The battle for the football millions, Ståle Solbakken | Solbakken with warning to Norwegian clubs:
In recent months, Netavisen has delved deeper into the matter, to find out why Norwegian clubs sell players for significantly less summer than, among others, our neighbors in Sweden and especially Denmark.
Norway’s national team manager is among the country’s most deserving football coaches, and has many years of experience as head coach and sports manager in Danish football at FC Copenhagen. Among other things, he points to the prioritization of artificial turf in Norway as a significant problem.
– It is a big “issue”, and it is that there are too many artificial turf pitches in Norway. Well, it’s time for clubs to start taking that into account, Solbakken says clearly to Nettavisen.
Watch video: This is what Solbakken said about the use of artificial turf in Norwegian top football earlier this year. The interview was done last year.
– Some people probably laugh at me saying that, but there is no doubt that it is a problem
The 53-year-old has sold players for over one billion during his time in the Danish capital club, and emphasizes that the artificial turf theme has appeared on several occasions.
– What I know, based on the conversations I have had with clubs and agents throughout, is that artificial turf is a big problem. There will be an uncertainty about players who play and train on artificial turf on a daily basis, so this is definitely something foreign clubs are thinking about. Some people probably laugh at me saying that, but there is no doubt that it is a problem, he says.
– What do you think makes it so decided?
– It will be a slightly different football and they see it. If you have to put a lot of money on the table, you will always have a desire to be as safe as possible. With the market that football has been reached, there are extremely many good players to choose from.
– Therefore, the artificial turf can be a reason why they choose to manage in a different club and a different league. There are many who try to dismiss this problem, but there is no point in doing so, is the clear message.
Also read: Torbjørnsen comes with a clear message about Scandinavian players: – Expect more than what is realistic
The Danish top club Nordsjælland has been among the largest exporters of talent from Scandinavia in recent seasons. The team from Farum a short drive outside Copenhagen plays on artificial turf. The national team manager, on the other hand, believes that their situation is completely different from what Norwegian clubs can point out.
– They have created a reputation through huge talents who have done something good after sales. The difference is also with North Zealand playing almost all away games on grass, so they get to show their players on that surface. I am not saying that this is necessarily the main reason for selling for less than Denmark, but I think it is very stupid not to include it in the assessment, says Solbakken and further elaborates:
– This is one reason why several of the Dutch clubs have taken action in recent years, and gone back to natural grass. They also refuse to send players on loan to clubs that play on artificial turf, to keep them more interesting and develop them further, he continues.
This is how FC Nordsjælland found the Norwegian super talent Andreas Schjelderup:
Do not think there is anything to discuss: – It’s just facts
He comes at the same time with a clear message to those in Scandinavian football who believe that the artificial turf debate is fabricated:
– I had the two biggest jobs in Scandinavia, at the same time as head coach and sports manager at FC Copenhagen. I have sat in several meetings with the biggest agents and clubs in Europe, we have sold players for over a billion Norwegian kroner in the last six years, so that artificial turf is a problem is not something to discuss. Final score. These are just facts.
The charismatic coach from Hamar can point to an impressive CV, with massive success in both domestic league, games in Europe and profitable player logistics. Solbakken says that the club’s ambition gave them results in the long run.
– We always had a goal of selling players to the top five leagues in Europe. A lot of the reason why we clearly end it is the success FCK has had in Europe over a long period of time, says Solbakken about coming to the old club at the same time as a little sting.
Also read: Stabæk sold the super talent for tens of millions. Then everything went wrong: – Great challenges
– Well, they have gone away from the political I see, but during my time it was a requirement to set the standard of the job we did. When you start to succeed with it and some of the players do well in the top five leagues, then both the club and the league get a better reputation and you sell for big summer.
Overview of transitions: Norway, Denmark and Sweden in the period 2019-2021
Summer window 2021:
Norway:
Antonio Nusa – Stabæk to Club Brugge – Around 35 million kroner
Kristoffer Klaesson – Vålerenga to Leeds – About 20 million kroner
Stian Gregersen – Molde to Bordeaux – About 20 million kroner
Denmark:
Kamaldeen Sulemana – North Zealand to Rennes – Around 180 million kroner
Mohamed Daramy – FC Copenhagen to Ajax – Around 150 million kroner
Frank Onyeka – FC Midtjylland to Brentford – Around 110 million kroner
Sweden:
Sead Haksabanovic – IFK Norrköping to Rubin Kazan – Around 70 million
Isak Bergmann Jóhannesson – IFK Norrköping to FC Copenhagen – Around 50 million
Joseph Okumu – Elfsborg to KAA Gent – About 40 million
2020/2021 seasons:
Norway:
Jens Petter Hauge – Bodø / Glimt to AC Milan – Around 50 million kroner
Kristoffer Askildsen – Stabæk to Sampdoria – Around 25 million kroner
Kasper Junker – Bodø / Glimt to Urawa Reds – About 20 million kroner
Total sales amount in 2020: NOK 277 million
Denmark:
Mohammed Kudus – North Zealand to Ajax – Around 110 million kroner
Mikkel Damsgaard – North Zealand to Sampdoria – Around 80 million kroner
Isaac Atanga – North Zealand to Cincinnati – About 50 million kroner
Total sales amount in 2020: NOK 525 million
Sweden:
Pontus Almqvist – IFK Norrköping to Rostov – Around 45 million kroner
Jesper Karlsson – Elfsborg to AZ Alkmaar – Around 30 million kroner
Armin Gigovic – Helsingborg to Rostov – About 30 million
Total sales amount in 2020: NOK 295 million
2019/2020 seasons:
Norway:
Håkon Evjen – Bodø / Glimt to AZ Alkmaar – Around NOK 25 million
Chidera Ejuke – Vålerenga to Heerenveen – Around 20 million kroner
Kristian Thorstvedt – Viking to KRC Genk – About 15 million kroner
Total sales amount for 2019: NOK 269 million
Denmark:
Dennis Vavro – FC Copenhagen to Lazio – Around 110 million kroner
Robert Skov – FC Copenhagen to Hoffenheim – Around 100 million kroner
Jesse Joronen – FC Copenhagen to Brescia – Around 60 million kroner
Total sales amount for 2019: NOK 710 million
Sweden:
Marcus Danielsson – Djurgården to DL Pro – Around 50 million kroner
Jordan Larsson – Norrköping to Spartak Moscow – About 40 million kroner
Odilon Kossounou – Hammarby to Club Brugge – Around 40 million kroner
Total sales amount for 2019: NOK 356 million
Source: Transfer Market and FIFA’s Global Transfer Market Report 2019 and 2020 (the report for 2021 is per day date not published).
Points to challenges in Norway: – The teams with the largest economy must get out in Europe
Norway’s current leader also highlights Central Jutland as a club that has also been good at developing players who have done well in Europe. He explains that they have had a slightly different approach than what FCK has.
– Midtjylland has not had as many successes in the European tournaments, but has managed to create a style of play that develops the individual in each player, and clearly sells for large sums.
And continues:
– North Zealand has had a strong focus on talent development, and in recent years has built up an extremely good reputation. Among other things, they pick up Ghanaians from the academy down there, and use many young players early, without having a special focus on results. Then you have three clubs which in their respective fields, each with their own mindset and philosophy, have managed to sell players for a high price over a long period of time, he says and points out that this is a big reason why other Danish clubs have also become more attractive. .
Also read: This is the club the whole of Scandinavia is looking towards. Has sold for over one billion: – Absolutely unique
– But it is first and foremost the three who take the lead.
– Which philosophy do you see as the most sustainable in Norway?
– If the biggest clubs in Norway manage to win the championship several times in a row now, such as Rosenborg, Molde or Vålerenga, it will be easier. We lack a bit that the largest cities are successful with their layers, and have not had the continuity for many years.
Also read: Suggests new changes in Norwegian football: – Top football is business
– The teams with the largest economy must get out in Europe in order for larger clubs to get their eyes on Norwegian football in the same way as Denmark. Then you can create something similar to what FCK has been doing lately.
Solbakken is also aware that it will be time to build up a branded product that Danes have succeeded with.
– The way we operated during my time in FCK will be sustainable with continuity and restoration of good results especially in the European tournaments. We must first be able to attract the players who can become potential sales objects after a period in the club, and then we must have something to show for it.
– Of course, those results do not come overnight, and must be built up over time, the national team manager concludes.