Simon Kjar

Simon Thorup Kjar (born 26 March 1989) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Milan and captains the Denmark national team.

He was named 2007 Danish under-19 talent of the year and 2009 Danish Talent of the Year. Kjar has played more than 110 matches for Denmark, including participation at the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and 2018, and the UEFA European Championship in 2012 and 2020.

Club Career

FC Midtjylland

Born in Horsens, Kjar 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 in 2004, where his father was the club's team 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 Sivebak and former teammate, Winston Reid. Kjar started out playing in the midfield position before one of his coaches switched him to a defender position, a position he plays to date. While at the club system, Kjar was named the best player of a French youth tournament in April 2006. This resulted in Midtjylland subsequently rejecting offers from Lille OSC for Kjar and Jesper Juelsgard.

Kjar 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. Kjar 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, Kjar signed a five-year contract with Midtjylland instead in September 2007.

Kjar 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 clubs Middlesbrough and Chelsea. He went on to play three more matches in the first half of the Dan

This page also has a version in other languages :  Симон Кьер (russian)