Runar Berg

Runar Berg
Personal information
Date of birth	7 October 1970 (age 54)
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
1989	Bodø/Glimt
1990	Rosenborg
1991	Tromsø
1992–1996	Bodø/Glimt
1997–1999	Rosenborg
1999–2001	Venezia
2001	→ Lyn (loan)
2002–2010	Bodø/Glimt
International career
1986	Norway U15
1987	Norway U16
1988	Norway U18
1994–2003	Norway
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.

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.^{[citation needed]}

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
Season	Club	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rosenborg	1990	Tippeligaen	10	0	0	0	10	0
Tromsø	1991	Tippeligaen	18	2	0	0	18	2
Bodø/Glimt	1992	Adeccoligaen	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1993	Tippeligaen	22	11	0	0	22	11
	1994		21	5	0	0	21	5
	1995		24	2	0	0	24	2
	1996		24	5	0	0	24	5
Rosenborg	1997	Tippeligaen	25	6	0	0	25	6
	1998		26	4	3	2	27	4
	1999		18	3	4	0	22	3
Venezia	1999–2000	Serie A	28	2	0	0	28	2
Venezia	2000–01	Serie B	2	0	0	0	2	0
Lyn	2001	Tippeligaen	23	3	2	0	25	3
Bodø/Glimt	2002	Tippeligaen	23	5	2	1	25	6
	2003		21	8	5	3	26	11
	2004		20	4	4	4	24	8
	2005		22	6	4	1	26	7
	2006	Adeccoligaen	22	8	2	0	24	8
	2007	Adeccoligaen	29	4	2	0	31	4
	2008	Tippeligaen	25	1	2	0	27	1
	2009	Tippeligaen	24	0	3	0	27	0
	2010	Adeccoligaen	18	5	0	0	18	5
Career total			445	84	33	11	478	95

Honours

Rosenborg

Norwegian top division: 1990, 1997, 1998, 1999
Norwegian Cup: 1990, 1999

Bodø/Glimt

Norwegian Cup: 1993

References

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

External links

Runar Berg at National-Football-Teams.com

[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

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]