Born in Frederiksberg,[7] Hansen started his career with Copenhagen club BK Frem in the amateur-only Danish league.

[2] Hansen made his debut for the Danish national team in June 1948,[4] and scored three goals in his first two international games.

He signed a professional contract in late 1948, which spelled the end of his career in the amateur-only Danish national team following eight games and 10 goals in the span of four months.

Hansen's first season did not start well for a tall and strong man not used to work on defense, and after 12 games the Italy national team coach was called just to verify that he was the same player who had scored the four goals against them at the Olympics.

[3] In his second season, Jesse Carver replaced fellow Englishman William Chalmers as head coach of Juventus, and a less rigid and physically demanding training schedule paid off for Hansen.

During his ban from playing football in 1956 and 1957, Hansen coached BK Frem alongside Erling Sørensen.

At the same time he agreed a one-year deal to replace Erik Hansen as part-time tactical coach of the national team, where he worked in tandem with physical trainer Henry From.

When the year was up, Hansen refused to prolong the arrangement, urging the Football Association to hire a full-time national team coach.