– I started by heading a ball when I was three years old. It will be exciting to see how long my head lasts. Leo Østigård tells news about what has become one of Norway’s foremost defense weapons in this collection: his head. – Like a kangaroo The midfielder, who Morten Langli compares with the Serbian stopper legend Nemanja Vidic, and who himself has Fabio Cannavaro as his great role model, says that it is no coincidence that he has become a real monster in the air. – We always make measurements of resilience, and I know I have been one of the very best in my previous clubs. And then it’s just as important with the timing, which my dad and I have trained a lot on. He was the best in the family at the time, but now I hope I am better. Østigård’s father is former Åndalsnes bauta Even Østigård. – He was extremely good on the head and in duels, and he was slightly lower than me too, the 22-year-old remembers today. On the national team, he has formed a very successful stopper pair together with Stefan Strandberg. – Leo is like a kangaroo, is the certificate from Strandberg about the stopper maker’s resilience. KNALLHARD: Leo Østigård wins another duel in the air. There will be many of them. Photo: JESPER ZERMAN / BILDBYRÅN Do not think anyone in Norway takes him in a duel The new national team player says that if the memory plays on a team, he is around 55 centimeters on a stationary high jump. – But I do not know. It may be lower or higher. I do not know, says Østigård and smiles. – Are any of the guys on the national team taking you in a duel? – No, I do not hope so, at least. I want to be the best there. There are some great guys here, but it’s about timing it right and being smart. It’s something I know I’m good at, and something I master well, says the Åndalsnes boy. The key lies in “timing”, says Østigård himself, and says that he has trained so much to guess which time is best to jump into a duel, that it is now on autopilot. Duel tricks The experience has meant that he has now created a little duel trick that is nice to have at the level he plays now. – I always jump quite early, and then the opponent is put out a bit because he can not jump after me. These are the kinds of things you have to do to get the most out of it when you are not the tallest on the field. But there are also other little things that are important, and that I will keep a little to myself, says Østigård. To Naples? This week, the 22-year-old was given a place by the international transition king Fabrizio Romano. Few have a better source network than the Italian reporter, and now he writes that Napoli are in final negotiations with Brighton about a permanent transfer for the Norwegian who impressed on loan in Genoa this season. Østigård himself points out that he can not say much about this yet. – Now I have had all the focus on the national team and do the best I can here. Then Jim (Solbakken) gets to take care of the rest. I need to talk to him a little bit and find out what the plan will be next. We will have to look at that, says Østigård. Want to avoid the bench If there is one thing Leo Østigård hates, it is sitting on the bench. Most players dislike sitting on the bench, but Østigård hates it. With a big H. A transfer to a giant club like Napoli automatically gives greater competition for places, and this is something he has in mind when choosing a club. – It has always been important for me to play matches. It still will be. And then I know where I stand after playing in Italy for half a year. The bigger the club is, the harder it will be to play, and these are the things you have to consider. I am confident that I will make it work very well in the next club if it should happen, the national team player says confidently. This collection he has delivered brilliant performances for Norway and received much praise from several teams. The 22-year-old greatly appreciates the pleasant feedback. – But it’s about being ready for the next match – and having your feet planted on the ground and working hard. I’ve always done that. I have only tried to play as best I can, and do the best I can for Norway and my country, he says. Goal: Get Norwegians acquainted with him Ståle Solbakken has spent time convincing himself that Østigård should start for Norway in an important match. Against Serbia he got his first opportunity in a big match, only his second match ever, and grabbed it with both hands. – I have been waiting to get that opportunity, and now I have got it properly. I have always been confident that I will show what I can and what I know I am good at. It has been very nice, and of course nice to show it to the Norwegian people. People may not always follow matches in Italy, so it’s nice and important to get it out in Norway, too. It has been one of my goals, that people should know me a little better, says Østigård. We can sum-sum up in two words: Misson Accomplished.
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