🎥 Aston Villa cult hero signs OTD in 2004 😍
Martin Laursen arrived at Aston Villa in 2004 with an impressive list of honours.
The tough-tackling Danish centre-back joined the Villans after a successful spell in Italy, where he won the Serie B title with Hellas Verona and lifted the Serie A title and Coppa Italia with Milan.
Although Laursen took time to find his feet in the Premier League due to a spell of injuries and patchy form, he soon developed into a cult hero with the Midlands club.
During a five-year spell, the former Denmark international made 91 appearances and captained the club throughout the 2008/09 season.
🎥 Martin Laursen ❤️️#Laursen40 #PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/hCpwXv77wA
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 26, 2017
What is your favourite Laursen moment with Villa?
📸 Laurence Griffiths - 2005 Getty Images
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Arne Slot gave telling response to Thomas Frank compliment as Tottenham appointment nears
Tottenham is closing in on the appointment of Thomas Frank as the club's new manager after parting ways with Ange Postecoglou last week. Spurs took the decision to move forward without the Australian manager, despite the club winning its first piece of silverware since 2008 by beating Manchester United in the Europa League final last month. Ultimately, Tottenham's league form cost Postecoglou his job, as the North London outfit finished in 17th position after losing 22 of its 38 Premier League games. Advertisement Spurs has identified Frank as the man to replace Postecoglou, and the Danish coach is somebody who Liverpool boss Arne Slot has a lot of respect for. READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Florian Wirtz medical, Milos Kerkez talks, Darwin Nunez future READ MORE: How Liverpool should spend $171M if Florian Wirtz transfer collapses After Frank described Liverpool as "the best team in the world" in January, Slot said: "His (Frank's) opinion means something to me because he has shown at Brentford how well he has done for so many years without spending crazy amounts of money." Frank's exact quote about Liverpool was: 'We just played City and Arsenal and now Liverpool, in a short amount of time. For me they're a level above the two teams. They're complete. Advertisement 'Their work ethic, the way they track back, are good indicators. They're so good all over the pitch. Such a threat going forward. These are really, really good. It's the best team in the Premier League and the world. They're huge favorites to win it (the title)." While Slot had some kind words to say about Frank in January, the soon-to-be new Spurs manager was not alone in receiving praise from the Reds' head coach: Slot also showered the axed Postecoglou with praise ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup semi-final meeting with Tottenham earlier this year. 'They (Tottenham) have always been a certain brand of football for me and have a certain identity," Slot said. "I think Ange Postecoglou gives them that identity back completely. Ange is doing great work over there. I hope this is seen a bit more. I also hope, hope, hope that he wins a trophy. 'I'm completely a fan of his team for the Europa League because people always talk about trophies and that it's so important. For his brand of football and his style, it is so much more important and if he can combine that with winning something that would be so good for football in general because people can stop talking about it's too attacking or whatever. How on earth can you play too [much] attacking football?'
New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
Planes, ferries and mini-buses with Aston Villa's long-distance supporters: ‘It's more than the game'
It is an evening in early May and The Athletic joins the call. Smiling faces beam back. There are several, more than anticipated and, for the first few seconds, it feels overwhelming. They are each sitting in their homes, not in Birmingham, where Aston Villa are based, but 200 miles away in the county of Cornwall, England's extreme south-western peninsula. 'Our closest game is Bournemouth (circa 145 miles) but watching Villa is definitely still the quickest to get to,' says Andy. Andy is a member of the Cornwall Lions, a Villa supporters group based in the south-west that has amassed more than 250 local members. But it is far from the only supporters group geographically distant from Villa. Their stories vary, but each of them shares on thing: a mutual love of Villa. Here, The Athletic spoke to some of the team's long-distance supporters who make the journey through rain or shine, hell or high water, to Villa Park… Jay White lives on the Isle of Wight. Born and bred in Birmingham, he has resided on the island off the southern coast of England for more than a quarter of a century, though his passion remains. To get to Villa Park he has to travel by boat and car, with logistical and financial pressures complicating matters. Advertisement 'For context, my dad is Peter White,' Jay says. 'He's retired now, but he covered Villa in the 70s, 80s and 90s for the Birmingham Mail. It was ingrained into me. I've had a season ticket sitting in the Lower Holte End for four years. Before that, I didn't need one because I could always get tickets. 'My wife comes to a few games. I don't want to say our life revolves around Villa, but on occasions it can. I was fortunate enough for both of us to be in Paris (for the Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain). 'For other Champions League games, I've had to use holiday. I'll take a half day on the day of the game, stay up and then drive back down for work that afternoon. 'If it's a Saturday match, sometimes I'll go the night before. But mostly, for a 3pm kick off, I'll leave home at 7am to catch the ferry, which takes around an hour. The drive up into Birmingham's city centre is three and a half hours. I'll then meet pals. 'If I do come back straight after, it would be the 10pm ferry, provided we get out of the ground by six. I'll then walk through my front door just before midnight. 'I did 20 games last season, including a few Champions League matches. The cost is a problem. If an average ferry is £80, then staying up in a hotel, having a couple of beers and petrol costs means it becomes £250/£300 day. That's before you take into account a match ticket. 'But it's just a pure love. It's more than the game — it's meeting up with mates and camaraderie. The football we're playing now makes the journeys better. Luckily, my wife is very understanding. Our wedding last year had a claret-and-blue-themed table plan.' In the early hours of a January morning, Rob Steele sits next to me in one of Heathrow's departure lounges. Villa are playing Monaco that evening and despite a 6am flight, there is no shortage of enthusiasm. Rob, who lives in Bridgend in Wales, about 130 miles from Birmingham, is used to early morning starts in aid of Villa. 'The journey to Birmingham is fine most of the time,' he says. 'We set off a bit earlier to make sure we get a tidy parking spot and then we kill time in the Witton Pub.' Later in the season, he describes his itinerary for a home match against Newcastle: 'My main accessory is a portable charger. I can't be having a dead phone with the drive from South Wales. It wasn't such an issue with physical season-tickets, but with them now on my phone, you've got to have a backup plan. Advertisement 'I go with mates, so we sort who is driving — and organise pickup times — a couple of us live in Bridgend and some in Cardiff. For tonight's 5.30pm kick off, I'll leave Bridgend with my mate Nik at 11am. At 12pm, pick up one of the lads in Cardiff. At 2pm, park up and get some food. '5pm: Head to Villa Park. 5.30-7.30pm: Stress like hell about the game. 10.15pm: Home.' Bryan, one of the Cornwall supporters, explains his support for Villa over the video call: 'My family are from Essex, we moved to Hampshire when I was four. My dad supported Villa and we had season tickets driving from Hampshire for six years. I relocated here five years ago. Me and my lad George don't have season tickets, but we travel to as many games as we can.' 'I'm from North Kent,' says Stuart, another Villa supporter on the call. 'My dad was Tottenham, my mum was Arsenal. I got to the middle of junior school and I had to stick with a team. Villa chose me.' Karen: 'I was born in Sutton Coldfield, but my family came from different parts and just congregated in Birmingham. But I've got a great-grandmother who was a proper Brummie and family that were there before Villa's inception, so it's in my blood. I'm still a season ticket holder. I join the guys on the mini-bus — when we lose, it's like a hearse.' Andy: 'I'm from Great Barr. I used to walk to Villa Park with my dad and grandpa. I've been going since 1984. I had a hiatus after I moved down to Cornwall and started picking it back up in 2016. My first game back was with my boy in the Championship and we've been season-ticket holders for the best part of 10 years. 'We were going up on the train before I met Dave. We will car share up to Exeter and then make our own way, by hook or by crook. It's a labour of love and a 500-mile round trip every couple of days.' Stuart: 'For a Saturday 3pm, the mini-bus that some of our members arrange sets off at 9am. We aim to be up there two hours before.' Dave: 'With a pit stop at the Witton Pub for a couple of beverages.' Andy: 'For a 12.30 kick off, we hit the road just after six. Rousing my 16-year-old son takes time, but we are there for 10am. For Champions League nights, I was picking up from school and arriving 7pm. The journey is four hours on a good day.' Advertisement Dave: 'I was getting back from those games at 4.30am and then going to work about 10am. If you're not there, we have a big WhatsApp chat that you almost feel like you're at the game. We've got group chats for tickets, events, banter and matchday talk.' Karen: 'When you're somewhere like Cornwall, you're so far apart from each other. I live in a village and I've got two other Villa supporters here, so that helps any sort of isolation.' Bryan: 'When George and I go, we've had to buy higher-priced tickets because they were the only ones available. Throw in hotel accommodation and a couple of beers, it's expensive. We can't really stay on a Sunday night after games because George's school doesn't particularly like us missing Mondays. It's tricky to manage.' George: 'I don't think school is very important when it comes to Villa! It's painful when you go back to all your friends at school the next day who are United fans but have never been to the ground. They give it the big one all the time, for some reason.' The following week, I'm joined by Andrew Bready in the Villa Park press box. I first met Andrew in Athens before Villa's Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos last May. He commutes to every home and away match — barring the odd Carabao Cup fixture — from Northern Ireland and has been for 15 years. 'My love of Villa began in the early 90s,' he says. 'Villa came to Belfast to play against Man United and my cousins were going and were United fans. I just wanted to be different. I said, 'I'm supporting Villa'. I caught the bug after that. 'I missed three games in the Championship, home or away. Since Covid, I've rarely missed one. I didn't go to Brentford last season because I was at a wedding. I've not missed any other games aside from the Carabao Cup. 'Matches during the week are not ideal. For the Celtic match, I flew from Belfast at 3.30pm. To avoid missing a day off work (Andrew works in a factory managed by his cousin), I worked until lunchtime, got changed and drove to the airport, which takes an hour. 'I then fly over, go to Villa Park and fly back the next morning — usually the 8.35am flight. I'll land an hour later, drive home 70 miles and be back at work for 11am. The next day after the game at Paris Saint-Germain, I was back at work for lunchtime. I'll go straight to Belfast after early-evening kick-offs and will land at 1am. Advertisement 'Delayed flights are a pain. Ipswich Town away, I flew to Stansted. The flight was delayed by over three hours. The plan had been to meet Kevin and hire a car to drive up, but I was delayed so I ended up getting a bus. The drive felt like forever, but I only missed 10 minutes. 'It's nice to get the summer off, yet by the time the season starts, I'll have that buzz again. I sit in the Lower Trinity Stand, so it's good to meet up with the Villa family; the people you know from sitting around them.'
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Inter Milan Aim Targeting Parma Duo As Part Of Backbone For New-Look Cristian Chivu Team
Inter Milan are targeting Giovanni Leoni and Ange-Yoan Bonny as part of the backbone of a new-look team under Cristian Chivu. This according to Italian outlet FCInterNews. Inter Milan have officially confirmed the appointment of Cristian Chivu as their new coach. Advertisement The Nerazzurri had already decided upon the 44-year-old to replace Simone Inzaghi a few days ago. On Thursday, Inter chose Chivu, concluding a search of a couple days. This search had seen them try for Cesc Fabregas, and also reportedly consider Patrick Vieira. However, in the end, Inter went with Treble-winning former defender Chivu. They called the Romanian, and he agreed to step up. Inter Milan Eye Up Leoni & Bonny As Backbone Of New-Look Team Under Chivu UDINE, ITALY – MARCH 01: Giovanni Leoni of Parma reacts at the end of the Serie A match between Udinese and Parma at Stadio Friuli on March 01, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by) According to FCInterNews, the Nerazzurri are looking at a couple of players from Chivu's former side Parma as candidates to sign this summer and allow the coach to put his own stamp on the team. Advertisement Firstly, there is striker Ange-Yoan Bonny. The Frenchman had already been a target for Inter. And as FCIN note, Parma had in fact asked Inter for Francesco Pio Esposito as part of talks for Bonny. However, that had been while Chivu was still at the helm/ Therefore, FCIN note, Chivu will want to have a look at Pio Esposito in training before he makes any decisions on the teenage striker's future. However, the Nerazzurri are far from the only club tracking Leoni. AC Milan, Juventus, and Bournemouth have all shown an interest in the 18-year-old.
