Henning Boel

Henning Boel

Personal information
Full name	Henning Boel
Date of birth	(1945-08-15) 15 August 1945
Place of birth	Ikast, Denmark
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Ikast FS
1968	Boston Beacons	3	(0)
1968	Washington Whips	15	(0)
1969–1972	Aberdeen	105	(2)
1974–1975	Boston Minutemen	27	(1)
	Ikast FS
Total		150	(3)
International career
1965–1966	Denmark u-21	5	(0)
1966–1971	Denmark	15	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Henning Boel (born 15 August 1945) is a Danish former football player, who played professionally in the United States and Scotland. He most notably won the 1970 Scottish Cup with Aberdeen, and was inducted into the Aberdeen FC "Hall of Fame" as one of the founding members in 2003. Boel also played 15 games for the Danish national team.

Playing career

Boel began his footballing career, playing as a defender, for amateur club Ikast FS in his childhood town of Ikast. While at Ikast, Boel became a regular in the Danish national team, earning five Under-21 caps and 13 of his 15 full caps from 1965 to 1967. When the professional North American Soccer League was founded in 1968, Boel moved to the US, playing three games for Boston Beacons, then fifteen for the Washington Whips. As the Danish FA had a strict rule of amateurism for the Danish national team, Boel was automatically barred from playing any further national team games.

He was recruited by Scottish team Aberdeen in early 1969, having been spotted during the club's tour of the US the previous summer. During his time in Aberdeen, Boel became a favourite of the Scottish team's fans, and was a part of the Aberdeen team which won the 1969–70 Scottish Cup trophy, beating Celtic 3–1 in the final, which he himself feels is his greatest footballing achievement.

Boel resumed his international career, albeit briefly, in 1971. When the Danish rule of amateurism was abolished in May 1971, Boel was a part of the first Danish national team composed of professional players. The Danish team lost 0–5 to Portugal, and Boel played his 15th and last national team game as Denmark lost 1–2 to Belgium two weeks later. An injury sustained in a UEFA Cup tie against Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1972 signalled the end of his time in Scotland as he found it difficult to regain his place in the Aberdeen side.

Having recovered from his injury, Boel returned to the Boston area after his time at Aberdeen. He went on to play for the Boston Minutemen from 1974 to 1975. He later served as public relations representative and manager for the New England Tea Men. He finished his career where it started, back in Denmark with Ikast. Following his retirement from the game, he worked in the sports equipment and the telecommunications industries.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Boston Beacons	1968	NASL	3	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0
	Total		3	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0
Washington Whips	1968	NASL	15	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	15	0
	Total		15	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	15	0
Aberdeen	1968-69	Scottish Division One	15	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
	1969-70		28	0	5	0	7	0	0	0	40	0
	1970-71		34	2	4	1	5	1	2	0	45	4
	1971-72		14	0	1	0	5	0	2	0	22	0
	1972-73		7	0	0	0	4	0	2	0	13	0
	1973-74		7	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	9	0
	Total		105	2	17	1	22	1	6	0	150	4
Boston Minutemen	1974	NASL	10	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	10	1
	1975		17	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	17	0
	Total		27	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	27	1
Career total			150	3	17	1	22	1	6	0	195	5

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Denmark	1966	6	0
	1967	7	0
	1968	—
	1969	—
	1970	—
	1971	2	0
Total		15	0

External links

• Henning Boel national team profile at the Danish Football Association (in Danish)
• NASL stats