Michael Vestergaard Knudsen (born 4 September 1978) is a Danish former team handball player. He is a European Champion, having won the 2008 European Men's Handball Championship with the Danish national handball team.[3] He received a bronze medal at the 2007 World Men's Handball Championship, where he was voted into the All-star-team (as Pivot). In 2011 he won a silver medal at the world championships, with Denmark losing to France in what was described as "the most thrilling World Championships final since decades".[4][5]
| Michael V. Knudsen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Michael Vestergaard Knudsen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 September 1978 Hobro, Denmark | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Danish | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Pivot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Bjerringbro-Silkeborg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 77 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior clubs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1997–2002 | Viborg HK | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2002–2004 | Skjern Håndbold | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2004–2005 | Viborg HK | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2005–2014 | SG Flensburg-Handewitt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014–2020 | Bjerringbro-Silkeborg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1999–2014 | Denmark | 244[1] | (796) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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At the 2006 European Men's Handball Championship he was number three on the top scoring list, and the Danish team received bronze medals, as they did in 2002 and 2004. Knudsen currently plays for Danish side Bjerringbro-Silkeborg. In 2014, he was part of the Danish team that won the silver medal at the European Championship.
At Olympic level, he has represented Denmark at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.[6]
He retired from Professional handball in 2021 during the corona pandemic. Today he works as sporting director at his former club Bjerringbro-Silkeborg.[7]
Honours
- Danish Championship:
Gold: 2016
