Even after his retirement, the legacy of Simon Kjær, the Danish football captain, will forever be etched in the annals of football history. His heroic actions during Euro 2020, when he administered life-saving measures to Christian Eriksen before the doctors arrived, cemented his status not only as a leader but as a true hero. But Simon’s story goes far beyond that fateful moment. This biography delves into the remarkable journey that led to his stardom in the 21st century.
Born to his parents, Jorn and Lotte Kjær, Simon grew up in Horsens, Denmark, alongside his sister, Alberte Kjær. His upbringing in a tight-knit family, along with his innate passion for football, paved the way for an illustrious career. From humble beginnings to global recognition, Kjær’s life is a testament to perseverance, leadership, and the unshakable bond of teamwork. Now, let’s explore the fascinating life story of Simon Kjær, from his early days to becoming a Danish icon on and off the pitch.
Preamble:
Simon Kjær’s biography provides an in-depth look into his life, covering everything from his childhood and early years to his rise to fame. The story includes details about his family background, including his parents, Jorn and Lotte Kjær, his former wife, Camilla, his current wife, Elina Gollert, and his children, Milas and Viggo.
This comprehensive account traces Simon’s journey from his formative years to his emergence as a renowned footballer. To give you a glimpse into his life, we’ve put together a gallery that showcases his journey from boyhood to adulthood, offering a complete summary of Simon Kjær’s remarkable story.
Simon Kjaer Childhood Story:
Danish Simon Thorup Kjær, known by the nickname “The Viking,” was born on March 26, 1989, in Horsens, Denmark, to his parents, Jorn and Lotte Kjær. As the eldest of two children, Simon enjoyed a close-knit family life. Growing up, he cherished spending time with his mother, which made his childhood even more special. From a young age, Kjær’s strong family bonds helped shape the person and player he would become.
Of course, it was an enjoyable moment when he got to listen to her exciting fairytales all the time. No doubt, he made a handful of happy memories with his parents as a kid.
Growing Up Days:
Being raised in Horsens, it was always soccer or nothing for the upcoming defender. He had a good time growing up with his sister (Alberte Kjaer). However, his participation in football makes up the most memorable part of his youthful days.
At the unbelievable age of four, Kjaer had already learnt the act of kicking a ball. He was not the most talented of his peers, but he gave his absolute commitment to the game.
You can tell that he was a Liverpool supporter after viewing the image below.
This is an interview with Simon Kjaer’s father when he spoke about his son. As you can observe, Kjaer and his household are big Liverpool fans. Also to note, Jorn Kjaer is a great communicator.
Simon Kjaer Family Background:
Foremost, his household is not the super-wealthy type but fared comfortably as average Danish citizens. Simon Kjaer comes from a humble middle-class family background.
The centre-back’s household is driven by a caring father (Jorn Kjaer) who works hard to provide for his entire household.
Despite their average financial status, Kjaer’s family treasure each other with a high level of affection and closeness.
Simon Kjaer Family Origin:
There is no way the defender will forget about his hometown, where his career expedition all began. Of course, he is a native of Horsens, a city that houses approximately 60,000 people in Europe’s Denmark.
Do you know?… His place of origin is known for its entertainment and cultural events. Horsens has a New Theatre, which serves as a cultural centre and holds over 200 events annually.
Simon Kjaer Football Story:
Our boy grew up in an era that judges players by their physique rather than their innate abilities. He had to look big to certify that he could do well on the pitch.
More so, he needed to be connected to prominent personalities before he gained opportunities to become a full-fledged player, or perhaps that was what the system depicted.
Interestingly, he was less bothered by the limitations that posed a threat to his success. Hence, his parents had him join a small-time football academy (Lund IF) near Horsens.
Simon Kjaer Bio – Early Career Life:
When the defender turned 15, he had outgrown the facilities and technical provisions available at Lund IF.
With his career improvement on the line, his father put in some words with the professional soccer club – FC Midtjylland – where he was working.
Thankfully, the academy accepted Kjaer to ensure his dad did not quit his job. However, they never believed that he had a talent for the game.
Rather than getting worked up by their disapproval of his capabilities, the young lad worked very hard to improve himself.
Two years later, Kjaer left his entire team in shock as he won the best player in a French youth tournament in 2016.
Interestingly, he became one of the first players to graduate from FC Midtjylland’s academy.
The Dawn of His Professional Career:
After rejecting several transfer offers, Midtjylland had Kjaer sign a 5-year deal with the club. Hence, in 2007, the athlete made his senior debut in the Superliga.
With his outstanding performance, a lot of prominent clubs discussed his move from his team. In the end, it was Palermo that sealed a 5-year contract worth €4 million with Kjaer in 2008.
His career life with the Italian club suffered a setback, as he found it hard to adapt to the competitions that existed in Palermo’s defence.
Notwithstanding, he utilised his first two appearances for the club to plant his capabilities into the minds of many fans. In such a short time, Kjaer sealed his spot as the centre-back of Palermo’s starting eleven.
Road To Fame Story:
The ensuing years of his career saw him moving from one club to another. First, he joined VfL Wolfsburg for a contract fee of £10 million in the year 2010.
Afterwards, he moved to AS Roma on loan for the entire 2011-12 season before finally returning to his parent club. Time and time again, Kjaer proved his exceptionality as a wall in the defence line of Lille Fenerbahce and Sevilla. His days with Atalanta in 2019 were relatively brief, as he was in his worst form.
Hence, Kjaer joined Milan on loan in 2020, at the same time as Fikayo Tomori joined the club. Together, they both formed a formidable partnership in the defence line of Milan.
Simon Kjaer Biography – Success Story:
After putting up an intriguing performance with the Rossoneri, the centre-back signed a €3.5 million deal with the Italian club in July 2020.
During his gradual rise to fame, Kjaer also made several appearances for his country.
It took him a lot of patience as an unused substitute and years of hard work to establish himself in the starting 11 of the Danish team.
Having made many appearances for Denmark in prestigious competitions like the World Cup, Kjaer soon became an indispensable player in his country’s armoury.
On this note, he was appointed his team’s captain for the first time in 2016.
An Act Of Heroism in Euro 2020:
Interestingly, Kjaer defined what it meant to be a true captain by his quick intervention in helping Christian Eriksen when the midfielder slumped on the pitch.
Thankfully, he ensured Eriksen’s airways were not obstructed by giving him CPR. This simple act of precaution saved the life of his teammate.
Besides the many accolades he has received, the football world will forever remember Kjaer for his heroic act in Euro 2020. The rest, as they say, is history.
A Failed Love Story With Camilla:
The relationship life of our revered defender dates as far back as 2005, when he met his first girlfriend, Camilla.
They were both fifteen when they started dating. Like Kasper Schmeichel, the defender maintained a long-lasting relationship with Camilla until they finally got married.
Sadly, his beautiful relationship with his first girlfriend-turned-wife couldn’t stand the test of time. As the saying goes, ‘some good things never last’, so did Kjaer’s marriage crumbles. Hence, the couples each went their separate ways.
Simon Kjaer’s Relationship with Elina Gollert:
When he first broke up with his ex-wife, the entire world seemed to come to a standstill for the centre-back. However, he soon cut a glimmer of hope in his love life after meeting Elina Gollert.
She is a Swedish national born on the 20th of February 1990. Kjaer delved into a serious relationship with his new girlfriend, who is passionate about fashion in no distance time.
As I write this biography, she has earned a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from the prestigious Stockholm University. After dating Elina for a short while, they both tied the knot in 2017.
The Viking and his wife have a good enough reason to celebrate, like Lasse Schone, because their marriage was blessed with two children – Milas and Viggo.
Of course, he is always happy to have his family support him from the sidelines.
Personal Life (away from the pitch):
You probably got to know him after watching his act of heroism in Euro 2020. However, there is more to his personality than what he has displayed so far on the pitch.
Do you know?… Kjaer has got a cheerful nature that allows him to build a connection with fans so quickly. The video below shows how he dramatically relates to his spectator during training sections.
It is obvious that he is a passionate and confident leader who has indeed inherited the characteristics of the Aries zodiac traits.
Simon Kjaer Lifestyle:
The Baller who once led a human rights protest in Qatar is not left out of having a social life. He has a lot of followers on Instagram who are impressed by his uploads to the media.
From the look of things, he shares a similar pattern of a low-key lifestyle with his compatriot, Martin Braithwaite.
Aside from keeping his house and cars a secret from his fans, Kjaer has also celebrated his birthday on a smaller scale.
Simon Kjaer Family Facts:
He never had to feel isolated from society because he’s got a love-abiding menage.
They are the reason Kjaer has accomplished much in his career. In this section, we shall tell you some fascinating facts about his entire family.
About Simon Kjaer’s Father:
Jorn Kjaer is his dad. He was a football lover who supported the aspirations of his son right from his childhood.
It’s all thanks to Kjaer’s father that he got accepted into his first professional soccer academy. Of course, the defender’s biography wouldn’t have recorded a successful career story if not for the intervention of his dad.
About Simon Kjaer’s Mother:
While his father worked at a sports institute, his mom did a great job as a schoolteacher. Unlike her husband, Lotte Kjaer did not support the idea of her only son focusing on soccer.
We can understand the fact that she is a teacher and would love it if Kjaer pursued a corporate career away from the pitch.
However, the centre-back’s mother had no option but to give him her support since he did not change his mind about his aspirations.
About Simon Kjaer’s Siblings:
He is not the only child of the Kjaer family. Yes, the Danish captain has got a sister who bears the name Alberte Kjaer.
While compiling this bio, we realised that his only sibling also lives a low-key life. Indeed, she takes after her brother by living in utmost humility.
About Simon Kjaer’s Relatives:
Since he rose to fame, sports lovers have asked questions about his grandfather and grandmother. However, their inquisition has received no positive response. Hence, there is no information about Simon Kjaer’s extended family when writing this bio.
Untold Facts:
To bring the Viking’s Life Story to an end, here are a few facts that would help you get a perfect understanding of his biography.
Simon Kjaer Religion:
During one of his interviews, the impermeable centre-back disclosed some interesting facts about his faith. Foremost, he is a Christian and belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran denomination.
We find it fascinating that Kjaer believes in superstitions. Here is what he said about his take on the subject:
“I believe in superstitions, but I do not practice it. Yes, the first sock I wear is always the right one, and I do this every morning not just before every game.”
Simon Kjaer FIFA Facts:
After comparing his overall rating with his potential, it is clear that Kjaer has reached the peak of his performance. He has undoubtedly established himself as a fierce wall that creates many difficulties for revered strikers. Here are his FIFA stats, which look very similar to that of Victor Lindelof.
Do you know?… Analysts have concluded that Kjaer is getting closer to the point of decline in his prowess. We hope he gets to put on a more astonishing performance before he completely takes a bow from soccer.
Simon Kjaer Tattoos:
The defender is deeply in love with body art. Yes, his years of experience have compelled him to use his body as a living journal to ink his sporting history.
Perhaps Andreas Christensen and Kasper Dolberg would have to learn about the beauty of tattoos from the Danish centre-back.
Conclusion:
There is no way Kjaer would have survived in the world of soccer without the help of his dad.
While people saw him as a regular kid with no footballing qualities, his family sensed an excellent player’s potential in him.
Thanks to their belief in his capabilities, Kjaer has accomplished a feat that only a few individuals can dream of.
It behoves us to commend his father and mother for their unconditional support in his career journey. Today, their only son has become a legend in the tales of Danish athletes.
We hope you enjoyed this exciting piece of Simon Kjaer’s Life Story and Biography Facts. Thank you for reading our article.