Johannes Gandil

Along with his prolific career as a footballer Denmark’s Johannes Gandil also had moderate success as a sprinter. Gandil played for three football clubs in København, starting his career with ØB, before moving to KB, and finishing his career with B.93. At the age of 20 Gandil was one of the co-founders of B.93 in 1893, with the club originally being formed as a cricket club. Two years after its formation football was added to the club’s programme with Gandil playing for the side for the rest of his career until 1909. During this time he played in 82 matches for the team and scored 81 goals. B.93 won the København Championship (“Københavnsmesterskabet i fodbold”) six times while Gandil played for them, with him being the Championship’s top goal scorer on seven occasions.

At the 1908 London Olympics Gandil played in his one and only match for the Danish national football team. After Denmark beat France B 9–0 in the opening round of the tournament Gandil played in the semi-final match, which saw the Danes thrash the France A side 17–1. Gandil was 35 years and 154 days old when he made his début for Denmark, a record that stood until goalkeeper Peter Kjær made his international début in April 2001 at the age of 35 years and 171 days.

Despite his career ending early due to an injury at the 1908 Olympics Gandil remained involved in football for the rest of his life. With B.93 he was a board member of the club for 49 years, becoming an honorary member in 1925. From 1923 to 1940 he sat on the board of the Danish Football Union (DBU). To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DBU Gandil was the editor of the Dansk Fodbold, a 700+ page book of the history of Danish football that was published in 1939.

As a track athlete Gandil competed in the 100 metres at the 1900 Paris Olympics but he did not progress out of his heat. He also ran in the non-medal 100 metres with a handicap and was scheduled to compete in the 400 metres but he did not start the race. A year before the Paris Olympics Gandil was the Scandinavian champion in the 100 metres and became the Danish champion in 1902.

Personal Best: 100 – unknown.