Sixteen years ago, on his 18th birthday, a certain Michael Laudrup became Brøndby IF's first Danish international.

Laudrup finally hung up his boots after the World Cup this summer and a career of some distinction. It is a measure of Brøndby's progress since Laudrup's early days that some 30 players have now represented their country. Among them are current keeper Mogens Krogh, defender Søren Colding and midfielder Ole Bjur.

Laudrup's goals guided the club to its first Danish title in 1985 and seven further championships followed, to make them the pre-eminent club in Danish football.

And now they have another rising star who could yet write his name in European football history - Ebbe Sand.

Sand doesn't hang around. Denmark's golden boot and player of the year made an instant impact in the World Cup second-round game against Nigeria. He was on the field only 22 seconds as a sub when he took a flick from Laudrup, no less, flicked the ball past Okechukwu, knocked it past Taribo West and then volleyed into the net.

Little wonder Sand has been tracked by a host of leading European clubs.

And the real fear at Brøndby has been that their failure to qualify for the Champions' League would mean Sand's early departure.

That's why Jesper Thygesen's injury- time second goal at Kosice in the first leg of their qualifying-round clash was so important. Until then, they had been clinging on to a solitary strike from Kim Daugaard after 54 minutes. A second away goal against a side that reached the League stage last season put Brøndby in the driving seat for the return.

Kosice were whipping boys last season in a group that featured European giants Juventus and Manchester United. Brøndby , who must play United and old boy Peter Schnielchel, aim to show they have the talent in depth to do better.

Yet last season they failed to reach the League stage. They were unfortunate to run into a Dinamo Kiev side bang in form for the qualifiers. The Danes were beaten 4-2 in the home leg and a battling 1-0 win in the Ukraine, while encouraging, was well short of what they required. That, naturally, was a huge disappointment for coach Ebbe Skovdahl and his players after a second successive championship win.

It says a lot for the team's character and Skovdahl's powers of motivation that the club went on to lift themselves to compelete a hat-trick of Danish crowns.

Last year they ran away with the title, having beaten closest rivals Silkeborg thanks largely to long-striding Sand's goals.

Brøndby has made giant strides off the field, too, with facilities to rival many bigger European clubs. In 1990 they created the GildhøjCentret complex, with hotel, health centre physio unit and club offices. The centre has been used by the national team.

Club president Per Bjerregaard, who took control in 1973 from former Brondby mayor Kjeld Rasmussen, has created an organisation that seem sure to keep the club at the top of the domestic football tree.

Achieving broader success will be more difficult, with so many talented young Danes too easily tempted away to lucrative foreign pastures - a path Sand may be tempted to follow in the not too distant future. In some ways it was sad that Laudrup didn't decide to stall his retirement and return for one more season at Brøndby. In the meantime, Sand has the ideal shop window for his talents. Brøndby reached the last eight of the Champions' Cup in 1987 but they are, on balance, Unlikely to ready such heady heights this time.

Taken from "Champions, Issue 1, 1998, alliance international media"

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