Ole Selnæs Explained

Ole Selnæs
Upright:0.8
Full Name:Ole Kristian Selnæs
Birth Date:7 July 1994
Birth Place:Trondheim, Norway
Height:1.87 m
Position:Defensive midfielder
Currentclub:Rosenborg
Clubnumber:10
Youthclubs1:Skjetten SK
Youthyears2:–2009
Youthclubs2:Sverresborg
Youthyears3:2009–2012
Youthclubs3:Rosenborg
Years1:2012–2016
Clubs1:Rosenborg
Caps1:87
Goals1:4
Years2:2016–2019
Clubs2:Saint-Étienne
Caps2:75
Goals2:0
Years3:2019–2022
Clubs3:Shenzhen FC
Caps3:45
Goals3:4
Years4:2021
Clubs4:Hebei FC (loan)
Caps4:14
Goals4:1
Years5:2022–2023
Clubs5:Zürich
Caps5:16
Goals5:0
Years6:2023–
Clubs6:Rosenborg
Caps6:25
Goals6:1
Nationalyears1:2010
Nationalteam1:Norway U16
Nationalcaps1:10
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2011
Nationalteam2:Norway U17
Nationalcaps2:12
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2011–2012
Nationalteam3:Norway U18
Nationalcaps3:7
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2012–2013
Nationalteam4:Norway U19
Nationalcaps4:11
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2013–2016
Nationalteam5:Norway U21
Nationalcaps5:8
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2015–2019
Nationalteam6:Norway
Nationalcaps6:32
Nationalgoals6:2
Club-Update:11 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:15 November 2019

Ole Kristian Selnæs (born 7 July 1994) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays for Norwegian club Rosenborg as a defensive midfielder. Between 2015 and 2019, he made 32 appearances for the Norway national team scoring twice. He is the son of former Rosenborg goalkeeper Ivar Selnæs.[1]

Club career

Early career

Selnæs was born in Trondheim,[2] but lived in Lillestrøm when his father Ivar Selnæs was head coach of Skjetten SK[3] and he was playing in the youth department of the same club. His family later moved back to Trondheim, with Selnæs joining Sverresborg IF.

Rosenborg

When Selnæs joined Rosenborg in 2009, he was earmarked for his accurate left foot and good knowledge of the game, which allowed him to develop as a defensive midfielder.[2]

In 2011, he was heavily involved in the Rosenborg under-19 side that won the national championship[4] and gained third place in their NextGen Series group.[5] Despite still being barely known from outside the club,[6] he was being recognised internally with an integral part of the first team's 2012 pre-season.[7] His impressive pre-season was rewarded when, on 25 March, he signed a professional contract.[8]

He started the season as back-up to the midfield pair of Mohammed-Awal Issah and Markus Henriksen,[9] but soon became first choice beside Henriksen.[10] His professional debut came against Lillestrøm on 1 April 2012, when he came on as a late substitute for Issah.[11] The next week, he made his first start at home to Sogndal.[12]

After four league matches he was named the biggest talent in Scandinavia by the web-site scan-scout.com,[13] [14] which did not surprise Rosenborg's head coach Jan Jönsson: "He has developed very fast, but I'm not surprised."[15]

Selnæs was a regular in Rosenborg's midfield during the first half of the 2012 season, but lost his place in the starting line-up due to an injury. After his recovery, Rosenborg had bought Tarik Elyounoussi, Cristian Gamboa and Jaime Alas and Selnæs' chances were limited. But he stated in an interview with NRK in September 2012 that "I am only 19 years old and have plenty of time, and will work hard to get more chances for the first-team".[16]

Saint Etienne

Selnæs joined AS Saint-Étienne on 31 January 2016.[17]

Shenzhen

On 9 February 2019, Selnæs transferred to Super League newcomer Shenzhen.[18]

Zürich

On 24 June 2022, Selnæs signed a one-year deal with Zürich in Switzerland.[19] His first goal scored with his new team was an own goal in the match against Glimt in UEFA Europa League the 15 september 2022.[20]

International career

Selnæs represented his country from under-16 to under-21 youth level.[21]

As of February 2021, he made 32 appearances for the senior national team.[21]

Personal life

Selnæs is a bug fan of Norwegian soap opera Hotel Cæsar, and in an interview with Adresseavisen in March 2012 he stated that he would love to play a role in the show.[22] Two months later he was offered a small speaking role in the TV series.[23]

Career statistics

Club

[24] [10]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rosenborg2012Tippeligaen2214080341
20131907230292
20142112060291
201525230140422
Total8741623101346
Saint-Étienne2015–16Ligue 130200050
2016–17260101090370
2017–182602010290
2018–192000000200
Total750502090910
Shenzhen2019Chinese Super League27400274
202018010190
Total45410464
Hebei (loan)2021Chinese Super League14100141
2022–23Swiss Super League16010120290
Rosenborg2023Eliteserien90000090
20241613000191
Total25130281
Career total264102622052034412

International

[25]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Norway201690
201751
201891
201990
Total322

Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Selnæs goal.

List of international goals scored by Ole Selnæs
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 5 October 2017 San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino 6–0 8–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 13 October 2018 Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway 1–0 1–0 2018–19 UEFA Nations League C

Honours

Rosenborg

2015

2015

Individual

2015

Notes and References

  1. https://archive.today/20130222204353/http://fotball.fvn.no/lamanga/article222589.ece – Drømmen er A-kontrakt
  2. http://www.rbk.no/spillerstall/article229956.ece Ole Selnæs profilen
  3. http://www.rbkweb.no/vis/8738 Selnæs mister to kamper
  4. http://www.fotball.no/Landslag_og_toppfotball/NM/Aldersbestemt_gutter/2011/NM-FINALE-Rosenborg---Brann/ Stegavik avgjorde for Rosenborg
  5. http://www.nextgenseries.com/en/Clubs/Rosenborg-BK About Rosenborg
  6. http://fotball.aftenposten.no/eliteserien/article231214.ece – Jeg er ikke redd for noe
  7. http://www.rbk.no/incoming/article227673.ece Selnæs fikk stipend
  8. http://www.rbk.no/incoming/article229864.ece A-lagskontrakt for Selnæs
  9. http://www.rbkweb.no/vis/8718 Selnæs blir forfremmet
  10. http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=256216 Altomfotball profilen
  11. http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/17aaring-hjemmedebuterer-for-rosenborg-3750615.html 17-åring hjemmedebuterer for Rosenborg
  12. https://archive.today/20130223094519/http://fotball.aftenposten.no/eliteserien/article231873.ece Bør Selnæs starte mot FFK?
  13. Web site: Nå rankes han som Nordens største talent . no . adressa.no . . Ole Kristian . Sagbakken . 24 April 2012 . 25 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120428004523/http://fotball.adressa.no/eliteserien/article233693.ece . 28 April 2012 . dead .
  14. Web site: Top 3 – Youth recommendations in Scandinavia . scan-scout.com . Øyvind Chr. . Johansen . 24 April 2012 . 25 May 2012.
  15. Web site: Jönsson: – Jeg er ikke overrasket . no . adressa.no . . Ole Kristian . Sagbakken . 25 April 2012 . 25 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120427003050/http://fotball.adressa.no/eliteserien/article233783.ece . 27 April 2012.
  16. News: Han var hetest på Rosenborg i vår – ute i kulden i høst . no . NRK . Odd Rune . Wolden . Anders . Øfsti . 14 September 2012 . 15 September 2012.
  17. News: St Etienne complete signing of Ole Selnaes from Rosenborg. 30 May 2017. Sky Sports. 1 February 2016.
  18. http://sports.sina.com.cn/china/j/2019-02-09/doc-ihrfqzka4557926.shtml 深圳队官宣签下法甲双星:挪威国脚+塞内加尔铁闸
  19. Web site: Zürich. FC Zurich sign midfielder Ole Selnaes. 24 June 2022. 28 June 2022.
  20. Web site: Nightmare night for Ole Selnæs - scored an own goal against Bodø/Glimt - news Sport - Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule - Teknomers English News . 15 September 2022 .
  21. Web site: Ole Kristian Selnæs - Profil - Norges Fotballforbund . no . fotball.no . Football Association of Norway . 30 May 2016.
  22. Web site: Tar gjerne en rolle i Hotel Cæsar . https://archive.today/20120715194656/http://fotball.adressa.no/eliteserien/article229096.ece . dead . 15 July 2012 . no . adressa.no . . Roy Tommy . Bråten . 20 March 2012 . 27 May 2012 .
  23. Web site: RBK-Selnæs til Hotel Cæsar . no . tv2.no . . Odd Rune . Wolden . 19 May 2012 . 27 May 2012.
  24. Web site: O. Selnæs. 13 April 2017.
  25. Web site: Ole Sælnes statistics . National Football Teams . 6 June 2018 .