Vegard Heggem
Vegard Heggem (1999)
Vegard Heggem ( born July 13, 1975 in Trondheim ) is a former Norwegian football player. In 2003, he had to end his playing career due to chronic injury.
As a national team of Norway, he took part in the Football World Cup in 1998 and the European Football Championship 2000.
- 4.1 In the club
Club career
The early years
Heggem started late in his professional career. Until 1995, he played for the lower division clubs Rennebu IL and IL Orkdal until he was scouted by his hometown club Rosenborg Trondheim. Up to this time he was also in no youth team of Norway.
Rosenborg Trondheim
In Rosenborg he came in the first season game used and was able to quickly win a regular place in a row. Benefited him came here his versatility in defense or defensive midfield.
In his first year he won the Norwegian Cup and league title. It was followed by two more league titles and a sensational Rosenborg Champions League season 1996, in which one penetrated to the quarterfinals. Previously Veggem had caused a stir internationally after he was in the decisive match against AC Milan secure the decisive goal for the next round Rosenborg. The goal in Milan's San Siro Stadium is regarded as one of the greatest moments in Norwegian football.
In 1998, he made his international debut for Norway and his nomination for the World Cup 1998. A transfer abroad had already been decided at this time thing.
Liverpool FC
After several deals available from various European leagues, he wrote during the World Cup a contract with Liverpool. He was the first transfer of the newly formed duo manager Roy Evans and Gérard Houllier, who took him for the equivalent of about € 5.2 million under contract.
Despite strong competition on the right side at Liverpool, conquered Heggem immediately became a regular place and thanks to his fighting spirit and two spectacular goals against FC Middlesbrough and Bradford City to an audience favorite at Anfield. In 2001, he won the UEFA Cup with Liverpool, but did not due to his injury used.
End of career
But during his time at Liverpool, he got more and more often called " Harm string problem " (problems with the rear muscle strands ), which repeatedly degraded him to the audience. In the 2000 /01 season he was able to complete only only three league games and had to go into a long convalescence. Up to the end of his contract after the 2002/ 03 season, he was still in the squad of FC Liverpool and was working on his comeback. Since his suffering, however, turned out to be chronic, then he had to end his playing career at the age of 28 years. He had completed in October 2000 against Derby County His last professional game.
National
After moving to Rosenborg Trondheim he was nominated today for the U- 21 team in Norway, for which he was a regular until 1998.
On 23 February 1998 he made his debut in the Norwegian national team in a friendly against France. The game ended 3-3 and Heggem succeeded on his debut a score. Due to the strong international game he slipped at the last moment in the squad Norway for the 1998 World Cup in France, during which he but came to no use. After the World Cup he became a regular player.
His last game for Norway, he completed during the Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands against the Yugoslav national team, in which he again seriously injured himself.
Overall, he completed between 1998 and 2000 twenty international matches in which he scored 1 goal.
Life after retirement
After end of his career he returned to Norway and founded a company for sport fishing in Sør -Trøndelag. His love for fishing he had discovered during his playing time for Orkdal IL, which was directly located at Orkla, one of the largest rivers for salmon fishing in Norway.
He is also alongside John Aldridge and Erik Meijer, the official " Club Patron" of AFC Liverpool, a company founded by Liverpool fans semi-professional club.
Due to its status as a fan favorite, he is Liverpool still very connected and present in a variety of home games at Anfield.
Achievements
In the club
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 2000/ 01
- Norwegian champion: 1995, 1996, 1997
- Norwegian Cup winner: 1995