Thomas Gravesen Profile

Thomas Gravesen was a Danish professional footballer who had a successful career playing for various clubs in Europe. He was born on March 11, 1976, in Vejle, Denmark, and began his footballing career with hometown club Vejle Boldklub.

Gravesen played as a central midfielder and was known for his tough tackling and energetic performances on the pitch. He quickly caught the eye of scouts from larger clubs, and in 1997 he signed for Hamburg SV in the German Bundesliga. Some impressive performances for HSV over the course of three seasons were enough to persuade several English Premier League clubs to take a look at him, and it was no surprise when he signed for Everton in 2000. Gravesen was a highly combative midfielder who suited the way Everton played at the time, and he quickly became a key player for the Toffees, making over 150 appearances in his five years at the club.

Gravesen's performances for Everton earned him a big-money move to Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2005. The move surprised many in the footballing world, as Gravesen was not seen as a typical Galactico signing. Despite some good performances, there was a feeling that many fans and pundits didn't want to Gravesen at the club because they felt his style of play didn't suit the club. So it was no real surprise when Gravesen left the club in the summer of 2006 and signed for Celtic. He won the league and cup double in his first season at Parkhead but there were rumours that he didn't see eye to eye with manager Gordon Strachan and he was loaned out to Everton in the following season. That would be his final move as he announced his retirement at the start of 2009.