IK Start

IK Start

Full name	Idrettsklubben Start
Founded	19 September 1905 (19 September 1905)
Ground	Sør Arena Kristiansand
Ground Capacity	14,563
Chairman	Magne Kristiansen
Manager	Mons Ivar Mjelde
League	Tippeligaen
2013	Tippeligaen, 9th
Home colours Away colours
Current season

IK Start is a Norwegian football club from the town of Kristiansand, currently playing in Tippeligaen having been promoted from Adeccoligaen in 2012. The club was founded on 19 September 1905. The coach is Mons Ivar Mjelde. The team plays in yellow jerseys, black shorts and yellow socks at home, and blue jerseys, white shorts and blue socks away.

They play their home matches at Sør Arena, the club's own football stadium, opened in 2007. Before moving to Sør Arena, IK Start played their games at Kristiansand Stadion. The team's official supporter club is called "Tigerberget"

Start's style of playing is often described as 'makrellfotball' (mackerel football), meaning the whole team is in constant, coordinated motion. Another feature of their playing style is the so-called 'Start-vippen' (Start-tip), where the ball at a free-kick is tipped up by one player before hit by another.

History

Start were Norwegian champions in 1978 and 1980. They participated in the European Cup in 1979 and 1981, as well as being qualified for the UEFA-cup 2006/2007. The years since 1995 have been turbulent, but recent investments have given greater expectations for the future. In 2004 they won the Norwegian First Division and were promoted to the Norwegian Premier League.

In 2005 they reached second place, following Vålerenga, after a strong comeback season in the Norwegian Premier League. For this, Start earned a place in the UEFA Cup 2006.

In 2006, after beating Skála Ítróttarfelag of the Faroe Islands in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup, and Drogheda United of Ireland in the second qualifying round (after penalties), they reached the first round of the UEFA Cup, where they were knocked out by AFC Ajax of the Netherlands.

2007 was a bad year for Start, with problems working as a team and management issues. It led to a disappointing 13th place, leading to Start's relegation to Adeccoligaen. In 2008 the club got financial problems. The local government saved the club from bankruptcy. The financial difficulties has plagued Start for several seasons, due to the financial crisis and the Norwegian footballteams overspending, Start being no exception. The last couple of seasons, Start has downsized and saved money, for example by changing the turf on Sør Arena, the hopes being that the savings will keep the wheels turning in Start.

Ahead of the 2009-season, Knut Tørum was appointed head coach of Start. The next two seasons, Start was positioned at the lower half of Tippeligaen although achieving some strong results, like being the only team to beat Rosenborg in 2009, at Rosenborgs homeground Lerkendal, delaying their gold celebration. On 22 June 2011, Start had 13 points in 12 matches, and Tørum decided to resign hours before a cup-match against Strømsgodset, a match Start won without Tørum. Mons Ivar Mjelde replaced Tørum as head coach, but was not able to save Start from relegation. Start started the 2012 Adeccoligaen in strong fashion, leading the division and winning important matches and won promotion at the end of the season.

Current squad

As of 21 January 2014.^[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Håkon Opdal 2 DF Glenn Andersen 5 DF Robert Sandnes 6 MF Babacar Sarr 8 FW Espen Hoff 9 FW Ernest Asante 10 MF Solomon Owello 11 FW Jorge Alejandro Castro 14 MF Espen Børufsen

No. Position Player 15 DF Bismark Acosta 16 FW Alexander Lind 17 MF Guðmundur Kristjánsson 18 FW Matthías Vilhjálmsson 25 DF Rolf Daniel Vikstøl 26 DF Jesper Mathisen 30 GK Terje Reinertsen 33 DF Amin Nouri

For season transfers, see transfers winter 2013–14.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Managers

Achievements

• Norwegian Premier League:
  • Winners (2): 1978, 1980
  • Runners-up (1): 2005
  • Bronze medal (7): 1973, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1992
• Norwegian cup:
  • Semi finalist (5): 1975, 1978, 1988, 2000, 2006, 2011
• Norwegian First Division:
  • Winners (4): 1968, 1972, 2004, 2012
  • Promotion: 1958/59, 1988, 1999, 2001, 2008

Recent history

Season		Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	Cup	Notes
2000	Tippeligaen	13	26	5	6	15	40	66	21	Semifinal	Relegated to the 1. Divisjon
2001	1. Divisjon	2	30	18	8	4	59	33	62	Fourth round	Promoted to the Tippeligaen
2002	Tippeligaen	14	26	2	5	19	21	72	11	Fourth round	Relegated to the 1. Divisjon
2003	1. Divisjon	9	30	12	4	14	53	50	40	Third round
2004	1. Divisjon	1	30	24	2	4	71	28	74	Third round	Promoted to the Tippeligaen
2005	Tippeligaen	2	26	13	6	7	47	35	45	Fourth round
2006	Tippeligaen	6	26	10	7	9	29	32	37	Semifinal
2007	Tippeligaen	13	26	6	8	12	34	44	26	Fourth round	Relegated to the 1. Divisjon
2008	1. Divisjon	3	30	17	8	5	58	34	59	Fourth round	Promoted to the Tippeligaen
2009	Tippeligaen	9	30	10	10	10	46	52	40	Third round
2010	Tippeligaen	8	30	11	9	10	57	60	42	Quarterfinal
2011	Tippeligaen	15	30	7	5	18	39	61	26	Semifinal	Relegated to the 1. Divisjon
2012	1. Divisjon	1	30	20	6	4	71	35	66	Fourth round	Promoted to the Tippeligaen
2013	Tippeligaen	9	30	10	8	12	43	46	38	Quarterfinal

^[2]

European record

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1974–75	UEFA Cup	1. round		Djurgården	1–2	0–5	1–7
1976–77	UEFA Cup	1. round		Wacker Innsbruck	0–5	1–2	1–7
1977–78	UEFA Cup	1. round		Fram	6–0	2–0	8–0
		2. round		Eintracht Braunschweig	1–0	0–4	1–4
1978–79	UEFA Cup	1. round		Esbjerg	0–0	0–1	0–1
1979–80	European Cup	1. round		Strasbourg	1–2	0–4	1–6
1981–82	European Cup	1. round		AZ	1–3	0–1	1–4
2006–07	UEFA Cup	1. qualifying round		Skála	3–0	1–0	4–0
		2. qualifying round		Drogheda United	1–0	0–1	1–1 (11–10 p)
		1. round		Ajax	2–5	0–4	2–9

References

External links

• Official website
• Menigheden – official fan club

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