 Sørensen in 2007 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Løvendahl Sørensen[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1976-06-12)12 June 1976 (age 49)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Fredericia, Denmark | ||
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Erritsø | |||
| Assens | |||
| OB | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1993–1998 | OB | 0 | (0) |
| 1995–1997 | →Vejle (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 1997–1998 | →Svendborg (loan) | 45 | (0) |
| 1998–2003 | Sunderland | 171 | (0) |
| 2003–2008 | Aston Villa | 139 | (0) |
| 2008–2015 | Stoke City | 99 | (0) |
| 2015–2017 | Melbourne City | 37 | (0) |
| Total | 497 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1993–1995 | Denmark U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 1993–1997 | Denmark U21 | 25 | (0) |
| 1996 | Denmark B | 1 | (0) |
| 1999–2012 | Denmark | 101 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Thomas Løvendahl Sørensen (Danish pronunciation:[ˈsɶɐ̯ˀn̩sn̩]; born 12 June 1976) is a Danish former professionalfootballer who played as agoalkeeper.
Sørensen started his career with his local sideOdense BK. After impressing on loan atVejle Boldklub andSvendborg he was signed by English sideSunderland in 1998. After five years as first-choice goalkeeper onWearside, he joinedAston Villa for £2 million. He remained a regular for his time atVilla Park until a fall-out with managerMartin O'Neill saw him dropped and then released in May 2008. He then went toStoke City, where he was first-choice goalkeeper for three seasons, helping the club consolidate in thePremier League. He then finished his playing career with a two-year spell at Australian clubMelbourne City. He remains to date the Danish player with the most Premier League appearances (364 in total).[3]
Between 2000 and 2012, Sørensen was the starting goalkeeper for theDenmark national football team, the successor to the legendaryPeter Schmeichel, and he played101 matches for his country, making him their eighth-most capped player of all time. He was part of Denmark'sUEFA Euro 2000,2002 FIFA World Cup,UEFA Euro 2004, and2010 FIFA World Cup squads.
Born inFredericia, Sørensen started playing youth football with local clubs in Erritsø andAssens.[4] He then moved to the youth team of local top-flight clubOdense Boldklub. He played in training matches againstFC St. Pauli andWerder Bremen in February 1993, and signed a trainee contract with the club.[5] He was soon a professional with Odense BK's first team squad in theDanish Superliga championship. Sørensen served as an understudy to club legend goalkeeperLars Høgh, and did not play any league games for the club.
During the1995–96 season, he was loaned out to league rivalsVejle BK in December 1995.[6] Initially an understudy toErik Boye, he made his Superliga debut in March 1996. Sørensen played three thoroughly impressive games in a row, and the press dubbed him the newPeter Schmeichel.[7] He played six league matches in all for Vejle, including a 6–0 defeat toBrøndby IF, before being dropped by coachOle Fritsen following a 1–0 defeat toViborg FF, in which Viborg'sRalf Pedersen headed the ball from Sørensen's hands to score the goal.[8] Sørensen broke his arm in the summer 1996,[9] but continued his loan deal with Vejle until the summer 1997, without playing any more games for the club. Odense then loaned him out again, this time toFC Svendborg in the second-tierDanish 1st Division league,[10] where he played the full1997–98 season.
In the summer 1998, Sørensen moved abroad to play for English clubSunderland in theFootball League First Division, the then second level league ofEnglish football. Hardly anyone outside of Denmark had even heard of the tall and athletic keeper,[11] when English managerPeter Reid bought the 22-year-old from Odense for about £510,000 in July 1998.[12] He was recommended to the club byPeter Schmeichel.[13] Sørensen was bought to replace fan favouriteLionel Pérez who left on afree transfer. This move helped Sunderland to promotion for the top flightEnglish Premiership, when Sørensen and his team grabbed the League Championship title in 1999. Sørensen smashed the club'sclean sheet record with 29 clean sheets in the process.[11]
Sørensen established himself as Sunderland's starting goalkeeper in the Premiership, and helped the club finish 7th in both of their two first Premiership seasons. He gained legendary status with Sunderland fans in 2001, when he saved apenalty kick fromAlan Shearer in the dying moments of a November 2000 game, to preserve a valuable win over archrivals and neighbouring clubNewcastle United.[14] In the 2002–03 season, Sørensen was injured from October 2002 to January 2003, and only played 21 of 38 games. Sunderland were struggling both on and off the pitch and Sørensen could not save the club from relegation at the end of the season.
Reid had already been sacked, and as a result of the club's mounting financial worries, Sunderland sold Sørensen for £2 million toAston Villa,[12] who had held off interest from a handful of other clubs, includingManchester United andArsenal. He played nearly 200 games onWearside for Sunderland and remains a fan favourite.
At Aston Villa, Sørensen developed his reputation as a good goalkeeper. Sørensen's ability as a shot stopper allowed him to retain his place as Villa's number one under both managersDavid O'Leary andMartin O'Neill, ahead of the likes ofStefan Postma andStuart Taylor. In his first three seasons at Aston Villa, he only missed four games. In a November 2003 game against Newcastle, he once again saved an Alan Shearer penalty kick.[15] He suffered a knee injury during the 2006–07 season,[16] but still played 29 games that term.
During the 2007–08 season he fell out of favour at Villa. Sørensen had suffered an injury during the pre-season, and Villa decided to loan in goalkeeperScott Carson fromLiverpool.[17] Carson went on to become the starting goalkeeper, and Sørensen stated that he wanted to leave the club in December 2007.[18] At the end of the 2007–08 season, Sørensen's contract at Villa expired and he left the club on a free transfer.[19] He failed to make a single appearance for the club in his final season as by then he had slipped down to third place in the pecking order behind both Scott Carson andStuart Taylor.
On 28 July 2008, Sørensen started a trial with newly promoted Premier League teamStoke City, and two days later, he signed a three-year contract with the club.[20] Sørensen became City's first choice goalkeeper for the2008–09 season replacingSteve Simonsen. During a match in October 2008 againstTottenham Hotspur he was involved in a clash with Spurs's defenderAlan Hutton whose challenge struck Sørensen on his head, Sørensen said he was close to losing his eyesight.[21] Hutton later apologised for his challenge.[22] He made a number of important performances as Stoke achieved in a safe position of 12th in their first season in the Premier League.
He continued to be Stoke's first choice goalkeeper in2009–10 and signed a contract extension in November 2009, to keep him at theBritannia Stadium until 2011.[23] During the 2009–10 season he continued his good form in goal. He saved penalties during games againstPortsmouth,[24]Arsenal[25] andWigan Athletic,[26] and played an important part in Stoke's good run in the league, which brought them to 10th place in December.[27] On 12 December Sørensen saved yet another penalty, meaning he had by then saved five out of the last six penalty kicks against him.[28] Sørensen got extra competition for the spot as Stoke's first-choice goalkeeper, following the signing ofAsmir Begović fromPortsmouth in February 2010.[29] He dislocated his elbow in a game againstChelsea on 25 April.[30] The elbow was put back in place without the need for surgery, but Sørensen missed the last three games of the 2009–10 season.
After starting the first nine matches of the2010–11 season Sørensen lost his place to Begović.[31] However, he played in all the club's FA Cup games, including theFA Cup Final against Manchester City on 14 May 2011 where he put in a good performance despite Stoke City losing 1–0.[32] For the2011–12 season Sørensen remained as 2nd choice 'keeper to Begović where he played in cup matches as well as in theUEFA Europa League.[33] After some poor performances by Begović, Sørensen was recalled to league matches.[34] In a match againstEverton he received mildconcussion after a clash withTim Cahill and had to be stretchered off.[35] However he soon made a quick recovery.[36] He signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract at Stoke in December 2011 keeping him at the club until 2014.[37] After signing his new contract Sørensen stated that he wanted to continue playing top flight football after his contract ends.[38]
In2012–13 Sørensen was restricted to playing in just cup fixtures due to the form of Begović and this coupled with the signing ofJack Butland prompted Sørensen to consider his future at Stoke City.[39] Following the departure of managerTony Pulis, Sørensen planned to talk with new managerMark Hughes about his future at theBritannia Stadium.[40] Sørensen played his first Premier League game for over 20 months on 26 December 2013 atNewcastle United after Begović suffered an injury. However, despite him saving a penalty fromLoïc Rémy, Stoke had two men sent-off and went on to lose 5–1.[41] Sørensen started the next two matches before he himself was injured againstEverton enabling third-choice Butland to fill in for Begović. Once Begović returned from his injury Butland was loaned out toLeeds United, leaving Sørensen to resume his place as back-up for the remainder of the2013–14 season and was offered a one-year contract extension,[42] which he signed in May 2014.[43] In December 2014 Sørensen stated that he would leave Stoke at the end of the 2014–15 season.[44] Sørensen received a special recognition award at the end of the season for his contribution to Stoke, in total he spent seven seasons at theBritannia Stadium making 129 appearances.[45] Sørensen decided to mark his departure from Stoke by cycling 4,000 miles across the United States to raise money for charity.[46][47]
On 31 August 2015, Sørensen signed a two-year deal with Australian sideMelbourne City.[48][49] He made hisA-League debut on 10 October in the first match of thenew season away toSydney FC in a 1–1 draw.[50] Sørensen was released by Melbourne City in April 2017 after they lost their elimination-final toPerth Glory.[51]
On 24 July 2017, Sørensen announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 41.[52]
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Sørensen made his international debut with theDanish under-19 national team in April 1993, and was moved into theDanish under-21 national team in September 1993, making his under-21 debut at 17 years of age. He went on to play 24 games for the Denmark under-21s until October 1997. Following his initial impressive form for Vejle, he was called up for an unofficial national team game in April 1996, and replacedLars Høgh at half-time.
After his move to Sunderland, Sørensen made his debut for the seniorDanish national team in November 1999 in a match againstIsrael, coming on to replace an injuredPeter Schmeichel. He was a reserve keeper for Denmark atEuro 2000, when Schmeichel was at the end of his career. For the2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in 2001, he took over the job as goalkeeper and helped Denmark qualify. Sørensen was then instrumental, as Denmark won their first round group ahead ofSenegal,Uruguay and defending World Cup championsFrance to book a second round clash againstEngland. However, in the pouring rain at theNiigata Stadium, Sørensen conceded three goals, one of them a mistake by Sørensen,[12] as he bundled the ball into his own goal from aRio Ferdinand header in the fifth minute. England went on to win the match 3–0.
Once again representing his country in an international tournament, Sørensen played in all his country's games at Euro 2004, gathering the officialman of the match award after both the 0–0 draw withItaly and the 2–0 victory againstBulgaria. Despite his efforts, Denmark was once more eliminated in a 3–0 loss, this time to theCzech Republic in the quarter-finals.
During the2010 World Cup qualifiers, Denmark faced Sweden atRåsunda Stadium inStockholm. Sweden was awarded a penalty in the tenth minute, which Sørensen saved as Denmark went on to win the game 1–0. Sørensen missed three qualification matches through injury, yet Denmark still qualified for the2010 World Cup with one match to go. Sørensen's elbow injury put his chance of appearing in his second World Cup in doubt,[30] but Denmark coachMorten Olsen included him in the final squad, and on regaining full fitness Sørensen was named the starting goalkeeper for his second World Cup campaign, and played full-time in Denmark's three games at the tournament.
He reached the landmark of100 international caps at the age of 36 on 29 February 2012, in a 0–2 friendly defeat toRussia in Copenhagen.[53][54] On 26 May, in afriendly againstBrazil atHamburg'sImtech Arena, Sørensen had to be substituted for an injury in the 24th minute[55] which led to his withdrawal from Denmark's squad forUEFA Euro 2012.[56][57]
On 7 August 2012, after making 101 appearances for Denmark, he announced his retirement from international football.[58]
Sørensen grew up supportingOdense BK and citesLars Høgh as his role model. He married Maria Borring in Svendborg, Denmark on 16 June 2001. Thomas and Maria have two children: Marcus and Celine.[59]
In 2006, Sørensen became an investor inGolf Punk magazine, alongside former Sunderland teammatesPhil Babb,Michael Gray,Jason McAteer, andStephen Wright, saving the publication from closure.[60]
Sørensen currently resides in Australia, where he has gained citizenship.[61] He is a frequent panellist forOptus Sport’s streaming coverage of the English Premier League. Sørensen also actively appears as a guest on the network's 'GegenPod' podcast, providing punditry input to Australia'sA-League,Socceroos national team fixtures and European leagues. He is also a regular panellist for the 'A-Leagues Download',[62][63] a weekly review show produced by theAustralian Professional Leagues. Additionally, Sørensen was present in coveringUEFA Euro 2020 andCopa America 2021 fixtures, as well as the2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, appearing as a panellist during pre and post game intervals.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Odense BK | 1994–95 | Danish Superliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1995–96 | Danish Superliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Vejle (loan) | 1995–96 | Danish Superliga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| 1996–97 | Danish Superliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Svendborg (loan) | 1997–98 | Danish 1st Division | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 0 | ||
| Sunderland | 1998–99[65] | First Division | 45 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | 56 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000[66] | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 39 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01[67] | Premier League | 34 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 42 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02[68] | Premier League | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 35 | 0 | ||
| 2002–03[69] | Premier League | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | ||
| Total | 171 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 | — | 197 | 0 | |||
| Aston Villa | 2003–04[70] | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 45 | 0 | |
| 2004–05[71] | Premier League | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 39 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06[72] | Premier League | 36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 43 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07[73] | Premier League | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08[74] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 139 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | — | 158 | 0 | |||
| Stoke City | 2008–09[75] | Premier League | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | |
| 2009–10[76] | Premier League | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11[77] | Premier League | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12[78] | Premier League | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| 2012–13[79] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14[80] | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15[81] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 99 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 129 | 0 | ||
| Melbourne City | 2015–16 | A-League | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | A-League | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | |||
| Total | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 497 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 575 | 0 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 1999 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 101 | 0 | |
Sunderland
Stoke City
Melbourne City
Individual
Denmark squads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
