Erik Fuglestad
Encyclopedia
Erik Fuglestad is a former professional footballer. He was capped by Norway at under-21 level.
Fuglestad, nicknamed "Fuglis", was born in Stavanger
and began his senior career with Viking FK, having arrived from Randaberg IL
as a junior. He made his debut in a friendly in 1993, and his league debut in the final game of the 1994 season, replacing Øyvind Mellemstrand at left back. Fuglestad's break-through followed in the 1995 season, when he featured in 25 of the club's 26 league games, scoring two goals, both against IK Start in the space of two weeks during July. Being a local lad, Fuglestad excited the Viking following with his attacking style and good crossing.
He remained the first-choice left back at Viking for a further two seasons, before Mike Walker
brought him to Norwich City
on a Bosman free transfer in November 1997. He made 80 appearances, scoring 2 goals, for the Canaries before his contract was cancelled towards the end of the 1999-00 season and he returned to former club Viking.
Upon returning to Norwegian football, Fuglestad retrained as a midfielder, playing both in the centre and on the left wing, and he remained a midfielder for the rest of his career. His best season was 2001, when he started all 26 league games for Viking, scoring nine goals, most of which were memorable long distance shots. In addition, he scored three goals in six cup games, helping his club win the Norwegian football cup
for the first time in twelve years. However, he missed the cup final due to an injury and was reported to have spent the final in the bathroom, not daring to watch the game. The 2001 Norwegian Cup trophy was his only trophy as a senior footballer.
Fuglestad remained a first-choice midfielder throughout the 2002 season, but he missed all of 2003 through injury. His comeback in 2004 lasted only 15 league games, before a kidney
illness forced him into retirement. He remained as an employee of Viking, where he had a role in the administration and was later the head coach of the junior team. An attempted comeback with home club Randaberg IL in 2007 was cut short as Fuglestad's illness returned, and he announced his definitive retirement on 7 August 2007.
Fuglestad, nicknamed "Fuglis", was born in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
and began his senior career with Viking FK, having arrived from Randaberg IL
Randaberg IL
Randaberg Idrettslag is a Norwegian sports club from Randaberg. It has sections for football, swimming, gymnastics and volleyball.-Football:Before the 2007 season the football team made the national news as it increased its budget significantly in order to gain promotion, signing players like Petar...
as a junior. He made his debut in a friendly in 1993, and his league debut in the final game of the 1994 season, replacing Øyvind Mellemstrand at left back. Fuglestad's break-through followed in the 1995 season, when he featured in 25 of the club's 26 league games, scoring two goals, both against IK Start in the space of two weeks during July. Being a local lad, Fuglestad excited the Viking following with his attacking style and good crossing.
He remained the first-choice left back at Viking for a further two seasons, before Mike Walker
Mike Walker (football manager)
Michael Stewart Gordon "Mike" Walker is a Welsh former footballer and manager. After starting his career at Reading, Walker played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for five clubs, most notably Watford and Colchester United. He later managed Colchester, Norwich City, Everton and APOEL...
brought him to Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
on a Bosman free transfer in November 1997. He made 80 appearances, scoring 2 goals, for the Canaries before his contract was cancelled towards the end of the 1999-00 season and he returned to former club Viking.
Upon returning to Norwegian football, Fuglestad retrained as a midfielder, playing both in the centre and on the left wing, and he remained a midfielder for the rest of his career. His best season was 2001, when he started all 26 league games for Viking, scoring nine goals, most of which were memorable long distance shots. In addition, he scored three goals in six cup games, helping his club win the Norwegian football cup
Norwegian football cup
The Norwegian Football Cup is the main knockout cup competition in Norwegian football. It is run by the Football Association of Norway and has been contested since 1902, making it the oldest football tournament in the country. The tournament is commonly known as Cupen or NM, an acronym formed...
for the first time in twelve years. However, he missed the cup final due to an injury and was reported to have spent the final in the bathroom, not daring to watch the game. The 2001 Norwegian Cup trophy was his only trophy as a senior footballer.
Fuglestad remained a first-choice midfielder throughout the 2002 season, but he missed all of 2003 through injury. His comeback in 2004 lasted only 15 league games, before a kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
illness forced him into retirement. He remained as an employee of Viking, where he had a role in the administration and was later the head coach of the junior team. An attempted comeback with home club Randaberg IL in 2007 was cut short as Fuglestad's illness returned, and he announced his definitive retirement on 7 August 2007.