{{short description|Danish footballer (born 1992)}} {{for|the speedway rider|Jonas Knudsen (speedway rider)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox football biography | name= Jonas Knudsen | image = File:IFK Göteborg - Malmö FF 04.jpg | caption = Knudsen playing for Malmö FF in 2022 | full_name = Jonas Hjort Knudsen<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2018-19.pdf |title=List of players given a free transfer: Ipswich Town |publisher=English Football League |page=98 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315014750/https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2018-19.pdf |archive-date=15 March 2023}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|9|16|df=y}} | birth_place = Esbjerg, Denmark | height = 1.87 m<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |title=FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Denmark |publisher=FIFA |page=8 |date=15 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611000407/https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |archive-date=11 June 2019}}</ref> | position = Left back | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2004–2006 | youthclubs1 = Hjerting IF | youthyears2 = 2006–2009 | youthclubs2 = Esbjerg fB | years1 = 2009–2015 | clubs1 = Esbjerg fB | caps1 = 123 | goals1 = 5 | years2 = 2015–2019 | clubs2 = Ipswich Town | caps2 = 148 | goals2 = 4 | years3 = 2019–2023 | clubs3 = Malmö FF | caps3 = 63 | goals3 = 1 | nationalyears1 = 2009–2010 | nationalyears2 = 2010–2011 | nationalyears3 = 2011–2012 | nationalyears4 = 2013–2015 | nationalyears5 = 2013–2019 | nationalteam1 = Denmark U18 | nationalteam2 = Denmark U19 | nationalteam3 = Denmark U20 | nationalteam4 = Denmark U21 | nationalteam5 = Denmark | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalcaps2 = 9 | nationalcaps3 = 3 | nationalcaps4 = 17 | nationalcaps5 = 7 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | nationalgoals5 = 0 | club-update = 25 January 2024 }} '''Jonas Hjort Knudsen''' (born 16 September 1992) is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a defender.
He played for Esbjerg fB from 2009 before signing with Ipswich Town in 2015. He is known for his long throws and in Denmark his throws have been compared to Rory Delap's.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33757541 | title = Jonas Knudsen: Ipswich Town signing 'the new Rory Delap' | date = 3 August 2015 | access-date = 3 August 2015 | publisher = BBC Sport}}</ref>
==Club career== ===Esbjerg fB=== In November 2009 he signed his first professional contract with Esbjerg,<ref>[http://www.bold.dk/nyt/Esbjerg-skriver-med-talentfuld-back "Esbjerg skriver med talentfuld back"]</ref> and following the winter break of the Danish Superliga, he made his professional debut in a 0–4 home loss against Randers FC, becoming the second youngest Esbjerg debutant ever second only to Andreas Sørensen who made his debut aged 16 years.<ref>[http://www.bold.dk/nyt/Tre-unge-debutanter-satte-klubrekorder "Tre unge debutanter satte klubrekorder"]</ref>
Following the departure of Kevin Conboy to NEC, Knudsen established himself as the first choice left back for the club. In the 2012–13 season, the Esbjerg team finished fourth in the Danish Superliga and won the Danish Cup, and Knudsen was given a new contract in April 2013.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}
===Ipswich Town=== Knudsen signed for Ipswich Town on 31 July 2015 on a three-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33733966 | title = Jonas Knudsen: Ipswich Town sign Denmark defender | date = 31 July 2015 | access-date = 31 July 2015 | publisher = BBC Sport}}</ref> He debuted for the club on 8 August 2015, in a 2–2 draw with Brentford. He scored his first goal on 19 April 2016, scoring a late equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Fulham at Portman Road. He went on to make 43 appearances during his first season at Portman Road, scoring once.<ref name="JK15"/>
He continued to feature as a first-team regular during his second season at the club, making his first appearance on the opening day of the season in a 4–2 win over Barnsley. During the season he memorably scored in both East Anglian derbies, which both finished 1–1.<ref name="JK16"/> He made 36 appearances over the course of the season, scoring twice.<ref name="JK16"/>
His first appearance of the 2017–18 season came on the opening day of the season in a 1–0 win over Birmingham City. On 21 December 2017, Ipswich took up the option to extend Knudsen's contract until 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town-extend-jonas-knudsen-s-contract-1-5330690|title=Town take up option to extend 'excellent' Knudsen's deal|last=Warren|first=Andy|work=East Anglian Daily Times|access-date=2018-08-07|language=en}}</ref> He scored his first goal of the season on 10 April, netting the winner in a 1–0 home win over Barnsley. Knudsen took on the captain's armband for the final few games of the season, following injuries to club captain Luke Chambers. He made 44 appearances during the season, scoring once.<ref name="JK17"/>
After returning from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Knudsen was linked with moves from multiple clubs including Stoke City and Middlesbrough.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/34132/boro-linked-with-knudsen|title=Boro Linked With Knudsen|publisher=TWTD|access-date=26 March 2020}}</ref> He kept his place in the team once again, featuring as a first-team regular throughout the season. In January 2019 he informed the club that he would not be signing a new contract, and he was released at the end of the 2018–19 season following the expiration of his contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2019/may/town-announce-retained-list/ |title=Gerken Included in Released Blues|publisher=Ipswich Town Official Website|date=20 May 2019 |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> Despite rejecting a new contract, Knudsen posted a farewell message on social media, thanking the fans for their support during his tenure.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town-defender-jonas-knudsen-farewell-message-1-6115543|title = 'It did not end as I had hoped but I'm confident that the club will rise again' - Knudsen's farewell to Town|date = 19 June 2019|access-date = 18 January 2020|archive-date = 10 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200810205949/https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town-defender-jonas-knudsen-farewell-message-1-6115543|url-status = dead}}</ref>
===Malmö FF=== On 20 June 2019, Knudsen signed for Swedish club Malmö FF on a free transfer.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town-defender-jonas-knudsen-joins-malmo-1-6117433|title = 'The club wants to win titles and play in Europe' - Knudsen joins Swedish league leaders Malmo|date = 20 June 2019|access-date = 18 January 2020|archive-date = 9 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200809175157/https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town-defender-jonas-knudsen-joins-malmo-1-6117433|url-status = dead}}</ref> He made his debut on 21 July 2019 in a 1–1 draw with IK Sirius.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/malmo-ff-ik-sirius-fk-allsvenskan-herrar/4122662/|title=Malmö FF 1-1 IK Sirius|publisher=svenskfotboll|access-date=26 March 2020}}</ref>
==International career== Knudsen has represented Denmark at various youth levels. He made his senior international debut as a substitute in a 1–0 friendly win over Sweden on 28 June 2014.<ref name=JKNFT/>
In May 2018 he was named in Denmark's preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/revealed-every-world-cup-2018-squad-23-man-preliminary-lists/oa0atsduflsv1nsf6oqk576rb| title = Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists {{!}} Goal.com}}</ref> On 17 June, the Danish squad allowed Knudsen to fly home to meet his newborn daughter, as the Danish squad clubbed together to pay for a private flight as a paternity present for their team-mate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/33825/danish-squad-fly-knudsen-home-to-meet-newborn-daughter|title=Danish Squad Fly Knudsen Home to Meet Newborn Daughter|publisher=TWTD|access-date=26 March 2020}}</ref> Following his return to Russia, he made his first and only appearance of Denmark's World Cup campaign on 1 July, starting and playing the full 120 minutes as Denmark drew 1–1 with Croatia, before exiting the tournament on penalties after extra time, with Knudsen playing his part in creating Denmark's opening goal following a long throw into the Croatian box.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/33896/knudsen-makes-world-cup-debut-but-denmark-exit-on-penalties|title=Knudsen Makes World Cup Debut But Denmark Exit on Penalties|publisher=TWTD|access-date=26 March 2020}}</ref>
He was included in Denmark's squad for the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League, featuring in the Dane's 0–0 draw with the Republic of Ireland in the group stages on 13 November 2018 at the Aarhus Idrætspark, Aarhus.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/match/2024115--republic-of-ireland-vs-denmark/lineups/?iv=true|title=Denmark 0-0 Republic of Ireland|publisher=UEFA|access-date=26 March 2020}}</ref>
==Career statistics== [[File:Jonas Knudsen (cropped).jpg|thumb|Knudsen playing for Ipswich Town in 2015.]]
===Club=== {{updated|match played 12 November 2023}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="8"|Esbjerg fB |2009–10<ref name="JKSW">{{Cite web |title=J.Knudsen |url=http://uk.scoresway.com/?sport=soccer&page=person&id=124160 |publisher=scoresway.com |access-date=19 August 2019 |archive-date=29 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129073241/http://uk.scoresway.com/?sport=soccer |url-status=dead }}</ref> |Superligaen ||7||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||7||0 |- |2010–11<ref name="JKSW" /> |Superligaen |5||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||7||0 |- |2011–12<ref name="JKSW" /> |1. Division |18||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||19||1 |- |2012–13<ref name="JK12">{{soccerbase season|65308|2012|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref> |Superligaen |32||1||5||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||2 |- |2013–14<ref name="JK13">{{soccerbase season|65308|2013|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref> |Superligaen |31||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||8<ref group=lower-alpha name="Europa">Appearances in UEFA Europa League</ref>||0||40||1 |- |2014–15<ref name="JK14">{{soccerbase season|65308|2014|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref> |Superligaen |28||2||4||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||32||2 |- |2015–16<ref name="JK15">{{soccerbase season|65308|2015|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref> |Superligaen |2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !123!!5!!13!!1!!0!!0!!8!!0!!144!!6 |- |rowspan="5"|Ipswich Town |2015–16<ref name="JK15" /> |Championship |42||1||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||43||1 |- |2016–17<ref name="JK16">{{soccerbase season|65308|2016|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref> |Championship |36||2||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||39||2 |- |2017–18<ref name="JK17">{{soccerbase season|65308|2017|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref> |Championship |42||1||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||44||1 |- |2018–19<ref name="JK18">{{soccerbase season|65308|2018|access-date=21 July 2017}}</ref> |Championship |28||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||29||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !148!!4!!4!!0!!3!!0!!0!!0!!155!!4 |- |rowspan="6"|Malmö FF |2019<ref name="JKSW" /> |Allsvenskan |11||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||8<ref group=lower-alpha name="Europa"/>||0||20||0 |- |2020<ref name="JKSW" /> |Allsvenskan |30||0||5||1||colspan="2"|—||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="Europa"/>||0||39||1 |- |2021<ref name="JKSW" /> |Allsvenskan |12||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2<ref group=lower-alpha>Appearances in UEFA Champions League</ref>||0||14||1 |- |2022<ref name="JKSW" /> |Allsvenskan |10||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||6<ref group=lower-alpha>Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League</ref>||0||16||0 |- |2023<ref name="JKSW" /> |Allsvenskan |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !63!!1!!6!!1!!0!!0!!20!!0!!89!!2 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !334!!10!!23!!2!!3!!0!!28!!0!!388!!12 |}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name=JKNFT>{{NFT player|id=55524}}</ref> |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Denmark |2014||2||0 |- |2018||4||0 |- |2019||1||0 |- !colspan=2|Total||7||0 |}
==Honours== '''Esbjerg fB''' *Danish Cup: 2012–13 *Danish 1st Division: 2011–12<ref name="JKSW" />
'''Malmö FF''' *Allsvenskan: 2020, 2021, 2023 *Svenska Cupen: 2021–22
'''Individual''' *Esbjerg fB Player of the Year: 2014–15<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.efb.dk/jonas_knudsen_repraesenterer_efb_ved_em_i_tjekkiet |title=Esbjerg fB's officielle hjemmeside | Regionens Hold |language=da |publisher=EfB.dk |access-date=2019-11-26 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052727/http://www.efb.dk/jonas_knudsen_repraesenterer_efb_ved_em_i_tjekkiet |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *{{DBU player|6782}} *{{Soccerbase|65308}}
{{Denmark squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knudsen, Jonas}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Esbjerg Category:Danish men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Esbjerg fB players Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players Category:Malmö FF players Category:Danish Superliga players Category:Danish 1st Division players Category:English Football League players Category:Allsvenskan players Category:Denmark men's youth international footballers Category:Denmark men's under-21 international footballers Category:Denmark men's international footballers Category:2018 FIFA World Cup players Category:Danish expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Sweden Category:21st-century Danish sportsmen