born in fårvang near silkeborg, laursen started playing football with local amateur club horn/fårvang if. he started his senior career with nearby top-flight club silkeborg if in the danish superliga championship. laursen made his silkeborg debut in october 1995, under silkeborg manager preben elkjær. laursen helped steer silkeborg to second place in the 1997–98 superliga season, under new silkeborg manager sepp piontek, as he played 22 games and scored one goal during that season. laursen played 35 games and scored one goal for silkeborg in the superliga from his debut until his last game in june 1998.