Hull City vs Bolton Wanderers: Played For Both Clubs - Henrik Pedersen

Ahead of tonight’s trip to Hull here’s a look at the career of Wanderers fan favourite and the winner of best celebration ever, Henrik Pedersen.

Henrik ‘The Carpenter’ Pedersen, born 10th June 1975, began his career with Danish side Silkeborg IF in 1995. Pedersen spent six years with Silkeborg during his first spell with the club, helping the side win the 2001 Danish Cup. Pedersen also made his debut for the Danish national side whilst at Silkeborg, going on to play four times for his country.

With an impressive 62 goals in 122 games, Pedersen soon attracted the attention of several top European sides, most notably Borussia Dortmund. But it was our beloved Bolton Wanderers, back in the Premier League after a four year absence, who won the race to sign Pedersen for £650,000.

Pedersen didn’t get off to the best start in his debut season in England. After scoring just twice in fifteen games, Pedersen was loaned back to Silkeborg towards the end of the 2001/2002 season to help with their relegation battle.

Luckily for Wanderers, Pedersen returned reinvigorated. For the next five years, Henrik Pedersen remained an important player in Big Sam’s overachieving Wanderers. He may not have been the most high profile player in the side, but you couldn’t fault his drive and work ethic.

Henrik Pedersen had plenty of memorable moments in a Bolton Wanderers shirt.

Pedersen scored 29 goals for Wanderers, including a brace against Leeds United at Elland Road in a 4-2 win for Wanderers, a dramatic late equaliser against Arsenal during their invincible season and a spectacular goal from near the corner flag against Newcastle United.

He helped Bolton qualify twice for the UEFA Cup, played anywhere from striker to left back and was once dubbed the fastest player in the team.

Also, let’s not forget his iconic peacock celebration.

Pedersen departed Wanderers in 2007 and signed for Championship side Hull City on a free transfer, reuniting with former Wanderers assistant Phil Brown and later on in the season, Jay-Jay Okocha.

In his one year at the KC Stadium, Pedersen scored four times in twenty-two games as Hull were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in the history of the club.

Despite signing a two year deal with Hull, Pedersen departed after just one to return back to Denmark to re-sign for Silkeborg.

Pedersen would remain at Silkeborg for four years until his retirement in 2012 at the age of 37. In three seperate spells with Silkeborg, Henrik Pedersen scored 96 goals in 270 games and is currently Silkeborg’s all time top goalscorer.

After his retirement, Pedersen now runs a pub in Silkeborg called Sportspubben Målet, which translates as ‘The Goal’.