– I see around me that suddenly there is a Norwegian 18-year-old who is sold to Benfica for 100 million. At that age I played in the 3rd division, so I blossomed a little late, but it’s better late than never, says Tobias Lauritsen. And flourishing, he really does now. The 25-year-old, who moved from Odd to Sparta Rotterdam this summer, has six nets and two goal-scoring passes in the Dutch top division this season. The website whoscored.com has the Norwegian on his dream team after a half-played season. – The team is doing very well, I am doing very well, yes, it is fun during the day, says a satisfied Lauritsen to news on the phone from the Netherlands. CELEBRATING SKÅRING: Tobias Lauritsen in the Sparta Rotterdam suit – Almost like a sensation The traditional club Sparta Rotterdam was predicted by several experts to be relegated. The facade is completely different. The club is in 6th place and has teams like Ajax, Twente and PSV Eindhoven breathing down their necks after 20 rounds. – Many are shocked that we are doing so well, says Lauritsen. Viaplay commentator Paul Thomas Clay confirms what Lauritsen says. The Sparta success is a big talking point in the Netherlands this season. – It is almost like a sensation to count on in Dutch football that the club is up there. They continue to perform well as well. It wasn’t just a blip at the start of the season. Lauritsen should have a lot of credit for that, says Clay to news. The commentator has followed the top division in the Netherlands closely in recent years. – Succeeding as a forward in the honors division is demanding. It is a much higher level than in the Eliteserien, Clay continues. IMPRESSED: Viaplay commentator Paul Thomas Clay is impressed by the performance of Tobias Lauritsen. Photo: Privat For Lauritsen, it has been a dream to move out of Norway to play football. Now he lives with his girlfriend and their two dogs in Rotterdam. – Should have said that I could play forward At the age of 18, Lauritsen played as a midfielder for the Skien team Odd, but was not offered a professional contract by the then coach Dag-Eilev Fagermo. – I signed for Pors Grenland in the 3rd division to bet for one more year. Just to see what it would lead to. Many had probably given up at that point, but I had always wanted and believed, says Lauritsen. At the same time, he applied for the childcare studies to combine it with playing in the 3rd division. It didn’t last that long. – On the first day of school, there was a lecture where they explained how it was going to be in the coming years. The advice from the lecturer to put in 40 hours a week frightened the footballer. – Suddenly they said there was a 15-minute break. Then I just ran out the door, and afterwards I called them and said I was never coming back. It was by chance that Lauritsen became an attacking player. – We were missing a striker in the team. So I played a match there, which resulted in some scores. I continued to play there for the rest of the season and scored many goals. That’s how it happened, he remembers. Just one year after he was wrecked, Odd wanted him back. He thus signed a new contract with the elite series team – and suddenly his career was on the right track again. – It was Fagermo who was the coach. The first thing he said to me was that I should have said that I could play forward, Lauritsen grins. MATCH WINNER: Tobias Lauritsen was the match winner against Vålerenga for Odd in 2022. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Although he got a professional contract as a 19-year-old, it wasn’t until autumn last year that his travel dream came true. – I think that is very important for many young people who do not get the first professional contract they are looking for. That they find another place and can flourish there, and then rather get the opportunity a little later. CELEBRATING SKÅRING: Tobias Lauritsen in the Sparta Rotterdam suit – Likes strikers like him The striker is 194 centimeters tall and has impressed many with his skills both in the air and with his feet. – In the Netherlands they like the type of striker who is built like him. The physical type who has a wide range of characteristics and is a bit of a multi-role player, says Clay.
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