The Danish national team faced a pivotal moment ahead of Euro 92 when one of their brightest stars, Brian Laudrup, initially seemed out of the picture. Despite the ongoing coaching tenure of Richard Møller Nielsen, a glimmer of hope emerged as Brian Laudrup hinted at a possible return. “But it is a condition that I get a long, long conversation with Richard before I make the decision,” Laudrup stated, emphasizing the need for open dialogue. “We shall see each other in the eye and speaking out about what happened. This is clearly a case where no one should lose face. Can we do that, there is hope. For we have the same goal: success with the national team. I also hear Richard how he looks at my style of play. If he does not like it, what some former might indicate, there is no point in returning,” he revealed to B.T.
This potential shift in stance was a significant development. Shortly after, coach Richard Møller Nielsen contacted the younger Laudrup brother in Munich. Their phone conversation successfully cleared up misunderstandings and paved the way for a future collaboration. Brian Laudrup was back in contention! However, the true catalyst behind this reconciliation was Tommy Troelsen, a former Olympic athlete and at the time a commentator for DR Sporten.
Troelsen recounted his crucial intervention: “When B1903 played a UEFA Cup match away to Bayern Munich, Brian was my co-commentator. After the game, I was invited to his family home, and I gave him my honest opinion: it was unwise for Brian to dismiss the national team based on principle. I sensed he was reconsidering. Later, when I accompanied Richard Møller Nielsen to the World Cup draw in the United States, I mentioned to him that Brian was showing signs of openness. Both Richard and the Danish Football Association (DBU) were eager to have young Laudrup back in the national team. So, I penned a detailed letter to Brian, advising him to reach out to Richard. Ultimately, Brian and the national team reunited, which I found immensely rewarding. They had been fiercely opposed, so I must commend them both for handling the situation with such brilliance,” Tommy Troelsen reflects.
Brian Laudrup himself corroborated Troelsen’s account of these events: “Tommy is a sensible man, and he persuaded me that it was foolish to sacrifice my prime years due to stubbornness. And I genuinely desired to rejoin the national team because I missed playing for Denmark. The thought of being 33 years old and only having four international caps was disheartening. Looking back, my initial reaction was emotionally charged, which is typical of my personality. I felt that Richard was only including Michael and me in the team due to media and public pressure, not because he valued our contributions. In the time that passed, we both gained wisdom and maturity. Richard, for instance, became less sensitive and more receptive to criticism,” he explained.
Brian Laudrup’s return to the national team was realized during a test match against Turkey in April, marking a significant moment in the lead-up to Euro 92.
