Kristofer Hæstad
Encyclopedia
Kristofer "Doffen" Krüger Hæstad (born 9 December 1983) is a Norwegian
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...

 footballer. He is a central midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...

 for Vålerenga.

Early career

Hæstad played for the youth teams of Randesund
Randesund IL
Randesund IL is an Norwegian sports club from Kristiansand. It has sections for association football, handball, table tennis, tennis and skiing....

 and Vigør
FK Vigør
FK Vigør is a Norwegian football club from Hellemyr, Kristiansand. Vigør is the Norwegian name for vigor. The club colors are brown and white, and the club was founded on 5 October 1918....

.

Start

He was signed by Start in 2001, and debuted in the Norwegian Premier League
Norwegian Premier League
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...

 in 2002, when the youthful Start squad only made 11 points and were relegated.

After two seasons in the First Division
Adeccoligaen
The Norwegian First Division is the second highest division of the Norwegian football league system. Since 2005, the official name of the league has been Adeccoligaen....

, Start were once again promoted in 2004, with Hæstad as one of the team’s central players. Hæstad has continued in great form after the promotion, and was named player of the month by NRK
Norsk Rikskringkasting
The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation , which is usually known as NRK, is the Norwegian government-owned radio and television public broadcasting company, and the largest media organisation in Norway...

 in April 2005.

In July 2006, Hæstad launched a music single This Is For Real together with four other professional Norwegian footballers - Morten Gamst Pedersen
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Morten Gamst Pedersen is a Norwegian footballer who plays for Blackburn Rovers and the Norway national football team.-Tromsø IL:...

, Freddy dos Santos
Freddy dos Santos
Freddy dos Santos is a Norwegian footballer playing for Vålerenga in the Norwegian Premier League.Dos Santos plays as a defender, midfield and attack...

, Raymond Kvisvik
Raymond Kvisvik
Raymond Kvisvik is a Norwegian football player. With background from teams in hometown Sarpsborg, he currently plays for Kvik-Halden, as a midfielder. He moved there from Fredrikstad. He has also played in Austria for Austria Wien. Kvisvik is notorious for his precise shots, assists and long balls...

, and Øyvind Svenning
Øyvind Svenning
Øyvind Svenning is a Norwegian football defender who currently plays for the Norwegian team Randaberg. His previous clubs include Rosenborg, Byåsen, Moss, GIF Sundsvall and Viking....

. They call their band The Players
The Players (boyband)
The Players is a Norwegian boy band consisting of five professional footballers: Freddy dos Santos, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Raymond Kvisvik, Kristofer Hæstad and Øyvind Svenning....

.

On 25 August 2006 it was revealed that Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

 watched the talented Norwegian during a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...

 qualifying game against Drogheda United. He was also rumoured to be wanted by Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....

, Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....

, West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...

 and Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...

.

On loan at Wigan

On 29 December 2006 it was announced that Wigan Athletic had secured Hæstad on a 6 months loan contract. The Wigan boss, Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...

 expressed delight on signing the talented midfielder. The Norwegian newspaper VG
Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang , generally known under the abbreviation VG, is a Norwegian tabloid newspaper...

 would later reveal that it not was a standard loan contract, but an intricate deal that could see Hæstad stay at Wigan until July 2010, if they pick up an option to buy him at the end of the current season. Hæstad made his Premier League debut on 13 January 2007 against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...

, but was released from his loan contract at Wigan Athletic by mutual consent on 1 April 2007.

Hæstad made a scoring return for Start on his return to Norway after scoring the fourth goal in a 4-2 victory away to Aalesund

Vålerenga

On 2 January 2008, Kristofer Hæstad signed a 4-year contract with Vålerenga. On 29 March 2008, Hæstad made his competitive debut for Vålerenga in the season's first game against Aalesund.

Career statistics

Season Club Division League Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2001
2001 in Norwegian football
-Round 1: April 16: Brann - Moss 1-0 Lillestrøm - Bryne 0-0 Lyn - Strømsgodset 2-2 Molde - Bodø/Glimt 4-1 Odd Grenland - Sogndal 3-0 Stabæk - Tromsø 0-3 Viking - Rosenborg 4-3-Round 2: April 22: Bodø/Glimt - Odd Grenland 1-1 Bryne - Stabæk 0-1...

Start Adeccoligaen
Adeccoligaen
The Norwegian First Division is the second highest division of the Norwegian football league system. Since 2005, the official name of the league has been Adeccoligaen....

8 1 0 0 8 1
2002
2002 in Norwegian football
-Round 1:April 13: Molde - Brann 2-0April 14: Vålerenga - Bodø/Glimt 1-1April 21: Sogndal - Start 0-0April 28: Vålerenga - Sogndal 2-0August 4: Bodø/Glimt - Sogndal 2-1August 11: Odd Grenland - Vålerenga 1-3August 17: Molde - Rosenborg 1-2...

Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...

25 2 4 0 29 2
2003
2003 in Norwegian football
-Round 1:April 12: Rosenborg - Vålerenga 1-0April 13: Lillestrøm - Bodø/Glimt 1-0April 21: Molde - Lillestrøm 4-0August 24: Tromsø - Lillestrøm 2-0August 31: Molde - Bryne 3-2September 14: Vålerenga - Bodø/Glimt 1-1September 21: Stabæk - Tromsø 2-2...

Adeccoligaen
Adeccoligaen
The Norwegian First Division is the second highest division of the Norwegian football league system. Since 2005, the official name of the league has been Adeccoligaen....

25 0 2 0 27 0
2004
2004 in Norwegian football
-Round 1:April 12: Lillestrøm - Fredrikstad 2-0-Round 3:April 25: Hamarkameratene - Stabæk 0-012 goals: Gylfi Einarsson, Lillestrøm11 goals: Markus Ringberg, Fredrikstad-Round 1:April 12: Aalesund - Haugesund 3-2 3. Fløya 18 10 3 5 47-22 33...

Adeccoligaen
Adeccoligaen
The Norwegian First Division is the second highest division of the Norwegian football league system. Since 2005, the official name of the league has been Adeccoligaen....

30 9 0 0 30 9
2005
2005 in Norwegian football
Results from Norwegian football in 2005.-Norwegian Premier League :Vålerenga won the 2005 Premier League, while Aalesunds FK and FK Bodø/Glimt were relegated. Molde FK had to play two qualification matches against number Moss in the first division Results from Norwegian football in 2005.-Norwegian...

Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...

23 3 4 1 27 4
2006
2006 in Norwegian football
The 2006 season is the 101. season of competitive football in Norway.*Tippeligaen 2006 *Adeccoligaen 2006 *Norwegian Football Cup 2006*Toppserien 2006 -Men's national team:...

Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...

22 3 3 1 25 4
2006–07 Wigan
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...

Premier League 2 0 1 0 3 0
2007
2007 in Norwegian football
The 2007 season is the 102. season of competitive football in Norway.* Tippeligaen 2007 * Adeccoligaen 2007 * Norwegian Football Cup 2007* Toppserien 2007 -Men's national team:...

Start Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...

23 2 2 0 25 2
2008
2008 in Norwegian football
The 2008-season is the 103. season of competitive football in Norway.*Tippeligaen 2008 *Adeccoligaen 2008 *Norwegian Football Cup 2008*Toppserien 2008 -Men's national team:...

Vålerenga Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...

21 0 5 0 26 0
2009
2009 in Norwegian football
The 2009-season is the 104. season of competitive football in Norway.*2009 Tippeligaen *2009 Adeccoligaen *2009 Norwegian Football Cup*2009 Toppserien -Men's national team:...

Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...

28 4 5 2 33 6
2010
2010 in Norwegian football
The 2010-season is the 105. season of competitive football in Norway.*2010 Tippeligaen *2010 Adeccoligaen *2010 Norwegian Football Cup*2010 Toppserien -Men's national team:...

Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...

27 3 0 0 27 3
2011
2011 in Norwegian football
The 2011-season is the 106. season of competitive football in Norway.The season began on 18 March 2011 for Tippeligaen, 03 April 2011 for Adeccoligaen, with Fair Play ligaen and 3. Divisjon both starting six days later on 09 April 2011. 2. Divisjon, and 3...

Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...

24 0 1 0 25 0
Career Total 2582727428531

International career

24 May 2005, Hæstad debuted for the national team
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...

 in a private match against Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...

, to great acclaim.

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 2 June 2007 Ullevaal Stadion
Ullevaal Stadion
Ullevaal Stadion is an all-seater football stadium located in Oslo, Norway. It is the home ground of Vålerenga IF and the Norway national football team, and the site of the Norwegian Cup Final. From its opening in 1926 to 2009 it was the home ground of FK Lyn. With a capacity of 25,572, it is the...

, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...

 
4 – 0 Win UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying

External links

Start's bio of Hæstad
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