Claus Bech Jørgensen

Early career in Denmark

Jørgensen is an attacking midfielder who started his career in his native Denmark with Holstebro BK. The club lost their Danish 1st Division (second tier) status in 1995–96. He ended up at AC Horsens via AGF Aarhus. In 1998–99, he struck 17 goals for Horsens, becoming the joint-fourth top scorer in the 1st Division that season.

Move to England: AFC Bournemouth

In 1999, he joined the English Second Division club AFC Bournemouth, becoming a professional footballer at the age of 23. On 7 August, he made his debut in the English game; the Dean Court faithful witnessed a 2–1 victory over Cambridge United. Two weeks later came his first goal; his team dished out a 4–0 thrashing of Colchester United. He played 53 games for the "Cherries" in 1999–2000, picking up a total of six goals along the way, and became the club's Player Of The Year.

"Claus has progressed well since coming here and I'm very pleased we've been able to see to it that he stays at the club. He always gives 100%, whatever the situation. It can lift the team when you have that kind of willingness in the players." On 2 September 2000, he had a mixed time at Layer Road, scoring in the 44th minute, he was sent off on the 69th, bringing Bournemouth down to nine men. He finished the season strongly, however, making 48 appearances and bagging nine goals, including a run of five in seven games. The last of those goals – the second in a 2–0 home win over Northampton Town on 28…

Jørgensen elected to play for the Faroe Islands, the homeland of his mother, as he believed he would probably never play for Denmark. He won all of his caps whilst playing for Coventry City. His only international goal, a glancing header into the far corner of the net, came in a 2–2 draw at Cyprus' GSP Stadium on 9 October 2004. It was an important goal as it ensured the only point in the Island's World Cup qualification campaign. He won eight of his other caps in that same campaign, playing in both defeats to Switzerland, France and Israel, as well as a home defeat to Cyprus and the Republic of Ireland. His final international was in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match against Georgia on 16 August 2006. The Georgians ran out 6–0 winners at Svangaskarð. He quit the international scene the following month, after he was benched for a qualifier with Scotland.

Having coached at Coventry City's Academy for two years, Jørgensen joined National League North club Tamworth as head coach of the youth team, after being recruited by former teammate Andy Morrell. He holds the UEFA A Licence. He returned to Denmark to coach the AaB under-15 team in July 2019. Jørgensen became the head coach for then-A-Liga side AaB starting halfway through the 2022–23 season until the conclusion of the 2023–24 season. In August 2024, he began a new role developing youth players at Danish women's team Fortuna Hjørring.

He is married to Lorna, a hairdresser, and has three children. He is also a qualified helicopter pilot.