Norwegian Premier Division 2018 season preview Football
Rosenborg's 25th league title in 100 years
Rosenborg secured their 25th title with two games remaining last season, the perfect gift for the club's 100th anniversary. Their main star is Nicklas Bendtner, who has scored 19 goals in past campaign and become top scorer of the league. The Trondheim side, founded in 1917, is the most successful club in Norwegian football with 25 league titles and 11 cup wins and have played more UEFA matches than any other Norwegian team. They will also take part in next season's qualifying stages of the Champions League. Here is a short summary of the 2017 campaign:
- Champions: Rosenborg (Champions League QR2)
- Runners-up: Molde (UEFA Europa League QR2)
- Third place: Sarpsborg (UEFA Europa League QR1)
- Cup winners: Lillestrom (UEFA Europa League QR1)
- Relegated: Sogndal, Aalesund, Viking
- Promoted: Bodo/Glimt, Start, Ranheim
| Team | Titles | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosenborg | 25 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Valerenga | 5 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 8 |
| Lillestrom | 5 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 12 |
| Molde | 3 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Brann | 3 | 8 | 14 | - | 2 | 5 |
| Start | 2 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 16 | - |
| Stromsgodset | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Stabaek | 1 | - | 9 | 3 | 14 | 9 |
| Odd | - | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Haugesund | - | 3 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 10 |
| Sarpsborg | - | 14 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 3 |
| Tromso | - | 15 | - | 13 | 13 | 11 |
| Sandefjord | - | - | - | 16 | - | 13 |
| Bodo/Glimt | - | - | 13 | 9 | 15 | - |
| Kristiansund | - | - | - | - | - | 7 |
| Ranheim | - | - | - | - | - | - |
The overall number of titles for each club in Norwegian Premier Division (since 1937) and their league standings in the last five seasons.
Dempsey takes coaching role at Start
Mark Dempsey is the new head coach of newly-promoted Start. He previously coached Haugesund and Swedish top-flight side Djurgarden. Dempsey had also worked closely with with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Cardiff City, but their team were relegated to the Championship in 2014 after a single season in the English Premier League. During his playing career, Dempsey represented Manchester United, Swindon, Sheffield United, Chesterfield, Rotherham and Macclesfield, before going into coaching and eventually moving to Norway with his family.
| # | Team | Pts | GD | W-D-L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rosenb. | 61 | 37 | 18-7-5 (30) |
| 2 | Molde | 54 | 15 | 16-6-8 (30) |
| 3 | Sarpsborg | 51 | 14 | 13-12-5 (30) |
| 4 | Stromsgodset | 50 | 8 | 14-8-8 (30) |
| 5 | Brann | 47 | 15 | 13-8-9 (30) |
| 6 | Odd | 42 | -12 | 12-6-12 (30) |
| 7 | Kristiansund | 40 | -2 | 10-10-10 (30) |
| 8 | Valereng | 39 | 2 | 11-6-13 (30) |
| 9 | Stabak | 39 | -4 | 10-9-11 (30) |
| 10 | Haugesund | 39 | -4 | 11-6-13 (30) |
| 11 | Tromso | 38 | -7 | 10-8-12 (30) |
| 12 | Lillestrom | 37 | -3 | 10-7-13 (30) |
| 13 | Sandefjord | 36 | -13 | 11-3-16 (30) |
| 14 | Sogndal | 32 | -10 | 8-8-14 (30) |
| 15 | Aalesund | 32 | -12 | 8-8-14 (30) |
| 16 | Viking | 24 | -24 | 6-6-18 (30) |
League standings for the 2017 season.
Rosenborg clear favorites
Rosenborg have retaken their grip on Norway's top flight in recent years, winning the title in 2015, 2016 and 2017 after a surprising four-year drought. The Trondheim club are strong favourites once more, but former champions Molde and Stromsgodest have a chance.
| Team | Odds | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosenborg | 1.4 | Stabaek | 81 |
| Molde | 11 | Start | 101 |
| Sarpsborg | 13 | Tromso | 101 |
| Stromsgodset | 13 | Haugesund | 101 |
| Brann | 26 | Kristiansund | 151 |
| Valerenga | 34 | Sandefjord | 151 |
| Odd Grenland | 51 | Bodo/Glimt | 201 |
| Lillestrom | 81 | Ranheim | 251 |
Preseason odds for the outright winner of the 2018 Norwegian football league posted by online bookmakers.
This page contains additional information about the 2018 Norwegian Premier league season. Latest news, statistics, results and predictions you can find on our main Euro Football > Norway page.
Norwegian Cup finals in last five seasons
2017 Lillestrom - Sarpsborg 3:2
2016 Rosenborg - Kongsvinger 4:0
2015 Rosenborg - Sarpsborg 2:0
2014 Molde - Odds 2:0
2013 Molde - Rosenborg 4:2
Key players
(transfer market value in m€)
Bodo/Glimt
Goalkeeper Zoran Popovic (0.5); Defense: Martin Bjornbak (0.5), Emil Jonassen (0.4), Marius Lode (0.3), Isidoro (0.3); Midfield: Ulrik Saltnes (0.6), Jose Angel Jurado (0.5), Vegard Moberg (0.5); Forward: Kristian Opseth (0.7), Jens Petter Hauge (0.3), Trond Olsen (0.3).
Brann
Goalkeeper Samuel Sahin-Radlinger (0.2); Defense: Vito Wormgoor (0.8), Bismar Acosta (0.5), Ruben Kristiansen (0.5), Jonas Gronner (0.4); Midfield: Fredrik Haugen (1), Amer Ordagic (0.6), Sivert Heltne Nilsen (0.6), Kristoffer Barmen (0.6); Forward: Steffen Skalevik (0.5), Gilli Rolantsson (0.4).
Haugesund
Goalkeeper Per Kristian Bratveit (0.6); Defense: Vegard Skjerve (0.6), Marko Cosic (0.5), Kristoffer Haraldseid (0.5), Alexander Stolas (0.4); Midfield: Aleksandar Kovacevic (0.5), Sondre Tronstad (0.3), Bruno Leite (0.3), Ikenna Anthony Ikedi (0.3); Forward: Shuaibu Lalle Ibrahim (0.3), Frederik Gytkjaer (0.3).
Kristiansund
Goalkeeper Sean McDermott (0.4); Defense: Dan Peter Ulvestad (0.5), Nikita Baranov (0.3), Bent Sormo (0.3), Aliou Coly (0.3); Midfield: Brent Lepistu (0.3), Liridon Kalludra (0.3), Pal Erik Ulvestad (0.2); Forward: Torgil Gjertsen (0.4), Daouda Karamoko Bamba (0.4), Benjamin Stokke (0.4).
Lillestrom
Goalkeeper Matvei Igonen (0.3); Defense: Marius Amundsen (0.4), Simen Kind Mikalsen (0.4), Aleksander Melgalvis (0.3), Mats Haakenstad (0.2); Midfield: Ifeanyi Matthew (0.5), Fredrik Krogstad (0.3), Kristoffer Odemarksbakken (0.3); Forward: Erling Knudtzon (0.5), Thomas Lehne Olsen (0.4), Gary Martin (0.3).
Molde
Goalkeeper Andreas Linde (0.4); Defense: Ruben Gabrielsen (0.8), Babacar Sarr (0.8), Vegard Forren (0.8), Christopher Telo (0.6); Midfield: Etzaz Hussain (0.6), Eirik Hestad (0.6), Petter Strand (0.6), Fredrik Aursnes (0.5); Forward: Fredrik Brustad (0.5), Thomas Amang (0.3).
Odd
Goalkeeper Sondre Rossbach (0.5); Defense: Steffen Hagen (0.6), Thomas Grogaard (0.6), Fredrik Berge (0.5), Espen Ruud (0.4); Midfield: Jone Samuelsen (0.5), Fredrik Nordkvelle (0.4), Martin Broberg (0.3); Forward: Elba Rashani (0.4), Torgeir Borven (0.3), Stefan Mladenovic (0.1).
Ranheim
Goalkeeper Even Barli (0.3); Defense: Christian Eggen Rismark (0.4), Daniel Kvande (0.3), Erik Tonne (0.3), Aleksander Foosnaes (0.2), Oyvind Alseth (0.2); Midfield: Mads Reginiussen (0.4), Magnus Blakstad (0.2), Kristoffer Lokberg (0.2); Forward: Michael Karlsen (0.2), Mats Lillebo (0.2).
Rosenborg
Goalkeeper Andre Hansen (1); Defense: Tore Reginiussen (1.1), Birger Meling (1), Vegar Eggen Hedenstad (0.7); Midfield: Mike Jensen (1.7), Anders Konradsen (1.1), Anders Trondsen (0.9); Forward: Alexander Soderlund (1.5), Samuel Adegbenro (1.4), Pal Andre Helland (1.3), Nicklas Bendtner (1.2).
Sandefjord
Goalkeeper Ingvar Jonsson (0.4); Defense: Abdoulaye Seck (0.3), Joackim Solberg (0.3), Victor Demba Bindia (0.3), Crescendo van Berkel (0.2), El-Hadji Gana Kane (0.2); Midfield: Havard Storbaek (0.3), Pau Morer (0.3), Enric Valles (0.2); Forward: Flamur Kastrati (0.4), Pontus Engblom (0.3).
Sarpsborg
Goalkeeper Anders Kristiansen (0.5); Defense: Joackim Jorgensen (0.5), Nikola Tkalcic (0.4), Bjorn Inge Utvik (0.3); Midfield: Matti Lund Nielsen (0.4), Kristoffer Zachariassen (0.4), Tobias Heintz (0.4); Forward: Ronnie Schwartz (0.6), Patrick Mortensen (0.5), Kristoffer Larsen (0.4), Ole Jorgen Halvorsen (0.4).
Stabaek
Goalkeeper Mande Sayouba (0.5); Defense: Andreas Hanche-Olsen (0.4), Ronald Hernandez (0.4), Jeppe Moe (0.3), Hakon Skogseid (0.3); Midfield: Luc Kassi (0.8), Tonny Brochmann (0.5), Hugo Vetlesen (0.3); Forward: Ohi Omoijuanfo (0.8), Franck Boli (0.4), Moussa Njie (0.3).
Start
Goalkeeper Hakon Opdal (0.1); Defense: Elliot Kack (0.8), Simon Larsen (0.4), Damion Lowe (0.2), Henrik Robstad (0.2), Rolf Daniel Vikstol (0.2); Midfield: Espen Borufsen (0.4), Daniel Aase (0.3), Andreas Hollingen (0.2); Forward: Aron Sigurdarson (0.4), Kevin Kabran (0.3).
Stromsgodset
Goalkeeper Pal Vestly Heigre (0.2); Defense: Lars Christopher Vilsvik (1), Jonathan Parr (0.8), Jakob Glesnes (0.6); Midfield: Bassel Jradi (0.7), Henning Hauger (0.5), Herman Stengel (0.5), Tokmac Chol Nguen (0.5); Forward: Eirik Andersen (0.7), Marcus Pedersen (0.6), Amahl Pellegrino (0.5).
Tromso
Goalkeeper Gudmund Kongshavn (0.4); Defense: Simen Wangberg (0.5), Kent-Are Antonsen (0.3), Lasse Nilsen (0.3), Tom Hogli (0.3), Hans Norbye (0.3); Midfield: Gjermund Asen (0.5), Christian Landu-Landu (0.3), Morten Gamst Pedersen (0.1); Forward: Mushaga Bakenga (0.6), Runar Espejord (0.3).
Valerenga
Goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey (0.7); Defense: Amin Nouri (0.5), Jonatan Tollas Nation (0.4), Enar Jaager (0.2); Midfield: Magnus Lekven (0.5), Abdisalam Ibrahim (0.4), Simen Juklerod (0.3); Forward: Sam Johnson (0.7), Fitim Azemi (0.4), Bard Finne (0.4), Chidera Ejuke (0.3).