Tommy Svindal Larsen

Tommy Larsen
Personal information
Full name Tommy Svindal Larsen
Date of birth (1973-08-11) 11 August 1973 (age 51)
Place of birth Skien, Norway
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1990 Odd 34 (9)
1991 Start 16 (1)
1992 → Odd (loan) 23 (5)
1993–1994 Start 43 (1)
1995–2001 Stabæk 153 (16)
2001–2005 1. FC Nürnberg 109 (2)
2005–2011 Odd 139 (3)
Total 517 (37)
International career
1988–1989 Norway U15 25 (8)
1989 Norway U16 12 (8)
1990–1991 Norway U17 11 (4)
1992 Norway U18 6 (0)
1993 Norway U20 4 (0)
1991–1995 Norway U21 41 (11)
1996–2007 Norway 24 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Tommy Svindal Larsen, born 11 August 1973, is a Norwegian former professional footballer. He primarily played as a defensive midfielder for Odd, Start and Stabæk in his home country, along with a four-year stint at 1. FC Nürnberg in Germany.[1] Svindal Larsen represented Norway internationally, earning 24 caps.

Club career

Svindal Larsen, born in Skien, was recognized as an exceptionally talented player during his youth. He made his senior debut for Odd in the First Division at the age of 15. By 17, he was signed by Start for the 1991 season. Despite regular appearances for the Kristiansand club, he was overshadowed by other players and left Start after the 1994 season, having only briefly demonstrated his potential. He then joined newly promoted Stabæk.

At Stabæk, Svindal Larsen became a first-team regular. Initially known as a creative attacking midfielder, he transitioned into more of a midfield anchor role and excelled in it. Teaming up with Martin Andresen, he formed a formidable midfield partnership. In 1998, he captained Stabæk to victory in the Norwegian Cup, securing his first major trophy.

After six years at Stabæk, Svindal Larsen sought opportunities abroad and joined German side 1. FC Nürnberg on a Bosman free transfer at the end of the 2001 season. He spent four years with the Bundesliga club, making over a hundred appearances. Svindal Larden then returned home to his first club, Odd, where he concluded his career. He captained his hometown team for six seasons before retiring in 2011.

International career

Svindal Larsen was capped by Norway at every youth level from Under-15 to Under-21, and is current record holder for most total international games played for Norway's age-delimited national teams, with 99 youth caps in total, including a record 41 caps for Norway Under-21.[2]

However, despite his success at youth level, Svindal Larsen never truly made his mark in senior international football. He had to wait until April 1996, a few months before his 23rd birthday, before he got his full international debut in a friendly against Spain, and did not start an international match until a January 1999 friendly against Israel. In total, Svindal Larsen was capped 24 times by the Norway senior national team, and ten of those appearances was as a substitute.[3] Tired of being selected for the international squad only to sit on the bench, Svindal Larsen announced his retirement from international football in 2007.

Personal life

Svindal Larsen is married and has four children.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition:Source:[4]
Season Club League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1. FC Nürnberg 2001–02 Bundesliga 21 1 0 0 21 1
2002–03 30 0 3 0 33 0
2003–04 2. Bundesliga 29 1 2 0 31 1
2004–05 Bundesliga 29 0 1 0 30 0
Odd Grenland 2005 Tippeligaen 11 1 1 0 12 1
2006 23 1 1 0 24 1
2007 19 0 3 0 22 0
2008 Adeccoligaen 27 1 2 1 29 2
2009 Tippeligaen 22 0 4 0 26 0
2010 15 0 3 0 18 0
2011 22 0 4 0 26 0
Career total 248 5 24 1 272 6

References

  1. ^ "Tommy Svindal Larsen". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Tommy Svindal Larsen". fotball.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Football PLAYER: Tommy Svindal Larsen". eu-football.info. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Tommy Svindal Larsen". kicker.de (in German). Retrieved 30 August 2015.