Jess Thorup

Thorup progressed through the youth academy of Odense (OB). He made his professional debut for the club in 1989, and won the Danish league title the same year. In both 1991 and 1993, Thorup was also part of the team winning the Danish Cup. In 1996, he moved to Germany and joined Uerdingen 05, who competed in the 2. Bundesliga. After just three goals in 39 league games, he moved to Austrian football halfway through the 1997–98 season, where he joined Tirol Innsbruck. He returned to Denmark in the summer of 1998, and played for Esbjerg fB until 2005. He then signed with HamKam in Norway, before returning to Esbjerg where he retired in 2006.

Esbjerg

In 2006, Thorup returned to Esbjerg fB as assistant coach to Troels Bech. After the dismissal of his boss in November 2008, he took over the team as caretaker manager for three games, but then returned to the role of assistant to new head coach Ove Pedersen. After his resignation on 14 March 2011, he was promoted to head coach, but could not prevent relegation from the Danish Superliga. After achieving direct promotion the following year, the team placed themselves in middle regions of the league table and won the Danish Cup in 2012–13, beating Randers. Thorup was then voted Danish Football Manager of the Year for 2013.

Denmark U21

On 21 February 2013 it was announced that starting 1 June 2013 he would become the manager of the Denmark under-21 national football team, thereby leaving Esbjerg fB. As the coach of the under-21 team, he took part in the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, in which the Danish team reached the semi-finals. There, they lost to eventual winners Sweden.

Midtjylland

After the European Championship, Thorup returned to club football and took over Midtjylland as the successor to Glen Riddersholm, who had resigned after winning the league title – Midtjylland's first. After they were eliminated from qualifying for the UEFA Champions League by Cypriot club APOEL, the team survived the group stage of the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League under Thorup's leadership. In the round of 16, the club caught the eye with a 2–1 first…

Player

OB

1st Division: 1989 Danish Cup: 1990–91, 1992–93

Manager

Esbjerg fB

Danish 1st Division: 2011–12 Danish Cup: 2012–13 Midtjylland

Danish Superliga: 2017–18 Copenhagen

Danish Superliga: 2021–22 Al Ahly

Egyptian Super Cup: 2025