The case in summary: There has been an increase in the number of Norwegian football professionals abroad in the last 10 years, from 70 to 178 men. In total, there are 222 Norwegian professionals abroad. Some of these players, like Thomas Drage, play in lesser known and lower ranked leagues. National team manager Ståle Solbakken believes that the increase is natural, but is unsure whether it is only positive. Some players, such as Sivert Gussiås, have chosen to play in lesser-known leagues in order to gain more experience and avoid dropping to a lower level in Norway. In addition to the 178 men, there are also 44 women playing abroad in the summer of 2024. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – In the one match we fielded a guy from the start whom we have never met before, so it was a bit interesting. That’s what Thomas Drage (32), who plays for Europa Point FC in Gibraltar, says. The league is among the weakest in Europe. It is actually only San Marino’s top league that is ranked lower by UEFA. The former Tromsø and Fredrikstad player is part of the trend in which more and more Norwegian professionals are playing abroad. 10 years ago there were 70 Norwegian men who played football abroad, in 2024 the same number has risen to 179 Norwegian professionals abroad. When the women are also added to the calculation, there is very close to a tripling of the number of foreign professionals in 10 years. But not all end up in the most famous leagues, such as Erling Braut Haaland, Alexander Sørloth and Ada Hegerberg. Did you know, for example, that there are five Norwegians playing in Bulgaria? Check out the map to see which countries there are Norwegian professionals abroad. Even Drage is not particularly impressed by the level at the southern tip of Spain. – It is very varied, the best teams are perhaps at Norwegian 1st division level, while the bottom team are probably at 3rd division level, says the foreign professional. But in a small town it is also a short journey to the away games. – It’s just a stadium, says Drage, who says there can be between 300 and 400 spectators at the best-attended games. There are spectacular surroundings in which Thomas Drage plays football in Gibraltar. There is only this stadium in Gibraltar. Photo: JON NAZCA / Reuters The national team manager: – Could be negative. Son of the national team manager, Markus Solbakken (23) dreams of playing in one of the best leagues. He believes that many players in his situation are looking for a league in the middle tier of Europe. They do this in the hope of being picked up by even bigger clubs in the future. – It is not so easy to go directly from Norway. Many are looking for an intermediate step, says Markus Solbakken. He made his debut in the national team and became a series champion with Czech Sparta Prague last season. He does not regret the choice he made to leave Norway. – It is only when you take the step abroad that you really get a feel for being a full-time footballer, and perhaps that it becomes even more serious. It has always been my big dream to go abroad, says Solbakken. Markus Solbakken met Liverpool with Cody Gakpo when they played in the Europa League this spring. Photo: MICHAL CIZEK / AFP For many years, the term foreign professional was a rich title for a footballer to have. In recent years, the number of foreign professionals has exploded. One of those who is not surprised by the large increase in Norwegians abroad is national team manager Ståle Solbakken. – Now all the pros in Norway are on every possible parameter, so being a professional abroad is more about the fact that you play abroad, says Solbakken, who himself was a professional abroad around the turn of the millennium. He describes it as a natural development as Norwegian clubs cannot compete on the paycheck. – The competition for players is so extreme, and Norway is a country where it is possible to get players from, says Solbakken. What Solbakken, on the other hand, is more uncertain about is whether it is only a positive development. – It’s good that the best players go to better leagues, but then you can also turn it around a bit to say that maybe sometimes you should have had players a little longer in Norway, says Solbakken. National team manager Ståle Solbakken gave his son, Markus Solbakken, the chance for the national team. Markus now plays for Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB – The referees are a little worse Sivert Gussiås (24) is not among those who have classic club selections in recent years and he is now in Lithuania. His team is called Panevėžys and is fighting against relegation in Europe’s 43rd best top league. – It is a very good experience, because there is a slightly different culture on the football pitch. The referees are a little worse and there are a little harder tackles, says Gussiås. Sivert Gussiås has chosen to play in Lithuania this season. Last season they were league champions, so now Gussiås has had the chance to play in the qualification for the Meisterligaen. Photo: Privat Even though he was part of the European adventure with Klaksvík last season, there were no offers waiting for him. Then a phone call from Lithuania saved the striker. – Instead of going down to a much lower level and trying to get started there, it might be just as well to go abroad, says Gussiås. See the list of women who play abroad. In the summer of 2024, 45 women will play abroad. Published 25/07/2024, at 05.39
ttn-69
– Posed with a guy we had never met – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
