A famous player from the early days of football in Denmark, Nils Middelboe also took charge of friendly (most national team matches were friendlies in those days) matches as a referee.

Olympics

Though born in Sweden and still officially a Swede in 1908, Nils Middelboe won two silver medals with the Danish national team at the Olympic tournaments, twice losing against Great Britain in 1908 and 1912. As an athlete in the 19th century he won many Danish Championship medals.

Nils Middelboe was a very good player and made it to London to become Chelsea's first foreign player. Middelboe, working for a bank, stayed amateur amidst professionals.

Nils Middelboe died in 1976.