Runar Berg

Runar Berg (born 7 October 1970) is a Norwegian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for Bodø/Glimt, Rosenborg, Tromsø, Lyn, and Venezia. Berg is brother of former Bodø/Glimt and Rosenborg player Ørjan Berg, and son of former Bodø/Glimt midfielder and playmaker Harald Berg.

Runar Berg
Personal information
Date of birth (1970-10-07) 7 October 1970
Place of birth The Hague, Netherlands
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1989 Bodø/Glimt
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989 Bodø/Glimt
1990 Rosenborg 10 (0)
1991 Tromsø 18 (2)
1992–1996 Bodø/Glimt 111 (29)
1997–1999 Rosenborg 69 (13)
1999–2001 Venezia 30 (2)
2001Lyn (loan) 23 (3)
2002–2010 Bodø/Glimt 204 (41)
International career
1986 Norway U15 9 (0)
1987 Norway U16 6 (0)
1988 Norway U18 1 (0)
1994–2003 Norway 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Personal life

Berg was born in The Hague, Netherlands, when his father Harald Berg played for ADO Den Haag. He is the brother of footballers Ørjan Berg and Arild Berg,[1] as well as musician Terje Berg. Berg is also the nephew of Norwegian folk-singer Terje Nilsen.

Club career

At the start of his adult football life, Runar Berg played – as his father – at Bodø/Glimt, then playing in the 1st division. The 1988 season Bodø/Glimt got relegated to the 2nd division. Runar Berg was bought by Nils Arne Eggen to Rosenborg to play with his brother Ørjan in the 1989 season.

In 1992, Berg returned to his mother club Bodø/Glimt then again playing in the 1st division. Bodø/Glimt won the first division and gained promotion for the Norwegian top division. In 1997, Berg returned to Rosenborg. In 1999, Berg made a move to Venezia, playing in the Serie A. The club had financial problems, however, and was relegated. Berg moved back to Norway on loan to Lyn, before returning "home" to Bodø/Glimt in 2001. He announced his retirement in September 2010.[2]

Berg is considered a club legend at Bodø/Glimt. In the 2009 season, when the club had financial problems, Berg played for free. Being the best paid player at the club, Berg did not only give up his ~100,000 euro/year salary, but also started a fund-raiser among local businesses to help save the club.[3][4] Berg has also earlier donated money to the club, as well as other sport clubs in the area.[5]

In 2012, Berg made a comeback for local amateur side Junkeren.[6]

International career

Berg made his debut for Norway in a January 1994 friendly match against the United States, coming on as a late substitute for Kjetil Rekdal and earned 5 caps, scoring no goals.[7] His final international match was a November 2003 European Championship qualifying match against Spain, again coming on as a late substitute, for Martin Andresen.

Career statistics

As of 17 May 2013
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Season Club League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rosenborg 1990 Tippeligaen 10000100
Tromsø 1991 Tippeligaen 18200182
Bodø/Glimt 1992 Adeccoligaen 000000
1993 Tippeligaen 2211002211
1994 21500215
1995 24200242
1996 24500245
Rosenborg 1997 Tippeligaen 25600256
1998 26432274
1999 18340223
Venezia 1999–2000 Serie A 28200282
2000–01 Serie B 200020
Lyn 2001 Tippeligaen 23320253
Bodø/Glimt 2002 Tippeligaen 23521256
2003 218532611
2004 20444248
2005 22641267
2006 Adeccoligaen 22820248
2007 29420314
2008 Tippeligaen 25120271
2009 24030270
2010 Adeccoligaen 18500185
Career total 44584331147895

Honours

Rosenborg

Bodø/Glimt

References

  1. Aarre, Eivind (13 September 2007). "Her er fotballfedrene" (in Norwegian). Stavanger Aftenblad. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  2. "Runar Berg legger opp" (in Norwegian). Norwegian News Agency. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  3. "Runar spiller gratis for Glimt" (in Norwegian). Avisa Nordland. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  4. "The Curious Case of Runar Berg". Nordic Football News. 2 February 2009. Archived from the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  5. "Berg gir bort 100 000 kroner av lønna" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 26 September 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  6. "Gjør comeback" (in Norwegian). Avisa Nordland. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  7. Norway – International Players – Landslaget
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