{{short description|Danish former footballer (born 1976)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Thomas Gravesen | image = | caption = | fullname = Thomas Gravesen<ref name=Hugman>{{Hugman|7626|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|03|11|df=y}}<ref name=Hugman/> | birth_place = Vejle, Denmark | height = | position = Midfielder | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Vejle | years1 = 1995–1997 | clubs1 = Vejle | caps1 = 58 | goals1 = 10 | years2 = 1997–2000 | clubs2 = Hamburger SV | caps2 = 74 | goals2 = 6 | years3 = 2000–2005 | clubs3 = Everton | caps3 = 141 | goals3 = 11 | years4 = 2005–2006 | clubs4 = Real Madrid | caps4 = 34 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2006–2008 | clubs5 = Celtic | caps5 = 22 | goals5 = 6 | years6 = 2007–2008 | clubs6 = → Everton (loan) | caps6 = 8 | goals6 = 0 | totalcaps = 337 | totalgoals = 34 | nationalyears1 = 1995 | nationalteam1 = Denmark U19 | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 1996–1997 | nationalteam2 = Denmark U21 | nationalcaps2 = 11 | nationalgoals2 = 4 | nationalyears3 = 1998–2006 | nationalteam3 = Denmark | nationalcaps3 = 66 | nationalgoals3 = 5 }} '''Thomas Gravesen''' ({{IPA|da|ˈtsʰʌmæs ˈkʁɑːwəsn̩}}; born 11 March 1976) is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Gravesen played as a professional in Denmark, Germany, England, Spain and Scotland for Vejle Boldklub, Hamburger SV, Everton, Real Madrid and Celtic.
For the Denmark national team, Gravesen was capped 66 times and scored five goals, from his debut in August 1998 until he ended his national team career in September 2006. He represented Denmark at the international Euro 2000, 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 tournaments.
He is the older brother of footballer Peter Gravesen.
==Club career== ===Vejle Boldklub=== Born in Vejle,<ref name=Hugman/> Gravesen began his career in 1995 with hometown club Vejle Boldklub (VB) in the Danish Superliga, alongside a handful of youths making it through the VB youth scheme, including good friend Kaspar Dalgas. At VB he played as sweeper and defensive midfielder, and after he won silver medals in the 1996–97 Superliga season he moved to German team Hamburger SV in 1997.
Gravesen made a total of 94 appearances and six goals in three years with HSV.
===Everton=== Following the Euro 2000 tournament, Gravesen went to English club Everton and quickly became a favourite amongst the fans. Gravesen played a key role in Everton's rise toward the top of the 2004–05 Premier League table. With his contract due to expire in the summer of 2005, which would enable him to leave on a free transfer, Everton sold Gravesen to Real Madrid in January 2005 for a surprisingly low fee of £2.5 million.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/e/everton/4176451.stm | title = Gravesen completes switch to Real | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 14 January 2005 | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref>
===Real Madrid=== Gravesen was signed to fill a hole in Madrid's defensive midfield, a position somewhat different from his role at Everton.<ref name="times"/> He found immediate playing success at Real Madrid, scoring in one of his first games, a 4–0 win against Espanyol.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-2-2005_pg2_10 | title = Real Madrid crush Espanyol 4–0 to make it six in a row | work = Daily Times | date = 7 February 2005 | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref> However, Gravesen would eventually find himself benched. Following public outcry over his tough style of play and the sacking of Real coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo and sporting director Arrigo Sacchi, who were in charge of acquiring Gravesen, he looked ready to leave Real Madrid in the winter transfer window of 2006. However, new coach López Caro would revive Gravesen's career at Real, picking him regularly, using him in the holding role in the new 4–1–4–1 formation Real adopted. Towards the end of the season, Gravesen once again found himself out of the team, and in May 2006 a number of clubs were reported to be interested in him.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/5032248.stm | title = Wednesday's gossip column | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 31 May 2006 | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref>
In August 2006, a scuffle erupted at a Real Madrid training session following a hard tackle by Gravesen on teammate Robinho.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/Gravesen_lashes_out_at_Capello_news_94455.html | title = Gravesen lashes out at Capello | work = World Soccer | date = 8 September 2006 | access-date = 7 June 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604165617/http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/Gravesen_lashes_out_at_Capello_news_94455.html | archive-date = 4 June 2011}}</ref> Fabio Capello, the former Real Madrid manager, said about Gravesen: "The way he is, we won't have problems with him. He's just a little bit peculiar. I don't mess with him, he works well tactically. His behaviour is like this, and I don't like it, everything has to be done like he wants it to be done".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.marca.es/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/real_madrid/es/desarrollo/676906.html | title = El Madrid abre la puerta a Gravesen | work = Marca | date = 2 August 2006 | language = es | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref> Gravesen looked likely to leave Real Madrid before the start of the 2006–07 season, with his agent John Sivebæk confirming that a number of clubs – including Newcastle United in England<ref>{{cite web | first = Alex | last = Livie | url = http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2386583,00.html | title = Grav likes look of Magpies | publisher = Sky Sports | date = 3 August 2006 | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref> and Scottish club Celtic<ref>{{cite web | first = Simon | last = Fudge | url = http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11787_2387107,00.html | title = Grav considers Bhoys | publisher = Sky Sports | date = 16 August 2006 | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref> – were interested in signing the midfielder.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/2017/11/09/internacional/1510212018_708014.html|title=Gravesen trajo armas de pintura a entrenar y empezó a disparar|first=Diario|last=AS|date=9 November 2017|website=as.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/2017/07/05/mas_futbol/1499242341_624278.html|title=¿Qué fue de Gravesen?: de 'ogro' a millonario en Las Vegas|first=Diario|last=AS|date=5 July 2017|website=as.com}}</ref>
===Celtic=== On 28 August 2006, Gravesen attended Celtic Park in Glasgow for a medical examination and, on 30 August, signed a three-year deal (with the option of a fourth) with the club, for a speculated fee of around £2 million. There was a period of uncertainty as to whether Gravesen would sign for Celtic after false rumours arose of a failed medical and of an eleventh-hour bid by Newcastle.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5290454.stm | title = Celtic complete Gravesen capture | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 30 August 2006 | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref>
He scored his first goal for Celtic against arch rivals Rangers on 23 September 2006. He then went on to score the first hat-trick of his professional career<ref>{{cite web | first = Lars Jørgen | last = Andersen | url = http://sporten.tv2.dk/fodbold/article.php/id-5341807.html | title = Hat trick af Thomas Gravesen | publisher = TV 2 (Denmark) | date = 12 November 2006| language = da | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref> when Celtic won 3–1 against St Mirren on 12 November. After a promising start to his Celtic career, Gravesen was replaced in the starting line-up by Dutch midfielder Evander Sno. In April 2007, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan denied rumours that Gravesen would leave the club to play for English club Sunderland,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/6554633.stm | title = Strachan dismisses transfer talk | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 13 April 2007 | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref> but in May 2007 he declared his disappointment that Gravesen did not work harder to recapture his place in the starting line-up.<ref>{{cite web | first = Mads | last = Clausen | url = http://www.dr.dk/Sporten/Fodbold/Int.fodbold/2007/05/22/102804.htm | title = Strachan skuffet over Gravesen | publisher = Danmarks Radio | date = 22 May 2007 | language = da | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref>
On 18 August 2008, Celtic and Gravesen parted company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/stories/news_180808122309.aspx |title=Celtic part company with Thomas Gravesen |publisher=Celtic F.C |date=18 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828035704/http://www.celticfc.net/news/stories/news_180808122309.aspx |archive-date=28 August 2008 }}</ref>
===Loan to Everton=== Gravesen re-signed for Everton on a season-long loan from Celtic on 29 August 2007. On his first game back for Everton, as a second-half substitute in the 2–1 win at Bolton Wanderers, he took the corner that Joleon Lescott headed the winner from. In his first European appearance of the season, in Everton's 3–1 victory over AEL at Goodison Park in the UEFA Cup group stage, Gravesen set up Everton's third goal, scored by Victor Anichebe. However, Gravesen failed to make as big an impact as many Everton fans had hoped. A rare highlight was scoring a penalty in the shootout following the UEFA Cup match against Fiorentina, although Everton would go on to lose the shootout when Phil Jagielka missed the crucial spot-kick. After the last game of the 2007–08 season, manager David Moyes confirmed that Gravesen's contract would not be renewed and he would be returning to Celtic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/05/11/Prem-Moyes-on-Gravesen-and-Wessels/ |title=Gravesen and Wessels leave Toffees |first=Tom |last=Kell |publisher=Setanta Sports |date=12 May 2008 |access-date=12 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515181234/http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/05/11/Prem-Moyes-on-Gravesen-and-Wessels/ |archive-date=15 May 2008 }}</ref>
===Retirement=== On 27 January 2009, Gravesen announced his retirement from professional football after he failed to find a new club after being released by Celtic. On 12 September 2009, he stated in an interview with FourFourTwo that he had been approached by a number of clubs about a possible return to football, but nothing came of these approaches.
It was reported in December 2013 that Gravesen had been successful with investments and was living in Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Albrecht |first1=Lars |title=HSV, Real Madrid, Las Vegas: Thomas Gravesen und sein wildes Leben |url=https://www.mopo.de/sport/hsv/hsv--real-madrid--las-vegas-das-voellig-verrueckte-leben-des-thomas-gravesen-36560764 |access-date=27 September 2020 |work=Hamburger Morgenpost |date=15 April 2020 |language=de}}</ref>
==International career== Gravesen debuted for the Danish national team in a 0–1 friendly match loss to the Czech Republic on 19 August 1998. Gravesen was selected to play for Denmark at the 2000 European Championship (Euro 2000) by coach Bo Johansson, despite concern from Johansson that he was not "psychologically stable" enough.<ref>Klaus Moe, "Psykisk for ustabil", ''B.T. article'', 19 April 2000</ref>
While at Everton, new Danish national team coach Morten Olsen fully supported Gravesen and made him one of his pivotal players in the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 campaigns. His display in the 2002 World Cup qualifying game with Iceland, where Gravesen scored two goals in a 6–0 win, was so impressive that American boxer Mike Tyson asked for his shirt<ref name="times">{{cite web | first = Oliver | last = Kay | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-1437892,00.html | title = Real yearn for steel of Gravesen | work=The Times | date = 13 January 2005 | access-date = 7 June 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and wore it throughout his stay in Denmark. He played all four of Denmark's matches at the 2002 World Cup, though Gravesen and his partner in the Danish midfield duo, Stig Tøfting, justified their pit bull reputations when they ganged up to play a prank on teammate Jesper Grønkjær at a World Cup training session.<ref>{{cite web | first = Lars | last = Møller | url = http://www.dr.dk/Sporten/Billedserier/2005/11/13144210.htm?PagePos=9 | title = Thomas Gravesen i billeder | publisher = Danmarks Radio | year = 2005 | language = da | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref>
He missed the first group match at Euro 2004 as he was suspended due to a sending off in the last qualifying match before the tournament but he played the remaining three games before Denmark were eliminated.
On 15 September 2006, Gravesen announced his decision to end his international career, deciding now to focus his efforts solely on Celtic.<ref>{{cite web | first = Lars | last = Berendt | url = http://www.dbu.dk/news/newsShow.aspx?id=234540 | title = Thomas Gravesen stopper på landsholdet | publisher = DBU | date = 15 September 2006 | language = da | access-date = 7 June 2011}}</ref>
==Personal life== Gravesen previously dated Danish adult film star Kira Eggers. He now lives in a gated community in Los Angeles, with Andre Agassi and Nicolas Cage as two of his neighbours.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/thomas-gravesen-last-maverick-real-madrid-a8780966.html |title=The best bits from a book on football's 'last maverick' Thomas Gravesen - the Everton and Real Madrid midfielder turned reclusive millionaire |publisher=Independent |date=15 February 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportbible.com/football/thomas-gravesen-celtic-girlfriend-google-852074-20230511|title=Thomas Gravesen used to tell teammates to Google his porn star girlfriend|last=Sidle|first=Ryan|date=11 May 2023|website=SPORTbible}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=422&b=true&pn=Thomas_Gravesen |title=GRAVESEN (Thomas Gravesen) – Celtic and Denmark<!-- Bot generated title --> |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017000920/http://footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=422&b=true&pn=Thomas_Gravesen |archive-date=17 October 2007}}</ref> |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Vejle |1995–96 |rowspan="2"|Danish Superliga |28||2||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||28||2 |- |1996–97 |30||8||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||30||8 |- !colspan="2"|Total !58||10||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||58||10 |- |rowspan="4"|Hamburger SV |1997–98 |rowspan="3"|Bundesliga |26||2||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||27||2 |- |1998–99 |22||3||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||24||3 |- |1999–2000 |26||1||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||27||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !74||6||4||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||78||6 |- |rowspan="6"|Everton |2000–01 |rowspan="5"|Premier League |32||2||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||35||2 |- |2001–02 |25||2||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||26||2 |- |2002–03 |33||1||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||35||1 |- |2003–04 |30||2||3||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||36||2 |- |2004–05 |21||4||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||23||4 |- !colspan="2"|Total !141||11||8||0||6||0||colspan="2"|–||155||11 |- |rowspan="3"|Real Madrid |2004–05 |rowspan="2"|La Liga |17||1||1||0||colspan="2"|–||2{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||0||20||1 |- |2005–06 |17||0||6||0||colspan="2"|–||6{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||29||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !34||1||7||0||colspan="2"|–||8||0||49||1 |- |Celtic |2006–07 |Scottish Premier League |22||6||1||0||0||0||6{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||29||6 |- |Everton (loan) |2007–08 |Premier League |8||0||1||0||1||0||3{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Cup}}||0||13||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !337||34||21||0||8||0||17||0||441||61 |}
{{notelist}}
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT|1895}}</ref> |- !National team||Year||Apps||Goals |- |rowspan="9"|Denmark |1998||3||0 |- |1999||2||0 |- |2000||8||0 |- |2001||6||2 |- |2002||12||0 |- |2003||10||3 |- |2004||11||0 |- |2005||8||0 |- |2006||6||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total||66||5 |}
:''Scores and results list Denmark's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gravesen goal''. <!---DO NOT DELETE REPEAT ENTRIES!!! REPEAT ENTRIES REPRESENT Thomas Gravesen SCORING MULTIPLE GOALS IN THE SAME GAME!!!--->
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Thomas Gravesen |- ! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1 || rowspan="2"|6 October 2001 || rowspan="2"|Copenhagen, Denmark || rowspan="2"|{{fb|ISL}} || align="center"|3–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|6–0 || rowspan="2"|2002 World Cup qualifier |- | 2 || align="center"|4–0 |- | 3 || 29 March 2003 || Bucharest, Romania || {{fb|ROU}} || align="center"|2–2 || align="center"|5–2 || Euro 2004 qualifier |- | 4 || 30 April 2003 || Copenhagen, Denmark || {{fb|UKR}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || Friendly match |- | 5 || 11 June 2003 || Luxembourg City, Luxembourg || {{fb|LUX}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || Euro 2004 qualifier |}
==Honours== '''Celtic''' *Scottish Premier League: 2006–07 *Scottish Cup: 2006–07
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * Thomas Gravesen, told to Kurt Lassen, "''Min version''" (My version), Denmark, 2005, {{ISBN|87-91693-51-9}}
==External links== * {{Soccerbase}} * {{DBU player|1582}} * [http://www.realmadridnews.com/happened-thomas-gravesen/ What happened to Thomas Gravesen?] at [http://www.realmadridnews.com/ Realmadridnews.com]
{{Navboxes colour |title= Denmark squads |bg= #e11b22 |fg= white |list1= {{Denmark squad UEFA Euro 2000}} {{Denmark squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}} {{Denmark squad UEFA Euro 2004}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gravesen, Thomas}} Category:1976 births Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players Category:Celtic F.C. players Category:Danish men's footballers Category:Danish expatriate men's footballers Category:Danish Superliga players Category:Denmark men's international footballers Category:Denmark men's under-21 international footballers Category:Everton F.C. players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Hamburger SV players Category:La Liga players Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Vejle Municipality Category:Premier League players Category:Bundesliga players Category:Real Madrid CF players Category:Scottish Premier League players Category:UEFA Euro 2000 players Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players Category:Vejle Boldklub players Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Spain Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Scotland Category:Danish football commentators Category:Footballers from the Region of Southern Denmark