Claus Lundekvam

Claus Lundekvam ( born February 22, 1973 in Austevoll ) is a former Norwegian football player. In 2007, he finished as the acting captain of the then English second division side FC Southampton his playing career.

Previously, he had spent most of his career at the " Saints".

Club career

Career start

Born on the island of Austevoll, Lundekvam came at a young age to the mainland in the youth department of the SK Brann Bergen. There he wrote 1993, his first professional contract and obtained from 1994 also a regular place in the Bergen defensive. By 1996, he completed 53 games with a goal is scored in the highest Norwegian league, but without being able to win a title.

Living legend of the " Saints"

In the fall of 1996, he was then obliged in a double with compatriot Egil Østenstad Premier League Cub Southampton FC. It should be the first and also the last club change in his career. The newly crowned Southampton manager Graeme Souness had already let him watch Galatasaray times and planned with him as a pillar in the defense of the Saints. Both Østenstad as well Lundekvam beat from the start and were given a place in the starting line- of the team.

As a result Lundekvam formed over the years with Ken Monkou a reliable central defense, the traditionally weak offensively, - with the exception of Matt Le Tissier superstar, held in the middle of the Premier League. As Monkou was sold for season 2000/ 01 for reasons of age at Huddersfield Town, the Moroccan Tahar El Khalej took over the part, before the latter seriously injured for the following season. He was followed by a line-up of various central defenders, as the Michael Svensson of Sweden and Andreas Jakobsson, but all of them could not completely convince. Over the years Lundekvam only remained the constant in the internal defense of the Saints, which became after the resignation of Le Tissier for unrestricted chief and captain. After the retirement of Le Tissier lacked the team but in the middle of substance. The former star player Jamie Redknapp became a Specimen flop and also the defensive, which previously belonged to the greatest strength of the Saints, no longer radiated the security of past times. So you got at the end of the 2004/05 season from after 27 years of League membership of the Premier League. The descent came to those responsible for the Saints as a surprise because it had formed for the first time in years, with Kevin Phillips, James Beattie and Peter Crouch by a powerful offensive department.

When it then came to a sell-off in Southampton and nearly the entire squad was looking into the distance, Lundekvam remained loyal to the club. Especially wanted to bring a change to former coach Gordon Strachan, the Lundekvam essential to Celtic Glasgow, was as good as certain, before he Lundekvam decided to remain. This decision was credited to him by the fans high.

In season one by descent, the Saints did then heavy and only reached a disappointing 12th overall place table. The following season they recovered, had 53 goals against the best defense in the league and reached the place in the table 6 Relegation games for the Premier League. In the playoffs you had an injury to Lundekvam waive and difference in the penalty shootout against Derby County from.

Previously, he had suffered a fracture of the ankle in the deciding game to the relegation places Southend United and was, until February 2008 convalescent. As a result, he tried again making a comeback, but this was thwarted by chronic ankle pain. In March 2008, he was then end of his career known. Until recently he had been captain of the team. Matt Le Tissier Along side as the most influential personality of the society in modern times. On 18 July 2008, he was officially adopted in a testimonial match against Celtic as Southampton player. Previously, he had his club donated £ 100,000 to a new lawn.

In his long career with the Saints, he always wore several times in the annals of the association:

• With a total of 412 appearances for Southampton in competition games, he is the most inge etched Legionnaire of the association.
• In the eternal use statistics the Saints he is out in 9th place.
• In the Premier League, he ran to a total of 256 times for Southampton. He is the record players of Norway in the Premier League.

A title win was denied to him in his entire career. The highlight of the FA Cup final can be seen in 2003, which Southampton lost 1-0 against Arsenal.

National

Unlike most of the Norwegian national team Lundekvam was nominated for no youth national team of his country.

In November 1995 he made his debut for Norway in a friendly against Jamaica. Then he counted to 2002 extended the national team, but without being able to prevail against the -budgetary central defender such as Henning Berg, Ronny Johnsen and Kjetil Rekdal. So it happened that he was not nominated in the Norwegian squad for the World Cup in France in 1998.

As precipitated with Ronny Johnsen and Erik Hoftun two defensive players for the Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands, many were expecting the nomination Lundekvams who showed pleasing performance in the English Premier League at the time. But the then national coach Nils Johan Semb nominated surprising that on the international stage largely inexperienced André Bergdølmo and Bjørn Otto Bragstad in the final squad, ignoring Lundekvam.

Not until 2002 did the regular convening of the national team. In 2003, when Åge Hareide was appointed national team coach, he achieved finally a regular place. On October 9, 2003, he then led in a friendly against Portugal for the first time the national team as captain to the square. To get started as a replacement for Henning Berg, he shared the office from 2004 to Martin Andresen, until it was appointed by Hareide to etatmäßgen captain.

His last international game he played in the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2006 in the 1-2 defeat against Scotland.

A milestone he sat with a goal in the 2-0 victory against Bosnia in the qualifying match for the European Football Championship 2000. It was the 1000th goal in the history of the Norwegian national football team.

Overall, he came to 40 international appearances with 2 Torerfolgen. In 11 international matches he could lead his country as a captain on the field. Participation in a major football tournament Norway, was denied him.

Achievements

• Owner of the "Golden Clock " (40 international appearances )