Dan Thomassen

Dan Thomassen

Personal information
Full name	Dan Vesterby Thomassen
Date of birth	(1981-03-24) 24 March 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth	Aarhus, Denmark
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Lecce (assistant)
Youth career
199?–1994	IHF Aarhus
1994–1998	AGF
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2004	Padova	87	(0)
2004–2007	Copenhagen	55	(3)
2007–2008	Vålerenga	21	(1)
2008–2011	AGF	55	(3)
2011	Ravenna	0	(0)
2011–2012	Triestina	20	(0)
2012–2014	Este	61	(1)
2014	Campodarsego	0	(0)
2014–2015	Padova	15	(0)
2015–2016	Abano	34	(2)
2016	Vigontina San Paolo	7	(0)
2017–2018	Albignasego
International career
1997	Denmark U17	9	(0)
1998–2000	Denmark U19	11	(0)
2002	Denmark U20	6	(0)
2002–2003	Denmark U21	15	(1)
Managerial career
2023	Vicenza
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dan Vesterby Thomassen (born 24 March 1981) is a Danish former professional footballer and current coach, currently working as the assistant coach of Luca Gotti at Lecce. He has played for Danish Superliga side AGF Aarhus, Norwegian side Vålerenga and Danish champions Copenhagen.

Playing career

Thomassen came to FCK from Calcio Padova where he played for five years. In his youth years, he played in AGF.

He signed for Vålerenga IF on 1 July 2007.

Since he signed with AGF in 2008, he has been dealing with many injuries, which meant that he missed some vital matches for his team.[1]

He moved back to Italy in 2011 and retired in 2018.

Coaching career

After retiring from active football, Thomassen took on a career as a youth coach, joining Vicenza, and being appointed in charge of the Under-19 team in 2022.

On 16 March 2023, following the dismissal of Francesco Modesto, he was promoted to head coach of Vicenza in the Serie C league for the remainder of the season.[2] Just a month later, on 11 April 2023, he guided Vicenza to win the Coppa Italia Serie C after defeating Juventus F.C. Next Gen in a two-legged final.[3]

In July 2023, Thomassen was announced as the new assistant coach of Brescia, working alongside his brother-in-law, head coach Daniele Gastaldello.[4] Both Gastaldello and Thomassen were dismissed from their roles on 10 November 2023, following a negative string of results in the Serie B league.[5]

In March 2024, following the appointment of Luca Gotti in charge of Serie A relegation-fighting club Lecce, Thomassen joined the Giallorossi from Salento as their new assistant coach.[6]

Personal life

Thomassen is currently residing in Padua, and is married to Michela Gastaldello, sister of Italian professional football coach and former player Daniele Gastaldello.[7]

Honours

Player

Copenhagen

• 2005–06, 2006–07: Champions

Padova

• 2000–01 Serie C2: Champions
• 2014–15 Serie D: Champions

Manager

Vicenza

• Coppa Italia Serie C: 2022–23

References

1. Hindby Koszyczarek, Eva Kristina (21 April 2009). "Dan Thomassen: Det har ikke været let". Aarhus Portalen. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
2. "Vicenza, arriva l'esonero di Modesto. Vesterby Thomassen il nuovo tecnico" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
3. "Il Vicenza vince la Coppa Italia di Lega Pro: 3-2 alla Juve Next Gen" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 11 April 2023.
4. "Mercato L.R. Vicenza: Thomassen è il nuovo vice allenatore del Brescia" (in Italian). Biancorossi.net. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
5. "COMUNICATO DEL CLUB" (in Italian). Brescia Calcio. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
6. "La difesa del Lecce in mano a un danese: con Gotti c'è Dan Thomassen". CalcioLecce.it. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
7. "Chi è Dan Thomassen, l'allenatore del Vicenza che ha vinto la Coppa Italia Serie C" (in Italian). La Casa di C.

External links

• Dan Thomassen at TuttoCalciatori.net (in Italian)
• Dan Thomassen national team profile at the Danish Football Association (in Danish)
• Dan Thomassen official Danish Superliga statistics at danskfodbold.com (in Danish)