Newcastle Jets have snapped up Danish striker Morten Nordstrand, but unlike fans in Denmark, few in Australia know too much about him. So here are 12 stats on the Dane.
– Nordstrand’s nickname is “The Baby Faced Assassin”
– He’s famous for some spectacular bicycle kick goals, one winning a goal of the season in Denmark against his former club FC Copenhagen.
– He made his Danish national team debut against the Socceroos in 2007 as a late sub, ironically at Craven Cottage in front of a watching on Scott Miller who at the time was working for Fulham
– A former colleague of Scott Miller undertook Nordstrand’s medical in Denmark before the Jets completed the medical in Newcastle.
A-League transfer: Jets land Danish international
– The new Jets striker has won three Danish titles and three Danish Cups
– He was the then biggest transfer fee in Danish football when he moved from FC Nordsjaelland to FC Copenhagen in 2007 for around $2 million Euros.
– Ironically, he’s set to make his A-League debut against Melbourne City’s Thomas Sorensen in Round 18, a player who was in the Danish national team when he debuted.
– Nordstrand’s first day in Australia was Australia Day, and he was greeted by jets from the local RAAF flying over and people celebrating on the streets of Newcastle.
– He only ever played for one non-Danish club, Eredivisie outfit FC Groningen, and became an instant hero, scoring the winning goal in his debut in the local derby against SC Heerenveen.
– He will wear number 19 for the Jets
– Nordstrand is a former teammate of ex-Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Nathan Coe.
– He played Champions League football against Juventus, Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk when playing at FC Copenhagen.
