Thorstein Helstad
Encyclopedia
Thorstein Helstad is a Norwegian
footballer who plays as a striker for French Ligue 2
club Monaco
and the Norwegian national team
.
, before being snapped up by the biggest club in the district, HamKam at the age of 18. Helstad played for HamKam in the Norwegian First Division from 1995 until 1997, when the Norwegian Premier League
club Brann signed the talented youngster. In Brann, Helstad showed the whole country his talent and potential, and it was in Bergen that Helstad experienced his biggest success on the football field. While Helstad was in the club, Brann won league
bronze and cup
silver in 1992. In addition, Helstad also became the Tippeliga top scorer
in both 2005 (18 goals in 24 matches) and in 2001 (17 goals in 23 matches) and won a Kniksen award
. Helstad was sold to the Austria
n side Austria Wien
in 2002, but despite winning the Austrian Bundesliga
, the Austrian Cup
and the Austrian Supercup
, his stay in central Europe was a modest success, and in 2004, Helstad returned home to Norway and the league champions Rosenborg. Helstad never managed to gain a regular spot in the first squad, often said to be a result of him have to play winger
in a 4–3–3 system, instead of playing striker
in a 4–4–2 system.
in the same season. In 2006 he had enough matches for both the champions Rosenborg and the runner-ups Brann, to receive his 2nd gold and 2nd silver medal in the Norwegian Premier League
.
In 2006 Helstad surpassed the scoring record of his own coach Mons Ivar Mjelde
and he is among the most scoring Brann-players ever.
, where he was installed as their starting striker. Helstad scored 21 goals last season.
finalist Monaco
.
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 who plays as a striker for French Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
club Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
and the Norwegian 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...
.
Career
Helstad started his career in his local club FL FartFL Fart
Fotballaget Fart is a Norwegian football club based in Vang. They play home games at Fartbana Stadion. The club has both men's and women's teams. The women play in the First Division , having been relegated from Toppserien following the 2008 season, while the men currently play in the Third Division...
, before being snapped up by the biggest club in the district, HamKam at the age of 18. Helstad played for HamKam in the Norwegian First Division from 1995 until 1997, when 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...
club Brann signed the talented youngster. In Brann, Helstad showed the whole country his talent and potential, and it was in Bergen that Helstad experienced his biggest success on the football field. While Helstad was in the club, Brann won league
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...
bronze and 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...
silver in 1992. In addition, Helstad also became the Tippeliga top scorer
Norwegian top scorers
List of top goal scorers in the Norwegian Premier League.* 1948-49: Arvid Havnås 12 goals* 1949-50: Reidar Dørum 13 goals* 1950-51: John Sveinsson 19 goals* 1951-52: Jan Tangen 15 goals...
in both 2005 (18 goals in 24 matches) and in 2001 (17 goals in 23 matches) and won a Kniksen award
Kniksen award
The Kniksen award , established in 1990, acclaims the best players in the Norwegian football premiership. The award is named after the legendary Norwegian football player Roald Jensen, nicknamed "Kniksen".-Category A:...
. Helstad was sold to the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n side Austria Wien
FK Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien is an Austrian association football club from the capital city of Vienna. They are considered the most successful club in Austria, having won the highest Austrian Bundesliga 23 times, the Austrian Cup 27 times and the Austrian Supercup 6 times. They also reached the UEFA...
in 2002, but despite winning the Austrian Bundesliga
Austrian Bundesliga
The Austrian Football Bundesliga is the highest-ranking national league club competition in Austrian football. It is the competition which decides the Austrian national football champions, as well the country's entrants for the various European cups run by UEFA.The Austrian Bundesliga, which began...
, the Austrian Cup
Austrian Cup
The Austrian Cup, in German: ÖFB-Cup is an annual football competition held by the Austrian Football Association, the ÖFB.It has been held since 1919, with the exception of the time of the Anschluss between 1939 and 1945 and the period between 1950 and 1958 when the competition was deemed of...
and the Austrian Supercup
Austrian Supercup
The Austrian Supercup was a football competition held annually from 1986 until 2004 between the winners of the Austrian Bundesliga and the Austrian Cup.-Winners of Austrian Supercup:*1986: SK Rapid Wien...
, his stay in central Europe was a modest success, and in 2004, Helstad returned home to Norway and the league champions Rosenborg. Helstad never managed to gain a regular spot in the first squad, often said to be a result of him have to play winger
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...
in a 4–3–3 system, instead of playing striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
in a 4–4–2 system.
Back in Bergen
On 25 June 2006, Thorstein Helstad signed a 3.5 year contact with Brann, in a surprising transfer worth between £260 000 and £350 000 (€380 000-€505 000). Since he left Rosenborg in the middle of the season he became the only player who's ever won both a gold and a silver medal in the TippeligaTippeligaen
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 the same season. In 2006 he had enough matches for both the champions Rosenborg and the runner-ups Brann, to receive his 2nd gold and 2nd silver medal 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 2006 Helstad surpassed the scoring record of his own coach Mons Ivar Mjelde
Mons Ivar Mjelde
Mons Ivar Mjelde is a former footballer and is currently head coach for the Norwegian Tippeliga club Start.- Player :...
and he is among the most scoring Brann-players ever.
Le Mans
In July, 2008, Brann accepted a €2 million bid for Helstad from French club Le MansLe Mans UC72
Le Mans Football Club is a French association football club based in Le Mans. The club was founded in 1985 as a result of a merger under the name Le Mans Union Club 72. In 2010, Le Mans changed its name to Le Mans FC to coincide with the re-modeling of the club, which includes moving into a new...
, where he was installed as their starting striker. Helstad scored 21 goals last season.
Monaco
In June, 2011, Helstad made a free transfer move to recently relegated and former Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
finalist Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
.
Norway
- Norwegian Premier LeagueNorwegian Premier LeagueTippeligaen 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...
: 2004Norwegian Premier League 2004The 2004 season of the Norwegian Premier League began on April 12, 2004 and ended on 30 October 2004.26 games are played with 3 points given for wins and 1 for draws...
, 2006Norwegian Premier League 2006The 2006 season of the Norwegian Premier League began on April 9, 2006 and ended on November 5, 2006. Rosenborg became champions on October 29, with one round to go, by defeating Viking at home...
and 2007Norwegian Premier League 2007The 2007 season of the Norwegian Premier League began on 9 April 2007. Originally scheduled to end on 4 November, the last round was moved to Saturday 3 November 2007, due to Rosenborg’s Champions League participation....
Individual
- Norwegian Premier League top scorerNorwegian top scorersList of top goal scorers in the Norwegian Premier League.* 1948-49: Arvid Havnås 12 goals* 1949-50: Reidar Dørum 13 goals* 1950-51: John Sveinsson 19 goals* 1951-52: Jan Tangen 15 goals...
: 2000, 2001 and 2007 - Kniksen awardKniksen awardThe Kniksen award , established in 1990, acclaims the best players in the Norwegian football premiership. The award is named after the legendary Norwegian football player Roald Jensen, nicknamed "Kniksen".-Category A:...
: Striker of the Year in 2000 and 2007 - Norwegian Football Association Gold WatchNorwegian Football Association Gold WatchThe Norwegian Football Association Gold Watch is an honorary proof that's awarded to all Norwegian footballers who reaches 25 caps for the Norwegian national football team. The watch is awarded by the Norwegian Football Association...
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 August 2000 | Helsinki Olympic Stadium Helsinki Olympic Stadium The Helsinki Olympic Stadium , located in the Töölö district about from the center of the Finnish capital Helsinki, is the largest stadium in the country, nowadays mainly used for hosting sports events and big concerts. The stadium is best known for being the center of activities in the 1952... , Helsinki Helsinki Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is... |
1–3 | Defeat | Friendly | |
| 2 | 7 October 2000 | Millennium Stadium Millennium Stadium The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage... , Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... |
1–1 | Draw | World Cup 2002 qualifying 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 5 The six teams in this group played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner Poland qualified for the 17th FIFA World Cup held in South Korea and Japan. The runner-up Ukraine advanced to the UEFA Play-off and played against Germany.-Table:... |
|
| 3 | 24 January 2001 | Hong Kong Stadium Hong Kong Stadium Hong Kong Stadium is the main sports venue of Hong Kong. Redeveloped from the old Government Stadium it reincarnated as Hong Kong Stadium in 1994... , Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... |
3–2 | Win | Friendly | |
| 4 | 28 February 2001 | Windsor Park Windsor Park Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:... , Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... |
4–0 | Win | Friendly | |
| 5 | ||||||
| 6 | 26 January 2003 | Sharjah Stadium Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium is in the emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. It was originally constructed in the early 1980s and has been much improved over the years... , Sharjah |
1–1 | Draw | Friendly | |
| 7 | 8 June 2005 | Råsunda Stadium Råsunda Stadium Råsunda Fotbollstadion, also Råsundastadion, Råsunda Stadium or just Råsunda, is a Swedish national football stadium. It is located in Solna Municipality in Metropolitan Stockholm and named after Råsunda, a zone of Solna.-History:... , Solna Solna Municipality Solna Municipality is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden, located just north of the capital Stockholm. Its seat is located in the 'city' of Solna.... |
3–2 | Win | Friendly | |
| 8 | 12 October 2005 | 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... |
1–0 | Win | World Cup 2006 qualifying 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 5 The 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 5 was a UEFA qualifying group for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised Belarus, Italy, Moldova, Norway, Scotland and Slovenia.The group was won by Italy, who qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup... |
|
| 9 | 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 | |
| 10 | 9 September 2009 | 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... |
2–1 | Win | World Cup 2010 qualifying 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 9 The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 9 was a UEFA qualifying group for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised the Netherlands, Scotland, Norway, Iceland and Macedonia. This group had one team fewer than the other eight.... |
External links
- Helstad profile at Norwegian FA