Jesper Olsen - "Something special"

Jesper Olsen, an exotic signing from Ajax in 1984 for the Reds, joins Helen Evans, Wes Brown and Lou Macari for a trip down Memory Lane on the UTD Podcast. The Dane was at Old Trafford with kids from his Future Football coaching school and, as he is based in Australia now, this was a rare opportunity to speak to the former winger at a ground he graced, parading his skills down the left flank.

Jesper reveals how he always followed United’s results growing up in Denmark and worked in a bank before breaking through at Ajax. He feels there was a reason why Ron Atkinson decided to sign him and talks us through the move and adapting to life in English football. This included a lot of effort off the pitch, including lock-ins at Paddy Crerand’s pub (!) and needing to ask captain Bryan Robson about the ‘small bears’ that were appearing in his garden!

It was not always plain sailing, as he lifts the lid on an infamous training-ground bust-up with midfield hard-man Remi Moses, one that was hard to hide as it left him with a black eye.

The transition to training at The Cliff was an eye-opener and he got to see the start of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign when the Scot came in. Jesper would go on to play with Eric Cantona at Bordeaux and talks about the best players he lined up with, including Johan Cruyff and that memorable penalty routine he performed with the Dutch master.

Now living Down Under, Jesper retains the memories of United being “something special” and reminisces about the brilliant FA Cup in 1985 against Everton. At the end of the podcast, Jesper, Wes and Lou provide invaluable advice to the kids from the coaching school about how to make the grade in the game. This is a fabulous chat with one of our first overseas signings and the chance to catch up with a skilful player who will be remembered fondly by a lot of supporters.

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