2008 SK Brann season

The 2008 season was SK Brann's 100th season and their 22nd consecutive season in the Norwegian Premier League.

Information

Manager: Mons Ivar Mjelde
League: Norwegian Premier League
Shirt supplier: Kappa
Shirt sponsor: Sparebanken Vest
Average league attendance: 16,954
League: 8th
Norwegian Cup: 4th round (0-8 vs. Molde)
Champions League: Third qualifying round (0-1 (h) and 1-2 (a) vs. Marseille)
UEFA Cup: First round (2-0 (h) and 0-2 (a) vs. Deportivo Coruña. Brann lost 2-3 on the penalty shootout)
Top goal scorer: Thorstein Helstad (11 in league, 13 over-all)
Player of the year: Olafur Örn Bjarnason^[1][2]

Squad

Matches and goals updated as of November 21, 2008 and is for league only.

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Johan Thorbjørnsen 2 DF Birkir Sævarsson 3 DF Bjørn Dahl 4 DF Cato Guntveit 5 MF Rodolph Austin 6 DF Azar Karadas 7 MF Hassan El Fakiri 8 MF Gylfi Einarsson 9 MF Jan Gunnar Solli 10 FW Njogu Demba-Nyrén 11 MF Petter Vaagan Moen 12 GK Håkon Opdal 13 MF Erik Huseklepp

No. Position Player 14 MF Tijan Jaiteh 15 DF Erlend Hanstveit 17 MF Eirik Bakke (C) 18 DF Ólafur Örn Bjarnason 19 DF Nicolai Misje 20 MF Trond Fredrik Ludvigsen 21 DF Kristján Örn Sigurðsson 22 FW Thorstein Helstad 24 GK Kenneth Udjus 25 DF Yaw Ihle Amankwah 28 DF Ármann Björnsson 77 FW Robbie Winters

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player FW Joakim Sjöhage (on loan to IF Elfsborg) DF Michael Thwaite (on loan to Melbourne Victory)

No. Position Player DF Knut Walde (on loan to Løv-Ham) MF Nicolai Misje (on loan to Bryne FK)

Transfers

Players in Only first team squad transfers Winter 2007–08 Njogu Demba-Nyrén from Esbjerg fB.[3] Gylfi Einarsson on free transfer.[4] Michael Thwaite from Wisła Kraków[5] Summer 2007–08 Birkir Sævarsson from Valur[6] Rodolph Austin from Portmore United (loan)[7]

Players out Only first team squad transfers Winter 2007–08 Thor Jørgen Spurkeland to NBK.[8] Martin Andresen to Vålerenga[9] Johan Thorbjørnsen to Sandefjord (loan)[10] Ramiro Corrales to MLS [11] Joakim Sjöhage to IF Elfsborg (loan) [12] Knut Walde to Løv-Ham[13] Arnaud Monkam to Løv-Ham[14] Summer 2007–08 Michael Thwaite to Melbourne Victory (loan)[15] Thorstein Helstad to Le Mans Union Club 72[16] Nicolai Misje to Bryne FK (loan)[17]

Results ^[18]

Date	Host	Agg.	Visitor	Ground	Attendance	Tournament
February 13	SK Brann	0-2	Everton FC	Brann Stadion, Bergen	16,207	UEFA Cup
February 21	Everton FC	6-1	SK Brann	Goodison Park, Liverpool	38,000	UEFA Cup
March 30	SK Brann	4-2	Fredrikstad FK	Brann Stadion, Bergen	17,119	Tippeligaen
April 5	Aalesunds FK	4-2	SK Brann	Color Line Stadion, Ålesund	10,778	Tippeligaen
April 14	SK Brann	1-1	Strømsgodset IF	Brann Stadion, Bergen	17,282	Tippeligaen
April 19	Stabæk	3-0	SK Brann	Nadderud Stadion, Bærum	6,515	Tippeligaen
April 27	SK Brann	2-1	Lillestrøm SK	Brann Stadion, Bergen	17,228	Tippeligaen
May 3	Tromsø IL	0-0	SK Brann	Alfheim Stadion, Tromsø	7,285	Tippeligaen
May 12	Loddefjord IL	1-4	SK Brann	Alvøen gress, Bergen	3,231	Norwegian Cup
May 16	SK Brann	1-0	Vålerenga	Brann Stadion, Bergen	17,896	Tippeligaen
May 25	Viking FK	1-2	SK Brann	Viking Stadion, Stavanger	16,500	Tippeligaen
May 31	SK Brann	3-4	Molde FK	Brann Stadion, Bergen	17,710	Tippeligaen
June 4	Rosenborg BK	1-1	SK Brann	Lerkendal Stadion, Trondheim	20,011	Tippeligaen
June 7	Austevoll	2-3	SK Brann	Eidsbøen kunstgress, Austevoll	2,500	Norwegian Cup
June 28	Ham-Kam	0-0	SK Brann	Briskeby gressbane, Hamar	5,445	Tippeligaen
July 1	SK Brann	3-1	Valdres FK	Brann Stadion, Bergen	4,455	Norwegian Cup
July 5	SK Brann	4-1	Bodø/Glimt	Brann Stadion, Bergen	16,845	Tippeligaen
July 14	FC Lyn Oslo	1-1	SK Brann	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo	6,558	Tippeligaen
July 20	SK Brann	1-2	Aalesunds FK	Brann Stadion, Bergen	17,655	Tippeligaen
July 23	Molde FK	8-0	SK Brann	Aker Stadion, Molde	4,452	Norwegian Cup
July 27	Fredrikstad FK	1-0	SK Brann	Nye Fredrikstad Stadion, Fredrikstad	12,292	Tippeligaen
July 29	SK Brann	1-0	FK Ventspils	Brann Stadion, Bergen	5,972	Champions League (Q)
August 2	SK Brann	4-1	Ham-Kam	Brann Stadion, Bergen	16,106	Tippeligaen
August 5	FK Ventspils	2-1	SK Brann	Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions, Ventspils	2,000	Champions League (Q)
August 9	Strømsgodset IF	2-0	SK Brann	Marienlyst Stadion, Drammen	5,814	Tippeligaen
August 13	SK Brann	0-1	Marseille	Brann Stadion, Bergen	11,197	Champions League (Q)
August 24	SK Brann	0-0	Rosenborg BK	Brann Stadion, Bergen	17,552	Tippeligaen
August 27	Marseille	2-1	SK Brann	Stade Vélodrome, Marseille	55,000	Champions League (Q)
August 31	Bodø/Glimt	3-1	SK Brann	Aspmyra Stadion, Bodø	6,391	Tippeligaen
September 14	SK Brann	1-1	Viking FK	Brann Stadion, Bergen	17,296	Tippeligaen
September 18	SK Brann	2-0	Deportivo Coruña	Brann Stadion, Bergen	8,777	UEFA Cup
September 22	Lillestrøm SK	1-1	SK Brann	Åråsen Stadion, Lillestrøm	8,750	Tippeligaen
September 28	SK Brann	2-0	FC Lyn Oslo	Brann Stadion, Bergen	15,833	Tippeligaen
October 2	Deportivo Coruña	2-0	SK Brann	Estadio Riazor, A Coruña	19,000	UEFA Cup
October 6	Molde FK	3-2	SK Brann	Aker Stadion, Molde	6,969	Tippeligaen
October 19	SK Brann	1-2	Stabæk	Brann Stadion, Bergen	15,879	Tippeligaen
October 26	SK Brann	1-1	Tromsø IL	Brann Stadion, Bergen	16,006	Tippeligaen
November 2	Vålerenga	0-1	SK Brann	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo	9,724	Tippeligaen

Highlights

• January 16: Brann signed the Gambian-Swedish striker Njogu Demba-Nyrén from Esbjerg fB. The deal was worth about NOK 9.500.000 (Euro 1.200.000).^[3]
• January 25: Brann signed the former Lillestrøm and Leeds United-player Gylfi Einarsson to a three-year deal. The Icelandic midfielder came on a free transfer, after his release from Leeds in the summer of 2007.^[4]
• January 28: Brann signed the Australian international, Michael Thwaite to a three-year deal.^[5] He was brought in to replace Ramiro Corrales, who wad sold to Major League Soccer the very same day.^[11]
• February 7: Joakim Sjöhage transferred to his old club IF Elfsborg on a one-year loan deal.^[12]
• February 13: Brann lost the first leg in the Round of 32 in the 2007-08 UEFA Cup. Everton FC won 2-0 at Brann Stadion, in what was Brann's first official game of the season.
• February 21: Brann was knocked out of the 2007-08 UEFA Cup, after being crushed by Everton in the 2nd leg of the Round of 32.
• March 30: Brann opened the Premieship-season with a 4-2 win over Fredrikstad F.K. in front of a capacity crowd at Brann Stadion. Thorstein Helstad scored a hat-trick while Azar Karadas scored with a header.
• April 19: Brann's horrific opening of the season continued after losing 0-3 to their main rivals in 2007, Stabæk. Brann was 11th in the Premiership after 4 rounds, with only 4 points won.
• May 16: Brann beat Vålerenga 1-0 in a match that saw the return of two former Brann-profiles, former captain Martin Andresen and the clubs former top goalscorer Bengt Sæternes. The result sent Brann to a 5th position in the league after 7 rounds, 6 point behind Stabæk IF.
• June 18: Michael Thwaite was loaned out to Australian side; Melbourne Victory^[15]
• July 15: Brann signed the Icelandic international Birkir Sævarsson from Valur.^[6]
• July 25: Thorstein Helstad was sold to Le Mans Union Club 72. The transfer was believed to be worth around €2.000.000. Meanwhile, FC Lyn Oslo approved Brann's offer on their talented striker Odion Jude Ighalo ^[16]
• July 29: Nicolai Misje was loaned out to Bryne FK.^[17]
• August 5: Brann lost 2-1 against FK Ventspils away, but still qualified for the third qualifying round of the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League after a 1-0 victory at Brann stadion.^[19]
• August 7: Espen Steffensen was sacked from his job as assistant coach, and replaced by Brann's former head coach Harald Aabrekk. .^[20]
• August 29: Brann was denied entry to the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League after losing 1-2 away against Olympique de Marseille in the third qualifying round. Brann lost 0-1 in the first leg.^[21]
• August 29: Rodolph Austin signed a loan-deal with Brann.^[7]
• September 1: Brann signed Stabæk's left fullback Bjørnar Holmvik. Holmvik joined Brann on January 1, 2009 on a free Bosman transfer.^[22]
• September 18: Brann played their best match of season when they beat Deportivo de La Coruña 2-0 at home in the first leg of the first round of the 2008–09 UEFA Cup.^[23]
• October 2: Brann was knocked out of the 2008–09 UEFA Cup after losing 0-2 away against Deportivo de La Coruña. Derportivo won 3-2 on the penalty shootout.^[24]
• October 8: Mons Ivar Mjelde resigned as head coach for SK Brann after six seasons as boss on Brann Stadion. The bad results in 2008 and lack of support from the players were said to be the reason for his resignment. He agreed to lead the club in its last three games of the season. Mjelde led Brann to its first trophy in 22 years when they won the Norwegian Football Cup in 2004 and its first league championship in 44 years when they won the Tippeliga in 2007. He also led the club to bronze and silver medals in the league.^[25]
• October 26: Brann's supporters took farewell with two of their most celebrated heroes the last 5 years. Head coach Mons Ivar Mjelde, and striker Robbie Winters both made their last appearance on Brann Stadion. Winters signed with Brann in the summer of 2002, while Mjelde had been under contract with the club since 1996.^[26]
• November 11: Joakim Sjöhage was sold to Trelleborgs FF.^[27]
• November 21: Brann hired Steinar Nilsen as their new head coach. The former AC Milan and S.S.C. Napoli-player had great success with Tromsø IL in the 2008 season, and was looking for a more high profiled job. Once again Brann hired a young inexperienced head coach. Mons Ivar Mjelde was only 35 when he was hired in 2003, while Nilsen was 36-year-old when he signed with the club.^[28]
• November 26: Rune Skarsfjord was hired as Steinar Nilsen's new assistant coach. The former FK Haugesund head coach signed a three-year deal.^[29]
• November 28: Tore Kannelønning did not get a new contract offer from Brann, thus leaving the club.^[30]
• December 12: Trond Fredrik Ludvigsen signed for his old club Bodø/Glimt.^[31]

Matches (goals)

The table shows matches and goals in the Norwegian Premier League, Norwegian Cup, Champions League and UEFA Cup, and was last updated after the game against Vålerenga on November 2, 2008.^[32]

No.	Position	Player	Premiership	Norwegian Cup	CL	UEFA	Total
1	GK	Johan Thorbjørnsen	3 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	3 (0)
12	GK	Håkon Opdal	19 (0)	3 (0)	4 (0)	2 (0)	28 (0)
24	GK	Kenneth Udjus	6 (0)	1 (0)	0 (0)	2 (0)	9 (0)
3	DF	Bjørn Dahl	22 (0)	3 (0)	4 (0)	4 (0)	33 (0)
15	DF	Erlend Hanstveit	26 (0)	3 (1)	4 (0)	4 (0)	35 (1)
18	DF	Ólafur Örn Bjarnason	22 (4)	3 (1)	4 (0)	4 (1)	33 (6)
21	DF	Kristján Örn Sigurðsson	20 (1)	1 (0)	3 (1)	4 (0)	28 (2)
23	DF	Michael Thwaite	2 (0)	1 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0)	4 (0)
25	DF	Yaw Ihle Amankwah	4 (0)	1 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	5 (0)
2	DF/MF	Birkir Sævarsson	8 (1)	0 (0)	2 (0)	1 (0)	11 (1)
6	DF/FW	Azar Karadas	21 (3)	4 (0)	4 (0)	3 (0)	32 (3)
28	DF/FW	Ármann Smári Björnsson	8 (0)	2 (0)	1 (1)	2 (0)	13 (1)
4	DF/MF	Cato Guntveit	13 (0)	2 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0)	17 (0)
5	MF	Rodolph Austin	9 (1)	0 (0)	0 (0)	2 (0)	11 (1)
7	MF	Hassan El Fakiri	17 (0)	3 (0)	4 (0)	2 (0)	26 (0)
8	MF	Gylfi Einarsson	14 (3)	2 (0)	2 (0)	2 (0)	20 (3)
9	MF	Jan Gunnar Solli	23 (1)	4 (0)	2 (0)	4 (1)	33 (2)
11	MF	Petter Vaagan Moen	23 (3)	2 (0)	3 (0)	4 (1)	32 (4)
13	MF	Erik Huseklepp	19 (3)	4 (0)	4 (0)	4 (0)	31 (3)
14	MF	Tijan Jaiteh	15 (1)	3 (0)	3 (0)	1 (0)	22 (1)
17	MF	Eirik Bakke	21 (0)	1 (0)	3 (0)	3 (0)	28 (0)
19	MF	Nicolai Misje	0 (0)	2 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	2 (0)
20	MF/FW	Trond Fredrik Ludvigsen	7 (0)	3 (1)	1 (0)	0 (0)	11 (1)
10	FW	Demba-Nyrén	17 (3)	2 (1)	4 (1)	2 (0)	25 (5)
22	FW	Thorstein Helstad	12 (11)	1 (2)	0 (0)	2 (0)	15 (13)
27	FW	Mathias Møvik	1 (0)	1 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	2 (0)
77	FW	Robbie Winters	18 (1)	4 (3)	3 (0)	2 (0)	27 (4)

References

1. "Bjarnason ler av å bli kåret til årets spiller" (in Norwegian). bt.no. 2008-10-27. Archived from the original on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
2. ""Olli" kåret til årets spiller" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
3. "Demba-Nyrén klar for Brann" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
4. "Gylfi Einarsson klar for Brann" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
5. "Brann signerer landslagsspiller" (in Norwegian). tv2.no. 2008-01-28. Archived from the original on 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
6. "Enig med Brann" (in Norwegian). nettavisen.no. 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
7. "Landslagsspiller klar for Brann" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-08-29. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
8. "Spurkeland frå Brann til NBK" (in Norwegian). strilen.no. 2007-11-20. Archived from the original on 22 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
9. "Andresen drar fra Brann" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
10. "Leies ut til Sandefjord" (in Norwegian). fotball.aftenposten.no. 2007-12-14. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
11. "Corrales vender hjem" (in Norwegian). bt.no. 2008-01-28. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
12. "Brann-flopp reiser hjem" (in Norwegian). nettavisen.no. 2008-02-07. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
13. "Walde til Løv-Ham" (in Norwegian). aftenbladet.no. 2008-03-03. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
14. "Monkam til Løv-Ham" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-03-17. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
15. "Brann låner ut Thwaite" (in Norwegian). nettavisen.no. 2008-06-18. Archived from the original on 1 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
16. "Helstad ut - Ighalo til Bergen" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
17. "Misje klar for Bryne" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-07-29. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
18. "Brann.no's list of results 2008". brann.no. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
19. "Ble Brannstjerne Björnsson!" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-08-05. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
20. "Aabrekk inn i trenerteamet" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
21. "Marseille 2 - Brann 1" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-08-27. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
22. "Fra Stabæk til Brann" (in Norwegian). nettavisen.no. 2008-09-01. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
23. "Brann - Deportivo 2-0" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-09-18. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
24. "Deportivo sterkest i Spania" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-10-02. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
25. "Mjelde gir seg etter sesongen" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
26. "– En fantastisk avskjed" (in Norwegian). ba.no. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
27. "Sjöhage tilbudt treårskontrakt" (in Norwegian). nrk.no. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
28. "Steinar Nilsen blir Brann-trener" (in Norwegian). brann.no. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
29. "Han blir Branns assistenttrener" (in Norwegian). nettavisen.no. 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
30. "Ferdig i Brann" (in Norwegian). h-avis.no. 2008-11-28. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
31. "Ludvigsen tilbake i Bodø/Glimt" (in Norwegian). dagbladet.no. 2008-12-12. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
32. "Brann.no's list matches (goals) in 2008". brann.no. Retrieved 16 January 2009.