Vålerenga comes from the capital, Oslo, just two hours north of Skien. They play their home games at the national stadion, Ullevaal Stadion,which can hold approximately 25.900 spectators. Martin Andresen, the former Blackburn and Wimbledon player, is their coach. It’s been very windy at Vålerenga the last year, especially due to the lack of results. Back when Andresen was appointed as coach, he told us that Vålerenga was going to be the best in Norway in 2010, best in Scandinavia in 2013 and special in Europe at the same time. They aren’t exactly close to that …

About the stadium:

Capacity(Seat/stand): 25.900 (24.500/1.000)

Turf: Natural

Opened: 1926

Away Section: One of few places where the away stand is just as good as the home stand. Could have been steeper though.

History: (From wikipedia)

Early days

The history of Vålerenga goes back to Fotballpartiet Spark which was founded in 1898, which became Idrettslaget Spring on 29 July 1913. Later the club changed its name to Vaalerengens Idrættsforening.

Vålerengen won the Oslo Championships four times before a national league (Norgesserien) was established in 1937. In the 1948/49 seasonVålerengen finished second.

1960s–1980s

In 1965 Vålerengen won the 1st division(now Tippeligaen) for the first time, and in the 80s they won 3 league championships and 1 cup championship. During that decade they also were twice cup runners-up and placed 3rd in the league in 1985.

However, the team was relegated to the 3rd division in 1970, and were not back in the top league again until 1974.

1990s

In 1990 Vålerenga were relegated after 14 seasons in the top division. Vålerenga was close to further relegation in the 1992 season, but managed to remain in the second highest divisionthanks to a last round 3–0 win against Eik-Tønsberg IF. In 1994, Vålerenga returned to the top division, but were relegated again in 1996. In 1997 Vålerenga won the cupand the First Divisionand were again promoted to Tippeligaen. As earlier in the 90s, the stay in the top division lasted only a few years.

2000–2004

In the 2000 seasonVålerenga lost the play-off matches against Sogndaland was relegated to the 1st division. Vålerenga returned to Tippeligaenand won the cupin 2002.

The 2003 seasonwas poor for Vålerenga and they wound up third last in the league sending them into playoffs against Sandefjordto avoid relegation. The result was a 0–0 draw in Sandefjord and a 5–3 victory in Osloand so Vålerenga retained the position in the top league and avoided relegation.

Vålerenga rebounded nicely in the 2004 seasonand proved a serious challenge to the dominant Rosenborgteam in the bid for the league’s gold medal. After a frantic final round where Vålerenga beat Stabæk3–0, they missed out on the league title since Rosenborgbeat FK Lyn, Vålerenga’s city rivals 4–1. Vålerenga won the silver medal, finishing 2nd to Rosenborg equal on points and goal difference, but Vålerenga had scored one fewer goal than Rosenborg during the entire league campaign, leaving Rosenborg as league champions.

Champions 2005

At the start of the 2005 seasonit was apparent that Rosenborg was in bad shape and it seemed like Vålerenga’s season to go all the way. After a strong season opening, the club sensation IK Start– newly promoted to the Premier League – looked to give Vålerenga a fight to the finish, and the two clubs basically alternated on leading the series to the very last round. On 29 October it looked to be a thrilling last round reminiscent of the previous year, as both Start and Vålerenga had exactly the same amount of points, but Start with a slightly better goal difference. Start met Fredrikstad FKat home, while Vålerenga met Odd Grenland away. As the opening whistle blew the scene was set for some nail-biting football minutes around Norway. Eventually Fredrikstad, who faced relegation if they lost, beat Start 3–1 while at the same time Vålerenga managed a 2–2 draw against Odd Grenland. Vålerenga stepped one up from the previous year, and won the title with a one point margin. History was made on several levels that night as it marked the first time in 21 years that Vålerenga won the league, and most notably it put an end to the 13 year long reign of Rosenborg.

2006 onwards

The follow-up season of 2006did not start out as well for the reigning champions, and a poor start left them at the bottom of the table after seven rounds, having gained only 5 points. A steady rise in form though still brought the team to 6th place by the time the season was half-through. Late July brought a string of bad results, including embarrassing losses to main rival FK Lyn, and the exit from the UEFA Champions Leaguequalifier after losing 5–3 on aggregate to Czech club FK Mladá Boleslavin the 2nd qualifying round. Vålerenga had aimed to qualify for the tournament after missing out the previous year by being defeated by Belgian side Club Brugge K.V.on a penalty shoot-out. After losing five out of seven games between 22 July and 19 August head-coach Kjetil Rekdaldecided enough is enough, and announced his resignation. Assisting coach Petter Myhretook over, and as a consequence the club regained their form and scored 25 out of the last 30 possible points, bringing the club to yet another medal in the league, the third consecutive, as well as a qualification spot for the 2007–2008 UEFA Cup. Vålerenga has also qualified for play in the 2006–2007 Scandinavian Royal Leagueafter finishing among the top four teams in Norway. In 2008 Vålerenga again won the cup. In 2009 the team made the semi final in the cup. On 1 August 2011, Válerega played Liverpool FC in a friendly which they drew 3–3.

Squad:

Goalkeepers:

1 Lars Hirschfeldt

34 Gudmund Taksdal Kongshavn

Defenders:

2 Benjamin Dahl Hagen

3 Andreas Nordvik

4 André Muri

5 Aleksander Solli

6 Simon Larsen

15 Joachim Thomassen

18 Giancarlo Gonzaléz

Midfielders:

13 Fegor Ogude

17 Mohammed Fellah

20 Dawda Leigh

22 Martin Pusic

22 Kristofer Hæstad

26 Bojan Zajic

Attackers:

9 Abdurahim Laajab

9 Sidoine Oussou

10 Veigar Páll Gunnarson

11 Morten Berre

21 Ahmed Suleiman

27 Chuma Anene

35 Chad Barrett

Key Player: Kristofer Kruger Hæstad

Midfielder who is known for his rough play, and he can step over the line some times. Had a short loan spell at Wigan in 2007, while he was under contract with Start.

Young talent: Gudmund Taksdal Kongshavn 

20 year old goalkeeper that made his debut in 2009, against ODD. ODD won 3-0, and he hasn’t been awarded the spot in the first eleven since that.

League position: 8

Last five games:

ODD – Vålerenga 2-3

Vålerenga – Molde 1-2

Stabæk – Vålerenga 1-3

Vålerenga – Brann 1-1

Haugesund – Vålerenga 4-2

Importance of this match:

Vålerenga had a poor start on the season, but they has started picking points lately. ODD has started poor, and kept on in the same track. The opposite clash, that was played just a month ago, ended 3-2 win to Vålerenga, despite a massive ODD dominance for 90 minutes. Both supporters and players wants to revenge that. ODD can pass Vålerenga with a comfortable win.

History between the clubs:

ODD and Vålerenga has met a number of times over the years. Among them, the cup final in 2002, where only one goal made sure vålerenga won. ODD won the last game at vålerenga, when Freddy dos Santos sinked his own team with a own goal.

Vålerengas André Muri was loaned to ODD in 2007, but other than that there hasn’t been much contact.

Statistics for this clash: (from www.nifs.no)

Games in total: 47

ODD wins: 11

draw: 11

vålerenga: 25

At Ullevaal Stadion: 23

ODD wins: 4

draw: 5

Vålerenga wins: 14

Relationship between the fans:

Klanen is some fucking dickheads.Though, they don’t see us as a rival.