 21 goals in 1985–86 from midfield in what was undoubtedly his best season. The season culminated in a man of the match performance in the first-ever allMerseysideFA Cupfinal playing a part in all three Liverpool goals.

Having lost the league title to Liverpool a week earlier,derbyrivalsEvertonwere looking for revenge and took a 1–0 lead into the half-time break, courtesy of aGary Linekerstrike. After the break Liverpool, led by Mølby, began to make inroads into the Blues' defence. In the 57th minute he set up the equaliser forIan Rushand followed that up six minutes later by setting upCraig Johnstonto take the lead. Mølby was also involved in the third goal, when Rush latched on to a chipped pass fromRonnie Whelanto put the final out of Everton's reach and complete the double.

Mølby also began to establish himself as a regular and successful penalty taker around this time, starting with two penalties converted at home toTottenham Hotspurin the league on 28 September 1985. Other fine performances included a brace in open play in a 3–0 home win overAston Villain the league on 7 December, and two goals (one a penalty) as they eliminatedManchester Unitedfrom theFootball League Cupin a 2–1 win atAnfieldin late November.

He remained a regular in the team in 1986–87, in which Liverpool finished second in the League. During theirLeague Cuprun, which ended with a 2–1 defeat at Wembley againstArsenal,he scored a hat-trick of penalties in a fourth round replay at Anfield againstCoventry City.Mølby scored another penalty against Coventry in a league match at Anfield the following Saturday.

During pre-season training in the summer of 1987, Mølby suffered a foot injury, which turned out to be a crucial turning point in his career. He missed the first three months of the 1987–88 season, and with the arrival ofJohn Barnesto play on the left wing, Mølby's place in central midfield was taken byRonnie Whelan(who had hitherto played left midfield). Whelan's partnership with McMahon proved a great success and, although Whelan was himself injured later in the season, Mølby's return to fitness came too late to resume his place in midfield, which went toNigel Spackmanfor the rest of the season. He was never again an automatic choice in midfield under Dalglish as Whelan and McMahon became the first choice partnership.

In 1988–89, Mølby returned to regular first team football, playing in central defence in the absence of the injuredAlan Hansen,and scoring the winning goal against Manchester United at Anfield in the second league game of the season. However, in October 1988 he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for reckless driving following an incident earlier in the year.The club decided to stand by him, and he returned to the first team in January 1989 in Hansen's continued absence, but suffered another injury in March which kept him out for the rest of the season. In April 1989, Mølby, along with his teammates, rallied round thebereavedfamilies of theHillsborough disasterattending a number of the funerals.

In the following season, 1989–90 (Liverpool's last title-winning season before winning again in the 2020 season), Mølby was a frustrated figure, unable to command a first team place despite often impressing during his occasional appearances. He started only 12 of 38 league games, although he enjoyed a successful return to the team in the championship run-in, deputising for the injured Whelan.

The following season threatened more of the same for Mølby, as he was again a regular substitute. In September 1990, before an away league match against Everton, Radio 5 commentator Mike Ingham remarked that "Mølby's still only a substitute even though he'd probably walk into any other first division team".Later that season, after Liverpool had knockedBrightonout of the FA Cup, Brighton managerBarry Lloydexpressed bemusement in a BBC post-match interview that Mølby was not being selected regularly.Mølby was very close to signing forJohan Cruyff'sBarcelonain November 1990, after a fee had been agreed of £1.6 million and he had agreed a four-year contract. When he scored a penalty in a 4–0 home win overLuton Town,it was expected to be his farewell to the Liverpool fans. However, this was followed by a breakdown in negotiations and he remained atAnfield.It would be more than five years before he finally did leave the club.

Another injury to Whelan in a home league game againstEvertonin February 1991 gave Mølby another chance to re-establish himself, and he enjoyed his longest run of matches for four years. He once again became the club's regular penalty taker that season, scoring from all eight of his spot-kicks. However, after injury to McMahon and the surprise resignation of Dalglish, Liverpool could only finish runners-up in the league, despite having won their first nine matches of the campaign.

After initially extolling Mølby's virtues, new managerGraeme Sounesschanged his mind early in the 1991–92 season, leaving Mølby out as Whelan and McMahon again started in midfield. However, after Whelan suffered another injury, he turned to Mølby, who went on to feature heavily in the Liverpool side that season, starring in theUEFA Cupand playing an important part in theirFA Cupwinning season.

After suffering an injury in a 2–2Premier Leaguedraw againstManchester UnitedatOld Traffordon 18 October 1992, Mølby's career began to decline. He had suffered from fluctuating weight for most of his career, routinely gaining weight when injured and unable to train. This led to longer recovery periods being required, so his injuries generally led to an absence of at least three months.Over the first three Premier League seasons (Mølby's last), he started just over 30 games in total and all his goals came from penalties, including one in Liverpool's first game of the 1994–95 season when Mølby opened the scoring with a penalty in a 6–1 away win against Crystal Palace atSelhurst Park.

Early in the 1995–96 season, manager Roy Evans loaned him out to Barnsley and Norwich (where he scored once in the League Cup against Birmingham City),and in February 1996, he finally called time on more than a decade at Liverpool to take over as player-manager ofSwansea City.Just before taking the job at theVetch Field,Ron Atkinsonunsuccessfully tried to sign him forCoventry City.At that stage, still only 32, he was the youngest manager of anyFootball Leagueor Premier League club.

While at Liverpool, he scored a total of 62 goals, 42 of which were from penalties. During Mølby's time with Liverpool, he only failed to score three times from the penalty spot (penalties against Sheffield Wednesday and QPR in 1985–86 and Chelsea in 1989–90 were saved). His record as a penalty-taker in the top flight is thought to be second only toMatthew Le Tissier.He held the club record of most penalties scored by a Liverpool player until Steven Gerrard surpassed his record in August 2014.

International career

Mølby made his debut in the Danish international side at the age of 18, againstNorwayon 15 June 1982. He won 33capsforDenmarkfrom 1982 to 1990, scoring two goals. He was a squad player (appearing generally as a substitute) with theDanish international sidewhich competed in the1984 European Championshipand1986 World Cup.Competition for places in the Danish midfield often saw Mølby overlooked in favour ofFrank ArnesenandJens-Jørn Bertelsen.

Jan Mølby's international career came to an end whenRichard Møller Nielsentook over as Denmark manager in 1990. The new national manager only used Mølby in two games – both in 1990. Once as a substitute in a friendly against Wales and later in the starting line-up in the 2–0 home defeat against Yugoslavia in the qualification for theEuro 1992.

Managerial career

Mølby became manager ofSwansea Cityin February 1996 but was sacked in October 1997 along with his assistant,Billy Ayre.He had taken Swansea to theDivision Threeplayoff final five months earlier, but they lost to a last-minute goal byNorthampton'sJohn Frain.A dismal start to the1997–98 seasonhad seen Swansea struggling near the foot of theFootball League,and the board decided that it was time for a new manager to be appointed, asserting that the team's good performances the previous season were more down to Mølby's qualities as a top class player, rather than as a manager.

No offers of managerial jobs were forthcoming for some time. Pursuing a career as a TV pundit, Mølby was finally offered the manager's job atKidderminster Harriers,then in theFootball Conference.He took over in April 1999. Utilising the existing squad of players, but adding his own in a few key positions (ex-Liverpool teammateMike Marshwas drafted in to great success) Harriers won the Conference title (and promotion to theFootball League) in Mølby's first season in charge.

Two seasons of decent Division Three form followed, before overtures fromHull Cityprompted Mølby's departure forEast Yorkshire.His tenure was brief however, as internal strife cast a shadow over his brief term in charge. A return to Kidderminster in October 2003 was unsuccessful, ending with his resignation a year later. Kidderminister were relegated back to the Conferencethat seasonand have yet to reclaim theirFootball Leagueplace.

FollowingKenny Jackett's resignation as Swansea manager in early 2007, Mølby was linked with a return to the club. However, Mølby has responded by saying that he is unlikely to ever return to football management.

Recent years

In April 2009, Mølby was made an 'HonoraryScouser' by theLord Mayor of Liverpool.

Mølby appears on a podcast called "Mølby on the Spot" presented by Trevor Downey from a field in rural Ireland.

Arunning gagof comedianTroy Hawke(Milo McCabe) as he performs as a streetgreeteris that he was sent by Mølby, the “non-consensual CEO of the Greeter’s Guild." The two men met at the public unveiling of a Mølby mural in Liverpool in March 2023.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kolding	1981		27	0							27	0
	1982	1st Division	13	0							13	0
	Total		40	0							40	0
Ajax	1982–83	Eredivisie	29	6							29	6
	1983–84		28	5							28	5
	Total		57	11							57	11
Liverpool	1984–85	First Division	22	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	23	1
	1985–86		39	14	8	3	5	2	–		52	19
	1986–87		34	7	3	0	7	5	–		44	12
	1987–88		7	0	1	0	0	0	–		8	0
	1988–89		13	2	3	0	2	1	–		18	3
	1989–90		17	1	0	0	3	0	–		20	1
	1990–91		25	9	7	0	2	0	–		34	9
	1991–92		26	3	6	1	3	0	5	1	40	5
	1992–93	Premier League	10	3	0	0	1	0	2	0	13	3
	1993–94		11	2	0	0	2	1	0	0	13	3
	1994–95		14	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	16	2
	Total		218	44	28	4	28	9	7	1	281	58
Barnsley	1995–96	First Division	5	0	0	0	0	0	–		5	0
Norwich City	1995–96	First Division	3	0	0	0	2	1	–		5	1
Swansea City	1995–96	Second Division	12	2	0	0	0	0	–		12	2
	1996–97	Third Division	28	6	0	0	1	0	–		29	6
	1997–98		1	0	0	0	0	0	–		1	0
	Total		41	8	0	0	1	0	0	0	42	8
Career total			364	63	28	4	31	10	7	1	430	78

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Denmark	1982	3	0
	1983	2	0
	1984	7	0
	1985	5	0
	1986	9	0
	1987	2	2
	1988	2	0
	1989	1	0
	1990	2	0
Total		33	2

Honours

Player

Mølby (centre) playing for Ajax against rivalsFeyenoordin 1982

Ajax

• Eredivisie:1982–83
• KNVB Cup:1982–83

Liverpool

• Football League First Division:1985–86,1987–88,1989–90
• FA Cup:1985–86,1991–92
• FA Charity Shield:1986,1988,1989

Swansea City

• Football League Third Divisionplay-offs runner-up:1997

Individual

• PFA Team of the Year:1996–97 Third Division

Manager

Kidderminster Harriers

• Football Conference:1999–2000

External links

• Official website
• Jan Mølby–FIFAcompetition record (archived)
• Jan Mølby–UEFAcompetition record (archive)
• Jan Mølbyat Soccerbase
• Player profile at LFChistory.net
• Jan Mølby management career statisticsatSoccerbase
• Jan Mølbynational team profile at theDanish Football Association(in Danish)
• Career information at ex-canaries.co.uk