Erik Nevland (born 10 November 1977) is a Norwegian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is currently the sporting director of Viking. He played for clubs in Norway, England, Sweden and the Netherlands, and earned eight caps for the Norway national football team from his debut in 2001. After retiring, Nevland worked as a car salesman.We spraken Erik Nevland over auto’s verkopen, modellenwerk en Luis Suarez vice.com
Club career Nevland was born in Stavanger, Rogaland. He started his career at Viking, but in 1997 he was sold to Manchester United at the age of 19, before he had played a single first team match for the Norway side. What prompted Manchester United to sign him was a succession of hat-tricks in three games when he was on trial with them. His only goal for the United first team was in a League Cup match against Bury in October 1998. He never managed to establish himself in the United team, with a successful loan spell at Viking and an unsuccessful one at IFK Göteborg. He only ever made one league appearance for United, as a substitute against Southampton on 19 January 1998.
He returned to Viking on a permanent contract in January 2000, winning the Norwegian Cup in 2001 and scoring the two deciding goals in their famous UEFA Cup victory over Chelsea in 2002. He joined Groningen on a free transfer in November 2004, and went on to become a cult hero. In his first half-season for his new club, he scored 16 times in 20 matches. Nevland scored the first ever goal in Groningen's new Euroborg stadium.
On 27 April 2007, Nevland signed a new three-year contract with Groningen. In December 2007, Nevland was voted 'Groninger of the Year' by television viewers in Groningen, although having been born outside the Netherlands.
On 28 January 2008, he signed with Premier League side FulhamFulham sign Erik Nevland for a fee of €2.5 million (£1.85 million), plus a further €0.5 million (£370k) if Fulham retained Premier League status, which they did. On 3 February, he made only his second ever Premier League appearance when Fulham played Aston Villa at Craven Cottage.
After making over 50 league appearances for Fulham, and despite Roy Hodgson's wish to keep him at the club, Nevland once again returned to Viking in June 2010. He was assigned the role as captain.
International career He has eight international caps for the Norway national football team; his first cap was in 2001.
He also has 22 caps and one international goal to his name with the U-21 side. He participated in the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship where Norway achieved a third-place finish.Russia and Norway in Euro Under-21 semis; hurriyetdailynews.com, 26 May 1998Spain beats Norway in extra time in Euro under-21 semis; hurriyetdailynews.com, 29 May 1998
Later career On 5 August 2021, Nevland was appointed sporting director of Viking.
Career statistics
Club performanceLeagueCupTotalSeasonClubLeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNorwayLeagueNorwegian CupTotal1996VikingTippeligaen1000101997135351610EnglandLeagueFA CupTotal1997–98Manchester UnitedPremier League103040NorwayLeagueNorwegian CupTotal1998VikingTippeligaen831093SwedenLeagueSvenska CupenTotal1999IFK GöteborgAllsvenskan40 EnglandLeagueFA CupTotal1999–2000Manchester UnitedPremier League000000NorwayLeagueNorwegian CupTotal2000VikingTippeligaen20132022132001251463311720022010462416200325114129122004236242510NetherlandsLeagueKNVB CupTotal2004–05GroningenEredivisie20160020162005–062985234102006–0727131028132007–0812610136EnglandLeagueFA CupTotal2007–08FulhamPremier League8200822008–09214302442009–1023311244NorwayLeagueNorwegian CupTotal2010VikingTippeligaen126101362011288553313201214211153TotalNorway189782925218103England539716010Sweden40 Netherlands8843729545Career total3341304328373158
Honours Fulham UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2009–10
References
External links
Nevland's personal website