Stig Tøfting is the very definition of a football rogue. His life story is filled with tragedy and controversy. Throw in some Hells Angels and a boxing bout with the guy who sang ‘Barbie Girl’ and it becomes unbelievable.
Tøfting became an orphan at the age of thirteen and the troubling story of how his parents died was kept a closely guarded private matter. He became known on the pitch early in his career as the ‘lawn-mower’ due to his ‘covers every blade of grass’ approach.
Stig had become befriended by a group of local Hells Angels whilst he was growing up in Aarhus. He was mixing in the wrong circles from an early age. Speculation would continue to surround the tough midfielder’s off-field associations throughout his career. Controversy followed the stocky midfielder whilst at German side Duisburg. He was found guilty of an assault during an end of season holiday and was given a 20-month suspended jail sentence. It would not be his last brush with the law.
During the build-up to the 2002 World Cup, a Danish magazine ran an article which told the story of how Tøfting’s parents died. At the age of thirteen, Tøfting returned home from school one day to find both his parents dead. His father had shot and killed his mother before turning the gun on himself. A horrific scene for anyone to bear witness to, let alone a child finding his parents this way.
Despite winning a tough World Cup group including reigning Champions France, Denmark fell in the last-16 to England. Once they returned home, the Danish squad enjoyed an end-of-tournament night out in Copenhagen. Tøfting was involved in an altercation whilst the players partied in the city’s Café Ketchup. The player headbutted the manager of the Café. He stood trial that year, was found guilty of assault and was given a four-month jail term.
He returned later in his career to home-town club AGF for a fourth spell with them. He was charged in relation to a road-rage incident whilst there and was eventually sacked by AGF following another incident at a Christmas party.
Tøfting has spent his time since his retirement in as colourful a manner as during his playing career. He followed a short-lived coaching career with a foray into the celebrity boxing world. After defeating a Danish reality-television star in his first bout, the ‘lawn-mower’ found himself on a big-time boxing bill. He faced up against singer Rene Dif of the band Aqua, famous for their song Barbie Girl. The fight incredibly found its way to the undercard of an Evander Holyfield heavyweight title fight. Tøfting won the bout, ending his impromptu boxing career with a perfect record of two wins from two bouts.
There was controversy, tragedy and many colourful tales surrounding Stig Tøfting. He is currently plying his trade as a pundit on Danish television. His infectious style of all-action, tough tackling play endeared him to fans. His fierce reputation and biker tattoo’s intimidated opposition players. Tøfting played in a fashion summed up by the huge tattoo scrawled across his stocky torso; ‘No Regrets.’