Henning Boel

Infobox Football biography
playername= Henning Boel
fullname = Henning Boel
nickname = "Jernmanden fra Ikast"
(the Ironman of Ikast)


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1945|8|15
cityofbirth = Ikast
countryofbirth = Denmark
dateofdeath =
height =
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = -
1968
1968
1969-1972
1974-1975
-
clubs = Ikast FS
Boston Beacons
Washington Whips
Aberdeen
Boston Minutemen
Ikast FS
caps(goals) =
003 (0)
015 (0)
105 (2)
027 (1)
nationalyears = 1965-1966
1966-1971
nationalteam = Denmark u-21
Denmark
nationalcaps(goals) = 005 (0)
015 (0)

Henning Boel (born 15 August, 1945) is a Danish former football player, who played professionally in the USA and Scotland. He most notably won the 1970 Scottish Cup with Aberdeen, and was inducted into the Aberdeen FC "Hall of Fame" as one of the founding members in 2003. Boel also played 15 games for the Danish national team.

Playing career

Boel began his footballing career, playing as a defender for amateur club Ikast FS in his childhood town of Ikast. [ [http://www.haslund.info/danmark/as/boehen.asp A-LANDSHOLDSPILLERE - Henning Boel] at "Haslund.info"] While at Ikast, Boel became a regular in the Danish national team, earning 5 Under-21 caps and 13 of his 15 full caps from 1965 to 1967. When the professional North American Soccer League was founded in 1968, Boel moved to the USA, playing three games for Boston Beacons then fifteen for the Washington Whips. As the Danish FA had a strict rule of amateurism for the Danish national team, Boel was automatically barred from playing any further national team games.

He was recruited by Scottish team Aberdeen in early 1969, having been spotted during the club's tour of the USA the previous summer. During his time in Aberdeen, Boel became a favourite of the Scottish team's fans,cite book| first=Paul| last=Smith| title=The Legends of Aberdeen| publisher=Breedon Books| year=2007| id=ISBN 978 1 85983 575 3| page=29] and was a part of the Aberdeen team which won the 1969-70 Scottish Cup trophy, beating Celtic 3-1 in the final, which he himself feels is his greatest footballing achievement. [http://www.thyweb.dk/2003/default.htm?http://www.thyweb.dk/2003/juli/pele/pele.htm Telefonmanden og Pelé - Eller berømmelse er noget, der går over] , "Thyweb", July 2003]

Boel resumed his international career, albeit briefly in 1971. When the Danish rule of amateurism was abolished in May 1971, Boel was a part of the first Danish national team comprised of professional players. The Danish team lost 0-5 to Portugal, and Boel played his 15th and last national team game as Denmark lost 1-2 to Belgium two weeks later. An injury sustained in a UEFA Cup tie against Borussia Monchengladbach in 1972 signalled the end of his time in Scotland as he found it difficult to regain his place in the Aberdeen side.

Having recovered from his injury, Boel returned to the Boston area after his time at Aberdeen. He went on to play for the Boston Minutemen from 1974 to 1975. He later served as public relations representative and manager ["Runde år i morgen", "Politiken", August 14, 2005] for the New England Tea Men. He finished his career where it started, back in Denmark with Ikast. Following his retirement from the game, he worked in the sports equipment and the telecommunications industries.

References

External links

* [http://www.dbu.dk/lbase/playerInfo.aspx?playerid=3214 Danish national team profile]
* [http://home6.inet.tele.dk/pin/landsholdet/Boel_Henning.htm Henning Boel] - Peders Fodboldstatistik: Det Danske Landshold fra 1908 til nu
* [http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/B/Boel.Henning.htm NASL stats]