Lasse Schöne (Danish pronunciation: [ˈlæsə ˈɕøːnə]; born 27 May 1986) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder and captains for Eredivisie club NEC. A versatile player, Schöne has been deployed as a box-to-box midfielder, holding midfielder or winger in his career. He is known for his set piece abilities.

Lasse Schöne
Schöne training with Denmark in 2014
Personal information
Full name Lasse Schöne[1][2]
Date of birth (1986-05-27) 27 May 1986 (age 38)[3]
Place of birth Glostrup, Denmark
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
NEC
Number 20
Youth career
Himmelev-Veddelev
Tåstrup B.70
0000–2002 Lyngby
2002–2005 Heerenveen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Heerenveen 0 (0)
2006–2008 De Graafschap 70 (12)
2008–2012 NEC 107 (24)
2012–2019 Ajax 201 (49)
2019–2021 Genoa 32 (2)
2021 Heerenveen 12 (1)
2021– NEC 89 (4)
International career
2001 Denmark U16 3 (1)
2002–2003 Denmark U17 6 (0)
2003–2004 Denmark U18 4 (1)
2007–2008 Denmark U21 9 (1)
2009–2021 Denmark 51 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 August 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 March 2021

Schöne spent his entire professional career in the Netherlands, with Heerenveen, De Graafschap, NEC and Ajax, before moving to Genoa in Italy in 2019. During his time in the Netherlands, he scored 85 league goals.

Schöne scored on his full international debut in 2009 and was part of the Danish squad at UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

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De Graafschap

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Born in Glostrup, Schöne began playing youth football with Himmelev-Veddelev BK and moved on to Tåstrup B.70 and then Lyngby. In 2002, he moved to the youth team of Eredivisie club Heerenveen. He spent four years with the team without playing any league matches then moved to Eerste Divisie club De Graafschap in 2006. In his first season, he helped De Graafschap win promotion to the Eredivisie. In his two seasons with De Graafschap, he scored 12 goals in 70 matches.

Schöne signed for NEC in summer 2008. He scored the winning goal for NEC away at Spartak Moscow in December 2008, which sent the team through to the next round of the UEFA Cup. The club and the fans picked him as NEC's player of the year, a title he also won at his previous club, De Graafschap.[citation needed]

Ajax

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On 18 April 2012, Schöne joined Ajax on a contract valid until 2015.[4][5] A number of other Danish players had played for Ajax, including Michael Laudrup, who had been a role model for him throughout his career.[6] The club and the fans picked him as the player of the year in 2014.[7] On 2 March 2015, he signed a new contract lasting until summer 2017, and on 22 February 2017, he signed a new contract lasting until summer 2019. On 27 February 2019, he became the international player with the most games played for Ajax, by surpassing Søren Lerby's 269 games.[8]

On 5 March 2019, in the UEFA Champions League, Schöne scored Ajax's final goal of the Round of 16-second leg against Real Madrid, by converting a direct free kick that went past the Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The victory completed a surprise comeback, the Dutch side winning 4–1 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and 5–3 on aggregate to knock the European Champions out of the Champions League.[9]

Genoa

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On 9 August 2019, Schöne joined Serie A club Genoa on a two-year contract.[10] The reported fee was €1.5 million.[11] He scored his first goal giving the lead in an eventual 2–1 loss against Milan. In the same match, he also missed a 90th-minute penalty kick.

In October 2020, the former Ajax star discovered he was effectively frozen out of the first Genoa team, as he cannot be selected for Serie A football without being named on their list of eligible players. He and his agent were not happy with this and planned to take legal action, saying that cases similar to this have already been analyzed by FIFA and the CAS.[12] He was not part of new coach Rolando Maran’s plans and was told he could terminate his contract early by mutual consent to leave as a free agent. Schone was one of the 17 Genoa players who was diagnosed with COVID-19 and a transfer seemed far away in the final days of the window due to his COVID status, as well as the fact that both he and his agent did not know that he was left off the list of eligible players for the Genoa first team.[13][12] On 7 January 2021, his contract was terminated.[14]

Heerenveen

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On 11 February 2021, it was announced that Schöne had signed with Heerenveen on a six-month contract, returning to the club where he played between 2002 and 2006. Schöne had hoped for a return to the Denmark national team to compete in UEFA Euro 2020, but ultimately, he did not receive a call-up.[15][16]

He made his return debut for the club on 14 February 2021, scoring Heerenveen's only goal in a 3–1 away loss to AZ.[17] In fourteen total appearances for the club, he scored the one goal as the club finished in a disappointing twelfth place in the league table.[18][19]

Return to NEC

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On 9 June 2021, it was announced that Schöne had returned to recently promoted NEC, signing a two-year contract, until the summer of 2023.[20] He made his return debut for NEC on 14 August, starting in a 5–0 opening matchday loss to his fellow former club, Ajax.[21] His first goal back came on 23 January 2022, opening the score in a 4–1 home loss to Feyenoord.[22]

On 15 December 2023, Schöne made his 433rd Eredivisie appearance, making him the highest-appearing non-Dutchman in the league's history.[23]

International career

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Youth

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Schöne began his international career with the Denmark national under-16 team, scoring a goal on his debut in August 2001. He played a total of ten matches and scored one goal for the under-17 and under-18 teams from July 2002 to March 2004. After joining De Graafschap, Schöne made his debut for the under-21 team in March 2007. He played a total of nine matches and scored one goal for the under-21s until October 2008.

Senior

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On 12 August 2009, on his debut for the Denmark senior team in a friendly against Chile, Schöne scored less than a minute after being put into action in the second half. The goal was the equalizer in an eventual 1–2 loss at the Brøndby Stadium.

He was unable to play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa because of a knee injury,[24] but did appear for Denmark at Euro 2012.

In 2018 he was named in Denmark's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[25] He played in three matches, starting in one, but did not score.[26]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 10 August 2024[27]
 
Schöne lining up for Ajax in March 2015
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Heerenveen 2005–06 Eredivisie 0 0 0 0 0 0
De Graafschap 2006–07 Eerste Divisie 36 5 2 1 38 6
2007–08 Eredivisie 34 7 2 3 36 10
Total 70 12 4 4 0 0 0 0 74 16
NEC 2008–09 Eredivisie 34 6 4 4 7[a] 1 45 11
2009–10 Eredivisie 5 0 0 0 5 0
2010–11 Eredivisie 34 7 1 1 35 8
2011–12 Eredivisie 34 11 4 2 2[b] 1 40 14
Total 107 24 9 7 7 1 2 1 125 33
Ajax 2012–13 Eredivisie 32 6 4 1 7[c] 0 1[d] 0 44 7
2013–14 Eredivisie 29 9 5 3 6[e] 2 1[d] 0 41 14
2014–15 Eredivisie 29 8 0 0 8[f] 3 1[d] 0 38 11
2015–16 Eredivisie 24 4 2 0 7[g] 1 0 0 33 5
2016–17 Eredivisie 27 7 2 1 14[h] 1 0 0 43 9
2017–18 Eredivisie 30 10 2 0 4[i] 1 0 0 36 11
2018–19 Eredivisie 30 5 4 0 17[e] 2 0 0 51 7
2019–20 Eredivisie 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[d] 0 1 0
Total 201 49 19 5 63 10 4 0 287 64
Jong Ajax 2013–14 Eerste Divisie 1 0 1 0
Genoa 2019–20 Serie A 32 2 2 1 34 3
2020–21 Serie A 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 32 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 34 3
Heerenveen 2020–21 Eredivisie 12 1 2 0 14 1
NEC 2021–22 Eredivisie 33 2 2 0 35 2
2022–23 Eredivisie 32 1 2 0 34 1
2023–24 Eredivisie 23 1 3 0 1[b] 0 27 1
2024–25 Eredivisie 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 89 4 7 0 1 0 97 4
Career total 512 92 43 17 70 11 7 1 632 121
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Eredivisie European play-offs
  3. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b c d Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield
  5. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ Six appearances and three goals in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  8. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, twelve appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  9. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League

International

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Schöne playing for Denmark in 2012
As of 28 March 2021[28]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Denmark 2009 1 1
2010 1 0
2011 6 1
2012 5 0
2013 3 0
2014 4 1
2015 2 0
2016 5 0
2017 5 0
2018 11 0
2019 7 0
2020 0 0
2021 1 0
Total 51 3
Scores and results list Denmark's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Schöne goal.
List of international goals scored by Lasse Schöne
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 August 2009 Brøndby Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark   Chile 1–1 1–2 Friendly
2 4 June 2011 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland   Iceland 0–1 0–2 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group H
3 22 May 2014 Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen, Hungary   Hungary 2–2 2–2 Friendly

Honours

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De Graafschap[29]

Ajax[29]

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Landsholdsdatabase – spillerinformation: Lasse Schöne". dbu.dk. Danish FA. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  2. ^ Kraul, Andreas. "Fodboldmagasinet – DR (status update)". Facebook (in Danish). Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Lasse Schöne". Eredivisie. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Official: Ajax announce Schone capture". Goal.com. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Ajax snap up Schone". SkySports. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Denmark midfielder Schøne to shine at Ajax by Berend Scholten". UEFA.com. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Lasse Schöne årets spiller i Ajax". Bold.dk (in Danish). 3 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Lasse Schöne nieuwe recordhouder Ajax; mijlpaal voor Matthijs de Ligt". Voetbalzone (in Dutch). 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Dusan Tadic inspires Ajax to stunning defeat of champions Real Madrid". The Guardian. 5 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Official: Schone signs for Genoa". Football Italia. 9 August 2019.
  11. ^ FSA Editor. "Ajax lose Lasse Schone to Genoa". Fox Sports Asia. Retrieved 9 August 2019. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ a b "Official: Schone agent: 'Legal action against Genoa'". Football Italia. 10 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Official: Genoa freeze Schone out". Football Italia. 7 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Schone terminates contract with Genoa". Football Italia. 7 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Schöne wil via SC Heerenveen naar het EK". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 11 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  16. ^ "26 spillere klar til EM for Danmark". DBU (in Danish). 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  17. ^ Busken, Roy van den. "AZ is Heerenveen de baas". NPO Radio 1 (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  18. ^ Lasse Schöne at Soccerway
  19. ^ Kalteren, Bert (12 August 2021). "Heerenveen werd vorig jaar slechts twaalfde in de eredivisie. Dit jaar wil de club, het liefst mét Joey Veerman, op een hogere plek eindigen". Friesch Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Lasse Schöne keert terug bij N.E.C." N.E.C. (Press release) (in Dutch). 9 June 2021. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  21. ^ Bijma, Jeroen (14 August 2021). "NEC beleeft pijnlijke rentree in eredivisie en verliest kansloos met 5-0 van Ajax". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Feyenoord na rust freewheelend langs NEC: 4-1". NOS (in Dutch). 23 January 2022. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Schöne pakt record voor meeste wedstrijden als buitenlander in de Eredivisie". Voetbalnieuws (in Dutch). 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Lasse Schone". 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. FIFA. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists". Goal.com. 4 June 2018.
  26. ^ "#20 Lasse Schone". Fox Sports Soccer. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  27. ^ "Lasse Schöne – Voetbal International profile". Voetbal International.
  28. ^ "Lasse Schöne". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  29. ^ a b "Lasse Schöne - Career Honours". Soccerway.
  30. ^ "2016/17: United win it for Manchester". UEFA. 30 May 2017.
  31. ^ "Schöne: 'De goal van mijn carrière'". Ajax. 5 March 2020. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021.
  32. ^ "Frenkie de Jong Eredivisie Player of the Season 2018/2019". Eredivisie. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
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