Tottenham Almost Hired Denmark Boss Morten Olsen, Arnesen Confirms

Frank Arnesen tried to lure Morten Olsen to Tottenham

Former Denmark coach Morten Olsen says he would have rejected Tottenham if offered the job in 2004. In Frank Arnesen’s new book Total fodbold, the ex-Spurs sporting director reveals he tried to hire Olsen based on his success with Brondby, Koln and Ajax.

The ex-Denmark coach reflects on his managerial record and why he would have declined Spurs in 2004...

Morten Olsen says he would have rejected Tottenham if the club had come calling in 2004.

In his new book Total fodbold, released last week, former Denmark international and ex-Tottenham sporting director Frank Arnesen revealed he tried to bring Olsen to North London. At the time, Olsen was still managing the Danish national team, and Arnesen wanted him to take over at Spurs during his brief stint as sporting director from May 2004 to June 2005.

“Tottenham were looking for a new head coach the summer I joined the club, and I wanted Morten Olsen, but I wasn't allowed to hire a coach from Denmark or the Netherlands. It was a requirement. If it didn't go well in the first three or four months, then I would come under extra pressure because I had chosen a coach from a country I was attached to, Daniel Levy thought. There was no reason to risk it,” writes Arnesen.

After retiring as a player, Olsen moved into management with Brøndby IF, guiding them to a Danish league title and a UEFA Cup semi-final. He also kept FC Köln in the Bundesliga and completed a domestic Double with Ajax. Despite those achievements, he was dismissed from all three clubs before taking charge of Denmark in 2000.

It was that track record that convinced Frank Arnesen to try and bring his old friend to Tottenham. Olsen says he’s flattered that his work at club level led to interest from Spurs.

“The job is now such that one is noticed if one's team does well, if the performances are good. So, of course, it's great to hear when others show interest. But I would not have accepted it if the offer had come. It would have arrived in the middle of my contract for Denmark,” he says to eb.dk. and underlines that he would never leave for another club or country when he was under contract. 

Olsen stayed on as Denmark’s national team coach until 2015, stepping down after his contract ended following a playoff loss to Sweden that knocked Denmark out of Euro 2016 qualification.