Before Ståle Solbakken came in as Norwegian national team manager, Ryerson only had one poor international match on his CV, and he came with the much-discussed “emergency national team” against Austria in November 2020. But since Solbakken took over from Lars Lagerbäck in December 2020, Ryerson has been a permanent fixture in the squad. Vice-captain In total there have been ten new international matches for the defender who left Viking in 2018. – His status with us has gradually been strengthened, he has been at Union Berlin as well, says Solbakken now. He is absolutely right. Ryerson was recently appointed vice-captain of the team which, against all odds, tops the Bundesliga after seven rounds. – It’s a responsibility I think I can grow into. It is a declaration of confidence, and I have great respect for the task. I think I can grow on it, says Ryerson himself to news. Julian Ryerson has gained a lot of experience against tough Bundesliga players. Here in ampere dispute with Thomas Müller. Photo: FRANKPETERS / WITTERS Of defenders in the Bundesliga on Kicker’s player exchange, only the two profiles Benjamin Pavard and Matthias Ginter are ranked better in the German top division. That says something about the Norwegian’s start to the season. – It is good to receive recognition from the outside, but not something I attach great importance to. As a player, you yourself have a sense of how well you are doing, says Ryerson. – Norway’s biggest team He has taken step by step since the transfer from Viking in 2018 and has been patient. In the 2019 season, he only played three games from the start. In 2020, there were ten games from the start, while in 2021 there were still 13. So far in 2022, he has started six out of seven games and has been an important piece for the big surprise team throughout the season so far. – I knew what I was getting myself into, and the development of the club has suited my own development well. I hope it continues like this, he says. Ståle Solbakken is in any case impressed. In particular, he has noticed his physique. – He has extreme strength, and perhaps has Norway’s biggest legs, in any case top 3. I think maybe Morten Svesengen (sports director at Romerikes Blad and a good friend of Solbakken) is number one, he grins . These legs have impressed Ståle Solbakken. Photo: Henriette Hoel / news – The first thing I noticed The Norwegian manager describes Ryerson as a prototype “Bundesliga player”. – He thunders up and down, forwards and backwards, lengthways and across. Here we have to hold him back a bit, we are more concerned with him being in certain positions when we have the ball and when we don’t have the ball, says Solbakken. Mohamed Elyounoussi was not surprised by Ryerson’s success either. He quickly realized, when Ryerson became a regular part of the national team, that this is a guy who means business. – The first thing I noticed when I got to know Julian out on the pitch is that he is a player who gives 100 percent of himself all the time, whether it’s a passing exercise or square. He is dead honest in everything he does, and this, together with the talent he has, means that he has come this far. It is a player we will certainly see more of in the future. I also had his coach (Urs Fischer) in Basel, so I am not surprised that they are doing so well, says “Moi” to news. – An incredible journey Morten Thorsby is, as you know, a teammate with Ryerson in Union Berlin. He is also full of praise for his 24-year-old national team colleague. – Julian has had an incredibly good development in recent years. He is still developing strongly and is doing very well, says Thorsby to news. He described Ryerson’s status in the German club as very good. – Julian has been there for four years and was part of the whole journey from the 2nd Bundesliga to playing in the Europa League and renting the Bundesliga now. It’s an incredible journey. Very knowledgeable, and it has been very good for me to have someone who can show me all the rules and customs, and maybe teach me a little German too, says Thorsby. Football life is smiling on Julian Ryerson at the moment. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB Since promotion in 2018, things have gradually gotten better and better for Union Berlin, who are highlighted as one of German football’s real adventure stories in recent years. It was 11th place in 2019, 7th place in 2020, 5th place in 2021 and now they rent the Bundesliga. – It has been a steep upward curve, and now we are renting, so it doesn’t get much better than that. I have been part of a positive development in the last four years, but we have worked quite hard for it. And there is a lot of work ahead of us, says lyngdølen. – Will take it over the goal line Against Slovenia on Saturday evening, Ryerson is expected to start the game at Norway’s right back. Marcus Holmgren Pedersen is both slightly injured and has to deal with a suspension after too many yellow cards. If the result goes Norway’s way, both group victory and promotion to level A in the National League can become a reality on Saturday evening. It will also send Norway into the important seeding level 2 when the EC groups are drawn on 9 October. – I really want that group winner, I think we all do. We have a very good starting point, and now we will take it over the finish line. That is our goal, and I think we will manage it, says Ryerson. The match starts at 18.00, and you can either watch the drama on TV 2 or right on news Sport.
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