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Kjetil Rekdal

Kjetil Rekdal
Rekdal in 2006
Personal information
Full name Kjetil André Rekdal[1]
Date of birth (1968-11-06) 6 November 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth Vestnes, Norway
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1979–1985 Fiksdal/Rekdal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1988 Molde 75 (25)
1988–1990 Borussia Mönchengladbach 9 (0)
1990–1996 Lierse 181 (71)
1994 → Molde (loan) 8 (4)
1996–1997 Rennes 31 (2)
1997–2000 Hertha BSC 64 (4)
2000–2004 Vålerenga 116 (21)
Total 484 (127)
International career
1984 Norway U15 2 (0)
1985 Norway U16 3 (1)
1986 Norway U17 5 (8)
1985 Norway U19 7 (3)
1987–1989 Norway U21 11 (3)
1987–2000 Norway 83 (17)
Managerial career
2001–2006 Vålerenga
2006–2007 Lierse
2007–2008 1. FC Kaiserslautern
2008–2012 Aalesund
2013–2017 Vålerenga
2018–2019 Start
2020–2021 HamKam
2022–2023 Rosenborg
2024 AC Omonia
2024– Aalesund
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kjetil André Rekdal (born 6 November 1968) is a Norwegian football manager and a former player.[2] He is the manager of Norwegian club Aalesund.

Rekdal began his playing career in Molde FK, playing afterwards for clubs in the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Belgian Pro League.[3] Playing as a midfielder during his time as a player, his 83 caps with the Norway national team makes him the seventh most capped player in the team's history.[4]

Rekdal previously managed Vålerenga from 2000 to 2006, during which he won both the cup and league title. He has also been in charge of 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Lierse and Aalesund.[5] During his time at Aalesund, the club earned two cup titles and saw a period of success previously unmatched in their history, which was attributed to Rekdal.

Club career

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Born in Vestnes, Rekdal started playing football for the local club Fiksdal/Rekdal in 1979. Later as a 16-year-old he started his professional career with the local top flight club Molde FK, becoming the second-youngest player in the league. In 1988, he signed with the Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach and stayed with them for two years before moving to the Belgian Pro League side Lierse S.K. and remaining there until 1996, with the exception of the 1994 season which he spent on loan helping his former club Molde FK gaining promotion to Tippeligaen and winning the domestic Cup.

In 1996, he signed for Ligue 1 club Rennes. The highlight of his playing career was a highly successful spell at Hertha BSC in Germany between 1997 and 2000. His final years as a player and then player/manager was spent in Norwegian club Vålerenga, where he picked up another cup winner's medal in 2002 before retiring in 2004. In the summer of 2007, Rekdal officially rejoined his youth club Fiksdal/Rekdal.[5]

International career

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Rekdal has 83 games for the Norway national team, after his debut against Italy in 1987, and played in two FIFA World Cups (1994 and 1998).[6] He scored 17 goals for the national team, among those a long-range goal at Wembley against England in 1992, the only goal in the game as Norway beat Mexico in the 1994 World Cup, and a penalty in the 1998 World Cup against Brazil to win the game 2–1, prompting the commentator to say how "the man with the yellow boots has hurt those wearing the yellow shirts...Delight for Egil Olsen".[2] The two World Cup goals make him the highest scoring Norwegian in World Cup history, with one goal more than Arne Brustad, Dan Eggen, Håvard Flo and Tore André Flo.[7]

Managerial career

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Vålerenga

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Rekdal has proven himself a successful coach, leading Vålerenga from relegation in 2001, and famously weeping as his team avoided relegation the following year[8] and back into position as one of the dominating clubs in the Tippeligaen. In 2004, he led the team to second place, losing the first place on goal difference to Rosenborg, and in 2005, his team finally won the league for the first time in 21 years, ending Rosenborg's 13-year reign as champions of Norway.[9] along the way receiving legend-status in the club, partly due to the fact that he refused an offer of a six-digit coaching salary in order to help the club financially.[10]

Lierse

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Rekdal resigned as coach at Vålerenga on 21 August 2006, following a string of poor results. He was appointed manager of his former club Lierse on 21 November 2006. When he arrived at the club, Lierse lay bottom of the table with only two points in fifteen matches. At the end of the season, they ended up with 26 points and avoided direct relegation. In the play-offs, Lierse only managed to win three of their six matches and were relegated to the Second Division after all.[11]

1. FC Kaiserslautern

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In May 2007, Rekdal signed on to manage Kaiserslautern in the German 2. Bundesliga. He left the club in early February of the following year, the club lying in sixteenth place.[5][12]

Aalesund

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He joined forces with Norwegian top flight outfit Aalesund in 2008 after moving back to Norway.[13] Joining the club mid-season, he found Aalesund lying in a relegation spot, but managed to get a relegation play-off spot, where Aalesund beat challengers Sogndal 7–2 on aggregate, thereby securing a new season in the Tippeligaen. In 2009, he led Aalesund to the club's first victory in the Norwegian Cup, where they beat arch rivals Molde 3–2 after a penalty shootout in the final.[14] In 2010, he led the club to the fourth place in Tippeligaen, the club's best result ever.[15] In 2011, he received wide praise when his club came close to the historic feat of qualifying for the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League, losing the last play-off game to the Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, having won the first leg 2–1.[16] The same year he again led Aalesund to win the Norwegian Cup Final, thereby securing a UEFA Europa League qualification spot for the third consecutive year.[17] His contract with Aalesund was terminated on 26 November 2012.[18] After he won his second Norwegian Cup with Aalesund in three years, he was once again said to take over as national team coach after Drillo.[19]

On 26 November 2012, the board of directors of Aalesund announced the termination of Rekdal's contract.[18] The board stressed that it was not due to the season results, but rather as a result of a general review.[20] Analysts noted that the sacking was likely a result of a power struggle within the club between Rekdal, the sports director and the chairman of the board.[21]

Return to Vålerenga

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Rekdal started his second tenure for Vålerenga, when he was appointed as head coach on 8 January 2013.[22]

On 13 July 2016, it was announced he would end his tenure as head coach of Valerenga after the 2016 season and will move into the position as sporting director to make way for Ronny Deila whom will take over as head coach. [23]

Start

[edit]

Rekdal was appointed as head coach on 1 June 2018 after former head coach Mark Dempsey was sacked on 18 May 2018. Rekdal signed a two-year contract with Start.

Rekdal took over the team, after 12 games of the season had been played; during his spell, only six teams gathered more points, yet the team was relegated [at the end of that season].[24]

That job ended; In an interview in 2020, he said that frequent visits to [places for betting/gambling or] one or more casinos, was not well-received by [his previous employer] Start.[25]

Personal life

[edit]

Born 6 November 1968 in Rekdal in Vestnes, into a family of six, including three younger siblings, his younger brother Sindre played also professional with Molde FK helping them win the domestic cup in 1994.[26] Among his interests and hobbies is freshwater fishing and card-games such as Poker, having competed in amateur tournaments internationally.[5][27][28]

Rekdal moved to Ottestad neighborhood in Hamar in 2013, with his wife and four children.[29]

During his time at Lierse, Rekdal had a clause in his contract which allowed him to keep up to date with Leeds United results at half-time intervals, via BBC Radio. He is a fanatic supporter of the Yorkshire club.[28]

Rekdal is highly superstitious. To avoid bad luck, he never appears on matchday without his locally produced trademark Pear-flavoured soft drink.[30]

While coaching Aalesunds FK, he appeared in the home matches of tier five club Fiksdal/Rekdal as a player, stating that he wished to contribute to the club with which he started his career.[5][31]

Career statistics

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Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rekdal goal.
List of international goals scored by Kjetil Rekdal[32]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 9 September 1992 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  San Marino 1–0 10–0 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 10–0
3 23 September 1992 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Netherlands 1–0 2–1 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 14 October 1992 Wembley Stadium, London, England  England 1–1 1–1 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 28 April 1993 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Turkey 1–0 3–1 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 19 June 1994 RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States  Mexico 1–0 1–0 1994 FIFA World Cup
7 12 October 1994 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Netherlands 1–1 1–1 UEFA Euro 1996 qualification
8 16 November 1994 Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus  Belarus 4–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 1996 qualification
9 26 April 1995 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Luxembourg 5–0 5–0 UEFA Euro 1996 qualification
10 25 May 1995 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Ghana 1–0 3–2 Friendly
11 9 October 1996 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Hungary 1–0 3–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
12 2–0
13 3–0
14 27 May 1998 Molde Stadion, Molde, Norway  Saudi Arabia 1–0 6–0 Friendly
15 23 June 1998 Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France  Brazil 2–1 2–1 1998 FIFA World Cup
16 10 October 1998 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Slovenia 2–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 2000 qualification
17 14 October 1998 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Albania 2–2 2–2 UEFA Euro 2000 qualification

Managerial statistics (all official matches)

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As of match played 9 November 2024
Team Nat From To Record Ref.
P W D L Win %
Vålerenga Norway 1 January 2001 20 August 2006 209 97 60 52 046.41 [33]
Lierse Belgium 22 November 2006 25 June 2007 28 9 6 13 032.14 [34]
1. FC Kaiserslautern Germany 1 July 2007 9 February 2008 20 4 6 10 020.00 [35]
Aalesund Norway 5 September 2008 26 November 2012 163 73 35 55 044.79 [36]
Vålerenga Norway 8 January 2013 31 December 2016 137 58 30 49 042.34 [37]
Start Norway 1 June 2018 28 March 2019 21 8 4 9 038.10 [38]
HamKam Norway 15 August 2020 31 December 2021 54 33 12 9 061.11 [39]
Rosenborg Norway 1 January 2022 16 June 2023 47 24 11 12 051.06 [40]
AC Omonia Cyprus 10 January 2024 21 February 2024 9 5 2 2 055.56 [41]
Aalesund Norway 1 July 2024 present 16 10 1 5 062.50 [42]
Total 704 321 167 216 045.6 —

Honours

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As player

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Molde

Vålerenga

As Coach

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Vålerenga

Aalesund

HamKam

References

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  1. ^ Retrieved on 20 November 2020. Kjetil Rekdal at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)
  2. ^ a b "Kjetil Rekdal". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  3. ^ Arnhold, Matthias (5 February 2020). "Kjetil André Rekdal - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  4. ^ Søfting, Thomas (13 December 2012). "Norway - Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e Valle, Viggo (28 January 2010). "Kjetil Rekdal – Stjerneklart" (in Norwegian). Nrk.no. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  6. ^ Søfting, Thomas (5 February 2020). "Kjetil Rekdal - International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  7. ^ "VM i Fotball – Statistikk – Fakta" (in Norwegian). Fotballen.eu. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011. Flest VM-Mål Kjetil Rekdal (2)
  8. ^ Andresen, Gorm (21 November 2005). "Klanen ber VIF-direktør ta pause" (in Norwegian). dagbladet.no. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  9. ^ Andresen, Gorm (29 October 2005). "Vålerenga er seriemestere" (in Norwegian). dagbladet.no. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  10. ^ Stokstad, Morten (7 November 2003). "Rekdal gir milioner til VIF" (in Norwegian). vg.no. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Håpet ute for Rekdal" (in Norwegian). Vg.no. 10 June 2007. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  12. ^ "Fuchs: Entscheidung bis Dienstag" (in German). Kicker. 10 February 2008. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  13. ^ Bakke, Pål; Johannessen, Sturla (4 September 2008). "Rekdal overtar Aalesund" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  14. ^ Borge, Andreeas (8 November 2009). "Rekdal: Coaching i Verdensklasse" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  15. ^ Stenerud, Kristian (13 May 2011). "Aafk får kvalikkplass" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Rekdal chasing historic Aalesund achievement". UEFA.com. 22 August 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  17. ^ Wegard Bakkehaug; Einar Orten; Jamel Rake; Øyvind Brenne; Knut Arne Hansen (6 November 2011). "Mange var preget av stundens alvor". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  18. ^ a b Stendal, Christian Skare; Priesner, Jakob (26 November 2012). "Kjetil Rekdal fikk sparken i Aalesund". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  19. ^ Opsahl, Per (7 November 2011). "Mener Rekdal er perfekt for landslaget". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 10 December 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  20. ^ Evensen, Marius (27 November 2012). "Styreleder i Aafk: – En trist slutt, men det var nødvendig". tv2.no (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  21. ^ Skuseth, Helge (27 November 2012). "Det måtte ende slik". Sunnmørsposten (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  22. ^ Marius Vik; Per Opsahl; Lillian Holden (8 January 2013). "Rekdal ansatt som Vålerenga-trener: - Veldig glad" (in Norwegian). vg.no. Archived from the original on 15 March 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  23. ^ "Rekdal makes way for Deila". Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  24. ^ "Kjetil Rekdals store oppgjør med seg selv: – Jeg ble gjort spedalsk".
  25. ^ https://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/i/weR66M/kjetil-rekdals-store-oppgjoer-med-seg-selv-jeg-ble-gjort-spedalsk "Hyppige casinobesøk skal ha vært noe av det som ble reagert på av sørlandsklubben. "
  26. ^ "Om gledescener of første cupgull" (in Norwegian). Moldefk.no. Retrieved 5 October 2011. Gutta som tok Moldes første kongepokal: Morten Bakke, Trond Strande, Flaco, Sindre Rekdal et. al.[dead link‍]
  27. ^ "Rekdal og Aarøy får pokerkritikk" (in Norwegian). fotball.bt.no. 25 November 2010. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2013. Aalesund-trener Kjetil Rekdal skal sammen med spiss Tor Hogne Aarøy til Malta for å delta i en pokerturnering.
  28. ^ a b Kvatningen, Roy (1 October 2011). "KJETIL REKDAL – Jeg er en av få i verden" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen.no. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013. Vi møttes alltid klokka fire til mat, og kampene i Belgia går klokka åtte. Jeg satt med radio under middagen. Det fikk jeg lov til, smiler den 42 år gamle Leeds-fanatikeren
  29. ^ Flygind, Kjetil (10 February 2013). "Rekdal flytter til Hamar". aftenposten.no. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  30. ^ Vågnes, Stig (16 May 2011). "Smaken av Rekdal-seier". Aftenposten.no (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  31. ^ Nesset Hjelvik, Eirik (20 May 2010). "Bare seier er godt nok". Aftenposten.no (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  32. ^ "Kjetil Rekdal". Soccer-DB. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  33. ^ "Vålerenga: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  34. ^ "Lierse: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  35. ^ "FC Kaiserslautern: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  36. ^ "Aalesund: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  37. ^ "Vålerenga: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  38. ^ "Start: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  39. ^ "HamKam: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  40. ^ "Rosenborg: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  41. ^ "AC Omonia: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  42. ^ "Aalesund: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
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