Øyvind Leonhardsen
Øyvind Leonhardsen ( born August 17, 1970 in Kristiansund ) is a former Norwegian football player. In 2007, he finished as the captain of the Norwegian first division side Strømsgodset IF his playing career. As a national team of Norway, he participated, among others, two World Cup tournaments.
- 3.1 In the club
- 3.2 As a player
Club career
The early years
Leonhardsen began his career with the well-known for its strong youth work Clausengenegen FK near his home town of Kristiansund. His teammates were among other things, Ole Gunnar Solskjær or Arild Stavrum.
He was then discovered by the Norwegian first division side Molde FK in 1989 and signed his first professional contract. In Molde, he formed a strong midfield duo with his future team-mate Petter Rudi. Since the team in general but could not keep up with the top league, the club success came from initially.
After three strong years at Molde, he signed as a result a contract with Norwegian giants Rosenborg Trondheim. Rosenborg, which two years did not win the championship, rejuvenated the team and participated in this year in addition to Leonhardsen also players like Stig Inge Bjørnebye or Vidar Riseth under contract to get back to get back on track. Leonhardsen advanced in an active rather than collective Rosenborg team immediately became outstanding players. In his first year he won the Norwegian Cup and league title. In addition, he was elected at the end of the season the best midfielder in Norway. This was followed by two more league titles. Today, the team applies from 1992 as the foundation for thirteen consecutive league title.
Time in England
In 1995 he moved for 650,000 pounds in the Premier League to Wimbledon. The transfer fee was then synonymous with the transfer record for the Tippeligaen. In London he improved continuously. As a midfielder interface, besides the captain and Abräumer Vinnie Jones and storm tank Efan Ekoku, he could convince quickly. His first season in the 1993/94 season ended with the historic Wimbledon for sixth place. After 2 more good years in which he was a total of 76 times for Wimbledon used, lured Liverpool with a million offer.
In July 1997, he then moved up to 3.5 million pounds to Liverpool. As an avowed desire player of the then Liverpool manager Roy Evans brought, he should form the previously weak Jamie Redknapp replace or at least exert on the at times somewhat unmotivated acting Steve McManaman pressure. A foot injury which he had suffered in a preseason game, but forced him to spend the first eleven league matches in the stands. Again he had recovered in the midfield center no chance because neither Redknapp still McManaman schwächelten. Because Evans his desire player but did not want to put on the bench, he brought him on the left side of midfield. Despite six goals in 28 games Leonhardsen knew at this position never really convincing and was never the expectations placed in him justice. As in the following season even Gérard Houllier took over the reins at Anfield, Leonhardsen came only sporadically used. In addition, he fought all year yet with several minor injuries. After this sporty highly disappointing year for him, he insisted on a change of club, with Houllier wanted to keep him because of his versatility in midfield necessarily.
For the season 1999 /00 he then moved for 3 million pounds back to London at Tottenham Hotspur. At Tottenham he was acquired as a hanging tip, which should relieve especially the free spirit of the team, David Ginola. But again he was injured before the start of the season and had to watch the first five league games from the stands. Again recover he fought his way to a starting berth, but was again not to the shape of bygone days. Shortly before the end of the season he was injured difficult for the third time and missed the European Championships 2000. For season 2000/ 01 Ginola left the Spurs., And they picked for € 18 million Serhiy Rebrov as a replacement, which turned out to be a complete failure Shopping. This was also chalked Leonhardsen who knew rarely convincing and thus the playful element at Spurs go almost exclusively to Darren Anderton. When Glenn Hoddle took over the team was changed and Leonhardsen had again migrate to the ungebliebte left side. Hoddle favored among other emerging Simon Davies for the central position. In the 2001 / 02 season, he came in part because of injuries or because of the frequent Nichtberücksichtung by Hoddle to only 7 league games. At the end of the season he got Tottenham release.
In the following August he graduated together with his international team-mates Ronny Johnsen, a trial with FC Schalke 04, in which he was able to convince as opposed to Johnsen. Even before it came however in serious contract negotiations with Schalke, Aston Villa offered two players on one-year contract with an option for another, which both accepted. The year in Birmingham had ups and downs. On the one hand he could temporarily able to return to his old class, on the other hand, the entire year was marked by the relegation battle. In the end they managed with 3 points ahead in the league. At season's end renounced Villa team for the purpose of rejuvenation to the pull of the option, which his contract ended at the end of the season.
Career finale at home
2004 Leonhardsen returned to his homeland to the traditional club Lyn Oslo. Lyn signed him as a leading player and made him equal in the first season to the captain of the team. The first season was finished in 6th place in 2005 then you played a long time with for the championship and finished with just two points behind third.
After this success, he left Oslo and signed in the second Norwegian league in Strømsgodset IF on. Even when he was immediately Strømsgodset captain of the team and was able to celebrate the sovereign promotion to the Tippeligaen at year end. In the 2007 season, he still managed to avoid relegation with Stormgodset and then ended his professional career lasting 19 years.
National
Leonhardsen went through all the youth teams of Norway.
In 1989 he attended the first international attention when he defeated the U- 20 Selection of Norway at the Junior World Cup in Saudi Arabia, Spain with 4-2. The former selection was larded with, among others, his later A- team mate Henning Berg, Lars Bohinen, Tore Pedersen, Roger Nilsen and Roar beach.
A year later, his debut was followed for the senior national team in a friendly against Cameroon. After a hat-trick in his 11 match against Bermuda, he was a regular player.
In 1994, he worked as a regular for the Football World Cup 1994 in the United States. Despite a win over Mexico and a hard-fought defeat against eventual finalists Italy Norway did not survive the group stage. In the end, only decided the poor goal difference over the resignation of the Norwegians. Leonhardsen played in all three group games throughout the season.
In 1998, he was also a regular at the Football World Cup 1998 in France. During the first round could defeat among others Brazil with 2-1 and rose to the last sixteen. There Leonhardsen but injured after 13 minutes and was replaced with Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Norway lost the game against Italy 1-0.
A knee injury prevented his nomination for the European Football Championship 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands.
After failing to qualify for the World Cup 2002, with Norway, he finished in June 2003 in a 0-1 defeat against Dänermark his international career.
In the meantime, he was also the honor of the team captain to participate. Leonhardsen is the owner of "Golden Clock ". This is awarded each earned Norwegian international, who has completed 25 A - Team Apps.
Overall, he completed between 1990-2003 89 matches in which he scored 19 goals.
Achievements
In the club
- Norwegian champion: 1992, 1993, 1994
- Norwegian Cup winner: 1992
As a player
- Kniksenprisen - Best Midfielder: 1991, 1993