Career
Born in Copenhagen, Hansen started playing with local clubs KFUM"s Boldklub and Akademisk Boldklub (Bachelor of Arts). He was a hard working defensive midfielder, physically imposing with a great stamina, but also an elegant player on and off the field Even in his first international years, Ivan Jensen was known for his poor technique, and he and Bachelor of Arts teammate Egon Mathiesen would practice for hours on end, before Jensen had taught himself a sufficient technique.
Jensen signed a professional contract in 1949, and was excluded from further games with the amateur-only Danish national team
He moved abroad to play professionally for Italian club Bologna Football Club in the Serie A championship. He quickly gained popularity in Bolgona, and was asked to recommend another Danish player for the club
He chose fellow Danish international Axel Pilmark, who was then signed. Jensen continued his technique training with Pilmark, now learning from one of the finest technicians of the game.
The two complemented each other perfectly in the Bologna midfield, with Jensen the defensive anchor supporting Pilmark"s offensive playmaking passes.
Ivan Jensen would even drop down into the Bologna back three, in effect transforming Bologna"s formation into an elastic 4-3-3, many years ahead of its time. Jensen spent seven seasons with Bologna, playing 180 games and scoring one goal in Serie A before he retired in 1956. Jensen was an educated teacher, and attended several courses in Roman history at the University of Bologna during his time in Bologna.
When he ended his playing career, he became a teacher in Gladsaxe.
He studied at the University of Copenhagen, and became a gymnasium teacher in Lyngby. He continued playing amateur football until above the age of 70, and wrote a number of books on football.
He died on January 26, 2009, in Vedbæk. Danish championships: 1943, 1945, 1947.