Simon Kjær

Midtjylland

Born in Horsens, Kjær started playing football when he was four years old. This led him to join a small-time club, Lund IF near Horsens, before moving to the youth team of Danish Superliga club FC Midtjylland (FCM) in 2004, where his father, Jørn Kjær, was the club's equipment manager. He was one of the first players to graduate from FCM's football academy, the first of its kind in Denmark, coming through the system alongside Midtjylland teammates Jesper Weinkouff, Christian Sivebæk and former teammate, Winston Reid. Kjær started out playing in the midfield position before one of his coaches switched him to a defender position, a position he played until retirement. While at the club system, Kjær was named the best player of a French youth tournament in April 2006. This resulted in Midtjylland subsequently rejecting offers from Lille OSC for Kjær and Jesper Juelsgård. Kjær made his senior debut for Midtjylland in the Viasat Cup training matches in June 2006, Two months later, he signed his first professional contract, keeping him until 2009. Kjær was promoted to the first team squad in January 2007. He had a successful trial with Real Madrid in August 2007, but their transfer offer was refused by FC Midtjylland. Soon after, Kjær signed a five-year contract with Midtjylland instead in September 2007. Kjær made his Superliga debut on 30 September 2007, in the 2–0 victory against AGF By October 2007, his performances attracted the likes of Premier League…

Kjær made his only appearance for Denmark U18 on 19 September 2006, in a 4–1 win against Slovakia U18. He made his debut for the Denmark national under-19 football team on 6 September 2006, at the age of 17, beating Portugal U19 3–2. He played a total 10 games and scored one goal for the under-19s until October 2007, and was named 2007 Danish under-19 talent of the year as the under-19s coach found Kjær had shown himself a talented defender despite his young age. Following his breakthrough with Midtjylland, Kjær was rested from the under-19s in March 2008 to avoid wearing him out. Kjær was called up for the Denmark national under-21 football team in May 2008 as a replacement for Michael Jakobsen, making his debut in a 0–4 defeat against the Germany under-21s. He was out of the under-21 team during his first time at Palermo, but was recalled in October 2008, spending the game as an unused substitute to Magnus Troest and Mathias Jørgensen. Kjær was an unused substitute for the friendly match against Greece, and returned to the under-21s for a single game in March 2009, playing well enough that under-21 coach Keld Bordinggaard recommended him for a recall to Olsen's squad. He went on to make two appearances for the U21 side. Kjær made his only Denmark U20, coming against France U20 on 19 November 2008.

Senior team

Kjær was called up to the senior Danish national team in February 2009, as national team coach Morten Olsen was impressed by his form for Palermo, and saw…

Club

International

Scores and results list Denmark's goal tally first.

In addition to speaking Danish, Kjær speaks five languages, including English and Italian (having learnt the language from his time at Palermo). Growing up, he idolised John Terry and Fabio Cannavaro and supported Liverpool. While his father was supportive of him becoming a footballer, his mother, a teacher, was not. Despite not liking studying while attending school, Kjær was able to receive his diploma. He married his long-term girlfriend, Camilla. They have known each other since they were fifteen. However they divorced and later Kjær began a relationship with Elina Gollert, a Swedish national. Together, they have two children, Milas and Viggo. In the summer of 2017, they were married. Kjær talked about superstitions, saying: "I am a believer but not a practitioner. The first sock I wear is always the right one. But not just before every game. I do it every morning."