One of football’s characters and, on his day, a very fine footballer indeed, announced his retirement from the game yesterday at the age of just thirty-two.
httpv://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6lBe84Q-4F8
Danish international midfielder Thomas Gravesen has had a career lasting more than thirteen years and has played for Vejle BK, Hamburg, Everton, Real Madrid and Celtic.
On announcing his retirement Gravesen said,
“I have spent some extraordinary years abroad, I have played and lived in four countries. But I’m 33 in March, so before age and health force my hand I have opted to take the decision to stop myself.”
He spent three years with Danish club Vejle BK before moving to Germany to play for Hamburg. After three years in the Bundesliga in 2000 he signed for Premier League Everton. It was this spell at Everton that ended with a move to Real Madrid in January 2005, that was arguably the best period of his footballing life.
From Madrid Gravesen then moved on to Celtic in 2006 but never really established himself as a first team regular. He went back to Everton on loan for the 2007/08 season but made just eight appearances in the league. He returned to Celtic but parted company with them in August 2008.
It is at Goodison Park, Everton that the Dane will be most fondly remembered. He made over one hundred and fifty appearances for them and established himself as something of a cult hero with his 100%, all action, inspirational performances.
He had his moments at Real Madrid as well and I well remember being at the Bernabeu to watch an end of season game between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. The game was a 0-0 bore draw but the best player on the pitch by a mile was Thomas Gravesen. He was awarded a standing ovation from the Madrid fans at the end of what was a pretty dire game.
In his time at Real Madrid Gravesen put in a tackle on Robinho in a training session that led to a full scale scuffle amongst the players.
httpv://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_KNy6tYgYws
The then Real coach, Fabio Capello, was somewhat confused by the player he had on his hands.
“The way he is, we won’t have problems with him. He’s just a little bit particular. I don’t mess with him, he works well tactically. His behaviour is like this, and I don’t like it, everything has to be done like he wants it to be done”.
Gravesen was not terribly apologetic about his role in the events with Robinho.
“I made a couple of strong tackles on him but didn’t leave him with any bruises. He retaliated by hitting me and giving me a couple of kicks so I went for him. It would have been better if I had not reacted like that.â€Â
It has to be said that at his very best Gravesen was not far short of being a world class player. At his worst, he did a passable impression of a headless chicken! Either way, he never gave anything less than 110% for the team cause.
His international career saw him score five goals for Denmark in sixty-six appearances. He retired from the international scene in 2006.
His terrier like performances when at his best earned Gravesen the nickname of ‘Mad Dog’. His famously bald headed partnership with Lee Carsley at Everton was tailor made for the hero worship it attracted.
The energy and enthusiasm with which Gravesen played the game was legendary and his ‘lung bursting’, non-stop style of play has certainly contributed to his retirement at such a relatively young age and his somewhat sad decline since the heady days at Everton.
It is well reported that the influence Gravesen imposed on a team was almost as effective off the field as it was on it. In his second spell at Everton last season he wasn’t producing the goods on the pitch but David Moyes was very happy to have him around for the positive effect he had in the dressing room.
He may not have been one of the most skilful midfield players in the world and he may not have had a particularly long, or in terms of medals, successful career, but he was without doubt one of the hardest working midfield players it has ever been my privilege to watch.
I hope that Gravesen can find a job in football now that his playing days are over because he is the type of character that our game needs.
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