Norway: The next generation
As the international transfer window slams shut, relatively few players will have left the Tippeliga to seek pastures new. Vålerenga striker Mohammed ”Moa” Abdellaoue joined Hannover 96 for a fee of about £1million, Molde’s left wing-back Knut Olav Rindarøy has moved to Deportivo La Coruña on a season-long loan, while Rosenborg centre-back Vadim Demidov has signed a pre-contract with Real Sociedad and will join the Basque outfit in January on a Bosman free.
Elsewhere, another Rosenborg player, namely Swedish right-back Mikal Lustig, has been linked to a move to Serie A with Lecce, while a formerly hot transfer target such as Brann forward Erik Huseklepp has shown little or nothing domestically this season to attract potential new employers abroad (although he may have set their pulses racing with his brace against France in the recent friendly). Even the league’s by far most accomplished player, Ghanaian World Cup hero Anthony Annan, remains marooned in Trondheim, the move to France or Italy which seemed inevitable a month ago so far having failed to materialise.
A notable development of recent transfer windows has been the lack of interest shown in Tippeliga players from English clubs. (Fulham were among Moa’s suitors, but never tabled a formal offer, and apart from that it’s been quiet.) The truth is that the last successful transfer directly from Norway to the Premier League was Morten Gamst Pedersen’s to Blackburn in 2004. Brede Hangeland arrived in London via Copenhagen, Daniel Braathen was an abject failure at Bolton (although he’s now doing well in France) and Hangeland’s club-mate Bjørn Helge Riise is on the substitute’s bench at best. Although England remains the dream destination for most Norwegians, the young prospects listed in the talent guide below may have to learn to harbour more flexible ambitions.
Last time, I gave a fairly thorough presentation of Vålerenga midfielder Harmeet Singh: today I’ll profile nine more Tippeliga youngsters who may have an impact on European football over the next decade. The players have been chosen by the following criteria: they must be born in 1987 or later, they must be eligible to play for the Norwegian national team and they must presently be playing club football in Norway. That’s it. Here goes:
Jo Inge Berget
- Born: September 11th 1990
- Club: Strømsgodset
- Position: attacking midfielder/striker
During his first spell as national team coach in the 1990s, Egil Olsen made the oft-ridiculed remark that his ambition for Norway was to become ”the best side in the world without the ball”. Well, don’t expect Godset schemer Berget to ever be selected for any side coached by Olsen. Currently on loan from Udinese, he is as close to a classical no10 as you’ll find in the Norwegian game: when the ball is not at his feet, the game does not exist. Such is his ability on the ball, however, that club boss Ronny Deila is more than happy to turn a blind eye to the youngster’s defensive deficiencies (or indifference). Started the season in brilliant fashion, but has since sustained an ankle injury which limited his impact throughout the summer. Due to return to Udinese in January, and while the Friulian club possess one of the best scouting networks in European football and have an abundance of talent on their books, Berget may well have what it takes to make the grade.
Mikkel ”Mix” Diskerud
- Born: October 2nd 1990
- Club: Stabæk
- Position: central midfielder
Having received his nickname as a kid because his Arizona-born mother found his energy levels comparable to those of a mixmaster, this perpetual-motion midfielder had his breakthrough season last term, earning a reputation as a super-sub after scoring a late equaliser on his league debut v Brann. Equipped with a rather lanky appearance and looks so boyish they’re almost girlish, he’s neither particularly strong or fast, but still knows how to look after himself when going on his trademark late runs into the penalty-box. A reliable decision-maker with a precise right-foot shot, he played for Norway at U-18 level but now seems to have changed his allegiance to the USA (although he’s still technically eligible to represent either nation).
Mohammed Fellah
- Born: May 24th 1989
- Club: Vålerenga
- Position: attacking midfielder/second striker
Born in Oslo to Moroccan parents, the diminutive left-footed playmaker was hailed as a potential superstar from an early age, however a horrendous injury sustained in August 2007 meant he missed the better part of two seasons, and many feared the consequent lack of development would prevent him from ever fulfilling his potential. On evidence of the current season, the naysayers were very wrong indeed. Having predictably acquired a reputation for showing off, he’s nonetheless been one of Vålerenga’s most consistent and effective performers in an uplifting season for the club. Still says he plays mainly to entertain, and in Martin Andresen has a manager who’s happy to let him off his leash. Potential future bosses in foreign lands may not be so permissive.
Vegard Forren
- Born: February 16th 1988
- Club: Molde
- Position: Centre-back
Left-footed, great passer, positionally confident: Vegard Forren is not the kind of defender usually produced in Norway. Rather, he’s from the Frank de Boer/Sinisa Mihajlovic continental school of centre-backs, and that is his greatest strength as well as his only real weakness. Last year, he was brilliant as Molde finished second, and even relinquished the opportunity to join Lazio because he’d rather wait for Premier League clubs to come calling. This writer thought that unwise then, and has had no reason to change his opinion since: the offers from England never came, this season opponents have found ways to exploit his relative lack of pace, and player and club have consequently endured a miserable campaign. However, I wouldn’t write him off just yet. His skills are rare for his position and difficult to harness, and if he can learn to deal with a certain vulnerability in one-on-one situations, he’ll have new chances to go abroad, although he might have to settle for a slightly less glamorous destination.
Markus Henriksen
- Born: July 25th 1992
- Club: Rosenborg
- Position: central/attacking midfielder
Although he looks like Marek Hamsik’s friendlier younger brother, in reality he’s the son of former Rosenborg defender (and current assistant coach) Trond Henriksen, a renowned hardman who, according to ex-club-mate Mini Jacobsen, ”would tackle even when he had the ball”. The son is a much more subtle operator, generally starting on the left of a three-man midfield, showing exceptional physical capabilites as well as tactical maturity which belies his tender age. Seemingly completely at ease as a first-team regular in the country’s best side, he’s already a Tippeliga champion and also the youngest Norwegian to have scored in the UEFA Champions League. He recently signed a new contract which ties him to Rosenborg until January 2014.
Ruben Yttergård Jenssen
- Born: May 4th 1988
- Club: Tromsø
- Playing position: Left/central midfielder
Another youngster likely to surpass the achievements of his father, Truls Jenssen, who played in midfield for the Tromsø side that won the Cup in 1986. Back then, the entire squad was drawn from the vast but sparingly populated area of Northern Norway: now, they count among their numbers men not only from neighbouring Sweden and Finland, but also distant nations such as Australia, Brazil and Senegal, but the most talented player is nonetheless the local lad. Jenssen, who three years ago turned down a move to Belgian giants Standard Liege, is technically highly skilled, an incisive and accurate passer, and possessing of an admirable work-rate: he does admit, however, that he should score more goals. He made his senior international bow in a friendly with Montenegro this May, and is one of very few youngsters who seem to feature prominently in Egil Olsen’s plans.
Adam Larsen Kwarasey
- Born: December 12th 1987
- Club: Strømsgodset
- Playing position: goalkeeper
The son of a Ghanaian father and Norwegian mother, this physically imposing 22-year-old has enjoyed a major breakthrough in the Godset goal this season, his agility and reflexes saving many a point for a young and sometimes over-exuberant side. Significantly better on his line than off it, his decision-making can be found wanting, and he will have to improve this part of his game if he is to fulfill his ultimate ambition: he’s played for Norway at U-21 level, but says he’s been dreaming of representing Ghana ever since visiting his fatherland and playing football on the streets there as a child. If his development continues at its current pace, this writer wouldn’t bet against him keeping goal for the Black Stars in Brazil in four years time.
Jonathan Parr
- Born: October 21st 1988
- Club: Aalesund
- Playing position: left-back/winger
He started out as a striker, and still prefers to play as a winger, but it is at full-back the former Lyn youngster has really come into his own. Owes his international debut to Bjørn Helge Riise’s wedding, which meant big brother John Arne, the undisputed first-choice left-back, had to withdraw from the May friendly v Montenegro. Tall, fast and adept at getting past his man, his crossing can be erratic – although to his credit he never stops trying – and he also needs to work on his positional play. Club coach Kjetil Rekdal backs him to claim a regular international berth, however, with Roma man Riise seemingly set to carry on for another decade, Parr’s exceptional stamina will stand him in good stead.
Marcus Pedersen
- Born: June 8th 1990
- Club: Strømsgodset
- Playing position: Striker
If Marcus Pedersen had a penny for every time he’s been referred to as ”the Norwegian Wayne Rooney” over the past two years, he’d probably be even wealthier than the Manchester United star. In truth, however, the cap doesn’t fit quite as well as the media would have you believe. While there are clear similarities between the two in terms of work-rate and utter fearlessness, Pedersen is more of an out-and-out striker: the penalty-box is his comfort zone, his predatory instincts are second to none of his Tippeliga peers, and he shows truly remarkable composure in front of goal. Reportedly on the wish-list of several English clubs – including Liverpool, Bolton and Blackburn – he still needs to develop tactically and improve his first-touch before moving abroad. However, he overcame persistent injury and a bad-boy reputation to get where he is today: you wouldn’t bet against him ascending to any level.
Awesome article man, I love this quote “Egil Olsen made the oft-ridiculed remark that his ambition for Norway was to become ”the best side in the world without the ball”.” How seriously is Olsen taken in Norway? Is he popular? Unfortunately he isn’t taken very seriously over here after the Wimbledon debacle.
Jo Inge Berget and Mohammed Fellah both sound like the types of players that I would like to see, can’t beat watching a skillful player. Considering how poor Kingston was for Ghana at the recent world cup I would of been disappointed not to have had a call up if I was Adam Larsen Kwarasey!
Predictable question number one – Out of the players above who do you think will be the most successful and who is the most talented? (Obviously this could be different answers…)
Also it is scary seeing kids born in the 90′s playing professionally!
Egil Olsen is taken very seriously indeed: loathe him for his pragmatic approach or love him for the undoubted progress he brought to the national side, his views on the game (along with those of Nils Arne Eggen) have formed the theoretical backbone of any football debate in this country over the past 20 years. (The Wimbledon debacle was entirely predictable, btw: he’s never had any real success as club coach.)
The most talented by far is Fellah: the first time I watched him live was in a U-19 international with Italy, and he utterly humiliated poor Lorenzo De Silvestri, then already a pro with Lazio in Serie A. I’d very much like to say he’ll also be the most successful. Otherwise, I’m impressed by the way Henriksen seems to take everything in his stride, and he’s more established at 18 (and at a better club) than any of the others.
So he’s respected but not particularly popular for the style he plays. I presume that some of the youngsters mentioned above could find playing under such a style a problem? Even if they made the team?!
It is interesting that so many Scandinavian players wish to play in the Premier League over other top leagues like Serie A or La Liga. Is this due to the games shown or that the league is more suited to the ‘typical’ Scandinavian player?
The Olsen situation is quite complex: most (if not indeed all) Norwegian top-level coaches play a game based on his theories, although many wouldn’t care to admit it!
Also, contrary to what many might think, his most frequent complaint during his first spell in charge was that he lacked players with pace and dribbling skills: now, he’s got a player like Fellah, but seems to lack the courage to select him.
The reason Norwegians want to play in England is even more complex, and would probably take an article of its own (I’ll consider writing one in future). Presently, there are three main factors:
1) Money
2) Language
3) Tradition
The argument that Scandinavians are better suited to English than Continental football is, by and large, based on a myth: Sweden and Denmark have traditionally had more top-level players in Italy than England, while Norway’s first great export, Per Bredesen, won the Serie A title with Milan in 1957 (would love to write about him too).
It’s interesting to hear how anyone could be so important to a national league. I suppose when a manager plays a slightly agricultural type of football you will always have the opportunity to say “I can only work with what I have.” Looks like this will have to change if Jo Inge Berget and Mohammed Fellah live up to their potential.
Would be very interested to read more about why Norwegians tend to want to play in England.
Interestingly, the antipathy towards Olsen’s approach is not primarily based on his alleged “agricultural” style but, rather conversely, his “scientific” approach (He’s written a thesis on “the scoring of goals in football” and lectured for years at the National Sports College in Oslo.)
Also interestingly, he’s always refuted the notion that he plays the way he does because of limited resources, and claims that any side would benefit from adhering to his principles. He really managed to rile Mario Zagallo when claiming that Brazil would be better if coached by him, but (endearingly enough) the two found they got on well at a personal level and have maintained a friendship ever since the 98 World Cup.
Also, I’ll try to write an article on the Norway-England relationship next month.
Excellent article, Mole. I find it interesting that so far 3 of the names you’ve mentioned are children of immigrants, which seems similar to some of the talent coming through in England (Moses, Muamba) and Germany (Marin, Khedira, Boateng).
Yes, that’s a very notable development. In addition to those mentioned in the article, there are others like Brann central defender Yaw Ihle Amankwaah (88/Ghana), Strømsgodset forward Ola Kamara (90/Sierra Leone) and Rosenborg striker Musha Bakenga (92/DR Congo), as well as foreign-based youngsters such as Heerenveen forward Tarik Elyounussi (88/Morocco), Twente winger Flamur Kastrati (91/Kosovo) and Manchester City midfielder Abdisalam Ibrahim (91/Somalia).
It remains to be seen how many of these kids will actually turn out for Norway. Elyounussi has already made a scoring debut for the senior side, however Mix and Larsen Kwarasey seem to have nailed their flags to the American and Ghanaian masts respectively, while Fellah is being courted by Morocco.
As to why youngsters of an immigrant background are so dominant these days, the default explanation is that they tend to come from less affluent backgrounds than their ethnically Norwegian counterparts, and therefore have stronger motivation to make the grade. Also, while it’s generally not socially acceptable among majority Norwegians to harbour ambitions on behalf of your children, parents within immigrant communities may not hold any such reservations (this is also reflected in applications for higher education, particularly prestigious studies such as medicine and law).
Hectic activity on transfer deadline day, involving two of the players above: while Aalesund rejected an alleged approach from Blackpool for Jonathan Parr, Strømsgodset allowed Marcus Pedersen to join Vitesse in exchange for a fee of around £1 million (+ add-ons).
Elsewhere, Galatasaray failed with a late bid for Anthony Annan, but Danish centre-back (and Jonathan Woodgate lookalike) Kris Stadsgaard left Rosenborg for Malaga. Start’s Costa Rican schemer Cristian Bolanos moved onwards and upwards to FC Copenhagen, where he will now have the opportunity to show what he can do in the Champions League, and lastly, veteran Hungarian striker Peter Kovacs left Odd Grenland (yes, that is the club’s real name) and the Tippeliga after eight years for a new challenge in Belgium, with promoted Lierse.
Will be interesting to see whether Pedersen can make the step up to the Dutch league. Probably the best possible progression for him?
The Turkish league seems to have had an influx of players, Robinho was close to joining Besiktas/Fenerbahce. I presume that Annan will be going to a better league in December/next summer (if he isn’t forgotten…)
On a seperate note just finished reading ‘Out stealing horses’, very good book. You read it?
Yeah, I hope it will be a good move for him, however he could do well to have a precautionary chat with Tarik Elyounussi, who was even more highly rated when he left Fredrikstad and Norway for Heerenveen in 2008, but who has so far failed to establish himself as a first-team fixture in the speed skating capital. On the other hand, Norway have had a number of successful players in the Eredivisie in recent years, including Christian Grindheim (also Heerenveen), Erik Nevland (Groningen) and Pah Modou Kah (Roda).
I’ve read the book, yes, and have to say I was amazed as well as delighted when it became an international bestseller. I mean, it’s an outstanding novel, but I thought it was too local in its outlook to have much of an impact outside of Norway. All Petterson’s books come highly recommended, btw.
I always had a soft spot for Nevland, was underused by Hodgson at Fulham.
I’ll check out some of his other books, loved the descriptions of the wildlife around him (maybe slightly similar to McCarthy?)