Ole Erik Midtskogen

Ole Erik Midtskogen (born 12 April 1995) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Odd.

Ole Erik Midtskogen
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-04-12) 12 April 1995
Height 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Odd
Number 11
Youth career
Tynset
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 Tynset 73 (21)
2016–2019 Hamkam 86 (11)
2020 KÍ Klaksvík 25 (8)
2021 Dundalk 12 (1)
2021–2022 Kjelsås 43 (29)
2023– Odd 20 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 September 2023

Career

Hailing from Tynset, Midtskogen started his career in Tynset IF and helped the senior team win promotion to the 2016 2. divisjon. In mid-2016 he moved on to Hamarkameratene on the same tier, finally winning promotion to the 2018 1. divisjon with the Hamar-based club. Following 3 league goals in 2018 and 2019 each, Midtskogen moved abroad.[2] He spent 2020 with Faroese club KÍ Klaksvík before starting the 2021 campaign with Irish side Dundalk.[3]

Being the only Norwegian in the Faroese top flight at the time, his stay there as well as in Ireland was marred by little social contact due to the pandemic.[4][5]

In the late summer of 2021, Midtskogen moved to Norwegian third-tier side Kjelsås. Managing to score double digits in half a season,[2] in his first full season for Kjelsås he became the runner-up top goalscorer in the 2022 2. divisjon, group 2, with 18 goals behind Sondre Sørløkk's 20.[6]

Ahead of the 2023 season, Midtskogen was bought by Odd for a minuscule amount. Pundits questioned whether he could make a mark as a relatively old player on the highest Norwegian level. Midtskogen finally made his professional debut two days before his 28th birthday, away against Stabæk. Whilst not scoring during his first two games, he was lauded by pundits, including TV 2's Jesper Mathisen, for his physical play both offensively and defensively.[7] His first goal came in June 2023, being the sole goalscorer of the match between Odd and Molde.[8]

Personal life

Midtskogen is nicknamed "Æljen", "the moose",[1] owing to his physical stature as well as the moose being the municipal symbol of Tynset.

During his childhood, Midtskogen was a cross-country skier and finished among the top 10 in Hovedlandsrennet, a national competition for the 14 age group. During the same period, he was a football goalkeeper rather than a striker.[1]

References
  1. Øygarden, Hans Eivind (13 April 2023). "Sjefen fikk nok av hotellregningene: Slik er Ole Erik (28) sin nye tilværelse". Arbeidets Rett (in Norwegian). Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  2. Ole Erik Midtskogen at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)
  3. Ole Erik Midtskogen at Soccerway
  4. Bjelland, Vegard (4 May 2020). "«Æljen fra Tynset» skal skyte KÍ Klaksvík til gull" (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  5. "Ole Erik har kjent på ensomhet: – Jeg satt inne alene i fem måneder". Varden (in Norwegian). 6 February 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  6. "Post Nord-ligaen avd. 2 2022". Football Association of Norway. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  7. Steien, Vegard Kjøllmoen (19 April 2023). "Hylles etter sine første kamper på øverste nivå: – Jeg hører hjemme her" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  8. "Midtskogen åpnet målkontoen i Eliteserien – formsvake Odd senket Molde" (in Norwegian). NRK. Norwegian News Agency. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
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