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Jan Åge Fjørtoft

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Jan Åge Fjørtoft
Fjørtoft in 2023
Personal information
Full name Jan Åge Fjørtoft[1]
Date of birth (1967-01-10) 10 January 1967 (age 57)[2]
Place of birth Gursken, Møre og Romsdal, Norway
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[3]
Position(s) Centre forward
Youth career
Gursken
1982–1983 Hødd
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1985 Hødd 39 (34)
1986–1987 HamKam 44 (17)
1988–1989 Lillestrøm 33 (20)
1989–1993 Rapid Wien 129 (63)
1993–1995 Swindon Town 72 (27)
1995–1997 Middlesbrough 41 (10)
1997–1998 Sheffield United 34 (19)
1998 Barnsley 34 (9)
1998–2001 Eintracht Frankfurt 52 (14)
2001 Stabæk 15 (6)
2002 Lillestrøm 4 (0)
Total 497 (219)
International career
1984 Norway U19 6 (5)
1985–1987 Norway U21 14 (6)
1986–1996 Norway 71 (20)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jan Åge Fjørtoft (born 10 January 1967) is a Norwegian former professional footballer. A powerful centre forward with goalscoring ability, he played professionally in Norway, Austria, England and Germany. In total, he scored 308 goals in 614 games in these four different countries. He made 71 appearances for the Norwegian National Team, captaining the squad in 15 of them, and scored 20 goals for the Norway national team. A pinnacle moment in his national team career was the qualification and participation in the 1994 World Cup held in the USA. Notably, this marked Norway's return to the World Cup stage for the first time since 1938. His nickname was Fjøra (lit. "The Feather").

Club career

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Fjørtoft started his senior career at Hødd in the second league of Norway as a 17-year-old, scoring 9 league goals in 17 matches in the 1984 season. In the 1985 season, he scored 25 league goals in 22 games.

After starting in Norway with Hødd, HamKam and Lillestrøm and spending four seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga with Rapid Wien – where he became only the second foreigner to be Player of the Year in 1989 – Fjørtoft spent several seasons in England during the 1990s. He joined Swindon Town in the summer of 1993 following their promotion to the Premiership, costing the Wiltshire club a record £500,000. He had a slow start to his career at Swindon and endured a poor start to their first-ever top-division campaign, failing to win any of their first 16 games.[4] Fjørtoft failed to find the net until after Christmas but scored 13 goals from his final 17 games, including a hat-trick in a 3–1 win against Coventry City on 5 February 1994.[5] However, it was not enough to prevent Swindon from going down in bottom place with a mere five league wins having conceded 100 league goals.[6]

Fjørtoft continued to score frequently during the 1994–95 season and helped Swindon reach the League Cup semi-finals, but their league form was disastrous once more and he transferred to Middlesbrough on 23 March 1995 for £1.3 million.[7] By this stage, he had scored 25 goals in all competitions for the Robins and was one of the highest scorers in the English league that season.

Meanwhile, Fjørtoft was a regular player for Middlesbrough as soon as he joined the club, and helped them finish the season as First Division champions. Due to a restructuring of the league, they were the only team to gain automatic promotion to the Premiership in 1995. He was a regular player throughout the 1995–96 campaign and, as the Norwegian partnered Brazilian playmaker Juninho, Boro finished in a respectable 12th place; although they had occupied fourth place in late autumn, a disastrous run of form coinciding with an injury crisis during mid-season sabotaged their hopes of European qualification or a title challenge. Fjørtoft had scored six goals from 26 Premier League games.[8]

However, the arrival of Italian forward Fabrizio Ravanelli pushed him down the pecking order for the 1996–97 season, and he was sold to First Division promotion chasers Sheffield United for £700,000 on 31 January 1997. In his final game for Middlesbrough Fjørtoft scored a crucial goal against Hednesford Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup.[9] Boro would go on to reach the final after his departure.

After the Blades lost to Crystal Palace in the playoff final, he played at United until 15 January 1998, when he joined newly promoted Barnsley to have another crack at the Premiership. He was unable though, to prevent Barnsley's only season at Premier League level ending in relegation, although scoring a respectable six goals in 15 Premiership games. He left Barnsley in November 1998 to join Eintracht Frankfurt, calling time on his five-year spell in England.

Fjørtoft's next stop came in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt, where he spent three years (25 November 1998 – 31 May 2001). He became a cult hero for the club, scoring a decisive 89th-minute goal in the final game of the 1998–99 season, saying to himself melancholically: "probably the best goal this season", keeping Eintracht up.[10] He returned home to Norway with Stabæk, and finished his career with Lillestrøm in 2002, retiring at the age of 35.

International career

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Between 1986 and 1996, Fjørtoft collected 71 caps for the Norway national team, being part of the nation's squad in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where he appeared as a starter against Mexico (1–0) and Italy (0–1).

Post-playing career

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After retiring from professional football, Jan Åge Fjørtoft transitioned into various roles within the football industry and beyond, including broadcasting, front office, strategic consultancy, government advisory, ambassador roles, philanthropy and educational initiatives, and podcasting. In 2004, he assumed the Director of Football position at Lillestrøm (LSK), where he served for four and a half years until the end of the 2008 season. This included two cup final appearances (lost in 2005, won in 2007), three consecutive top-four league finishes, and a Royal League final appearance.

Media career

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While playing in England, Jan Åge Fjørtoft was a guest and worked regularly for Sky as they were developing a new way of presenting football on TV. Both at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2002, Jan Åge worked as a pundit for NRK in Norway. After he retired in 2002, he signed with NRK, becoming the first full-time pundit on Norwegian TV. During this period, he also pursued his coaching badges, stating, "Not because I want to be a coach, but because I want to systematize what I have learned and experienced throughout my career. Whatever path I choose, this sort of education will help me." While undertaking the position of Director of Football at Lillestrøm Sportsklubb, he concurrently joined Viaplay in 2004. Serving as both host and pundit, he contributed to their Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, and World Cup broadcasts. Presently, he maintains an active role at Viaplay, as a senior pitch-side reporter for their Premier League broadcasts.

During the 2021/2022 season, he produced a documentary titled "Haaland – The Big Decision," providing an intimate portrayal of Erling Haaland's journey, particularly during his transition from Borussia Dortmund. The documentary, which followed Erling in his private moments, was released after Erling signed with Manchester City.

Fjørtoft has been a constant presence in the media landscape since 2002, contributing to various TV channels such as Viaplay, Sky Germany, ESPN, and ServusTV in various punditry roles. In 2011–14, he worked as a football pundit on Sky Germany. He later became a pundit on ESPN FC[11] and according to a January 2022 segment he did, he believes his goal scoring statistics on Wikipedia are incorrect and wishes them to be corrected.[12] He also shares his insights through columns, notably for Bild Zeitung in Germany. In collaboration with his son, Markus Fjørtoft, he runs "The German Fussball Podcast."

Strategic Consultant and Advisor

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Jan Åge Fjørtoft runs his own Strategic Communication Company, offering consultation to companies and CEOs in Norway and internationally. His strategic insights were sought after by the Norwegian Olympic, the Confederation of Sport, and WADA, where he served as a Strategic Advisor from 2016 to 2019.

His advisory roles extended to The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sport, where he notably served as a close advisor to Secretary General Inge Andersen during the preparation and execution of the Youth Olympic Games in Norway.

From 2016 to 2019, he served as a Strategic Advisor alongside Rune Andersen for the vice president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Linda Hofstad Helleland. In this capacity, he collaborated closely with the Council of Europe, IOC, FIFA, and various governments worldwide.

A noteworthy achievement during this period was a collaborative effort with Helleland, conceptualizing and executing an Anti-Doping Conference at the White House in Washington D.C. This event witnessed the participation of nine governments and athletes from around the world.

Since 2008, Fjørtoft has served as an advisor to the Norwegian Football Association, actively participating in the "Handshake for Peace" initiative from its inception when the founder, Kjetil Siem, conceived the idea. In April 2014 Fjørtoft was named Team manager of the National Team, working close with the national coach, Per-Mathias Høgmo.

Government Advisor and Ambassador

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In 2015, Fjørtoft was appointed by the Minister for Sport of Norway to lead a Strategic Group advising the government on optimal sport utilization for society. He delivered the group's findings in 2017. Serving as Eintracht Frankfurt's Ambassador in Germany, Fjørtoft, in collaboration with the club, founded the Norway-Forum in 2021, fostering stronger ties between the Frankfurt region and Norway.

Philanthropy and Educational Initiatives

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Beyond professional engagements, Jan Åge Fjørtoft is dedicated to promoting sports accessibility. Since 1990, he has run sports schools, ensuring the last five years have been free for pupils. His commitment extends globally, with schools organized not only in Norway but also in England and Scotland. He chaired MTG's foundation "MTG United for Peace" and later held a similar role at Millicom. Additionally, from 2008 onwards, he advised the Norwegian Football Association, playing a vital role in the "Handshake for Peace" initiative.

Personal life

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Fjørtoft's son, Markus, was a professional footballer.[13]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ham-Kam 1986[14][15] 1. divisjon 22 7 3 6 – – – 25 13
1987[14][15] 1. divisjon 22 10 6 5 – – 2[a] 0 30 15
Total 44 17 9 11 0 0 0 0 2 0 55 28
Lillestrøm 1988[14] 1. divisjon 22 14 3 2 – – – 25 16
1989[14] 1. divisjon 11 6 3 2 – 0 0 – 14 8
Total 33 20 6 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 24
Rapid Wien 1989–90[16] Austrian Bundesliga 34 17 5 3 – 6 3 – 45 23
1990–91[16] Austrian Bundesliga 33 17 5 4 – 2 0 – 40 21
1991–92[16] Austrian Bundesliga 34 16 3 6 – – – 37 22
1992–93[16] Austrian Bundesliga 28 13 4 4 – 2 2 – 34 19
Total 129 63 17 17 0 0 10 5 0 0 156 85
Swindon Town 1993–94[7] Premier League 36 12 2 1 1 0 – – 39 13
1994–95[7] First Division 36 15 2 1 8 9 – 2[b] 0 48 25
Total 72 27 4 2 9 9 0 0 2 0 87 38
Middlesbrough 1994–95[17] First Division 8 3 0 0 0 0 – – 8 3
1995–96[17] Premier League 28 6 0 0 6 2 – – 34 8
1996–97[17][18] Premier League 5 1 2 1 1 0 – – 8 2
Total 41 10 2 1 7 2 0 0 0 0 50 13
Sheffield United 1996–97[18] First Division 17 10 0 0 0 0 – 3[c] 1 20 11
1997–98[18][19] First Division 17 9 2 2 3 1 – – 22 12
Total 34 19 2 2 3 1 0 0 3 1 42 23
Barnsley 1997–98[18] Premier League 15 6 0 0 0 0 – – 15 6
1998–99[18] First Division 19 3 0 0 6 4 – – 25 7
Total 34 9 0 0 6 4 0 0 0 0 40 13
Eintracht Frankfurt 1998–99[20] Bundesliga 17 6 0 0 – – – 17 6
1999–00[20] Bundesliga 21 5 1 2 – – – 22 7
2000–01[20] Bundesliga 14 3 1 1 – – – 15 4
Total 52 14 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 54 17
Stabæk 2001[14] Tippeligaen 15 6 3 2 – – – 18 8
Lillestrøm 2002[14] Tippeligaen 4 0 3 0 – 0 0 – 7 0
career total 458 185 48 42 25 16 10 5 7 1 548 249
  1. ^ Appearances in Playoffs
  2. ^ Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in 1997 Football League play-offs

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[21]
National team Year Apps Goals
Norway 1986 1 0
1987 2 0
1988 4 2
1989 10 3
1990 9 3
1991 6 2
1992 4 0
1993 9 5
1994 11 1
1995 11 4
1996 4 0
Total 71 20
Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fjørtoft goal[22]
List of international goals scored by Jan Åge Fjørtoft
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 28 July 1988 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Brazil 1–0 1–1 Friendly
2 14 September 1988 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Scotland 1–1 1–2 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier
3 31 May 1989 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Austria 2–0 4–1 Friendly
4 14 June 1989 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Yugoslavia 1–2 1–2 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier
5 25 October 1989 Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait  Kuwait 2–2 2–2 Friendly
6 7 February 1990 Ta' Qali National Stadium, Attard, Malta  Malta 1–0 1–1 Rothmans tournament
7 31 October 1990 Bislett Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Cameroon 4–0 6–1 Friendly
8 5–0
9 23 May 1991 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Romania 1–0 1–0 Friendly
10 25 September 1991 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Czechoslovakia 2–2 2–3 Friendly
11 30 March 1993 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar  Qatar 3–0 6–1 Friendly
12 4–0
13 5–0
14 28 April 1993 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Turkey 2–0 3–1 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
15 13 October 1993 Stadion Miejski, Poznań, Poland  Poland 2–0 3–0 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
16 14 December 1994 Ta' Qali National Stadium, Attard, Malta  Malta 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier
17 26 April 1995 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Luxembourg 2–0 5–0 UEFAEuro 1996 qualifier
18 25 May 1995 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Ghana 2–1 3–2 Friendly
19 3–1
20 7 June 1995 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Malta 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier

Honours

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Lillestrøm

Middlesbrough

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Jan Åge Fjørtoft" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Football Federation. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  2. ^ Jan Åge Fjørtoft Archived 8 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine (in Norwegian). Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Jan Åge Fjørtoft: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Jan Åge Fjørtoft: 'I almost get tears when I talk about my first Swindon goal'". Guardian. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  5. ^ Slot, Owen (6 February 1994). "The age of Fjortoft". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  6. ^ "World Cup Connections: Jan Åage Fjørtoft". Swindon Town F.C. 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  7. ^ a b c "Fjørtoft's Swindon Profile". Swindon Town. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Jan-Aage Fjortoft". sporting-heroes.net. Archived from the original on 20 December 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  9. ^ Turnbull, Simon (27 January 1997). "Hednesford held at bay". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  10. ^ "1999-2000" (in German). Eintracht Frankfurt. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  11. ^ "Real Madrid must give Martin Odegaard time to develop - Jan Aage Fjortoft". ESPN. 13 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Will Mikel Arteta's treatment of Aubameyang & Ozil haunt him? | ESPN FC Extra Time - YouTube". YouTube.
  13. ^ "Hamilton Accies: Markus Fjortoft, son of Jan Age, to sign in summer". BBC Sport. 18 April 2019. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Jan Åge Fjørtoft" (in Norwegian). NFF. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Jan Åge Fjørtoft" (in Norwegian). HamKam. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  16. ^ a b c d "Jan Age FJÖRTOFT" (in German). Rapid Wien. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  17. ^ a b c "Jan-Aage Fjortoft". 11v11.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Jan-Aage Fjortoft". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 16 November 2006. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  19. ^ "Jan Åge Fjørtoft". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  20. ^ a b c "Jan-Aage Fjörtoft". Fussballdaten.de (in German). Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  21. ^ Søfting, Thomas. "Jan Åge Fjørtoft". Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  22. ^ "Jan Fjørtoft". EU-Football.info. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
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