2014 Strømsgodset Toppfotball season

After winning the 2013 Tippeligaen, only their second league title, Strømsgodset saw some of their most important players leave for other clubs. Their deep-lying midfielder, Stefan Johansen, was sold to Celtic F.C. for a fee of 20 million NOK (£2 million), a club record sale.[4][5] The two top scoring strikers with 20 league goals combined, Ola Kamara and Adama Diomande, both left the club. Kamara's loan from SV Ried ended, and he signed for Austria Wien, while Diomande was sold from Strømsgodset to Dinamo Minsk for a reported fee of €350,000.[6] Furthermore, box-to-box midfielder Abdisalam Ibrahim, on loan from Manchester City in the 2013 season, signed for Olympiacos. These four players were a large part of the Strømsgodset team in 2013: Only goalkeeper and captain Adam Larsen Kwarasey played more than Johansen and Ibrahim (with 27 matches), while Diomande was involved in 25 matches and Kamara in all 14 league matches (scoring 12 goals) during his loan spell. It was evident that the club had to replace these players if they were to challenge for the title again.

Marius Høibråten, a 19-year-old defender from Lillestrøm had already signed a contract with Strømsgodset in October 2013.[7] He replaced players like Razak Nuhu, whose loan spell from Manchester City ended, and Ole Amund Sveen, who left for Hødd. Two young midfielders, Patrick Olsen and Francisco Júnior, were signed on loan from their respective clubs Inter and Everton. These would replace Ibrahim, and provide depth to the squad in these positions.[8][9]

Mohammed Abu was the fourth signing, as replacement for Stefan Johansen. The Ghanaian midfielder was highly regarded in Strømsgodset after loan spells from Manchester City in 2010-11 and 2012. However, he had failed to impress on loan spells in other clubs, partly due to injuries. In a move that all parties wanted,[10] Strømsgodset signed the player for a club record fee of approximately NOK 4 million.[10] Coincidentally, Stefan Johansen had been the one to replace Abu after the latter's second loan spell ended.

Strømsgodset hoped that striker Thomas Sørum, who had been injured for most of 2013, would return to form and provide the goals they needed now that Kamara and Diomande had left. They also tried to sign another striker, Marvin Ogunjimi, who scored twice in ten minutes in a friendly match before the season.[11][12] Unfortunately, internal club discussion at Mallorca made it difficult for Strømsgodset to finalize the deal before the Norwegian transfer window closed.[13] The deal would eventually go through in the summer transfer window.[14]

As for the goalkeeper position, the club knew that club captain Adam Larsen Kwarasey was likely to be called up to the Ghana squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and needed a backup for the Tippeliga matches to be played during the World Cup. Lars Stubhaug, who had served as backup goalkeeper in 2013, had signed for Rosenborg BK,.[15] The four young goalkeepers on the team were believed inexperienced for first team matches. Anders Gundersen was closest, and played reserve team matches in the latter half of 2013, but mistakes during the pre-season friendlies made the club call Sead Ramović out of retirement. The Bosnian 35-year-old was signed as a backup goalkeeper, but claimed he wanted to fight for the first team spot.[16]

Additionally, Danish ex-player David Nielsen was brought in before the season began as the new Assistant Manager.[17] Nielsen, who spent the 2008 season playing as a striker at Strømsgodset, had proven himself by managing Nest-Sotra to promotion to the 2013 1. Divisjon. He was head-hunted by Strømsgodset a replacement for Ronny Deila. In June, when Deila was made Manager with Celtic F.C., the Strømsgodset board would promote him to Manager after having been with the club 6 months.[1][2][3]

As champions of the 2013 Tippeliga, Strømsgodset won the Norwegian slot in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League, entering in the 2nd qualifying round. If they were to be eliminated in the 3rd round or playoff stage, they would enter the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League.

Marienlyst Stadion, as a Category 3 stadium,[18] would not be eligible for the Champions League playoff-rounds[19] (or later stages) or for the Europa League group stage[20] (or later). In order to fulfill the demands of a Category 4 stadium, the stadium mainly needed to be expanded to 8,000 seats. There were also other minor details that needed to be upgraded.[21]

Drammen municipality (the owners of the stadium) and the club decided to rebuild the south end, which was a simple standing terrace. The construction works reduced the capacity of the stadium from about 7,500 to 6,427 after the third home game of the season, until the new end was opened for the match against Vålerenga on 19 July 2014. The south end was rebuilt with a new concrete foundation, and safe standing rail seats. These types of seats were also installed in the central part of the terraces in the north end. Afterwards, the new capacity was 8,935 for league games, or 8,060 for European matches.[22] Roof and toilet facilities were added after the season.[22]

Strømsgodset started the season well, winning four out of the first five games. This put them at the top of the table after the third round, a position they stayed in until round six, when Molde went ahead. Their first loss was 0-3 away against Vålerenga on May 1. At home they won seven out of the first eight matches, before losing 0-2, also this time against Vålerenga. This put an end to their long streak of 46 undefeated matches at home in the Tippeliga, which was a new record in the league. They stabilized near the top of the table, holding the second position for most rounds. After round 18 of 30, they had 34 points, placing them in the 3rd position, behind Molde and Odd. August and September was, however, disastrous for the team. With only one win, they dropped to 5th in the table, far behind Molde, who went on to secure the league title on 4 October. Strømsgodset finished the season somewhat better, and with a 2-0 win at home versus the champions on 2 Nov, they secured the 4th position and a place in the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1st qualification round.

In the cup, after a solid win in the first round, Strømsgodset again struggled against lower league teams. In the 2nd round, they needed extra time to secure a win over Ørn-Horten. The 3rd round match versus Tromsdalen also had to be decided after extra time, but this time, Strømsgodset lost.

The club was unseeded in the 2nd qualifying round and drew the highest-ranked team, Steaua București. The first match was played at home on 16 July, in front of 5,056 spectators.[23] Though Strømsgodset was described as the best team in the match reports,[24] the away team scored the only goal of the match. In the return match, Steaua won 2-0 after two late goals, and the European adventure was over for Strømsgodset.[25]

One of the most exciting events was the emergence of 15-year-old midfielder Martin Ødegaard. On an amateur contract when the season began, he was eligible to feature in up to three Tippeliga matches for Strømsgodset.[26] He made his debut for Strømsgodset in a match against Aalesund at Marienlyst Stadion on 13 April 2014, becoming the youngest footballer ever to play in the Tippeliga.[27] In the match, he set up the second goal, scoring an assist in his debut. After featuring in the starting line-up against Vålerenga on May 1, and being one of the better players on the pitch, it became clear that the three matches would not be enough for Strømsgodset. He signed a professional contract for 2014 and 2015 with Strømsgodset on 5 May 2014.[28] On 16 May 2014, he scored the fourth goal for Strømsgodset in a home match against Sarpsborg 08 FF which Strømsgodset won 4-1, making him the youngest person to score a goal in the Tippeliga.[27] His major breakthrough happened with the away match against Sandnes Ulf, where he was involved in all three goals of his team, scoring one and having one assist. He was also fouled for a penalty, which was missed by Sørum. After the match, media were discussing his possible debut on the Norway national team[29][30][31] This would become a reality the same year. Ødegaard made his international debut for Norway against the United Arab Emirates on 27 August 2014, becoming the youngest debutant for the senior team at the age of 15 years and 253 days.[32] On 13 October 2014, he became the youngest player to feature in a qualifier for the UEFA European Championship.[33][34]

Another player impressing the fans was Iver Fossum. The box-to-box midfielder, born in 1996, made his debut in the previous season, with four matches as a sub.[35] In 2014, he was one of the most consistent players, starting 10 of the first 17 matches in the league, scoring twice. He also featured in both Champions League qualification games. Despite Strømsgodset signing players on loan from big clubs, it was local youngster Fossum who became the unsung hero.[36][37]

Striker Thomas Sørum got off to a good start of the season, scoring 43 seconds after being subbed on in the first match.[38] Unfortunately, after six matches and two goals, he was injured again, missing the next four league games and two cup ties. He then played 17 minutes against Rosenborg in the 11th round, scoring 7 minutes after being subbed-on at halftime, before being carried off on a stretcher 10 minutus later with a head injury.[39] He returned in the 17th round, scoring again, but failed to make the team after the arrival of Marvin Ogunjimi.

Unlike the title-winning 2013 season, the two centre backs Jørgen Horn and Kim Andre Madsen spent most of the first half of the season injured. Taking their places were mainly home-grown Lars Sætra and new signing Marius Høibråten from Lillestrøm. Unfortunately for Strømsgodset, Sætra rejected a new contract and left the club in July, signing for Swedish club Hammarby. The talented young centre back from Sogndal, Gustav Valsvik was bought in the summer transfer window to make up for the loss.[40] Furthermore, Jeb Brovsky from New York City FC[41] and Stefan Aškovski from FK Partizan[42] were signed on loan to help cover for the injured defenders. However, both players failed to make an impression on the team.

Another home-grown player left Strømsgodset in the summer; Winger Muhamed Keita was sold to Lech Poznan.[43] To replace him, Bassel Jradi was signed from FC Nordsjælland, but did not play much.[44]

Sead Ramović retired without playing a match, when Anders Gundersen was selected for the first game after Adam Larsen Kwarasey joined the Ghana WC squad. Gundersen played all three league matches during Kwarasey's absence. Without Ramović, and with Hermann Rhodén, Eirik Johannesen and Borger Thomas all out on loan, the club was forced to place 16-year-old Morten Sætra on the bench. He played a friendly against IFK Göteborg in June, but did not play in the league.[45]