IK Start

Start were Norwegian champions in 1978 and 1980. They participated in the European Cup in 1979 and 1981, as well as being qualified for the UEFA Champions League 2006–07. The years since 1995 have been turbulent, but recent investments have given greater expectations for the future. In 2004 they won the Norwegian 1. divisjon and were promoted to the top flight.

In 2005 they reached second place, following Vålerenga, after a strong comeback season in the Tippeligaen. For this, Start earned a place in the UEFA Cup 2006.

In 2006, after beating Skála of the Faroe Islands in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup, and Drogheda United of Ireland in the second qualifying round (after penalties), they reached the first round of the UEFA Cup, where they were knocked out by Ajax of the Netherlands.

2007 was a bad year for Start, with problems working as a team and management issues. It led to a disappointing 13th place, leading to Start's relegation to 1. divisjon. In 2008 the club got financial problems. The local government saved the club from bankruptcy. The financial difficulties has plagued Start for several seasons, due to the financial crisis and the Norwegian footballteams overspending, Start being no exception. The last couple of seasons, Start has downsized and saved money, for example by changing the turf on Sør Arena, the hopes being that the savings will keep the wheels turning in Start.

Ahead of the 2009 season, Knut Tørum was appointed head coach of Start. The next two seasons, Start was positioned at the lower half of Tippeligaen although achieving some strong results, like being the only team to beat Rosenborg in 2009, at Rosenborgs homeground Lerkendal, delaying their gold celebration. On 22 June 2011, Start had 13 points in 12 matches, and Tørum decided to resign hours before a cup-match against Strømsgodset, a match Start won without Tørum. Mons Ivar Mjelde replaced Tørum as head coach, but was not able to save Start from relegation. Start started the 2012 1. divisjon in strong fashion, leading the division and winning important matches and won promotion at the end of the season.

Start defeated Stabæk 4–1 on 4 July 2015. From 12 July 2015 to 18 September 2016, Start played 39 consecutive games without a win in Tippeligaen.[1] This is the longest run without winning a single game across any top division in Europe.

Former logo of IK Start, used between 2018 and 2021.

Since the club was founded in 1905, the club badge had been a blue and white pennant. In November 2017, the badge was replaced with a more modernised version in all black.[2] The new crest was in use for four years, before Start decided to return to the old one in March 2022.[3]

• Eliteserien:
  • Winners (2): 1978, 1980
  • Runners-up (1): 2005
  • Third place (7): 1973, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1992
• Norwegian Cup:
  • Semi finalist (7): 1975, 1978, 1988, 2000, 2006, 2011, 2018
• 1. divisjon:
  • Winners (4): 1968, 1972, 2004, 2012
  • Promotion: 1958–59, 1988, 1999, 2001, 2008, 2017

Season		Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	Cup	Notes
2002	Tippeligaen	↓ 14	26	2	5	19	21	72	11	Fourth round	Relegated to the 1. divisjon
2003	1. divisjon	9	30	12	4	14	53	50	40	Third round
2004	1. divisjon	↑ 1	30	24	2	4	71	28	74	Third round	Promoted to the Tippeligaen
2005	Tippeligaen	2	26	13	6	7	47	35	45	Fourth round
2006	Tippeligaen	6	26	10	7	9	29	32	37	Semi-final
2007	Tippeligaen	↓ 13	26	6	8	12	34	44	26	Fourth round	Relegated to the 1. divisjon
2008	1. divisjon	↑ 3	30	17	8	5	58	34	59	Fourth round	Promoted to the Tippeligaen
2009	Tippeligaen	9	30	10	10	10	46	52	40	Third round
2010	Tippeligaen	8	30	11	9	10	57	60	42	Quarter-final
2011	Tippeligaen	↓ 15	30	7	5	18	39	61	26	Semi-final	Relegated to the 1. divisjon
2012	1. divisjon	↑ 1	30	20	6	4	71	35	66	Fourth round	Promoted to the Tippeligaen
2013	Tippeligaen	9	30	10	8	12	43	46	38	Quarter-final
2014	Tippeligaen	12	30	10	5	15	47	60	35	Fourth round
2015	Tippeligaen	14	30	5	7	18	35	64	22	Second round
2016	Tippeligaen	↓ 16	30	2	10	18	23	59	16	Third round	Relegated to the 1. divisjon
2017	1. divisjon	↑ 2	30	16	7	7	57	36	55	Second round	Promoted to the Eliteserien
2018	Eliteserien	↓ 15	30	8	5	17	30	54	29	Semi-final	Relegated to the 1. divisjon
2019	1. divisjon	↑ 3	30	19	5	6	54	31	62	First round	Promoted to the Eliteserien
2020	Eliteserien	↓ 15	30	6	9	15	33	56	27	Cancelled	Relegated to the 1. divisjon
2021	1. divisjon	9	30	10	8	12	59	59	38	Fourth round
2022	1. divisjon	3	30	16	6	8	63	38	54	Fourth round
2023 (in progress)	1. divisjon	4	25	10	9	6	43	30	39	Third round

Source:[4]

As of 18 September 2023[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  NOR Jasper Silva Torkildsen 2 MF  ISL Bjarni Mark Antonsson 3 DF  NED Vito Wormgoor 4 MF  NOR Vajebah Sakor 7 MF  NOR Emir Derviskadic 8 MF  NOR Mathias Grundetjern 10 FW  GAM Alagie Sanyang 11 MF  NOR Eirik Schulze 12 GK  NOR Herman Seierstad Johnsen 14 DF  NED Luc Mares 15 DF  NOR Henrik Robstad 16 MF  SWE Tom Strannegård

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 DF  NOR Jon-Helge Tveita 21 MF  NOR Sander Sjøkvist 22 FW  FIN Agon Sadiku (on loan from Rosenborg) 23 DF  FIN Kalle Wallius 25 DF  NOR Jesper Gregersen 28 DF  NOR Rolf Daniel Vikstøl 30 DF  NOR Fabian Østigård Ness 31 DF  NOR Deni Dashaev 40 MF  NOR Sindre Osestad 44 FW  SWE Salim Nkubiri 96 GK  DEN Mark Fabricius Jensen 99 FW  SWE Jack Lahne (on loan from Amiens)

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 MF  NOR Levi Eftevaag (at Fløy)

No. Pos. Nation Player 27 FW  NOR Sander Alvestad Svela (at Tromsdalen)

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Sindre Tjelmeland
Assistant coach	Endre Eide
Player developer	Andreas Jenssen
Physical coach	Atle Thunselle
Physio	Pål Erik Pedersen
Equipment manager	Rune Hægeland

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IK Start.

• Official website (in Norwegian)
• Menigheden – official fan club (archived 10 March 2016)