Soren Lerby’s Remarkable Dual Appearance: A Midfielder’s Unique Challenge

Soren Lerby, a distinguished midfielder, had an illustrious career playing for renowned clubs such as Ajax, Bayern Munich, Monaco, and PSV.

The often contentious debate between club commitments and national duties has led to friction for many players, yet Lerby uniquely harmonized both aspects of his career on a remarkable day.

On November 13, 1984, exactly 40 years ago, Lerby represented Denmark in Dublin during their final qualifier for the 1986 World Cup, while also being set to compete in a German Cup match for Bayern Munich later that evening in Bochum.

Denmark required only a draw to secure their spot in the finals in Mexico, prompting Bayern’s then-general manager, Uli Hoeness, to propose an ambitious plan. He suggested to Lerby, “Can you not ask [Danish coach Sepp] Piontek to let you play for 45 minutes, or perhaps even less? I can arrange for a private jet to take you to Bochum in the evening.”

Lerby, in peak physical condition, found the idea feasible. “I didn’t think it was too crazy at the time,” he told BBC Sport.

During that era, teams were permitted only two substitutions per match. By halftime in Dublin, the score was 1-1, and Lerby continued to play.

“Uli Hoeness was waiting on the sidelines as I emerged for the second half, asking, ‘What’s going on? The plane is ready!'” Lerby recalled, noting his concern over Hoeness’s growing impatience due to the costly flight waiting for them.

By the 57th minute, Denmark had taken a 3-1 lead, thanks to goals from Michael Laudrup and John Sivebaek, eventually winning the match 4-1. A minute later, Lerby made his exit to prepare for the next leg of his journey.

After a quick shower, despite Hoeness’s protests, Lerby set off to the airport accompanied by a police escort. The flight to Dusseldorf was seamless. However, the subsequent drive to Bochum’s stadium was anything but straightforward.

“The traffic was heavy, stretching three or four kilometers as the stadium is located within the city,” Lerby recalled. “I had to jump out of the car and sprint four kilometers to the dressing room, which served as a good warm-up.”

Despite his efforts, Lerby found himself cooling his heels on the bench when Bayern’s coach Udo Lattek had already finalized the starting lineup.

“I was very disappointed because I wanted to start the game. Instead, I came in at halftime, and the score was 2-2, leading to extra time.”

Lerby ultimately scored in the replay, contributing to Bayern’s 2-0 victory, which secured them a cup final showdown against Stuttgart, where they triumphed.

Reflecting on this extraordinary achievement, Lerby remained humble. “I remember sitting in a bar after the match in Bochum, enjoying a beer and thinking to myself, ‘That was a good job.’ But I didn’t perceive it as a monumental achievement.”

He continued, “In our era, there was often chaos, with many players facing similar dilemmas of representing both their clubs and national teams.”

Almost two years later, Hoeness orchestrated a similar arrangement for Mark Hughes, who played for Wales while also appearing for Bayern on the same day. Whether Hughes received any bonuses for his efforts remains uncertain, a fact Lerby humorously suggested he might raise with Hoeness during their next meeting.

“I will definitely bring it up next time, that’s for sure! I’ll tell him, ‘You missed out on something, Uli!'”

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