Norwegian Vikings hunting for glory

Jarstein completes transfer

Norwegian keeper Rune Almenning Jarstein has joined Danish side FC Midtjylland. Jarstein was transfer listed after his own wish, and will now move on to new challenges. The fee is rumoured to be £1,000,000.

June update

The machinery is still running smooth and we have a huge gap down to the other teams.

Match reports

Tippeligaen
Tromsø 1 - 3 Viking
Nielsen
Nevland
Olsen
Danielsen
Reginiussen

Morten Nielsen put the ball safely in the bottom corner after 41 minutes. In the 67th minute, former Viking player André Danielsen made it all level again. In the 84th minute, Erik Nevland scored from just outside the box. And four minutes later, Trond Olsen sealed the victory for Viking.

Starting XI:

Jarstein - Landu-Landu, Lædre Bjørdal, Acasiete, Vilsvik - Ørnskov - Norwood, Va. Berisha - de Lanlay, Anier, Nielsen

Viking 2 - 1 Sandnes Ulf
Ve. Berisha
Nevland
Berget Skjølsvik

The local derby between Viking and Sandnes Ulf was a quite interesting match. Veton Berisha scored after a great cross from Morten Nielsen in the 13th minute.

In the 67th minute, Sandnes Ulf and Aksel Berget Skjølsvik equalized. However, just two minutes later, Erik Nevland scored the winning goal.

Starting XI:

Østbø - Landu-Landu, Lædre Bjørdal, Acasiete, Ludwig - Nisja, Va. Berisha - de Lanlay, Ve. Berisha, Nielsen

Norwegian Cup 4th Round
Aalesund 2 - 2p Viking
Va. Berisha
Nevland
Myklebust
Post

The 4th Round was a bit more exciting than it had to be.

Aalesund made a shock start and scored after just two minutes after a goal by Christian Myklebust. In the 9th minute, Valon Berisha scored after a terrible mistake by Aalesunds goalkeeper.

In the 54th minute, Erik Nevland gave Viking the lead. Sander Post equalized just a couple of minutes later.

With nothing happening in extra time, it was going to be decided with penalties.

Acasiete
Sylling Olsen
Va. Berisha
Carlsen
Nielsen
Arnefjord
Vilsvik
Post
Nisja
Fuhre
Viking won 4-3 on penalties

Starting XI:

Østbø - Landu-Landu, Sigurdsson, Acasiete, Vilsvik - Ørnskov - Nisja, Va. Berisha - Edmundsson, Nevland, Nielsen

MotM: Sander Post

Viking will play at home against Odd Grenland in the Cup Quarter-final

Table

We have an 8 point gap to the second place, and hopefully we can keep that gap through-out the season!

News update

Berisha set for Hertha Berlin

Norwegian midfielder Valon Berisha has officialy joined German club Hertha Berlin. Viking recieved £2,000,000 in the deal. Viking manager Henrik Steinnes had this to say: "Of course it's sad that Valon has left us, but he wanted a move to a bigger club and I didn't want to force him to stay here at Viking."

Different rumours says that Viking will try to sign Sogndal's Ørjan Hopen as a replacement for Berisha.

Hansen joins Viking

Odd Grenlands goalkeeper André Hansen is ready for Viking. He will join the club at the 1st August. Hansen was brought in to replace Rune Almenning Jarstein who left Viking in June. The total fee is reported to be at £1,100,000.

Acasiete extends contract

Santiago Acasiete has extended his contract at Viking. The new deal runs out in 2015.

Upcoming fixtures in July

Viking - Sarpsborg 08
Stabæk - Viking
Viking - Strømsgodset
Lillestrøm - Viking

Match of the month:
Lillestrøm - Viking will be a highlight next month. Viking is hoping to keep their gap to the other teams, and Lillestrøm are fighting for a top 4 spot which can mabye give them a place in Europe.

What do you think about this month? How do you think I'll do this next month?
Please comment :-)

3rd Round of Europa League qualification drawn

Viking will play against Lech Poznan () or Skënderbeu (). Viking will play their first match away.

The matches will be played in August.

July + August update

Moving on and closer to the end of the season I'm feeling that we can bring the title home!

Match reports

July

Viking 2 - 2 Sarpsborg
Berisha
Ødegaard
Røn
Acasiete

Starting XI:

Østbø - Landu-Landu, Lædre Bjørdal, Acasiete, Vilsvik - Gyan - Nisja, Norwood - de Lanlay, Berisha, Nielsen

MotM: Michael Røn

Stabæk 0 - 4 Viking
Berisha
Nevland
Anier

Starting XI:

Østbø - Landu-Landu, Lædre Bjørdal, Sigurdsson, Vilsvik - Ørnskov - Norwood, Nisja - Berisha, Nevland, Olsen

Viking 1 - 1 Strømsgodset
Anier
Kovacs

Starting XI:

Østbø - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Sigurdsson, Bertelsen - Gyan - Norwood, Nisja -Berisha, Anier, Nielsen

Lillestrøm 3 - 0 Viking
Sundgot
Helle
Gabrielsen
Gyan

Starting XI:

Østbø - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Sigurdsson, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Norwood, Gyan - Berisha, Anier, Nielsen

MotM: Tor Arne Andreassen

August

Tippeligaen

Viking 2 - 1 Rosenborg
Lædre Bjørdal
Anier
Åsen (pen)

Starting XI:

Hansen - Landu-Landu, Lædre Bjørdal, Sigurdsson, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Schulze, Nisja - de Lanlay, Nevland, Nielsen

Molde 1 - 0 Viking
Tripic

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Acasiete, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Norwood, Hopen - Berisha, Anier, Olsen

MotM: Knut Olav Rindarøy

Viking 3 - 1 Brann
Anier
Berisha
Riski
Haugen

Starting XI:

Østbø - Landu-Landu, Lædre Bjørdal, Sigurdsson, Vilsvik - Ørnskov - Nisja, Hopen - Berisha, Anier, Nielsen

Norwegian Cup Quarter-Final

Viking 2 - 0 Odd Grenland
Anier
Ørnskov (pen)

Starting XI:

Østbø - Landu-Landu, Lædre Bjørdal, Sigurdsson, Ludwig - Ørnskov - Nisja, Hopen - Berisha, Anier, Nielsen

Europa League

Lech Poznan 2 - 4 Viking (3rd Qualification Round, 1st Leg)
Anier
Norwood
Lewandowski
Swiergiel

Starting XI:

Østbø - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Acasiete, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Norwood, Nisja - Berisha, Anier, Olsen

Viking 2 (6) - (3) 1 Lech Poznan (3rd Qualification Round, 2nd Leg)
Anier
Lædre Bjørdal
Staniszewski

Starting XI:

Østbø - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Acasiete, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Norwood, Nisja - Berisha, Anier, Olsen

Celtic 1 - 1 Viking (4th Qualification Round, 1st Leg)
Anier
Zimling (pen)

Starting XI:

Østbø - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Sigurdsson, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Nisja, Norwood - Berisha, Anier, Nielsen

Viking 3 (4) - (4)a 3 Celtic
Hopen
Nisja
Nevland
Hooper
Zimling
Fellah
Poulsen

Starting XI:

Østbø - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Sigurdsson, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Nisja, Hopen - Berisha, Anier, Olsen

Table

Still 8 points ahead with 10 matches left!

News update

Hopen and Riski ready for Viking

In the last week of the transfer window, Viking signed two new players. Ørjan Hopen was brought in from Sogndal for a fee of £450,000. The 21-year old Norwegian can play as a central midfielder or as a left winger.

Viking's other signing is Finnish Roope Riski. The 22-year old striker was a free transfer.

Ørnskov and Landu-Landu extends their contracts

Danish midfielder Martin Ørnskov and Norwegian right-back/midfielder Christian Landu-Landu has renewed their contracts at Viking. Ørnskov's contract expires in 2017, and Landu-Landu's contract expires in 2015.

Nevland announces his retirement

Norwegian veteran striker Erik Nevland has announced that he will retire from football after the season. The 35-year old has a very big star in Viking and has played over 100 matches and scored over 100 goals for the club.

Upcoming fixtures in September

Tippeligaen
Odd Grenland - Viking
Viking - Fredrikstad
Sandefjord - Viking
Sandnes Ulf - Viking

Norwegian Cup Semi-Final
Viking - Molde

Match of the month:
Viking will be looking for their second consecutive cup final when they play against Molde. Molde has shown that they are not an easy team to beat.

What do you think about this month? How do you think I'll do this next month?
Please comment :-)

September + October update

Two great months has passed and we need just one single point to secure the title.

Match reports

September

Tippeligaen

Odd Grenland 2 - 2 Viking
Anier
Fevang
Jørgensen

Starting XI:

Østbø - Landu-Landu, Lædre Bjørdal, Sigurdsson, Bertelsen - Norwood - Nisja, Hopen - de Lanlay, Anier, Olsen

Viking 0 - 1 Fredrikstad
Diomande
Ørnskov

Starting XI:

Hansen - Landu-Landu, Acasiete, Ludwig, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Nisja, Hopen - de Lanlay, Riski, Olsen

MotM: Vidar Martinsen

Sandefjord 0 - 1 Viking
Olsen

Starting XI:

Hansen - Landu-Landu, Acasiete, Lædre Bjørdal, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Nisja, Hopen - Berisha, Nielsen, Olsen

Sandnes Ulf 0 - 2 Viking
Riski
Ndikumana

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Acasiete, Lædre Bjørdal, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Schulze, Norwood - de Lanlay, Riski, Olsen

Norwegian Cup Semi-Final

Viking 3 - 0 Molde
Riski
Schulze
de Lanlay

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Acasiete, Lædre Bjørdal, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Schulze, Norwood - de Lanlay, Riski, Olsen

October

Viking 0 - 0 Vålerenga

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Acasiete, Lædre Bjørdal, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Hopen, Nisja - Riski, Anier, Nielsen

Viking 3 - 0 Hønefoss
Hopen
Riski
Stubhaug

Starting XI:

Østbø - Vilsvik, Acasiete, Lædre Bjørdal, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Hopen, Nisja - Riski, Anier, Olsen

Sogndal 2 - 3 Viking
Nielsen
Riski
Valsvik
Lund
Mane
Shindika

Starting XI:

Østbø - Vilsvik, Acasiete, Lædre Bjørdal, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Hopen, Nisja - Riski, Nielsen, Olsen

Table

We need only one single point to win the league!

Upcoming fixtures in November + December

November:
Tippeligaen
Viking - Tromsø
Sarpsborg 08 - Viking

Norwegian Cup Final
Tromsø - Viking

December:
Viking - Stabæk

Match of the month:

Will Tromsø get their revenge from last year when they one again face Viking in the cup final? Viking has a chance to get their 2nd Cup title in 2 years.

What do you think about this months? How do you think I'll do this next month?
Please comment :-)

End of season

The season has ended, and what a season it was!

Match reports

Tippeligaen

Viking 2 - 2 Tromsø
Anier
Nystrøm
Lekven

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Sigurdsson, Lædre Bjørdal, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Norwood ( 74'), Nisja - de Lanlay ( 74'), Anier, Nielsen ( 90')

Subs:

Østbø, Landu-Landu, Acasiete, Olsen ( 90'), Hopen ( 74'), Riski ( 74'), Nevland

Sarpsborg 0 - 2 Viking
Nevland

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Sigurdsson, Lædre Bjørdal, Bjørnå ( 85') - Ørnskov - Hopen ( 64'), Schulze - de Lanlay, Nevland ( 85'), Nielsen

Subs:

Østbø, Landu-Landu, Ludwig ( 85'), Olsen, Norwood (64'), Riski ( 85'), Anier

Viking 2 - 3 Stabæk
Nevland
de Lanlay
Stokkelien
Haidar

Starting XI:

Dyrdal - Landu-Landu, Acasiete ( 57'), Ludwig, Bjørnå - Norwood (85') - Nisja, Schulze ( 72') - de Lanlay, Nevland, Olsen

Subs:

Østbø, Bertelsen, Sigurdsson ( 57'), Ørnskov (72'), Hopen (85'), Riski, Anier

MotM: Mads Stokkelien

Norwegian Cup Final

Tromsø 1 - 4 Viking
Anier
Nielsen
de Lanlay
Koppinen

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik ( 83'), Sigurdsson, Lædre Bjørdal, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Hopen, Nisja - de Lanlay ( 72'), Anier ( 83'), Nielsen

Subs:

Østbø, Landu-Landu ( 83'), Acasiete, Norwood, Riski ( 72'), Nevland ( 83')

Table

CHAMPIONS! With 8 points down to 2nd place it was a clear victory as well.

News story

Steinnes confirms that he recieved a job offer last week

Henrik Steinnes, Viking's manager confirms that Sunderland contacted him last week for the available job as manager for the club. "I rejected it almost immediately after i recieved it. I feel that my job in Viking is not finished yet, and we still have a lot of challenges lying upon us.", Steinnes said in an interview.

Steinnes was also named in the Hall of Fame for Norwegian managers this season.

Season stats (Viking)

Top scorer (League): Henri Anier, 20 goals
Top scorer (Cup): Veton Berisha, 6 goals
Top scorer (Overall): Henri Anier, 28 goals

Most assists (League): Trond Olsen, 11 assists
Most assists (Cup): Trond Olsen, 6 assists
Most assists (Overall): Trond Olsen, 22 assists

Highest overall rating: Henri Anier, 7.49

Season review

This was an excellent season for us, and the only thing that could've improved it was if we made it to the group stage of the Europa League.

What do you think about my season? What should be my season goals for next season? Any improvements on how I'm writing the story?
Please comment :-)

Great story!
It's something different, I like that!

2012-09-12 21:58#65820 LIVER_POOL : Great story!
It's something different, I like that!

Thanks, mate! :-)

We are the champions! We are the champions!
Win everything domestically next season, and creating a competitive side for Europe should be your next goal.

2012-09-13 15:44#65839 akash.vidyasagar : We are the champions! We are the champions!
Win everything domestically next season, and creating a competitive side for Europe should be your next goal.

Sounds like good goals for me, Akash :-)

Hopefully we'll do well in the CL and get to the group stages

2014 squad

Keepers:

1.André Hansen
12. Arild Østbø
25. Roy Dyrdal

Defenders:

2. Trond Erik Bertelsen
3. Johan Lædre Bjørdal (C)
4. Santiago Acasiete
5. Lars-Christopher Vilsvik
6. Lars Arne Togstad*
17. Alexander Ludwig
21. Christian Landu-Landu
34. Sander Bjørnå

Midfielders:

7. Martin Ørnskov (V)
8. Vidar Nisja
9. Ørjan Hopen
10. Yann-Erik de Lanlay
14. Hajime Hosogai*
18. Oliver Norwood
20. Fredrik Midtsjø*

Strikers:

11. Henri Anier
13. Roope Riski
19. Veton Berisha
28. Morten Nielsen

* = new signings

Transfers

Transfers in:

Lars Arne Togstad (19, free transfer)
Hajime Hosogai (27, free transfer)
Fredrik Midtsjø (20, £700K)

Transfers out

Eirik Schulze (Sarpsborg, £10K)
Indridi Sigurdsson (AIK Solna, £95K)
Trond Olsen (Odense Boldklub, £400K)
King Osei Gyan (Loaned to Strømsgodset, £12K)

Pre-season matches

Vestsjælland 0 - 2 Viking
Nielsen
Edmundsson

Vejle 1 - 3 Viking
de Lanlay
Anier
Nisja
Andersen

Randers 1 - 2 Viking
Norwood
Edmundsson
Goa

AGF 4 - 1 Viking
Anier
Skhirtladze
Solberg
Bechmann
Ómarsson

Viking 0 - 2 Follo
Pedersen

Viking 3 - 0 Fløy
Aasen
Bjørnå (pen)
Dreyer

Viking 0 - 3 Thun
Østbø
Dubuis
Inderbitzin

Fixtures in March

Viking - Molde
Vålerenga - Viking
Viking - Odd Grenland
Bodø/Glimt - Viking

Match of the Month

Viking will face one of the teams that are favourites for the league title this year when Molde visits Stavanger for a match no one wants to lose.

What do you think about the pre-season matches? How do you think I'll do this next month?
Please comment :-)

March update

The league has now started, and we have started pretty decent.

Match reports

Viking 3 - 1 Molde
de Lanlay
Anier
Hopen
Tripic

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Acasiete, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Hopen ( 87'), Norwood ( 67') - de Lanlay, Anier ( 74'), Berisha

Subs:

Østbø, Ludwig, Togstad ( 87'), Midtsjø ( 67'), Nisja, Nielsen, Riski ( 74')

Vålerenga 0 - 2 Viking
Anier

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Acasiete, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Hopen ( 85'), Midtsjø ( 85') - de Lanlay, Anier , Berisha (85')

Subs:

Østbø, Ludwig, Togstad, Norwood ( 85'), Hosogai ( 85'), Nielsen ( 85'), Riski

Viking 2 - 1 Odd Grenland
Anier
Wemberg

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik ( 84'), Lædre Bjørdal, Acasiete, Bertelsen - Ørnskov ( 84') - Hopen, Hosogai - de Lanlay, Anier, Berisha ( 68')

Subs:

Østbø, Ludwig, Togstad ( 84'), Norwood ( 84'), Midtsjø, Nielsen ( 68'), Riski

Bodø/Glimt 2 - 2 Viking
de Lanlay
Anier
Knarvik
Khalili

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Acasiete, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Norwood ( 79'), Hopen - de Lanlay, Anier ( 66'), Nielsen ( 87')

Subs:

Østbø, Ludwig, Togstad, Hosogai, Midtsjø ( 79'), Berisha ( 87'), Riski ( 66')

MotM: Tommy Knarvik

Table

Currently doing well and have contact with the top teams.

Fixtures in April

Fredrikstad - Viking
Viking - Strømsgodset
Hønefoss - Viking
Viking - Tromsø
Brann - Viking
Viking - Lillestrøm

Match of the month:

Brann - Viking will be a match not only between bitter rivals, but also a match between two giants in Norwegian football.

What do you think about this month? How do you think I'll do this next month?
Please comment :-)

April update

April has passed, and we are still unbeaten!

Match reports

Fredrikstad 1 - 1 Viking
Norwood (pen)
Ruud Tveter

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Togstad, Bertelsen ( 64') - Hosogai - Norwood, Hopen ( 84') - de Lanlay, Riski ( 8'), Nielsen

Subs:

Østbø, Ludwig ( 64'), Acasiete, Ørnskov, Midtsjø ( 84'), Berisha, Anier ( 8')

MotM: Thomas Holm

Viking 5 - 0 Strømsgodset
Anier

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Togstad ( 87'), Bertelsen - Ørnskov ( 71') - Norwood, Midtsjø - de Lanlay ( 71'), Anier, Hopen

Subs:

Østbø, Ludwig, Acasiete ( 87'), Hosogai ( 71'), Nisja, Nielsen, Berisha ( 71')

Hønefoss 0 - 0 Viking

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Acasiete, Bertelsen - Ørnskov - Norwood ( 68'), Midtsjø - de Lanlay ( 62'), Anier ( 83'), Hopen

Subs:

Østbø, Ludwig, Togstad, Hosogai, Nisja ( 68'), Nielsen ( 83'), Berisha ( 62')

Viking 4 - 1 Tromsø
Anier
Hopen
de Lanlay
Diomande

Starting XI:

Hansen - Vilsvik, Lædre Bjørdal, Togstad, Bertelsen ( 54') - Ørnskov - Norwood, Midtsjø ( 87') - de Lanlay ( 76'), Anier, Hopen

Subs:

Østbø, Ludwig ( 54'), Landu-Landu, Hosogai, Nisja ( 87'), Nielsen, Berisha ( 76')

Brann 0 - 1 Viking
Anier

Starting XI:

Wiland - Landu-Landu, Lædre Bjørdal, Togstad, Vilsvik - Ørnskov - Norwood, Midtsjø ( 82') - de Lanlay ( 66'), Anier, Hopen ( 82')

Subs:

Hansen, Ludwig, Bjørnå, Hosogai, Nisja ( 82'), Nielsen ( 82'), Berisha ( 66')

Viking 2 - 2 Lillestrøm
Anier
Helle
Omoijuanfo
Anier

Starting XI:

Wiland - Landu-Landu, Lædre Bjørdal, Togstad, Vilsvik - Ørnskov - Norwood, Midtsjø ( 86') - de Lanlay ( 76'), Anier, Hopen ( 66')

Subs:

Hansen, Ludwig, Bjørnå, Hosogai ( 86'), Nisja ( 76'), Nielsen ( 66'), Berisha

Table

We are just one point behind Brann, and I'm sure we will get on top of the league soon

News update

Steinnes and Anier recieves monthly awards

Viking's manager Henrik Steinnes has recieved the Manager of the Month award for April. Viking's Estonian striker Henri Anier was named as Player of the Month.

Wiland signes for Viking

Swedish goalkeeper Johan Wiland has signed for defending champions Viking. Wiland joined the Norwegian side on a two-year deal after his contract at Danish club FC København expired.

Fixtures in May

Tippeligaen
Sandefjord - Viking
Viking - Rosenborg
Stabæk - Viking
Viking - Sogndal

Norwegian Cup
Fana - Viking
2nd Round?
3rd Round?

Match of the Month:

When Rosenborg travel down to Viking and Stavanger, they hope to close the gap up to the top teams. They know it won't be easy with a Viking team that is still unbeaten this season.

What do you think about this month? How do you think I'll do this next month?
Please comment :-)

Keep up the great work!! I'm sure you will top the table with your team's evident scoring ability.