Tromsø IL
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| Full name | Tromsø Idrettslag | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Gutan (The Boys/Lads) | ||
| Founded | 15 September 1920 | ||
| Ground |
Alfheim Stadion Tromsø | ||
| Capacity | 6,859[1] | ||
| Chairman | Bjørn Nilsen | ||
| Manager | Bård Flovik | ||
| League | Tippeligaen | ||
| 2015 | Tippeligaen, 13th | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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Tromsø Idrettslag is a Norwegian professional football team founded in 1920, and based in the city of Tromsø. They play their home games at Alfheim Stadion. Tromsø currently play in the Tippeligaen, and holds the position as the northernmost top-level football club in the world. The club was first promoted to the Norwegian Premier League in 1985, where they have played since with the exception of the 2001 and 2014 seasons which was spent in the First Division.
Tromsø have won the Norwegian Cup twice, in 1986 and 1996, and have competed in several UEFA competitions; the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Intertoto Cup and UEFA Europa League.
History
1920–39: The pre-war years
The club was founded on 15 September 1920, and given the name Tromsø Turnforenings Fotballag (Tromsø Gymnastics Association's Football Team), or Turn for short. The first match after the formal foundation was against cross-town rivals IF Skarp, a match which ended in a draw, 0–0. It would not take long before success came to Turn, though, and in 1927, the club won its first district championship.
In 1930, the club changed its name to Tromsø Idrettslag, because the Norwegian Sports Association thought the club's name was too close to the name of Tromsø Gymnastics Association. This was only temporary, though, and the club changed its name to Tor in 1931. 1931 would also be the year the club won its first Northern Norwegian Cup, the highest possible achievement for a Northern Norwegian club at the time. The club beat Mo IL 3-1 in the final. The year after, the Norwegian Sports Association ruled that the club could not be named Tor, and so Tromsø Idrettslag was again chosen, this time permanently. Tromsø IL also won its second district championship in 1932, but was knocked out in the semi final of the Northern Norwegian cup. The thirties proved to be a good decade for Tromsø IL, as the club won district championships in 1933, 1936, and 1937, as well. However, sports activities came to an end in 1940, because of World War II, and so the club did not play again before 1945.
1945–1969: Two Northern-Norwegian cup championships
Tromsø IL started the post-war years in a good fashion, winning the club's sixth district championship in 1946. In 1949, Tromsø IL won its second Northern Norwegian cup. This time, the final match was played at Harstad Stadium, and Tromsø IL were to play FK Bodø/Glimt. Tromsø IL won 3–1, just like in 1931.
Tromsø IL then won 5 consecutive district championships in the years between 1950 and 1954, before the club was introduced into the Norwegian league system (Northern Norwegian clubs could still not be promoted to the top division, however). The club's third and last Northern Norwegian cup came in 1956. Tromsø IL met Harstad IL – the champions of the previous three years – in Harstad, making Harstad IL big favorites. However, Tromsø IL won the match 2–0.
Clubs from Northern Norway were allowed into the Norwegian cup in 1963, and Tromsø IL participated for the first time in 1964, advancing to the second round after beating FK Mjølner. The club was knocked out in the second round by Nidelv IL. The sixties were also a period of stadium expansions for the club, with both Valhall Stadium and Alfheim Stadium getting grass fields. Because of the inclusion of Northern Norwegian clubs in the Norwegian cup, the Northern Norwegian cup was eventually dropped. Tromsø IL played its last Northern Norwegian cup match in 1969.
1970–1985: Build-up for the top division
With Northern Norwegian clubs accepted in the cup, the only thing left to be included in was the top division. This happened in 1972, when FK Mjølner was moved to the 1st division. At the time, however, Tromsø IL was fighting in the bottom of the Northern Norwegian 2nd division (Until 1979, the 2nd division was divided in three different groups, two southern and one northern – with the winners of the southern groups being promoted to the top division, while the winner of the northern group would have to face the 2nd placed teams of the two southern groups), and was eventually relegated. In 1975, Tromsø IL would be back in the 2nd division, after having won promotion the year before. However, the club was once more relegated, this time after only one season in the second highest level of the league system. Tromsø was back in the 2nd division in 1978, and won it this time. However, the qualification matches against the two southern teams Hamarkameratene and Fredrikstad FK were lost 3–0 and 1–0 respectively. The next year, 1979, marked the first year with an all-Norwegian 2nd division, giving equal chances for all teams, regardless of geographical position. Tromsø IL did not do too well, however, and was once more relegated.
Tromsø IL was immediately promoted back to the 2nd division after not losing a single match in the 3rd division in 1980. Then followed relegation in 1981 and promotion in 1982, before the club finally managed to establish itself in the 2nd division. Two decent seasons in 1983 and 1984 were followed by a 2nd place in 1985, which meant the club would again play qualification matches for the top division. First, Sogndal were beaten 1–0. Then, Tromsø IL won the decisive match against Moss FK 1–0, after a legendary penalty kick save by goalkeeper Bjarte Flem. Tromsø IL became the third and, for the time being, latest Northern Norwegian team to qualify for the top division, the other two being FK Mjølner and FK Bodø/Glimt.
1986–2001: 16 years in the top division
The first season in the Premier League would be very hard for Tromsø IL, the club eventually had to play qualification to survive. The club was highly successful in the cup the same year, however, beating Premier Division champions Lillestrøm SK 4–1 in the final match, a match that had been thought to be a walk in the park for Lillestrøm SK before it was played.
An experiment in the 1987 season proved valuable to Tromsø IL Tied matches would be decided on penalty shootouts, giving 3 points for a win, 2 for a shootout win, 1 for a shootout loss, and 0 for a loss. Thanks to Bjarte Flem's exceptional penalty saves, Tromsø IL won 7 out of 9 shootouts this year. The experiment was dropped after the season. However, the system with 3 points for a victory was kept. In 1988, Tromsø IL ended 5th in the league, the season of Bjarte Flems' infamous own goal.
The 1989 and 1990 seasons would become the two most successful Premier Division seasons to date, with Tromsø IL winning a bronze and a silver respectively. The club's coach during this time, Tommy Svensson, would later move on to coach Sweden to a bronze medal in the 1994 World Cup.
The following seasons saw Tromsø IL end 6th, 8th, 6th, and 7th (all safe mid-table positions), before the expansion of the Norwegian Premier League from 12 to 14 teams in 1995, when Tromsø IL again ended 6th.
In 1996, ten years after the club's first cup championship, Tromsø IL would again qualify for a cup final. This time, the opponents were FK Bodø/Glimt, which made the final match historical, the first time in history two Northern Norwegian clubs would play each other in a cup final. This also meant that the club winning the match would have bragging rights as the best club in Northern Norway. Tromsø IL eventually won the match, after a late 2–1 goal by Sigurd Rushfeldt in his last match before leaving for Rosenborg BK. The 1996 cup championship was the club's last championship to date. Tromsø IL also ended 5th in the league.
1997 did not go too well for Tromsø IL, and after getting only 2 points during the last 7 matches of the season, the club ended 12th in the league, and had to play qualification matches to survive. The opponents were Eik-Tønsberg, and Tromsø IL won 4–0 and 2–1, which meant Tromsø IL would still be in the top division. Another poor season followed in 1998, but Tromsø IL avoided qualification matches this time, ending 11th in the league. 1999 saw Tromsø back in the mid-table sections when the club won 6th place, scored 70 goals, and became the first (and only) Northern Norwegian club to have the top scorer of the Premier League with Rune Lange's 23 goals. Tromsø IL then had one of its best seasons ever in 2000, finishing 4th in the league.
In 2001, Tromsø IL was relegated from the Premier Division for the first time in history. After two very strong opening wins, the club went on a 7-matches-long losing streak, where not a single goal was scored. Tromsø IL eventually ended last, scoring only 23 goals in 26 matches.
2002–present: 2nd time in the top division
Tromsø IL won the Norwegian 1st division in 2002, and was thus immediately re-introduced into the Premier League.
Tromsø IL is the Norwegian Premier Division club which has had the most coaches since 2000. Terje Skarsfjord (who also coached the club during its 1996 cup championship), Tommy Svensson (who made a brief return to the club to attempt to save it from relegation in 2001, ten years after having left the club for the Swedish national team), Trond Johansen, Per Mathias Høgmo, Otto Ulseth, Steinar Nilsen, and Ivar Morten Normark have all coached the club at some time after the year 2000.
The 2003 season looked as if it would send Tromsø IL back to the first division, but they rescued their place in the Premier League by scoring a winning goal three minutes into injury time in the season's final match against league champions Rosenborg BK. The arrival of Per Mathias Høgmo before the 2004 season proved to be a success. Tromsø IL had another good season, and finished 4th in the league, which qualified them for the Royal League and, as a result of 3rd placed team SK Brann's victory in the cup that year, the UEFA Cup. After his first successful year Høgmo decided not to extend his contract and his former assistant Otto Ulseth was moved up as head coach.
The 2005 season started disappointingly and Ulseth was sacked after only 15 league matches, when Tromsø IL was struggling to avoid relegation. The head coach for the remainder of the season became Ulseth's former assistant Steinar Nilsen, who managed to turn Tromsø IL's poor form around. After a club record five consecutive victories, Tromsø IL secured its place in the Premier League with a 1–0 home win over Viking FK in the second-to-last round of the season. Tromsø IL also had the top scorer of the Premier League for the second time in history, as Ole Martin Årst finished the season with 16 goals. The club finished the season in 8th place.
The relegation of FK Bodø/Glimt meant that Tromsø IL were the only team from Northern Norway in the 2006 season. Before the 2006 season, following Steinar Nilsen's resignation, Ivar Morten Normark was made the new Tromsø IL manager. After a rather unsatisfactory start to the season Tromsø IL started negotiating to terminate the contract with Normark on 26 July 2006; until a new coach could be found former assistant Agnar Christensen acted as head coach. On 4 August Normark and Tromsø IL reached an agreement, meaning Normark would leave the club. On 11 August Steinar Nilsen was appointed coach signing a three and a half year contract with the club. Nilsen managed to save Tromsø IL from relegation once more, leading the club to a 10th place.
Since the end of 2007, Tromsø enjoyed domestic success, with the Club finishing inside the League’s Top Four on 5 occasions since the 2008 season. This meant the Tromsø would regularly take part in the qualification rounds for the UEFA Europa League. Built mainly on a strong home record, Tromso finished 3rd in both the 2008 and 2010 season, before going one better the next season and finishing runners up in the 2011 Tippeligaen, 5 points behind the Champions Molde. After a 4th-placed finish in the 2012 season, Tromsø finished 15th at the end of a disappointing 2013 Tippeligaen and were relegated to the First Division. Spending most of the season in the bottom half of the table, Tromsø finished second last on 29 points, 4 points from safety. Tromsø were relegated to the 2014 Adeccoligaen, Norway's second tier, before gaining promotion straight back into the top-tier by finishing the season in 2nd place with 59 points, 10 points behind champions Sandefjord. Tromso will compete in the 2015 Tippeligaen.
Honours
- Northern Norwegian Champions:
- Winners (3): 1931, 1949, 1956
- Runners-up (2): 1937, 1952
- Norwegian Cup:
- Winners (2): 1986, 1996
- Runners-up (1): 2012
- Tippeligaen:
- Runners-up (2): 1990, 2011
- Third (3): 1989, 2008, 2010
Recent history
Season League Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Other competitions Notes 2000 Tippeligaen 4 26 13 5 8 51 46 44 Fourth round 2001 Tippeligaen 
1426 4 4 18 23 52 16 Quarterfinal Relegated to 1. Divisjon 2002 1. Divisjon 
130 21 4 5 78 36 67 Quarterfinal Promoted to Tippeligaen 2003 Tippeligaen 11 26 8 5 13 30 52 29 Semifinal 2004 Tippeligaen 4 26 12 4 10 38 32 40 Fourth round Royal League Group stage 2005 Tippeligaen 8 26 8 10 8 31 30 34 Third round UEFA Cup Group stage 2006 Tippeligaen 10 26 8 5 13 33 39 29 Third round 2007 Tippeligaen 6 26 12 4 10 45 44 40 Fourth round 2008 Tippeligaen 3 26 12 8 6 36 23 44 Fourth round 2009 Tippeligaen 6 30 10 10 10 35 36 40 Quarterfinal Europa League Play-off round 2010 Tippeligaen 3 30 14 8 8 36 30 50 Fourth round 2011 Tippeligaen 2 30 15 8 7 56 34 53 Fourth round Europa League Second qualifying round 2012 Tippeligaen 4 30 14 7 9 45 32 49 Final Europa League Play-off round 2013 Tippeligaen 1530 7 8 15 41 50 29 Fourth round Europa League Group stage Relegated to Adeccoligaen 2014 1. Divisjon 230 18 5 7 67 27 59 Third round Europa League Second qualifying round Promoted to Tippeligaen 2015 Tippeligaen 13 30 7 8 15 36 50 29 Second round 2016 (in progress) Tippeligaen 14 7 1 3 3 4 13 6
European merits
1987
Tromsø IL first played in a European competition in 1987, following the 1986 cup victory. That time, Tromsø IL met Scottish side St Mirren F.C. in the first round of the Cup Winners' Cup. St Mirren F.C. won 1–0 in Scotland, and the match in Tromsø ended 0–0.
1991
In 1991, Tromsø IL would try their luck in Europe again, this time in the UEFA Cup. Tromsø IL met Austrian side FC Tirol Innsbruck in the first round. A 2–1 loss in Austria (after Stein Berg Johansen had given Tromsø IL a very early lead after 30 seconds) and a 1–1 tie at home (after a goal by Bjørn Johansen) were the results, meaning Tromsø IL were again knocked out early.
1995
In 1995, Tromsø IL participated in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, which is played during the summer before the European season starts and gives qualification to the UEFA Cup for the best teams of the tournament. Tromsø IL played in Group 3, along with Swiss team FC Aarau, Belgian team K.F.C. Germinal Ekeren, Faroese team Havnar Bóltfelag, and Romanian team F.C. Universitatea Cluj. The first match was an away match against FC Aarau, which ended 2–2. Tromsø IL then proceeded to beat Havnar Bóltfelag 10–0 at home and F.C. Universitatea Cluj 1–0 away. Before the last group match, which was at home to K.F.C. Germinal Ekeren, Tromsø IL were on top of the group, and a victory would ensure Tromsø IL's advancement to the knockout-stage of the UEFA Intertoto Cup. However, Tromsø IL lost 2–0, and eventually ended 3rd in the group.
1997
In 1997, the club would again play in the Cup Winners' Cup. In the first round, the Croatian side NK Zagreb won 3–2 at home. Tromsø IL were down 3–0, but goals by Bjørn Johansen and Ole Martin Årst, gave Tromsø IL a good result before the home game. The return match in Tromsø ended 3–2, as well, but this time in favour of Tromsø IL Rune Lange scored the first goal, but NK Zagreb equalized before half time. The score was 2–2 after 90 minutes (Ole Martin Årst scored the second goal for Tromsø IL), and NK Zagreb looked like they would advance to the second round. However, one minute into injury time, Svein Morten Johansen scored, and extra time would have to be played. 5 minutes into the second period, Rune Lange scored the winning goal for Tromsø IL A historic win, as it was not only the first time Tromsø IL managed to win a match in a European cup, but also the first time Tromsø managed to qualify for the second round of a European cup. In the second round of the Cup Winners' Cup, Tromsø IL would play the English side Chelsea F.C.. Tromsø IL beat Chelsea F.C. 3–2 in the home game (after goals by Steinar Nilsen, Frode Fermann, and Ole Martin Årst), which became infamous for the heavy amounts of snow that fell during the match. The return match did not go too well for Tromsø IL, though, who eventually lost 7–1 (9–4 on aggregate). Bjørn Johansen scored Tromsø IL's goal in London.
2005
In 2005, Tromsø IL would again play in the UEFA Cup, following their 4th place in the Norwegian Premier League the year before. Tromsø IL won the first qualification match against Esbjerg with 1–0 away after a goal by Lars Iver Strand, the club's first ever win in an away match in a European cup. Esbjerg fB won the return leg in Tromsø 1–0, and penalties were needed to decide a winner. Tromsø IL only converted 2 of their 5 initial penalties (Runar Normann and Ole Andreas Nilsen scored), but since Esbjerg fB also missed 3 penalties, the teams had to shoot a 6th penalty. Stephen Ademolu scored, while Lars Hirschfeld saved Esbjerg fB's penalty, and Tromsø IL advanced.
Tromsø IL drew Galatasaray in the first round of the UEFA Cup. Former champions Galatasaray, became the second major European club to fall victim to Tromsø's cold Arctic climate. Tromsø IL won 1–0 at home after a goal by Tamas Szekeres in the 77th minute, in a match filled with mud, rain, and snow. Tromsø IL tied Galatasaray 1–1 at the feared Ali Sami Yen Stadium, thanks to many important saves by Lars Hirschfeld and a goal in the first half from a fluke shot by Patrice Bernier via Stephen Ademolu which was an obvious offside. Tromsø IL thus advanced to the group stage of the cup. This result was seen by many as a huge upset, and some Tromsø IL fans and players immediately declared it a historic win, likening it to the 1996 Norwegian cup championship and the 1985 promotion.
Tromsø IL lost the first group match, a home game against A.S. Roma. The final score was 2–1, and Ole Martin Årst scored Tromsø IL's goal. The second match saw Tromsø IL lose again, 2–0 away to RC Strasbourg. Tromsø IL won their third match, 3–1 at home against Red Star Belgrade. Benjamin Kibebe scored the first goal, while Ole Martin Årst scored the two last goals. Tromsø IL lost the last match, against FC Basel, 4–3, and were subsequently knocked out of the UEFA Cup. Lars Iver Strand scored twice, and Ole Martin Årst once. The club ended last in its group.
2009
Tromsø got off to a good start in the 2009-10 UEFA Europa League, playing 0–0 away to Dinamo Minsk from Belarus and then winning 4–1 at home (after two goals by Tommy Knarvik, one by Morten Moldskred, and one own goal) in the second qualifying round. Tromsø played NK Slaven Belupo in the third qualifying round, marking the second time in history that Tromsø plays a Croatian team in a European cup. They won 2–1 at Alfheim, after Slaven scored late in the first half. Two goals in the second half within two minutes, the second by a lightly hurt Sigurd Rushfeldt, they won at home, and after 0–2 away, at a tricky home stadium, two goals by Rushfeldt (14,81) won their way and win into the third and last qualifying round of the European league 2009. Now, they will play against one of the best teams in Spanish football history, the basque Athletic Club (of Bilbao). Sigurd Rushfeldt has played in the Spanish league as a first targeter. Athletic Bilbao won the first leg in Bilbao 3–2, including one goal from a controversial penalty when the Bilbao player appeared to dive. Another controversial penalty, this time awarded by French referee Tony Chapron, ended Tromsø IL's chances, as they drew the home leg 1–1 and lost 3–4 on aggregate – two of the four goals coming from controversial penalty decisions.
2011
Following the 3rd-place finish in the 2010 Tippeligaen season, Tromsø will again participate in the Europa League, entering in the first qualifying round of the 2011–12 season. Tromsø's first tie was against FC Daugava of Latvia, which was won comfortably 7–1 on aggregate after winning 5–0 away and 2–1 at home. In the second round, Tromsø were knocked out by Paksi SE of Hungary.
2012
Tromsø participated in the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League for the second consecutive year, after finishing second in the league in 2011. Tromsø entered the second qualifying round, drawing Slovenian side Olimpija Ljubljana, winning the tie 1-0 on aggregate after a goal in extra time by Miika Koppinen in the second leg in Tromsø. They then advanced past Metalurh Donetsk of Ukraine in the third qualifying round after a 1-1 draw at home and snatching a rare 1-0 victory away. In the play-off round, Tromsø lost to Partizan. After winning the first match in Tromsø ( 3-2 ) Tromsø lost in Belgrade 1-0, and were eliminated on away goals.
2013
Tromsø participated in the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League as Norway's fair play winner.[2] Tromsø started qualification in the First Qualifying Round. After beating Celje, Inter Baku and FC Differdange 03, Tromsø lost 3-2 on aggregate to Beşiktaş in the play-off round. Tromsø's conquerors, Beşiktaş, were then disqualified from the competition by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, meaning that Tromsø would replace the Turkish side in the Group Stage. After being reinstalled back into the competition the Norwegians were drawn in Group K alongside Tottenham Hotspur, Anzhi Makhachkala and Sheriff Tiraspol. Tromsø IL finished bottom of the group, losing both home and away to their Russian and English opponents. Tromsø recorded their only point of the campaign in a 1-1 draw against Sheriff at the Alfheim Stadion.
Royal League
Tromsø IL also participated in the very first Royal League, which was played in late 2004 and early 2005. Despite playing fairly well, Tromsø IL ended last in their group, and were knocked out of the cup early.
European matches
Tromsø's goals are listed first.
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Players
Current squad
As of 1 February 2016[5]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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For season transfers, see transfers winter 2011–12 and transfers summer 2012.
On loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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All-time player stats
As of 2 July 2011[6]
- Most goals total: Sigurd Rushfeldt, 140
- Most league goals total: Sigurd Rushfeldt, 95
- Most matches total: Bjørn Johansen, 405
- Most league matches total: Bjørn Johansen, 326
Staff
Coaching staff
| Coach | Bård Flovik (interim) |
| Assistant coach | Sigurd Rushfeldt |
| Goalkeeper coach | Thomas Solberg |
| Physio/fitness coach | André Sørensen and Truls Hallen |
Source:[7]
Administrative staff
| Chairman | Bjørn Nilsen |
| Director | Vegard Berg-Johansen |
| Director of football | Svein-Morten Johansen |
| Sports controller | Hege Christensen |
| Venue director | John Werner Larsen |
| Arrangement director | Christer Olsen |
| Media director | Brynjar Lorentsen |
| Marketing director | Trond Steinar Albertsen |
Source:[8]
Managers 1986–present
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Supporters
The official supporter club is called Isberget (The Iceberg). Their logo is a polar bear with a football and a red and white striped jersey holding a Tromsø IL scarf. It was founded before the 1996-season and has around 600 members. Members of Isberget can be found in 18 of Norway's 19 counties, with the majority living in and around Tromsø. A subgroup founded in 2004, called Isberget Sør (The Iceberg South), is for supporters living in Østlandet, and organizes trips to Tromsø IL's away matches in the Østlandet and Sørlandet regions.[9]
Tromsø IL has a number of songs, with the more famous ones being Heia TIL and the 1996 cup final song, both by Sverre Kjelsberg. The 1996 cup final song is played at Alfheim stadion when Tromsø IL scores a goal. A club fanfare used to be played while the teams entered the pitch during home matches. However, before the 2008 season the NFF decided that all clubs should play Tippeligafanfaren (The Tippeliga Fanfare) when the teams entered the pitch. Tromsø now plays its fanfare before Tippeligafanfaren.[10]
References
- ↑ "Fakta Alfheim stadion" (in Norwegian). Tromsø IL. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- ↑ Lars Eidissen (2013). "Tromsø jublet for e-cupsjanse".
- ↑ "CAS DISMISSES THE APPEAL OF BESIKTAS JK". Court of Arbitration for Sport. 30 August 2013.
- ↑ "Tromsø replace excluded Beşiktaş". UEFA.com. 30 August 2013.
- ↑ "A-lag spillere". til.no. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ↑ "Spiller for spiller fra 1921 frem til idag... !". til.no. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ↑ "Sportslig apparat" (in Norwegian). Tromsø IL. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- ↑ "Styret i Tromsø Idrettslag" (in Norwegian). Tromsø IL. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- ↑ isberget.no (2008). "Om Isberget".
- ↑ Christoffer Solstad Steen (7 April 2008). "Misforståelse rundt avspilling av klubbsanger".
External links
- Official homepage
- "ISBERGET", Official supporter pages
- "Isberget diskusjonsforum", Supporter pages forum
- "Gutan", Unofficial supporter pages
- "Gutan – MMS blogg", Unofficial supporter pages
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