Tommy Hansen (footballer, born 1967)

Tommy Hansen (born 13 February 1967) is a retired Norwegian football midfielder. He spent most of his career in Bodø, representing FK Bodø/Glimt as well as two lesser teams in the city, except for two seasons in Mjøndalen IF. His main honour with Bodø/Glimt was the victory in the 1993 Norwegian Football Cup Final.

Tommy Hansen
Personal information
Date of birth (1967-02-13) 13 February 1967 (age 57)
Position(s) midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986 Grand Bodø
1987–1989 Bodø/Glimt
1990–1991 Mjøndalen
1992–1997 Bodø/Glimt
1998–1999 Gevir Bodø
Managerial career
1998–1999 Gevir Bodø (player-manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early career

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He started his youth and senior career in IK Grand Bodø, playing on the second tier. He was converted from midfielder to forward, but despite 7 league goals in 1986, the team was relegated Hansen therefore moved on to FK Bodø/Glimt in 1987, turning down an offer from Fauske/Sprint.[1][2]

Hansen had a slow start to the 1987 season because he carried out the compulsory military service. Nordlands Framtid also referred doubts as to his diet. Hansen gradually found his form, playing in attack alongside Mini Jakobsen and Petter Solli.[3]

Elite career

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In 1990 Hansen was pursued to move south and join Mjøndalen IF, a promotion contender in the 1990 Norwegian Second Division. The transfer fee was 90,000 kr.[4] In the 1990 season he was slightly maladjusted, but found his form in 1991.[5] By 1991 he had been converted to attacking midfielder. He showcased playmaker qualities, ranking higher in assists than in goals.[6] With Mjøndalen reaching the semi-final of the 1991 Norwegian Football Cup, Hansen scored once and recorded the assist to the goal that put them through to the quarter-final,[7] as well as scoring in the quarter-final.[8]

After the 1991 season Hansen moved back north to rejoin Bodø/Glimt, despite Mjøndalen winning promotion from the 1991 Norwegian First Division. According to the previous transfer deal between Bodø/Glimt and Mjøndalen, the Bodø club was entitled to purchase Hansen back for a discounted price. Mjøndalen would rather have retained Hansen, or sold him to a third party without the discount. The transfer fee was reported as 60,000 kr.[9] Bodø/Glimt won promotion from the 1992 Norwegian First Division, which was Hansen's second in a row. Hansen lost most of the season due to back pains, and increased his dorsal workouts.[10]

The 1993 pre-season looked promising, with Hansen among others scoring twice against Paralimni in a pre-season camp.[11] Bodø/Glimt emerged as a contender to win the 1993 Eliteserien, finishing as runners-up, and progressed steadily in the 1993 Norwegian Football Cup. As Bodø/Glimt progressed to their first cup semi-final since 1977, beating North Norwegian rivals Tromsø in the quarter-final, Hansen was designated man of the match. According to local press, Hansen had become a fan favourite (attendants' hero in local parlance).[12][10] Hansen played the whole 1993 Norwegian Football Cup final which Bodø/Glimt won.

As Bodø/Glimt subsequently entered the 1994-95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Hansen played as a substitute during their long-remembered 3–2 victory against Sampdoria at home.[13] Hansen played well during the spring of 1995, before being injured against Kongsvinger on 30 July. His leg was in a cast for several weeks. Returning in a friendly match on 3 February 1996,[14][15][16] his start to the 1996 Eliteserien season was met with "harsh criticism" from the Aspmyra audience as well as low grades in the local press (which graded players after every game). Hansen vowed that he and the team would find the "rhythm", and explained his increased amount of failed plays with "playing on small margins".[17]

In 1997, Hansen was omitted from the squad that travelled to Cyprus for a pre-season training camp.[18] By July, he had still not featured in any league matches, and was rumoured to join Ivar Morten Normark's Gevir.[19] By October, his total playing time in the league was only 300 seconds, according to Nordlandsposten, which all came during a single match against Sogndal. He was not even benched for most games, watching home games from the stands and not travelling to away games. His contract was also due to expire.[20] In 1998, Hansen was the player-manager of Gevir, which Normark had left.[21] The team struggled against relegation, but ultimately survived the 1998 2. divisjon. Hansen stated his wish to continue as a player only.[22][23]

Honours

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1991 (Mjøndalen), 1992 (Bodø/Glimt)
1993 (Bodø/Glimt)
Silver medal (1993), bronze medal (1995, both Bodø/Glimt)

References

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  1. ^ Hagen, Gunnar (17 November 1986). "Tommy valgte Glimt". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). p. 9.
  2. ^ Thune, Odd (1 December 1986). "Tommy sa ja". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). p. 11.
  3. ^ Grindstein, Gunnar (5 September 1987). "Cola og fotball er livet". Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). p. 14.
  4. ^ Grindstein, Gunnar (13 March 1990). "Tung Tommy trives". Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). p. 13.
  5. ^ Olsen, Morten (20 June 1991). "Tommys revansje!". Fremtiden (in Norwegian). p. 23.
  6. ^ Hagen, Gunnar (24 July 1991). "– Æ kommer hjæm". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). p. 21.
  7. ^ Eriksen, Arvid (24 July 1991). "Per Terje kom som et kulelyn". VG (in Norwegian). p. 25.
  8. ^ Sundbø, Trygve; Møller, Line (15 August 1991). "Nye harde tak". VG (in Norwegian). p. 26.
  9. ^ Johansen, Øyvind (1 November 1991). "Gullkantet Tommy-kontrakt". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). p. 20.
  10. ^ a b Lund, Bjørn (19 August 1993). "Aspmyras nye publikumshelt". Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). p. 14.
  11. ^ Hagen, Gunnar (20 March 1993). "Rom 204 slo kelner-kameratene". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). p. 15.
  12. ^ Lund, Bjørn (19 August 1993). "Én omgang var nok mot Tromsø". Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). p. 15.
  13. ^ Lund, Bjørn (16 September 1994). "Triumfen hele Europa vil snakke om". Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). pp. 16–17.
  14. ^ Schjelderup, Jørn-Tommy (16 November 1995). "Tommy tilbake". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). p. 14.
  15. ^ Eide, Terje Dahlseng (23 January 1996). "På vei tilbake". Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). p. 15.
  16. ^ Lund, Bjørn (5 February 1996). "Endelig tilbake". Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). p. 15.
  17. ^ Schjelderup, Jørn-Tommy (8 May 1996). "Tør å få enere". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). p. 15.
  18. ^ Marthinsen, Roger (10 March 1997). "Ikke avskriv Tommy". Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). p. 18.
  19. ^ "Hansen til Gevir?". Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). 25 July 1997. p. 18.
  20. ^ Holthe, Øivind (14 October 1997). "300 sekunder. Det er alt Tommy Hansen har spilt i år". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). p. 19.
  21. ^ Guttormsen, Pål (26 January 1998). "Rollebytte". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). p. 14.
  22. ^ Wahlstrøm, Roy (6 July 1998). "– Jeg burde hevet Gevir mer". Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). p. 18.
  23. ^ Røstvold, Ole Johnny (7 October 1998). "Vil spille, ikke trene". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). p. 20.