The Eliteserien (Norwegian top tier) 2024 will start tomorrow (on March 31st). A new season awaits and there will be space for new players to show their talents in the highest level of Norwegian football. The transfer window is open until April 3rd thus the teams can still make some adjustments until then.

A few influential players and good young prospects left Norway in search of more competitive football and new opportunities for their careers. At the same time, many young footballers returned from loan, and new players have arrived looking to showcase their talent or to relaunch their careers.

Most of the transfers in this transfer window were domestic (60%). From abroad, most of the players were playing in Europe, particularly on the Nordic countries.

Whilst acknowledging that any team can win a league (example of Leicester 2015/16), the differences in quality and financial conditions between the football clubs are noticeable. Yet, surprises can happen and teams can either underperform or overperform. Additionally, the unpredictable factors, such as morale/injuries/summer transfer window,  in play during the season cannot be taken in account when pertaining an overview of the what may or may not happen from now until December.

*All stats presented below refer to the 2023 season and the database used was Sofascore.

 

The title contenders

Bodø/Glimt – the Norwegian champions are one of the favourites to win the Eliteserien. The departures of Pellegrino (24 goals and 14 assists)*, Moumbagna (15 goals and 5 assists)* and Gulliksen (one of the most promising players in Norway) opened a void in the attack. To replace them Evjen, Mikkelsen, Gundersen, Kjetil Haug (loan), Jens Peter Hauge (loan) and Høgh were brought in to balance an already established team. The level of success  greatly depends on how effectively the manager is able to pass his ideas to the new players, and in turn, how well the players can assimilate them. Most likely the attacking 1-4-3-3 will be kept, although compared to last year, the characteristics of the players in the front are different, particularly less powerful yet with more mobility.

Key players – Patrick Berg and Albert Grønbæk. While Berg is the pilar of the midfield and dictates the rhythms of the game, Grønbæk is the creative force (9 goals, 7 assists, 12 big chances created)* on the interior left side of the midfield. Both are top players in the Eliteserien.

 

Molde – After the title in 2022, Molde finished 5th, its worst classification of the last 7 seasons. In 2023, Molde’s bad start and ending of season showed that the team lacked depth and arguments to fight for the Eliteserien while playing the Europa League. They were by far the biggest spenders of the Norwegian top tier as they try to find more solutions. Amongst the players that came to Molde this season the highlights are Møller Dæhli and Senevik.  Dæhli has justreturned to the club after 10 years abroad to substantially contribute to the team’s playmaking and increase the passing quality. Stenevik can bring speed and unpredictability to the wings. The conservative 1-3-5-2 formation is the probable tactic base of the team with some variations according to the strength of the opposition.

Key players – Gullbrandsen, Møller Dæhli and Breivik. Gullbrandsen provides quality and mobility to the front and has lots of experience at a higher level. Dæhli has much experience and will bring quality to the midfield. Breivik is a complete centre midfielder (7 goals, 6 assists, 5 ball recoveries per game)* who is almost  recovered from an injury, is likely anessential asset for the team as soon as he finds his form again.

 

Brann – In my opinion, this is the best managed team in Eliteserien andamong those with better technical attributes. Erik Horneland did a superb job in the last two seasons. Without the same resources as Bodø/Glimt and Molde, Brann managed to win the Norwegian cup of 2022 (the final was in the beginning of 2023) and finished 2nd in the league last season after being promoted. The team is very cohesive and usually plays in a 1-4-3-3 formation that privileges an attacking playstyle with high pressure and high ball possession. Without losing any of the key elements of the team in this transfer window, Brann secured the strategic signings of Kornvig, a complete centre midfielder with conditions to fight immediately for a spot in the starting 11, and Martin Hellan to develop and to give depth to the right wingback position.

Key players – Sivert Nilsen, Bård Finne and Joachim Soltvedt. Nilsen is the leader of the team and does impressive defensive work (9,3 possession recoveries per game and 3,2 tackles per game)*. Finne has great movement off ball, unbalances opposition’s defence easily, creates spaces and finishes well. Soltvedt is one of the set piece takers, competent defending and often finds solutions for the attack (2,6 key passes per game)*.

 

Top 5

Viking – After one impressive that made them reach the 1st position 9 matches away from the end, they lost 5 of the last 8 matches and finished 4th in the Eliteserien. The team played in a 1-4-3-3 formation with variation to 1-4-1-4-1 depending on the approach to the match. Viking are a team with good work rate and good in transitions. Despite having a good attack, the team lacked in defence thus stopping them from reaching a higher position. The exits of Brekalo (one of the best defenders in the Eliteserien), Pattynama and Markus Solbakken (key player in the midfield and one of the best passers in Norway) will certainly decrease the squads depth, the passing quality and the defensive capacity of the team. Without being able to reinforce all these positions, they brought Franco Lino, an 18-year-old Australian left back and Peter Christiansen, a gifted winger with good ball control who was probably the best player in the NordicBet Liga (Danish 2nd tier). It will be interesting to see if Viking manages to play the same way, if there will be subtle changes or if the depth of the squad is enough to fight for a similar spot as last year.

Key players – Zlatko Tripic and Lars-Jørgen Salvensen. Tripic is the leader of the team and one of the best playing in Norway (13 goals; 10 assists; 20 big chances created and 3,4 key passes per game)*. He has experience, reads the game well, has good passing skills and he finishes well. In my opinion, Salvensen (10 goals)* is probably one of the most underrated players in the Eliteserien: he’s physically strong, has good mental attributes and he has a very good work rate. The work he makes in the field might be invisible to many but is pivotal for his team and he can cause problems to any defence.

Lillestrøm – After finishing 6th last season the team hired a new manager, Andreas Georgson (ex-Assistant manager in Arsenal), who will certainly bring new ideas to the club. The squad saw Skjærvik and Eskil Edh exit the club. To replace them, they brought in Foss, a centre back strong in duels to reinforce what was last season’s weak spot; Knudtzon, an experienced right midfielder (more than 400 matches in Eliteserien); and Eric Kitolano, a fast and versatile player. The team played in a 1-3-5-2 formation last season but is still early to know if it will be maintained in a medium/long term.

Key players – Gjermund Åsen, Thomas Lehne Olsen and Eric Kitolano. Åsen was one of the best players in Norway in 2023 and the biggest creator (9 assists; 24 big chances created and 3,3 key passes per game)*. Olsen is experienced, finishes well (14 goals in 2023, 85 in his career in Eliteserien)*, has good vision and is a team player. Eric Kitolano gives the team speed, explosiveness, unpredictability and can be an asset in transitions/counter attacks.

 

Middle Table

Rosenborg – The biggest club in Norway is away from the title since 2018 and it doesn’t seem ready to fight for it. They are one of the youngest squads in the Eliteserien. Last season they finished 9th and it wasn’t marked by stability. Tactically, the team used several formations, starting the season with 1-3-5-2, alternating with a 1-3-4-3, and changing in the mid of the season to 1-4-3-3 formation. The players never managed to assimilate the routines and gain much familiarity with the different systems. The team lacked defensively. With a new manager (1-4-3-3 formation, high pressing), without important changes in the squad and betting in players from their youth system (one of the best in Norway), they have the conditions to raise their game and finish better than last season.

Key players – Ole Selnæs, Jayden Nelson and Ole Sæter. Selnæs (centre midfielder) is the player that brings balance to the team. His passing quality and variety (89% accuracy, 65% accuracy long balls, 76% chipped passes)*, vision and reading of the game are what links the team together. In addition,  his capacity to recover possession (8 recoveries per game)* gives defensive cohesion. Jayden Nelson is an important player to the attacking strategy of the team, especially in counterattacks and quick transitions. The young Canadian winger has good acceleration and speed, has good movements off ball and is creative. He already possesses creativity and technique above the average for an Eliteserien player.  Despite Sæter having had injury problems last season, he was the team’s best goalscorer (12 matches, 8 goals)*. He’s extremely effective (28% goal conversion)* and he’s able to make a difference. Despite being a rising star with lots of quality, Sverre Nypan doesn’t seem yet  at a point where he’s a key player for the strategy of the team - he’s just 17. He still needs to be more consistent in his performances which, looking at his development, can happen very quickly.

 

Sarpsborg – After finishing 8th last season, Sarpsborg suffered a revolution this winter. The exit of Victor Torp, Lundqvist, Maigaard, Kristian Opseth and Utvik is a lot to replace since these players scored, altogether, 60% of the team’s goals in 2023. To replace them, Sarpsborg signed Aimar Sher, a centre midfielder with 2 caps for Sweden U21, Ørjasæter, one of the best and most promising players in OBOS Ligaen (2nd tier) and the experienced midfielder Stefan Johansen (55 caps and former captain for Norway). The team played in a 1-4-2-3-1 that is going to be maintained this season  with a bit more intensity in the pressing. Despite having produced plenty in the attack (1st in accurate crosses, 2nd in shots and shots on target, 55 goals), the team was one of the worst  in defence (52 goals conceded)*. The consistency of the performances, mentality, and how the defence can maintain concentration will be essential.

Key players – Stefan Johansen. The team had many changes. Last season they lacked mental strength and consistency. Johansen is experienced (played in Premier League, Championship, Scottish Premiership and European competitions) and is a leader (Captain for Norway’s National team in 24 occasions). Besides what he can give on the pitch, is what he can give to the team`s collective mentality and approach. He can contribute to raise concentration levels, attenuate some of the pressure and increase motivation.

 

Strømsgodset – The club is well established in the Eliteserien and finished 7th last season. They played in a 1-3-5-2 formation, alternating with a 1-3-4-3, preferring to give the initiative to the opposition. Despite that, the team showed to be very well organised and managed to end up with one of the best defences in the league. Most likely, they will exhibit the same playstyle this season. This winter, they transferred out Leifsson, Stenevik and Myhra. Theybrought in Taaje, a centre back with good positioning and strong in duels, and Bråtveit, a goalkeeper with international experience. It’s expected that Strømsgodset will be able to do a similar performance.

Key players – Gustav Valsvik and Herman Stengel. Valsvik is one of the most effective centre backs in Eliteserien, he has good positioning (8,8 clearances per game and 2 interceptions per game)* and is strong in aerial duels. Stengel is the creative of the team and its set piece taker (5 assists and 2,4 key passes per game)*.

 

Haugesund – Last year, the team finished 12th in the Eliteserien. They played with a 1-4-4-2 formation and, despite defending well (40 goals conceded, 6th best record)* they failed to produce in attack (10 shots per game, worst in Eliteserien; and 34 goals scored, 3rd worst record)*. A new manager has arrived, they will play between a 1-4-3-3 and a 1-4-4-2, focused on ball possession and high pressing. Several players departed the club, being Therkilsen, Krygård and Christensen among them. The club brought in several players, mostly young, making them the youngest squad in the League. From the new players that transferred to Haugesund this winter, we can highlight Konradsen, an experienced midfielder, Anton Lúðviksson, a quality midfielder with potential, and Emir Derviskadic, a creative midfielder.  

Key players – Egil Selvik and Anton Lúðviksson. Selvik is one of the best goalkeepers playing in Norway (1 cap for Norway and some experience in the Eliteserien). He positions himself well, has good reflexes and is good rushing out. With the new playstyle he will be crucial in many matches. Lúðviksson has shown in the pre-season to be a player that can bring quality to the midfield. He’s technically good (dribble, passing), handles contact well and can grow a lot during the season.

 

Tromsø – They had a great season in 2023 and finished 3rd with the same points as the 2nd. They were one of the surprises in the Eliteserien. Without presenting a flashy or dominant football, they were very competent and organised (best defence in Eliteserien). Tromsø played in a 1-3-5-2 formation that privileges teamwork and they will probably stick with it for now. This winter, they lost a few key players, Gundersen, Diouf and Vesterlund, as well as their manager. They acquired Skjærvik, a young centre back with good passing skills, Guddal, a promising centre back that was playing in the 2nd tier, and decided to bet on the young players already at the club (several with caps for Norway U20/19/18). Although it will be very hard to repeat the 3rd place, the team has value and can grow during the season. The main question is how the team will react to so many changes.

Key players – Vegard Erlien. In a team where every goal counts, the clinical striker is the most influential player. He moves well, has good positioning, plays simple and finishes well inside the area. Last season he proved to be crucial (15 goals, 22% goal conversion, 34% goal conversion inside the area)*.

 

Fredrikstad – Sir Alex Ferguson once said that “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”. After 11 years away from the top tier, Fredrikstad won the OBOS Ligaen in 2023 with the best defence (23 goals conceded)* and got promoted to the Eliteserien. The team showed to be solid in the back (14 clean sheets)*. They played in a balanced 1-3-5-2 that seems to be continued in this 2024 season. The team maintained its key players and worked well in the transfer window to cover the exits of Konte, Ricky Alba and Maden. They brought in Fisher, Bjorlo, Mai Traore and Jeppe Kjær, to increase the team’s quality and to provide them with experience in Eliteserien.

Key players – Júlíus Magnússon, Mai Traore, Morten Bjørlo and Jeppe Kjær Jensen. Magnússon is a defensive midfielder who does remarkable work in the defensive moments (9,3 ball recoveries per game and 5,6 interceptions per game)*. Despite not being “flashy”, he’s effective and connects Fredrikstad’s midfield. Traore is a forward that moves well off the ball, appears well at the defence’s back and has Eliteserien experience. Despite not having scored many goals last season, he has less pressure this year that can help him to showcase his talents. Bjørlo is a creative midfielder with good passing quality and vision (3 goals, 3 assists, 7 big chances created and 1,1 key passes per game)*. Kjær is one of the most promising players in Norway, with quality to play in a higher level. My reading is that perhaps the clubs he has been being loaned to, have not been able to make a full use of his skills since he hasn’t played in his position (Winger/Attacking midfielder). Consequently, I think that there has been a delay in his development.  

Bottom 5

Odd - The team finished in the 10th position, and assumed a 1-3-4-3 and  1-5-4-1 formations with a cautious and patient playstyle. Despite having 10 clean sheets (best in the league)*, the team lacked creativity, presence in the area and accuracy (Bellow average shots on target, successful dribbles, and penalties in favour)*.  Diogo Tomás, Bråtveit and Gjengaar left the club. André Hansen, an experienced goalkeeper, Etzaz Hussain, a midfielder with vision and passing quality, Børven, an experienced striker and two young centre backs, Miettinen and Ivancevic. The manager has changed as well and we can expect the team to be playing in a more balanced 1-4-2-3-1/1-4-3-3 formation.  

Key players – Mikael Ingebrigtsen, Filip Jørgensen and Espen Ruud. Ingebrigtsen plays on the right wing and is creative, with good technique and appears well in finishing zones (6 goals and 4 assists)*. Jørgensen is a playmaking midfielder, with good vision and passing skills to back it up. Rudd is the leader of the team and the most experienced one. Despite his age (40) he is one of the most influential players in Odd and he led the team in several metrics (6 assists, 8 big chances created, 1.8 Key passes per game)*. His experience provides him with knowledge to read the game well, good vision, passing and crossing quality.

Kristiansund – The team finished 4th in the OBOS Ligaen (2nd tier) with the best attack (56 goals)* and reached promotion after winning the playoff. Played last season with a 1-3-5-2 and a 1-4-3-3 formations (plus variations). They showed to be a resilient team with good work rate and they have fast players in the wings. Kristiansund will be one of the youngest (average age) teams in the Eliteserien. During this transfer window the team made some adjustments. Gjertsen, Nilsen and Stokke left the club. They reinforced themselves well by bringing Mikkaelsson, Gueye and Nyenetue for the attack, Alte for the midfield, Sjåtil for the right wingback and Lansing as a goalkeeper. The team has now more depth and players with experience at Eliteserien  level.

Key players – Brynjólfur Willumsson and Oskar Sivertsen. They are the biggest creatives in the team. Willumsson (7 goals and 7 assists)* plays as centre forward (Iceland National team) or centre midfielder (since last season at Kristiansund). He has good vision, good technique and good passing skills, which help him find solutions in the attack. Sivertsen (4 goals and 8 assists)* is a fast winger with good technique and good ball control. He has good movements with ball and often appears near the area to finish or assist. Being only 20-years-old, he can grow and develop a lot during the season.

 

HamKam – They had a discrete season in 2023 but managed to stay out of the battle to avoid relegation. The team played in a 1-3-5-2 formation, altering with 1-3-4-3, and variations. The formations will likely be maintained and maybe a 1-4-3-1-2 can be included. The cautious and more direct playstyle of last season, led to an under average attacking performance (39 goals scored)*, a bad defensive one (59 goals conceded, 2nd worst)*, and an even worst ball possession (37% ball possession on average; 6,2 accurate dribbles per game and only 241,1 accurate passes per game, the worst records in the Eliteserien)*. HamKam released 7 players, including Gammelby and Melgavis, and acquired Luc Mares, a consistent centre back and one of the best defenders in the 2nd tier. They also acquired Nilsen, a balanced right wing back, and Niklas Ødegård (loan), a promising midfielder and young players to give depth and develop.

Key players – Marcus Sandberg and Pål Kirkevold. Sandberg is an experienced goalkeeper with a few seasons in the Eliteserien under his belt. He has good positioning, and thanks to some good exhibitions, helped the team to win some points (8 clean sheets).  Kirkevold is an experienced striker. He reads the game well, has good positioning and moves well inside the area. Last season, he was one of the most influential players of HamKam (6 goals, 4 assists, 1 key pass per game)*. Despite all they can offer on the field, the season can be quite though. Their ability to lead by example can be what differentiates a good season from a bad one.

 

Sandefjord – They saved themselves from relegation by winning the last match of the season. The team used a 1-4-3-3 formation based on quick transitions. They performed well in the attack but lacked mental and defensive consistency (55 goals conceded, 3rd worst record)*. This season, it seems they’ll be alternating between the 1-4-3-3 and the 1-3-4-3 formations. Sandefjord had important players leaving the club, both starting centre backs Taaje and Foss, and players that gave depth to the team, such as Nyenetue and Koomson. They managed to sign two of the best players in OBOS Ligaen (2nd tier): the centre back Van der Spa, strong in aerial duels, and Mettler, a creative midfielder (7 goals, 6 assists and 2,2 key passes per game)*.  Additionally, they secured the loan of Emen Markovic to give depth to the wings.

Key players – Danilo Al-Saed, Filip Ottosson and Vetle Walle Egeli. Al-Saed is a fast left winger and one of the best dribblers in the Eliteserien. He has good technique and dribbling skills that allow him to unbalance the opposition’s defence and appear in finishing areas (11 goals)*. Ottosson is the leader in the midfield and one of the most creative players of the team, having good vision and good passing ability (6 assists, 4 big chances created and 1,6 key passes per game)*. Egeli is a promising left fullback/wingback, set piece taker and one of the team`s biggest creators (3 assists, 7 big chances created and 1,2 key passes per game)*. He’s committed when defending and he’s good in ground duels.

 

KFUM Oslo - 2003 was a historical season for the club. They finished 2nd in the OBOS Ligaen (2nd tier) and secured the promotion to the Eliteserien for the first time ever. They played in a 1-3-4-3, alternating with 1-5-4-1 formation. The team feels comfortable with the ball (52,2% possession and 84% pass accuracy)*and performed well both in defence and attack (51 goals scored and 31 goals conceded,)*. This season they’ll likely to use the same tactical approach (probably the cautious 1-5-4-1 will be used more often). The club released a few players and Silfver-Ramage was transferred to Italy. KFUM did the strategic signings of Amin Nouri, experienced fullback, Aleesami, experienced defender, and Adam Saldaña, Da Rocha and Hickson to give depth.

Key players – Amin Nouri, Haitam Aleesami and Robin Rasch. Nouri and Aleesami are important for the same reason, the psychological factor. Nouri knows well the Eliteserien, how it is played and what is needed to win. Aleesami (31 caps for Norway) has played in several leagues that are more demanding than the Norwegian one. Rasch is an all-round midfielder. He helps in attack, creates and defends (6 goals; 4 assists; 8,9 recoveries per game and 3,8 interceptions per game)*. The central midfielder has good passing quality, vision and positioning that help to connect the team.