Hailing from Odense in Denmark, Erik Sorensen began with B1913, a club competing in the Danish amateur-only championship. Like many Scandinavian goalkeepers of his era, he was noted for his agility, sharp reflexes, and a calmness under pressure that belied his relatively young age. However, his talents were not destined to remain within the confines of Danish football. In June 1963, he made his debut for the Denmark national team, a significant achievement considering the country’s strict amateurism policy.
Nevertheless, as fate would have it, his international career was abruptly curtailed when he opted to turn professional. The Danish Football Association had no room for professionals in its national setup, and thus, Sorensen, like many of his compatriots seeking a higher level of competition and financial security, was effectively exiled from international football.
That decision, however, opened the door to Scotland, where Greenock Morton was in search of a reliable man between the sticks. Morton’s manager, Hal Stewart, had initially set his sights on another Danish goalkeeper, but after being advised to consider Sorensen instead, he took a gamble that would pay off handsomely.
From the outset, Sorensen’s arrival in Scotland was shrouded in intrigue. In a trial match against Third Lanark, he donned an all-black kit, an unusual choice for a goalkeeper at the time. Morton, keen to keep their new signing firmly under wraps, refused to disclose his identity.
Once he was officially unveiled, however, it became clear that Sørensen was no mere gimmick. He was an exceptional shot-stopper, commanding in his area and unafraid to impose himself on a game. His time at Morton from 1963 to 1967 saw him play 102 league games, and while Morton were not among Scotland’s elite, they had found in Sorensen a goalkeeper capable of producing performances that belied the club’s mid-table status.
His performances did not go unnoticed, and in 1967, he was transferred to Rangers for a fee of £25,000. Joining the Gers was a step up, not just in terms of the quality of the squad but also the weight of expectation. While he played 30 games for the club, his time at Ibrox was ultimately short-lived, and by 1970, he found himself returning to Morton, the club where he had made his name.
In many ways, his return to Cappielow was a testament to his affection for the club and perhaps an acknowledgment that, while Rangers offered the bright lights, Morton was where he truly belonged. Over two spells, he would rack up a total of 173 league appearances, solidifying his status as one of the club’s most reliable goalkeepers.
Then, in 1971, a significant shift occurred in Danish football. The country’s FA abolished its amateur-only policy, allowing professional players to represent the national team once more. This meant that Sørensen, after an eight-year absence, was once again eligible for Denmark. He made his international comeback in May 1971 and even managed to get a win over Scotland, a moment of sheer irony given his years spent in the Scottish game. His second spell with the national team, though brief, was a confirmation of his continuing ability, as he earned five more caps before drawing the curtain on his international career in June 1971.
By 1973, Sorensen’s playing days in Scotland were drawing to a close, but his connection to Morton did not end there. A brief foray into management saw him take charge of the club for a short spell in the mid-1970s. Like many ex-players transitioning into management, the step from the pitch to the dugout was not without its challenges, and while his time at the helm was limited, his association with the club remained strong.
Post-football, he remained in Greenock, running a public house—an occupation many ex-footballers of that era seemed to find themselves drawn to. And yet, the lure of the game was always there, and in the late 1970s, he briefly laced up his boots once more, turning out for Danish amateur side Svendborg. It was, perhaps, a final nod to the game which he had given so much to over the years.