He started his career with hometown club Carlisle United, and also played for Crystal Palace, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers as well as a loan spell with Coventry City.

During the same season he also won his first piece of silverware as he came on late in extra time at Wembley for Carlisle's win against Colchester United in the 1997 Football League Trophy Final.

In the seasons after the accident he struggled to regain his place in the Blackburn side which led to him being loaned to Coventry City in 2003,[7] where he scored 2 goals in 9 appearances.

In May 2005, Jansen signed a two-year 'pay as you play' contract with Blackburn, suggesting that the club was ready to give him one final chance to establish himself in the team after his injury, and he returned to action in a pre-season friendly against Morecambe in July 2005.

[9] Two days after release by Blackburn he signed for Bolton Wanderers on a six-month contract,[10] amid interest from Everton, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic.

"[15] In November 2008, Blackburn announced that Jansen would return in a casual agreement to help regain fitness in a bid to have one last go at reclaiming the promising and glittering career he once had in professional football.

[16] On 18 February 2009, he joined League One club Huddersfield Town on trial and was given a run-out in their reserve match against Rotherham United the same day, in which he scored the opening goal of a 2–2 draw.

Jansen scored his first Chorley goal, an acrobatic scissor kick, against old club Bolton Wanderers in a 1–1 pre-season draw at Victory Park.

[26] He was also expected to go to the 2002 World Cup; he was invited to David Beckham's send-off party and had his competition suit measured, but Eriksson ultimately decided to take defender Martin Keown instead.

[27] Matt Jansen at the English National Football Archive (subscription required) Carlisle United Blackburn Rovers Individual