There's only one... Matt Jansen

The article was written by Vital Blackburn member Simon Garner Legend.

Full Name Matthew Jansen
Date of Birth 20th of October 1977
Pace of Birth Carlisle
Height 5ft 11"
Position Forward
Clubs Carlisle United, Crystal Palace, Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City (Loan), Bolton Wanderers.

Since the days of the championship winning side of 94/95 there have been few players if any that can be said to be a Blackburn legend, Matt Jansen is one of those players.

Starting his career at Carlisle his hometown club, he started making a name for himself scoring 10 goals in 36 appearances. In 1998 he joined Crystal Palace for £2.5 million after turning down the chance to join Manchester United; at Palace he scored 10 goals in 26 appearances. His form soon caught the eye of Blackburn, who were in dyer need of a good striker. Blackburn paid £4 million in 1999 for the promising England Under-21.

Jansen soon made an impact, scoring on his debut against Spurs. His goals though would not help Brian Kidd's side as Blackburn were relegated against Manchester United. On that sad night at Ewood, it wasn't just Uncle Jack who was in tears, Jansen was in Tears too as he spoke to fans in the stand, and for many I know who were at that game and saw Jansen, it made them love him more.

The 2000-01 season was a year to remember for Jansen, Blackburn gained promotion with the help of Jansen who scored 23 goals, winning the leagues golden boot. The most memorable being the header against Lancashire rivals Preston to win promotion.

Again Jansen was a star player for Rovers in the 2001-02 season scoring 16 goals in 29 appearances, with 5 goals being scored on route to the Carling Cup Final. In the final Jansen opened the scoring early on, the goal would prove vital as the game progressed as Tottenham pressed for the equaliser. Finally Spurs pressure paid off with a goal to equalise. But Andy Cole restored the lead late on, Rovers and Jansen went onto lift the Cup for the first time. Undoubtedly Jansen played a key role in Rovers cup victory from the earliest rounds of the cup.

After the cup final all good luck deserted Jansen as a series of incidents sent his career on a downward spiral. His good form during the season had granted him an England call up as a possible solution to left wing, only to fall ill just before England's friendly game with Paraguay.

Later in the summer more bad fortune struck, whilst on holiday in Rome Jansen nearly died in a moped accident, consequently he spent 4 days in a coma and was hospitalised for a great length of time.

The seasons following the accident would prove frustrating for Jansen who could not retain the form that had earned him and England call up. A loan spell at Coventry did little to help Jansen, with just 2 goals in 9 appearances.

Finally, Jansen was released by Blackburn in January 2006 after a lack of first team opportunities. After Blackburn he signed a 6-month deal with Bolton, but again Jansen could not regain his form and was released in the summer of 2006.
Currently Jansen has no club and is training with Bolton until he is ready to return to football.

In all Jansen scored 44 goals in 153 appearances for Blackburn, though his goals were a vital part of several campaigns, Jansen gave something more. He wore the badge with pride and what hurt Blackburn hurt him as can be seen when we were relegated. Jansen was a fans player, he embodied all virtues that Rovers fans respected, a famous phrase comes to mind which fits him perfectly, "Arte et Labore" meaning, By Skill and Labour. He was not just skilful he was also a worker and it was these virtues that endeared him to the fans and so makes him a Blackburn Legend.

The article was written by Vital Blackburn member Simon Garner Legend.

CLICK HERE - For Why You Should Sign Up To Vital Blackburn

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.