AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC welcomed a special visitor to the club when globetrotting Jens Olsen walked through the clubroom doors on Sunday.
Olsen has travelled the world watching his favourite sport of football - New Zealand was the 70th country on that journey.
The 54-year-old Olsen has racked up an impressive list of nations in his pursuit of watching football with the Navy Blues clash with Hamilton Wanderers the latest.
Olsen, who is from Chemnitz, Germany, arrived at Kiwitea Street for the match with friends and family including Nick and Heidi Schindler, Bernd Lomis and Franz Becht.
"I've been to football matches in this part of the world before - in 2002, I watched Northern Spirit play Sydney United in Australia.
MILESTONE - Jens Olsen notches 70 countries
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) February 17, 2019
Football fan Olsen, Franz Becht, Heidi Schindler, Bernd Schindler & Bernd Lormis visited Kiwitea Street for Jen's 70th match abroad.
50 - @BocaJrsOficial v @CARCoficial
60 - Georgia v Russia
70 - @AucklandCity_FC v HamWanderers pic.twitter.com/WY0BW0rnXc
"My sixtieth match was Georgia against Russia and the half-century was reached in Argentina where I saw Boca Juniors play Rosario Central," Olsen told www.aucklandcityfc.com.
While Olsen somehow finds time to admire Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany's Bundesliga he recounts the last international match he saw with pride.
"My last match was in the UEFA Nations League where I saw Israel play Scotland. Israel won the game 2-1," he said.
Auckland City FC chairman Ivan Vuksich said hosting Jens and his friends was a privilege for the club.
"On behalf of everyone at Auckland City FC I want to extend congratulations to Jens for bringing up his 70th country in a fascinating journey watching football.
"Jen's commitment to the game and his obvious passion for it is an inspiration to any football fan," he said.
Ends
Fri 24 May 2024, AS Pirae, Stade Pater, Tahiti, 6pm local
Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | WS | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 11 | 25 | |
2 | AC | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 8 | 24 | |
3 | BU | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 10 | 22 | |
4 | ES | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 12 | 19 | |
5 | AU | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 13 | 16 | |
6 | TC | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 23 | 16 | |
7 | BO | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 19 | 19 | 15 | |
8 | MN | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 19 | 14 | |
9 | WR | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 26 | 6 | |
10 | MU | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 36 | 6 | |
11 | EB | 10 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 4 | |
12 | HW | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 30 | 2 |