Erik Fuglestad

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Erik Fuglestad (b. 13 August 1974 in Stavanger, Norway) is a former professional footballer. He was capped by Norway at under-21 level.

Fuglestad, nicknamed "Fuglis", began his senior career with Viking FK, having arrived from Randaberg IL as a junior. He made his debut in a friendly in 1993, and his league debut in the final game of the 1994 season, replacing Øyvind Mellemstrand at left back. Fuglestad's break-through followed in the 1995 season, when he featured in 25 of the club's 26 league games, scoring two goals, both against IK Start in the space of two weeks during July. Being a local lad, Fuglestad excited the Viking following with his attacking style and good crossing.

He remained the first-choice left back at Viking for a further two seasons, before Mike Walker brought him to Norwich City on a Bosman free transfer in November 1997. He made 80 appearances, scoring 2 goals, for the Canaries before his contract was cancelled towards the end of the 1999-00 season and he returned to former club Viking.

Upon returning to Norwegian football, Fuglestad retrained as a midfielder, playing both in the centre and on the left wing, and he remained a midfielder for the rest of his career. His best season was 2001, when he started all 26 league games for Viking, scoring nine goals, most of which were memorable long distance shots. In addition, he scored three goals in six cup games, helping his club win the Norwegian football cup for the first time in twelve years. However, he missed the cup final due to an injury and was reported to have spent the final in the bathroom, not daring to watch the game. The 2001 Norwegian Cup trophy was his only trophy as a senior footballer.

Fuglestad remained a first-choice midfielder throughout the 2002 season, but he missed all of 2003 through injury. His comeback in 2004 lasted only 15 league games, before a kidney illness forced him into retirement. He remained as an employee of Viking, where he had a role in the administration and was later the head coach of the junior team. An attempted comeback with home club Randaberg IL in 2007 was cut short as Fuglestad's illness returned,[1] and he announced his definitive retirement on August 7, 2007.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Johannessen, Sturla. "Fuglestad blir ikke Randaberg-spiller", Nettavisen, 7 August 2007. Retrieved on 2007-09-15. (Norwegian) 

[edit] External Links

[edit] Sources

  • Canary Citizens by Mark Davage, John Eastwood, Kevin Platt, published by Jarrold Publishing, (2001), ISBN 0-7117-2020-7
  • Drømmen om de mørkeblå by Ole J. Askeland and Arild I. Olsson, published by Stavanger Aftenblad, (1999), ISBN 82-990832-6-5