Rest of The Nordic Union

Rest of The Nordic legends are mainly qualified by Norwegian players combined with a few Finnish and Icelandic players. The first legends Einar Gunderson started from the late 1920s. The 1930s saw a great Norwegian team led by Arne Brustud.  However, the first world-class player has to spend time until the late 1980s when Rube Bratseth performed in Bundesliga as a world-class defender in related season. In the mid-1990s, Jari Litmenen achieved the highest status of third place Ballon’Dor among rest of the Nordic players. 

Rest of The Nordic



Location : Northern Europe
European Championship Participation  : 2 Times (2000, 2016)
World Cup Participation  : 4 Times (1938, 1994, 1998, 2018)
Achievement   : 1936 Olympic Game Bronze Medal
Most Caps : Jari Litmanen (130 Games)
Top Scorer   :   Jorgen Juve (33 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever :   Jari Litmanen


All-Time Rest of the Nordic Squad


1. Eric Thorstvedt

Date Of Birth  :  28 October 1962
Height  :  193 cm, Position  :  Goalkeeper
Nation  :  Norway, Caps  :  97 Games
Major Club :  Tottenham Hotspurs
World Cup Participation : 1994 (3 Games)
Club Honours  : 1 Time FA Cup
International Honours  :  None
Individual Achievement  : 1990 Norwegian Footballer of The Year
Class  :  Prince Bronze



2. Arto Tolsa

Date Of Birth  :  9 August 1945
Height  : Unknown, Position : Right-Back
Nation :  Finland, Caps : 77 Games
Major Club  :  Beerschot  
World Cup Participation  : None
Club Honours : 1 Time Finnish League
1 Time Belgian Cup
International Honours :  None
Individual Achievement : 3 Times Finnish Footballer of The Year
Class  : Prince Bronze



3. Gunnar Anderson

Date Of Birth  :  18 March 1890
Height : 185 cm, Position : Left-Half
Nation  : Norway, Caps : 46 Games
Major Club  : Lynn
Olympic Games Participation : 1920
Club Honours : 2 Times Norwegian Cup
International Honours  :  None
Individual Achievement :  1920 Olympic Games best XI
Class  :  Prince Bronze

4. Rune Bratseth

Date Of Birth  : 19 March 1961
Height  : 192 cm, Position :  Sweeper
Nation :  Norway, Caps : 60 Games
Major Club  : Werder Bremen
World Cup Participation : 1994 (3 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time Norwegian League
2 Times Bundesliga, 2 Times DFB-Pokal
1992 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
International Honours  :  None
Individual Achievement :  
3 Times Norwegian Footballer of The Year (1991, 1992, 1994)
UEFA Jubilee Award (Norway)
Class  :  Prince Gold

5. Sami Hyypia

Date Of Birth  :  7 October 1973
Height : 195 cm, Position : Center-Back
Nation : Finland, Caps : 103 Games
Major Club : Liverpool
World Cup Participation :  None
Club Honours  : 2 Times FA Cup         
2 Times English League Cup, 2001 UEFA Cup
2005 UEFA Champion League Winner, 2007 Runner-Up
International Honours  : None
Individual Achievement : 7 Times Finnish Footballer of The Year
2001 Finnish Sports Personality of The Year
Class  :  Prince Silver

6. Asbjorn Halvorsen

Date Of Birth  : 3 December 1898
Position : Destroyer
Height  :  168 cm
Nation : Norway, Caps : 19 Games
Major Club : Hamburg SV
Olympic Games Participation : 1920 
Club Honours : 2 Times German Championship
1 Time FA Cup, 1999 UEFA Champion League
International Honours    :   None
Individual Achievement  :  None
Class  :  Prince Silver


7. Asgier Sigurvinsson

Date Of Birth  :  8 May 1955
Position  :  Playmaker
Height  : 182 cm
Nation :  Iceland, Caps  : 45 Games
Major Club :  VFB Stittgart
World Cup Participation  :   None
Club Honours : 1 Time Bundesliga Champion
1 Time Icelandic Cup,1 Time Belgian Cup,1 Time DFB-Pokal
International Honours  : None
Individual Achievement : UEFA Jubilee Award (Iceland)
Class  :  Prince Silver

8. Per Bredesen

Date Of Birth  :  22 December 1930
Position  :  Attacking Midfielder/ Right-Winger
Nation  :  Norway
Height  :  173 cm
Major Club  :   Lazio
Caps  : 18 Games (7 Goals)
World Cup Participation  :  None
Club Honours : 1 Time Italian Series A
International Honours  :  None
Individual Achievement :  None
Class  :  Prince Silver


9. Jorgen Juve

Date Of Birth  :  22 November 1906
Position : Box-To-Box Midfielder/ Target Striker
Nation :  Norway, Caps  : 45 Games (33 Goals)
Height  :  Unknown, Major Club :  Lyn
World Cup Participation  :   1938 (No Game)
Club Honours :  Unknown
International Honours : 1936 Olympic Game Bronze Medal
Individual Achievement  :  Norway All-Time Top Scorer
Class  :  Prince Silver




10. Jari Litmanen

Date Of Birth  :  20 February 1971
Height :  182 cm, Position : Deep-Lying Forward
Nation  :  Finland, Caps : 114 Games (30 Goals)
Major Club : Ajax Amsterdam
Club Honours : 5 Times Dutch Champions, 3 Times Dutch Cup
1 Time Finnish Cup, 1 Time FA Cup, 2001 UEFA Cup
1995 UEFA Champion League, Intercontinental Cup
International Honours, World Cup Participation : None
Individual Achievement : 8 Times Finnish Footballer of The Year
1993 Dutch League Footballer of The Year
1994 Dutch League Top Scorer, 1995 Bronze Ball Ballon'Dor
1995 Finnish Sport Personality of The Year
1996 UEFA Champion League Top Scorer
Finland All-Time Top Scorer, UEFA Jubilee Award (Finland)
                                                      Class  :  Prince Silver


11. Arne Brustad

Date Of Birth  : 14 April 1912
Position : Left-Winger
Nation :  Norway
Height :  177 cm
Major Club  :  Lyn
Caps  : 33 Games (17 Goals)
World Cup Participation  :  1938 (1 Game)
Club Honours  :  2 Times Norwegian Cup
International Honours  :  1936 Olympic Game Bronze Medal
Individual Achievement :  None
Class  :  Prince Silver



___________________________________________________

Substitution


12. Jussi Jaaskaleinen

Date Of Birth  :  19 April 1975
Position  :  Goalkeeper
Height  :  191 cm
Nation  :  Finland
Caps   : 56 Games
Major Club  :  Bolton
World Cup Participation  :  None
Club Honours  :  None
International Honours  :  None
Individual Achievement :  2007 Finnish Footballer of the Year
Class  :  Prince Bronze

13. Thorbjorn Svenssen

Date Of Birth  :  22 April 1924
Position  :  Center-Back
Height  :  191 cm
Nation  :  Norway
Caps   : 104 Games
Major Club  :  Sandefjord
World Cup Participation  :  None
Club Honours  :  None
International Honours  :  None
Individual Achievement :  None
Class  :  Prince Bronze

14. Ronny Johnsen

Date Of Birth  :  10 June 1969
Position : Stopper/Destroyer
Height  :  188 cm
Nation : Norway, Caps  : 62 Games
Major Club : Manchester United
World Cup Participation  : 1998 (4 Games)
Club Honours  : 4 Times English Premier League
1 Time FA Cup, 1999 UEFA Champion League
International Honours    :   None
Individual Achievement  :  None
Class  :  Prince Bronze




15. Roald Jensen

Date Of Birth  :  13 January 1943
Height  : 170 cm, Position : Right-Winger
Nation : Norway, Caps  : 31 Games
Major Club :  Brann Bergen, Hearts of Midlothian
World Cup Participation :  None
Club Honours  : 2 Times Norwegian League
1 Time Norwegian Cup
International Honours    :   None
Individual Achievement  :   None
Class : Prince Bronze


16. Reidar Kvammen

Date Of Birth  :  23 July 1914
Position  :  Attacking Midfielder
Height  :  Unknown
Nation  :  Norway
Caps  : 51 Games (17 Goals)
Major Club :  Viking
World Cup Participation :  1938 (1 Game)
Club Honours :  2 Times Norwegian Cup
International Honours  : 1936 Olympic Game Bronze Medal
Individual Achievement  :  None
Class  :  Prince Silver


17. Tom Lund

Date Of Birth  :  10 September 1950
Height :   180 cm, Position : Attacking Midfielder
Nation  :  Norway, Caps  : 47 Games  (12 Goals)
Major Club  :  Lillestrom
World Cup Participation  :   None
Professional Scores Record : 196 Goals/ 336 Games
Club Honours  :  2 Times Norwegian League
3 Times Norwegian Cup
International Honours  :   None
Individual Achievement : 1 Time Norwegian League Top Scorer
1981 Norwegian Sportsperson of The Year
Class  :  Prince Silver

18. Hallvar Thoresen

Date Of Birth  : 12 April 1957
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Height  : 178 cm
Nation  : Norway
Caps  :  50 Games
Major Club  :  PSV Eindhoven
World Cup Participation  :  None
Professional Scores Record : 152 Goals/314 Games
Club Honours : 3 Times Dutch League, 1 Time Dutch Cup
International Honours  :  None
Individual Achievement  :  None
Class  : Prince Silver


19. Einar Gundersen

Date Of Birth  : 20 September 1896
Position : Fats Striker  Nation  :  Norway
Caps  :  33 Games (26 Goals)
Height :  Unknown
Position : Target Striker
Major Club :  Odd Grenland
World Cup Participation  : None
Club Honours  : 5 Times Norwegian Cup
International Honours    :   None
Individual Achievement  :    None
Class  : Prince Bronze


20. Odd Iversen

Date Of Birth  :  6 November 1945
Position : Target Striker
Height :  181 cm
Nation  :  Norway
Caps   : 45 Games (19 Goals)
Major Club :  Rosenborg
World Cup Participation  :   None
Professional Scores Record : 185 Goals/ 269 Games
Club Honours    :   2 Times Norwegian League
International Honours    :    None
Individual Achievement  :  4 Times Norwegian League Top Scorer
Class  :  Prince Bronze



Manager


Nils Arne Eggen


Year Of Birth :  17 September 1941
Major Team :  Rosenborg
Major Achievement :   10 Times Norwegian League
3 Times Norwegian Cup
Individual Achievement :  1997 Norwegian Football Personality of The Year
Class  :   Prince Silver













                                       Formation XI (4-2-3-1)






Explanation of Formation

The team strategy is a counter-attack with direct ball. Thorstvedt is stand as a goalkeeper. Tolsa is as an equivalent right-back. G.Anderson is fit to left-back position as he was a left-half in the pyramid formation. Bratseth is a leader in defensive area as a sweeper. Hyypia is a strong wall a stopper, would dominate in aerial defense. Halvorsen would destroy the opponent game and also control the game in central midfield zone. Bredesen and Brustud is a traditional winger but also being assigned to go forward in the suitable time. Sigurvinsson is a director of the creativity of the team. Litmanen is a key attacker, would both assist and support scoring from the deep-lying forward zone. Jorgen Juve stands alone as a main striker to keep the ball in the front line and also finish score.



Helsinki Olympic Stadium






Opened : 1938  (Renovated In 2005)
City   : Helsinki
Capacity : 40,000 Seats








Minor Reserved Group

Roar Johansen (Norway, Center-Back)
Gylfi Sigurosson (Iceland, Playmaker)
Albert Gudmunsson (Iceland, Forward)
Eidur Gudjohnsson (Iceland, Forward)
Ole Gunnar Soljkaer (Norway, Target Striker)

The Greatest Rest of the Nordic Footballers of All-Time

1. Jari Litmanen
2. Rune Bratseth
3. Argier Sigurvinsson
4. Reidar Kvammen
5  Arne Brustad


42 comments:

  1. Also john carew deservs to be mentioned

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure his is not deserved in mention. He was a phenomenon physical player and very dangerous striker but scoring effectiveness is far from being considered.

      Delete
  2. The Arto Tolsa was born on 08/09/1945.

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  3. Anonymous20/3/15

    Arto Tolsa was born on 9.august.1945.

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  4. Anonymous13/6/15

    Atli Edvaldson?

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  5. AsbjĆørn Halvorsen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks you for this player. He was a captain of Norway since 18 years old and had a success career with Hamburg during the 1920s. I already name him in first XI (replace Johnsen).

      For Atli Edvaldson, Kicker never rate him in any international-class so I suppose he should not be good enough.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous30/1/16

    According to norwegian football experts top 5 best norwegian footballers after 1945 looks like that:
    1.Tom Lund
    2.Hallvar Thoresen
    3.Rune Bratseth
    4.Ole Gunnar SolskjƦr
    5.Henning Berg.

    Before 1941:

    1.Arne Brustad
    2.Reidar Kvammen
    3.AsbjĆørn Halvorsen
    4.Einar ”Jeja” Gundersen
    5.JĆørgen Juve.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous19/2/16

    Maybe Tore AndrƩ Flo could be added

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous15/7/16

    LOL, John Arne Riise class: Princess Gold

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  9. Anonymous23/9/16

    you could add Antti Niemi or Jussi Jaaskelainen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're both were in focus but finally disqualified based on media rating by season.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous23/9/16

    Oyvind Leonhardsen?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I watched him played and he is very impressive. Anyway, he is found to be inconsistent between season to season.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous5/10/16

    Leonhardsen was best Norwegian midfielder in 1991 and ''93 and was a good scorer for Norway team being a midfielder

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous9/10/16

    Niemi was at least better than Thorsvedt

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    Replies
    1. I don't think so. Thordvedt in his prime was an absolute great wall of Norway's glory years and he achieved with the better club, Tottenham. Neimi played for only smaller club without ascending to the bigger club.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous9/10/16

    Ragnar Sigurdsson was a rock in Iceland team which upset England in Euro 2016

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  14. Anonymous26/10/16

    Anyways Niemi was a great spot kick stopper.

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  15. Anonymous26/10/16

    Stig Inge Bjornebye?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He was reliable but never be considered as a star.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous7/12/16

    Gudni Bergsson?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous19/8/17

    Atli EĆ°valdsson?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I check, he was never rated in international-class in any season during his time in Germany.

      Delete
  18. Have you considered Nils Kristian Eriksen, Brede Hangeland and Gunnar Thoresen? I think that Norway have good players enough to make a squad of 22.

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  19. I don't see any great info about the first two. I agree to name Gunnar Thoresen in positional list but not make profile. You know he played in Norwegian second division for a half of his career.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The same applies to Liddell, or Ray Wilson ;)

      Yes, I know that. In the other half of his career, he was succefull in 1st Division of Norway.

      About Nils Kristian Eriksen, he played mostly in the decade of 1930 for Odd, and got a total of 47 international caps. He was a right and left back with good speed, "hardworking" style in defesive skills and good in the process and participation in attack. He was bronze medal in 1936.

      Delete
    2. Great info. Now I'm interested to replace Riise with him. Where do you get this information ?

      Delete
    3. Sorry for the late reply.

      I've got those informations from norwegian wiki and from this link: https://snl.no/Nils_Eriksen

      But I don't agree replace Riise with him. Nils K. Eriksen could have a profile or at least mencionated.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous10/4/18

    How could Litmanen be Prince Silver and Rune Bratseth Prince Gold according that Litmanen is considered as the best player in The Greatest Rest of the Nordic Footballers of All-Time ?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous10/11/18

    Have you looked away for Gunnar Andersen?

    46 games for Norway (record at the time), and regarded as the best left half in 1920 Olympic Games.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know his name and now I think he could be fit to left-back position. Left-Half position in 1920 is around 70 % left-side defensive player.

      Delete
  22. jusi good goalkeper.

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  23. Anonymous14/6/21

    Haaland already deserves to be here. two world class seasons with 40+ goals each and some assists as well. Already the best player in this section imo.

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  24. That's laughable!

    Why Iversen is in the squad and not Haaland!?

    Odd Iversen was 4 times top scorer of Norway league but Norway league was dog crap level... He also struggled in II division of Belgium (his only spell outside Norway), just doing a single good season...

    About Haaland, no need to explain, it's pretty obvious, honestly!!

    Even Okland or Carew are better options than Iversen.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous21/9/22

    You should add Haaland

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous21/9/22

    Haaland now have 1 time champions league top score title, 20 goals in 21 games for Norway.. which is pretty crazy, considering Norway being a team that doesn't create too many chances. He have two 40+ goal seasons so far and will have his third after this season. This is his fourth world class season in total. He has 26 CHL goals in only 21 matches, which is a ratio of 1.24.. No other active player even have close to that. Already by far the best in this section, don't you agree, Naratorn?

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  27. Anonymous27/9/22

    Please add Haaland. He is already deserving of a good rating. almost 4 world class seasons at only 22 years of age is unheard of since the Messi-cristiano era.

    ReplyDelete
  28. 5 comments mentioning Haaland are not only valid but obvious. Also Riise should be in there.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Regarding Riise at least in the minor section. But i think Haaland should be a starter even at this early stage of his career. He is that good.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous9/5/23

    Haaland should be even in top 100 strikers in positional hall of fame

    ReplyDelete