Grønkjær to hang up his boots

26/05 2011 09:54

Since his debut in the Superliga back in 1995, Jesper Grønkjær has gone on to play more than 500 games for AaB, Ajax, Chelsea, Birmingham, Atletico Madrid, Stuttgart and FC Copenhagen. In addition, he has 80 Danish international caps to his name and participated in two World Cups and two European Championship finals. However, after this season's final game at PARKEN against AaB, Grønkjær will reach the end of an illustrious career.

Grønkjær himself spoke to FCK.DK to confirm his retirement from professional football:

- After careful consideration I have reached the decision to leave my football career at the top after Sunday's Superliga match against AaB. I will stop with the desire and joy intact, as has been my driving force through the years, something that has been important to me. I am and have been extremely happy with my time at FC Copenhagen and I am proud to have had the opportunity to return to a club that desperately wanted to join the international arena and who did it. Traveling with FC Copenhagen has been fantastic and I have experiences that are forever printed in my memory.

Director of Sport Carsten V. Jensen also commented on the departure of the winger:

- Jesper came to FC Copenhagen in the summer of 2006 and has in the past five seasons been a major factor in the progress we have achieved in that period. Altogether Jesper has been an excellent representative for the club. Jesper has in every way set a new standard for the level of ‘overseas pros’ who return home and we can only rejoice that Jesper chose FC Copenhagen when it was time to return to Danish football. Despite a few severe injury problems, Jesper has managed to fight back, and has delivered his best performances at the highest international level. That is how we all want Jesper to be remembered, and therefore respect his decision. Jesper will soon start a new chapter in his life, and FC Copenhagen wishes Jesper and his family good luck with it all. Luckily we have the opportunity to part properly with Jesper on Sunday in PARKEN.