Sven Otto Birkeland (born 10 February 1948) is a Norwegian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for the Norwegian national senior and junior teams.[1]

Sven Otto Birkeland
Personal information
Full name Sven Otto Birkeland
Date of birth (1948-02-10) 10 February 1948 (age 76)
Place of birth Kristiansand, Norway
Position(s) Attacker
Youth career
FK Vigør
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1969-1973 Lyn Fotball 5 (0)
1973-1978 IK Start 11 (0)
1978-1986 FK Jerv
International career
1964-? Norway U19 9 (12)
1970-? Norway U21 5 (0)
1967-? Norway 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Birkeland was born in Kristiansand. He played as a midfielder for Start from 1973–78, and won the league in 1978. He began his career at Vigør and played for Lyn from 1969 to 1973. He also played for Jerv and was the coach of Donn. Birkeland was the match winner against Bodø/Glimt when Start's first league title was secured on 15 October 1978.

He has five caps and one goal for the Norway national team, and made his debut against Sweden in 1967, becoming the first Sørlending to play for Norway.

Birkeland is the father of the former Start player Bernt Christian Birkeland.

Career statistics

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Score and result list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Birkeland goal.
International goal scored by Sven Otto Birkeland
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway 3 September 1967   Sweden 3–1 UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying

References

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  1. ^ "Sven Otto Birkeland". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
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