18 Nov 2008Laursen named Danish player of the year

Football Referees, Players, Managers and Media

Aston Villa defender Martin Laursen has been voted Denmark's player of the year, reports have confirmed today (November 18th).

The 31-year-old was named as the winner at a ceremony in Copenhagen after beating off competition from Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen and Werder Bremen's Daniel Jensen.

Laursen has been an imperious figure at the heart of the Villa defence over the previous two campaigns, justifying the decision to sign him from AC Milan for £3 million in April 2004.

He had endured a lengthy spell on the sidelines at the San Siro with a knee injury, which recurred initially during his early days in Birmingham but was subsequently cured by surgery.

The centre-back has been handed the captain's armband by Villa boss Martin O'Neill and he is a constant threat at set-pieces, notching six goals last season as his side finished sixth in the Premier League.

Laursen originally joined Milan on loan from Parma in the summer of 2001 before making an £8.7 million switch from Ennio Tardini.

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