Claus Lundekvam
Encyclopedia
Claus Lundekvam is a former Norwegian footballer, who spent most of his career at English
side Southampton
. He played for Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup Final against Arsenal
(which was lost 1-0).
, Norway
, he joined Brann
as a junior player with his senior debut coming in 1993. Lundekvam eventually gained a regular place as a central defender
before being sold to English side Southampton
in the autumn of 1996. He played over 350 Premier League
matches for Southampton, which is more Premiership appearances than any other Norwegian. He was the team's first choice for captain for several years.
Lundekvam made his debut for Norway in November 1995, but did not become a regular until 2002. He was capped 40 times, scoring twice. His first international goal, against Bosnia-Herzegovina
in 2002, was the 1,000th goal in the history of the Norwegian national team.
Claus scored only two goals during his Saints career. His first came against Wolves
on 3 April 2004 in a 4–1 win, and his second against Cardiff
in 2006 – both teams managed at the time by former Saints manager Dave Jones.
In 2002-03
, he contributed to what was undoubtedly Southampton's best season since the 1980s
, when they finished eighth in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup final, where they only narrowly missed out on silverware as they lost 1-0 to Arsenal. This was during the management of Gordon Strachan
, who famously joked when Lundekvam was stretched off injured in a game against Leicester City
in the 2003-04 season
that he "didn't have a clue" whether the player was unconscious as "that's what he's always like".http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2025420.ece
Lundekvam remained at Southampton even after their relegation from the FA Premier League
in 2005.
He went off injured after five minutes of the first game of the 2006-07
season, away to Derby County
on 6 August 2006 (being replaced in the centre of defence by Chris Baird
) and missed the first two months of the season. He then enjoyed a long run in the team before another injury in March put him out for another month. In the game at St Mary's
against Southend United
on 6 May 2007, he fell awkwardly sustaining a serious ankle injury which has put him out of action until at least February 2008. On 18 March 2008 it was announced that his injury was such that his playing career was over.
He announced his retirement on 25 March 2008
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
side Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. He played for Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup Final against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
(which was lost 1-0).
Playing career
Hailing from AustevollAustevoll
Austevoll is a municipality and an archipelago in the district of Midthordland in the county of Hordaland in Western Norway, Norway. Austevoll was separated from Sund on 1 January 1886....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, he joined Brann
S.K. Brann
SK Brann is a Norwegian football club, founded September 26, 1908, from Bergen. Brann has been in the Norwegian Premier League Tippeligaen since 1987 and play their home matches at Brann Stadion where they had a record-breaking 17,310 in average attendance in the 2007 season...
as a junior player with his senior debut coming in 1993. Lundekvam eventually gained a regular place as a central defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
before being sold to English side Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the autumn of 1996. He played over 350 Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
matches for Southampton, which is more Premiership appearances than any other Norwegian. He was the team's first choice for captain for several years.
Lundekvam made his debut for Norway in November 1995, but did not become a regular until 2002. He was capped 40 times, scoring twice. His first international goal, against Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team is the national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, governed by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
in 2002, was the 1,000th goal in the history of the Norwegian national team.
Claus scored only two goals during his Saints career. His first came against Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
on 3 April 2004 in a 4–1 win, and his second against Cardiff
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in 2006 – both teams managed at the time by former Saints manager Dave Jones.
In 2002-03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
, he contributed to what was undoubtedly Southampton's best season since the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
, when they finished eighth in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup final, where they only narrowly missed out on silverware as they lost 1-0 to Arsenal. This was during the management of Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
, who famously joked when Lundekvam was stretched off injured in a game against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in the 2003-04 season
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
that he "didn't have a clue" whether the player was unconscious as "that's what he's always like".http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2025420.ece
Lundekvam remained at Southampton even after their relegation from the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
in 2005.
He went off injured after five minutes of the first game of the 2006-07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season, away to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 6 August 2006 (being replaced in the centre of defence by Chris Baird
Chris Baird
Christopher Patrick "Chris" Baird is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Fulham and the Northern Ireland national football team.-Southampton:...
) and missed the first two months of the season. He then enjoyed a long run in the team before another injury in March put him out for another month. In the game at St Mary's
St Mary's Stadium
St Mary's Stadium is the home of Southampton F.C., in the city of Southampton. It is a UEFA 4-star rated stadium and with a capacity of 32,689 is the largest football stadium in the south of England, outside of London.-History:...
against Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
on 6 May 2007, he fell awkwardly sustaining a serious ankle injury which has put him out of action until at least February 2008. On 18 March 2008 it was announced that his injury was such that his playing career was over.
He announced his retirement on 25 March 2008