Geir Hasund
Encyclopedia
Geir Hasund is a former Norwegian
football
player. After scoring an immense number of goals for Hødd in the Norwegian first division plus performing well for the Norwegian U21 team, he was targeted by major clubs Viking
and Brann
before the 1993 season. Brann, however, decided to pass on him. After flopping in Viking
in the 1993 season, Brann's manager of sports Anders Giske
still found the player to have improved, and signed him for the club.
His somewhat laid-back style and his sometimes awkward involvements initially made him unpopular with the Brann
fans. The fans
, however, after a few months started chanting his name constantly and cherishing him as if he were a cult figure. Considering his poor performances until that time, there was probably some degree of sarcasm involved - (though not necessarily, as the chanting part of the Brann fans in this particular period were known to be uncompromising in the backing of their struggling club). After this, Hasund's performances suddenly took a steep upward turn as he became more confident on the ball and scored a number of extremely important goals. This increased his already boosting cult status, and his fairy-tale rise to fame and glory after being labelled useless made him an icon
for Brann fans to this day.
Amongst his cult-creating achievements is scoring the last and deciding goal in the Norwegian Cup semi-finals of 1995, in a match over two legs where Brann were three goals down but scored four times during 15 minutes in the last half. He is also famous for his achievement in the 1996/97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, where his goals were an important factor when Brann advanced to the quarter finals. He also scored Brann's equaliser in their drawn home-leg of the quarter finals against Liverpool F.C.
Hasund was a great technical footballer, but he was also slow and could sometimes look uninspired in duels. And despite being very tall, Hasund wasn't a particularly good header. Troubled with allergies
, Hasund was always best during the autumn part of the season. After being sacked from Brann in 1998, Hasund had a short stint in Åsane
before he retired.
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player. After scoring an immense number of goals for Hødd in the Norwegian first division plus performing well for the Norwegian U21 team, he was targeted by major clubs Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
and 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...
before the 1993 season. Brann, however, decided to pass on him. After flopping in Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
in the 1993 season, Brann's manager of sports Anders Giske
Anders Giske
Anders Giske is a retired Norwegian football player. He is the father of Madeleine Giske. He became the athletic director in Sogndal in 2005 after working in SK Brann.-Honours:* DFB-Pokal finalist: 1990–91...
still found the player to have improved, and signed him for the club.
His somewhat laid-back style and his sometimes awkward involvements initially made him unpopular with the 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...
fans. The fans
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
, however, after a few months started chanting his name constantly and cherishing him as if he were a cult figure. Considering his poor performances until that time, there was probably some degree of sarcasm involved - (though not necessarily, as the chanting part of the Brann fans in this particular period were known to be uncompromising in the backing of their struggling club). After this, Hasund's performances suddenly took a steep upward turn as he became more confident on the ball and scored a number of extremely important goals. This increased his already boosting cult status, and his fairy-tale rise to fame and glory after being labelled useless made him an icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
for Brann fans to this day.
Amongst his cult-creating achievements is scoring the last and deciding goal in the Norwegian Cup semi-finals of 1995, in a match over two legs where Brann were three goals down but scored four times during 15 minutes in the last half. He is also famous for his achievement in the 1996/97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, where his goals were an important factor when Brann advanced to the quarter finals. He also scored Brann's equaliser in their drawn home-leg of the quarter finals against Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
Hasund was a great technical footballer, but he was also slow and could sometimes look uninspired in duels. And despite being very tall, Hasund wasn't a particularly good header. Troubled with allergies
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
, Hasund was always best during the autumn part of the season. After being sacked from Brann in 1998, Hasund had a short stint in Åsane
Åsane Fotball
Åsane Fotball is a Norwegian football club located in Åsane. It currently plays in the Norwegian 2nd division, group 1, and last played in the Norwegian First Division in 2002.-Famous players:...
before he retired.