Alf-Inge HÃ¥land
Alf -Inge Rasdal Håland ( born November 23, 1972 in Bryne ) is a former Norwegian football player. In 2002, he had to end his playing career due to a serious knee injury at the age of 29 years.
As a national team of Norway he participated, among others, at the Football World Cup 1994 in the United States.
Club career
The early years
Håland began his career with his hometown club Bryne FK in the second Norwegian league. Initially, inconspicuous, it developed from 1991 at a young age to guide players on the team. A promotion to the Tippeligaen was despite three strong seasons not granted to him. In 1992 and 1993 we failed each in the relegation round. His serene play woke early desires of various international associations, but Håland remained true to his home club until the winter of 1993.
Exchange to Nottingham
In December 1993, Bryne had to be the "jewel " but finally let them go. The English tradition Nottingham Forest, who was relegated after 35 years Erstligazugehörigkeit had already advertised for half a year for him. Frank Clark, who became the successor of Manager legend Brian Clough, had after the descent compensate for the departures of Roy Keane and Teddy Sheringham, among others, and took the opportunity, the team rejuvenate massive. Previously, he had been brought in the summer with Lars Bohinen an old acquaintance from various Norwegian youth teams, and set the stage for a very successful comeback in the Premier League with the transfer of Colin Cooper and Stan Collymore. Only on the position of defensive midfielder had been found by Keane not even remotely adequate replacement. This role should now fill Håland. But the first half was disappointing. First Håland had severe adjustment problems in the new league and has only been used in the reserve team. In March 1993, followed by his debut in the professional team in the big game against Crystal Palace. In the next game he was already in the starting line- again to hurt for the first time in his left foot in the next game. Then he fell out for the rest of the season. Nottingham managed at the end of the season but even without him as the runner its chances of promotion and moved into the 1994/95 season back in the Premier League. This season he made the breakthrough. Nottingham was as sensational third parties and Håland climber became the uncontested master players. Prior to the 1994/95 season they lost Collymore with the superstar of the team at Liverpool and found himself with space only 9 more in the midfield of the league again. Håland struggled all season with minor injuries and only came on seventeen missions. In the UEFA Cup, he was able to convince the other hand, far more. So they suggested, among other things AJ Auxerre and Lyon and different only in the quarter- finals to eventual winner FC Bayern Munich. After these successes, in 1996 /97 disaster season for Nottingham. Despite spectacular signings, such as Pierre van Hooijdonk or Dean Saunders, the season was disastrous, and it rose again from the last one from the Premier League. Only Håland made another leap in performance and caused a stir in addition to his defensive sustainability with six goals this season.
Time at Leeds United
After the descent of the total sell-off in Nottingham and Håland was changed for the equivalent of about € 2.5 million to Leeds United. Leeds manager George Graham was in this season of approximately € 16 million to advance with all his might to the big four of the Premier League. Håland should be an important part in his luxury team with players such as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink or Harry Kewell. The first year went according to plan. Håland was from the beginning a regular player and was able to meet with his seven goals this season Karrierebestmarke. Leeds finished the season as the fifth. There was a false start in the 1998/99 season, which cost Graham his job. As a new manager David O'Leary has been committed to the henceforth systematically rebuilt the team according to his ideas. Victims of the reconstruction should include the Graham darlings Martin Hiden or even Håland be. He graduated in the 1998/99 season still 29 Premier League games, he came in the following season, only 13 missions. O'Leary made himself as a champion of Art Nouveau in Leeds a name and forced the fetched him from the Leeds youth players like Jonathan Woodgate and Stephen McPhail.
Captain at Manchester City
It was followed by the exchange for the equivalent of about € 3.7 million to Manchester City. In Manchester, he was appointed manager of Joy Royle after the pre-season to the captain. As a result of matured Håland, has turned his leadership qualities and consistent duel attitude to the crowd favorite and star of the team. As the squad for Premier League standards but was too weak, occupied City at the end of the season, only the 18 place in the table and Håland had for the second time in his career the heavy gear in the second league start.
Foul by Keane and End of career
In the season 2001/ 02 there were Håland for the momentous meeting with Roy Keane. This was preceded by a dispute the two players from the year 1997. Keane tried to stop with a tackle in the game between Manchester United against Leeds Håland. In the attempt but he pulled himself a torn ACL, and it then fell nine months through injury. Håland remained unhurt in the attack and then leaned on the injured lying on the ground Keane and accused him of faking an injury in order to receive any punishment for his rude attack.
Subsequently, there was no encounter between the two players until 21 April 2001. Five minutes to play in the derby between Manchester City against United fouled Keane ballwegschlagenden Håland by the stretched foot. For now, the challenge was seen as a revenge foul and Keane received a three - match ban and a fine of £ 5,000. In August 2002, Keane released his autobiography, in which he devoted a whole chapter in the book of the clashes between him and Håland and openly admitted that he wanted to hurt him deliberately from the beginning:
"I have waited long enough. I met him cursed hard. The ball was there ( I think). Take that, you bastard. And never stand over me and mock about fake injuries. "
As a result, Keane was subsequently occupied by the English Football Association with another lock of five games and fined in the amount of £ 150,000.
Håland had to end his career a short time later due to injuries to other knee. In an interview with the British Sunday Tribune from 2008 he criticized Keane, because the latter had passed through the exploitation of the foul in his book, his role model in mind to do with this action inglorious profit. The challenge in itself he would not grudge him, because something like this would happen in football now times. Asked about the first incident as a Leeds player, he said that he had not thought it possible that Keane would be such a grudge over the years.
National
In 1989 he caused a first international attention when he defeated the U- 20 Selection of Norway at the Junior World Cup in Saudi Arabia, Spain 4-2. The former selection was larded with, among others, his later A- team mate Henning Berg, Lars Bohinen, Øyvind Leonhardsen, Roger Nilsen and Roar beach.
It was followed by three years in the Norwegian U -21, which he led as captain from 1992 to the field.
Even as England Legionnaire was on 19 January 1994 his debut for the senior national team in a friendly against Costa Rica.
With the Football World Cup 1994 in the United States, he was in the game against Italy to an unhappy figure of the Norwegians. In 69 minutes he inflicted an unnecessary foul on Giuseppe Signori, a free shot by Dino Baggio led to the winning goal of the Italians. The first game against Mexico could still opt 1-0 for itself. In the final group match against Ireland, the Norwegian coach Egil Olsen renounced in favor of Kjetil Rekdal on him and left him the entire season on the bench. The game ended 0-0 and Norway eventually resigned from due to poor goal difference from the tournament.
An injury prevented his nomination for the FIFA World Cup 1998 in France. Previously, he was in qualifying an indispensable support in the defensive midfield.
After he had lost his place at Leeds United, he was not nominated by coach Nils Johan Semb for the European Football Championship 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands. As in the qualifiers for the World Cup 98 he was also in the qualifiers for the European Championship still in a majority of the qualifying matches a stock power in the team.
Between 1999 to 2001, he was not nominated in a row for the national team, before April 25, 2001, his comeback in a friendly against Bulgaria after strong performances as captain of Manchester City. Due to its sudden end career became this game to his last appearance for Norway.
Håland is just one of six Norwegian national team players who have never played in the first Norwegian league. Furthermore, he is the owner of "Golden Clock ", which is awarded each earned Norwegian international, who has completed 25 A - Team Apps.
Overall, he completed between 1994 and 2001 34 internationals.