Erik Nevland (born 10 November 1977) is a Norwegian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is currently the sporting director of Viking. He played for clubs in Norway, England, Sweden and the Netherlands, and earned eight caps for the Norway national football team from his debut in 2001. After retiring, Nevland worked as a car salesman.[3]
 Nevland in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Erik Nevland[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 10 November 1977[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Stavanger, Norway | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Viking | |||
| Manchester United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1997 | Viking | 14 | (5) |
| 1997–2000 | Manchester United | 1 | (0) |
| 1998 | → Viking (loan) | 8 | (3) |
| 1999 | → IFK Göteborg (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2000–2004 | Viking | 113 | (54) |
| 2004–2008 | Groningen | 95 | (43) |
| 2008–2010 | Fulham | 52 | (9) |
| 2010–2012 | Viking | 54 | (16) |
| Total | 341 | (130) | |
| International career | |||
| 1996–1997 | Norway U20 | 3 | (1) |
| 1997–1999 | Norway U21 | 22 | (1) |
| 2002 | Norway B | 2 | (0) |
| 2001–2010 | Norway | 8 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2021– | Viking (sporting director) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editNevland was born in Stavanger, Rogaland.[4] He started his career at Viking, but in 1997 he was sold to Manchester United at the age of 19,[5] before he had played a single first team match for the Norway side. What prompted Manchester United to sign him was a succession of hat-tricks in three games when he was on trial with them.[6] His only goal for the United first team was in a League Cup match against Bury in October 1998.[7] He never managed to establish himself in the United team, with a successful loan spell at Viking and an unsuccessful one at IFK Göteborg. He only ever made one league appearance for United, as a substitute against Southampton on 19 January 1998.
He returned to Viking on a permanent contract in January 2000, winning the Norwegian Cup in 2001 and scoring the two deciding goals in their famous UEFA Cup victory over Chelsea in 2002.[8] He joined Groningen on a free transfer in November 2004, and went on to become a cult hero. In his first half-season for his new club, he scored 16 times in 20 matches. Nevland scored the first ever goal in Groningen's new Euroborg stadium.
On 27 April 2007, Nevland signed a new three-year contract with Groningen. In December 2007, Nevland was voted 'Groninger of the Year' by television viewers in Groningen, although having been born outside the Netherlands.
On 28 January 2008, he signed with Premier League side Fulham[9] for a fee of €2.5 million (£1.85 million), plus a further €0.5 million (£370k) if Fulham retained Premier League status, which they did. On 3 February, he made only his second ever Premier League appearance when Fulham played Aston Villa at Craven Cottage.
After making over 50 league appearances for Fulham, and despite Roy Hodgson's wish to keep him at the club, Nevland once again returned to Viking in June 2010. He was assigned the role as captain.[citation needed]
International career
editHe has eight international caps for the Norway national football team; his first cap was in 2001.[citation needed]
He also has 22 caps and one international goal to his name with the U-21 side. He participated in the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship where Norway achieved a third-place finish.[10][11]
Later career
editOn 5 August 2021, Nevland was appointed sporting director of Viking.[12]
Career statistics
edit
| Club performance | League | Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Norway | League | Norwegian Cup | Total | |||||
| 1996 | Viking | Tippeligaen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 10 | ||
| England | League | FA Cup | Total | |||||
| 1997–98 | Manchester United | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Norway | League | Norwegian Cup | Total | |||||
| 1998 | Viking | Tippeligaen | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
| Sweden | League | Svenska Cupen | Total | |||||
| 1999 | IFK Göteborg | Allsvenskan | 4 | 0 | ||||
| England | League | FA Cup | Total | |||||
| 1999–2000 | Manchester United | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Norway | League | Norwegian Cup | Total | |||||
| 2000 | Viking | Tippeligaen | 20 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 13 |
| 2001 | 25 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 31 | 17 | ||
| 2002 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 16 | ||
| 2003 | 25 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 12 | ||
| 2004 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 25 | 10 | ||
| Netherlands | League | KNVB Cup | Total | |||||
| 2004–05 | Groningen | Eredivisie | 20 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 16 |
| 2005–06 | 29 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 34 | 10 | ||
| 2006–07 | 27 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 13 | ||
| 2007–08 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 | ||
| England | League | FA Cup | Total | |||||
| 2007–08 | Fulham | Premier League | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| 2008–09 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 4 | ||
| 2009–10 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 4 | ||
| Norway | League | Norwegian Cup | Total | |||||
| 2010 | Viking | Tippeligaen | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 |
| 2011 | 28 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 13 | ||
| 2012 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 3 | ||
| Total | Norway | 189 | 78 | 29 | 25 | 218 | 103 | |
| England | 53 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 60 | 10 | ||
| Sweden | 4 | 0 | ||||||
| Netherlands | 88 | 43 | 7 | 2 | 95 | 45 | ||
| Career total | 334 | 130 | 43 | 28 | 373 | 158 | ||
Honours
editFulham
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2009–10[13]
References
edit- ^ "Erik Nevland" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Football Federation. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Erik Nevland: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ We spraken Erik Nevland over auto’s verkopen, modellenwerk en Luis Suarez vice.com
- ^ "Erik Nevland". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Nixon, Alan (31 May 1997). "Football: United snap up Nevland". The Independent. London. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "Erik Nevland". Totally Red. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ Hadfield, Dave (28 October 1998). "Solskjaer provides a little bit extra". The Independent. London. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
- ^ "Viking humble Chelsea". BBC Sport. 3 October 2002. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ Fulham sign Erik Nevland
- ^ Russia and Norway in Euro Under-21 semis; hurriyetdailynews.com, 26 May 1998
- ^ Spain beats Norway in extra time in Euro under-21 semis; hurriyetdailynews.com, 29 May 1998
- ^ Nilssen, Stig (5 August 2021). "Erik Nevland er ansatt som sportssjef i Viking". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ McNulty, Phil (12 May 2010). "Atletico Madrid 2–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
External links
edit
- Nevland's personal website (in English and Norwegian)