Ole Madsen

Ole Eduard Fischer Madsen (21 December 1934 – 26 March 2006 ) was a Danish international footballer, who scored 42 goals in 50 matches for the Denmark national team and competed at the 1964 European Nations' Cup. He is best remembered for scoring on a heel kick against Sweden in 1965. He played 11 seasons for Danish lower-league clubs, before signing a professional contract for Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam, winning the 1966 KNVB Cup with the team.

In 1964, he was named Danish Player of the Year and became the first Dane to receive a vote in the European Footballer of the Year poll. Ole Madsen was regarded as the most popular Danish footballer since Pauli Jørgensen.

Club career Despite his qualities, Ole Madsen never played in the top-flight Danish championship, but stayed with local lower-league clubs. Madsen made his senior debut with minor league team BK Stefan in 1954. In 1958, he moved to Danish 3rd Division team Hellerup IK (HIK).

Despite a low-key club career, Madsen's international performances for the Denmark national team got the attention of European professional clubs. As an amateur player, he was a free agent able to sign with any professional club without the need of a transfer fee. In 1963, a contract with Italian club Atalanta was hindered by a broken nose and subsequent hospitalization. He was offered a contract by Spanish club FC Barcelona in 1964, but he turned it down in order to stay an amateur with the Denmark national team and HIK in the Danish 3rd Division. In 1965, Madsen signed a professional contract with Dutch team Sparta Rotterdam, where he enjoyed success. He was then seen as the most popular Danish footballer since Pauli Jørgensen. This was the last international game for Madsen. He ended his career with 42 international goals, the third overall goalscorer for Denmark behind Poul "Tist" Nielsen (52) and Pauli Jørgensen (47). Since then, Jon Dahl Tomasson has also overtaken Madsen.

Scores and results list Denmark's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Madsen goal.

Honors Danish Player of the Year: 1964 KNVB Cup: 1966