Did you know? The tightest ballot in the history of the Ballon d'Or dates back to the year 1977 with the coronation of the Danish Allan Simonsen before the English Kevin Keegan and Michel Platini, then a small phenomenon of AS Nancy-Lorraine! Simsen did not remain in the memories (our podcast Golazo Returns on five laureates who have fallen into oblivion), but he was the fairly exceptional right winger of Borussia Mönchengladbach.
1.65 m supersonic player, he made seasons at 25 or 29 goals with German training. In 1977, Simonsen led Gladbach in the final of the Champions Clubs Cup (the old name of the Champions League) and scored a superb goal against Liverpool. The Reds prevail 3-1, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, but Keegan, the LDC star striker, is therefore preceded by Simonsen during the Ballon d'Or rewarding the best European player of the year.
Allan Simonsen also marked the history of … Barça! Nicknamed The Bull (Le Taureau) in Germany, he became El Pequeño Gran Danes (the little Danes) by making the beautiful days of the Blaugranas. He left Catalonia with a cup cup (1982) and a king's cup (1981), pushed towards the exit by the arrival of Diego Maradona at Camp Nou.
A Golden Ball forgotten outside Denmark
His end of career is a difficult. He opts for Charlton, in English D2, in order to enjoy London life, and was breaks his leg by Yvon Le Roux, during France Denmark, at the Parc des Princes, during the first round of Euro 84.
Withdrawn from the Star System, especially since he was coach of the Faroeas and then of Luxembourg, Allan Simonsen remains an idol in his country. In 2013, he participated in the local version of Dance with stars (Vild Med in) and, despite his difficulties on the track, survives until the semi-finals. The only Danish golden ball is acclaimed in particular by SMS and the production of the TV show will then change the mode of votes.
