Bjørn Otto Bragstad
Bjørn Otto Bragstad ( born January 5, 1971 in Trondheim ) is a former Norwegian football player.
Club career
Rosenborg Trondheim
Bragstad began his career with his hometown club Rosenborg in the youth academy. In 1989 his professional debut in the Tippeligaen. With Rosenborg he won the championship ten times and three times the Norwegian Cup. For a defender, he developed through his good behavior in standard situations, an above-average eye for goal, which is reflected in its 26 championship goals. Due to strong performances in the Champions League he also attracted international attention, and he attracted the attention of several European clubs up.
Move to England
In summer 1999, announced Racing Santander, which previously Sigurd Rushfeldt had undertaken for the equivalent of 5 million € Rosenborg, fixed the transfer of Bragstad for. Olof Mellberg He should, which was migrated to Aston Villa, replace. A short time later, Rosenborg denied this message and announced that they could not agree on the transfer fee with Santander. But there are two prospective from the Premier League. In these it was Aston Villa and Derby County. Later, it was still known that the AS Saint- Étienne had made a concrete offer, but which refused the player. Bragstad, which marked a move to England as his life's dream, opted for Derby and signed a four-year contract. The transfer fee was € 3 million. In consequence, Bragstand toiled in England around with multiple minor injuries and fell completely out of shape. Derby, which was in continuous battle against relegation, then chose him for the 2001 /02 season in the English First Division Birmingham City to be awarded. Bragstad but was injured badly at the beginning of the season and was able to complete only three league games for Birmingham. Derby went into this season from from the Premier League and had without the high TV money saving fix the pen. In consequence of his contract of Derby was dissolved.
Career finale in Austria
For the 2002/ 03 season Bragstad was committed by the Austrian Bundesliga SW Bregenz. In his first season, his injury crisis continued and Bragstad came only seven championship matches for Bregenz. The following season he was injury free contest and became the major support in the so far rather weak defense of the Bregenz. The 2003/ 04 was completed from Bregenz with the fifth place, which was the best placement of the association in the Austrian league. Following the extremely successful season Bragstad was surprising with 33 years end of his career known. Without Bragstad Bregenz was in the 2004/ 05 his defense no longer stabilize and conceded 80 goals. At the end of the season we got 15 points from residue from the Bundesliga.
National
Bragstad debuted on 20 January 1999 for the Norwegian national football team against Israel. He participated in the Europermeisterschaft 2000, but where the Norwegians were eliminated in the first round. He played in all three group games.
In total, he completed 15 caps for Norway.