The past decades the Norwegians have had to experience their neighbours Denmark and Sweden nurturing through world class superstars. Michael Laudrup and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are perhaps the greatest footballers Scandinavia has ever seen. Norway now hopes that Martin Ødegaard could be their answer.
Norwegian pre-seasons are often held in Spain. La Manga more specifically. This is where the clubs go to re-energise and prep themselves for another long ang gruelling season. This year’s pre-season also marked the first time the name Martin Ødegaard was mentioned in the Norwegian press. Strømsgodset, which is a club based in the city of Drammen, had supposedly struck gold with a 15-year old playmaker. People from Drammen will tell you that it was rather obvious that Ødegaard would become something of a phenomenon from an even younger age.
Playing amongst the bigger and stronger players at La Manga he dominated at times, and showed both technique and calmness way beyond his age. He was also the architect that set up Strømsgodset’s winning goal in the Copa del Sol tournament, which is held at La Manga every year. You’d be allowed to question how good the opposition actually was considering this was pre-season. You wouldn’t be allowed to question him the next time you heard of him.
April 13th 2014 he became the youngest player ever to feature in the Tippeliga. He came on against Aalesund and stole the show. Showing no fear he ran at player twice his age, dribbled past them and looked like he fit the Norwegian top flight like a glove. Whereas many young players would stick to the easy passes, going through the motions and shy away, Ødegaard did the opposite. It resulted in an assist on his debut. May 16th 2014 he became the youngest goalscorer ever in the Norwegian Tippeliga with a goal against Sarpsborg.
I was present at Martin Ødegaard’s first start for Strømsgodset in the Tippeliga when they faced Vålerenga. Even though his team lost on the day he was the game’s standout player. Moving between the lines, always having time on the ball, knowing exactly when to thread the ball through and when to slow the tempo down. The movement and the balance made you think of a David Silva. And he never hid. He wanted the ball. All the time. He is the biggest talent I have ever seen in the flesh, and quite possibly the biggest talent Norwegian football has ever seen.
For all the positives about Ødegaard, there are some negatives. His low centre of gravity is to great help for him at this stage. Considering he is only 15, he might have one last growth spurt. That could take away an edge he has, and considering his physique is no way near that of a Cristiano Ronaldo, this could become an issue. It became very obvious just how young he was in the final round of the season when Strømsgodset faced Rosenborg. Ødegaard came on in the second half and did not look fit. He was very much responsible for giving the ball away for Rosenborg’s 2-1-goal in a match that ended 4-1. Perhaps the pressure was getting to him a bit, especially considering that Rosenborg had advertised it as “possibly Martin Ødegaard’s last match in Norwegian football” ahead of the game. Now, considering Rosenborg is the biggest and most traditional club in Norway, then this suddenly becomes a huge burden to carry for a 15-year old.
Source: NTB Scanpix
He is the son of former footballer Hans-Erik Ødegaard who also played top flight football in Norway. In him he has had the perfect coach and the perfect mentor. Ødegaard sr is also the one that takes care of all the enquiries from Europe’s heavyweights, meaning that Ødegaard will not be swayed by the interests of a non-partial agent. The two have stated that the current goal for Ødegaard is to go to a club that will allow him to play at the highest level, and that they are not interested in enrolling Martin into an academy. As put by Bayern Munich’s head of recruitment Michael Tarnat: “you cannot tempt a national team player with playing time for the under-19’s”.
Liverpool fans will be glad to hear that both Ødegaard and his father are huge Liverpool fans themselves. In fact, there is a video of Ødegaard and fellow Norwegian international Mats Møller Dæhli playing FIFA 15 on national team duty. Ødegaard, playing as Liverpool, actually sings along to “You’ll never walk alone” as it is playing during the video game. So there is no point in questioning his allegiance. Nevertheless, he has stated that him being a Liverpool fan won’t decide the club he chooses to go to. He will choose the club that will further his development.
It is too early to say if he will become a global superstar. The hype surrounding him in Norway is nothing like ever before. Perhaps it’s a bit premature, perhaps one should consider that this kid cannot even legally drive a moped in his home country. But the talent is there. As a young playmaker it is easier to point out the things he does have than the things he doesn’t. One thing is for certain, regardless of club choice, he choose what he feels is right for him. In order to create a stage for him perhaps one day become Norway’s answer to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Michael Laudrup.
Article written by Jonas Giæver – follow him on twitter here.