Runar Berg Explained

Runar Berg
Upright:0.7
Birth Date:7 October 1970
Birth Place:The Hague, Netherlands
Height:1.79 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1989
Youthclubs1:Bodø/Glimt
Years1:1989
Clubs1:Bodø/Glimt
Years2:1990
Clubs2:Rosenborg
Caps2:10
Goals2:0
Years3:1991
Clubs3:Tromsø
Caps3:18
Goals3:2
Years4:1992–1996
Clubs4:Bodø/Glimt
Caps4:111
Goals4:29
Years5:1997–1999
Clubs5:Rosenborg
Caps5:69
Goals5:13
Years6:1999–2001
Clubs6:Venezia
Caps6:30
Goals6:2
Years7:2001
Clubs7:Lyn (loan)
Caps7:23
Goals7:3
Years8:2002–2010
Clubs8:Bodø/Glimt
Caps8:204
Goals8:41
Nationalyears1:1986
Nationalteam1:Norway U15
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1987
Nationalteam2:Norway U16
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1988
Nationalteam3:Norway U18
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:1994–2003
Nationalteam4:Norway
Nationalcaps4:5
Nationalgoals4:0

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.

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

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
SeasonClubLeagueCupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rosenborg1990Tippeligaen10000100
Tromsø1991Tippeligaen18200182
Bodø/Glimt1992Adeccoligaen000000
1993Tippeligaen2211002211
199421500215
199524200242
199624500245
Rosenborg1997Tippeligaen25600256
199826432274
199918340223
Venezia1999–2000Serie A28200282
2000–01Serie B200020
Lyn2001Tippeligaen23320253
Bodø/Glimt2002Tippeligaen23521256
2003218532611
200420444248
200522641267
2006Adeccoligaen22820248
200729420314
2008Tippeligaen25120271
200924030270
2010Adeccoligaen18500185
Career total44584331147895

Honours

Rosenborg

Bodø/Glimt

Notes and References

  1. News: Her er fotballfedrene . Norwegian . Stavanger Aftenblad . Eivind . Aarre . 13 September 2007 . 29 April 2013 . dead . https://archive.today/20130223040151/http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article89879.ece . 23 February 2013.
  2. News: Runar Berg legger opp. Norwegian News Agency. 20 September 2010. Norwegian. 20 September 2010.
  3. News: Runar spiller gratis for Glimt . Norwegian . Avisa Nordland . 27 January 2009 . 5 July 2013.
  4. News: The Curious Case of Runar Berg . https://archive.today/20130430123427/http://www.nordicfootball.info/2009/02/02/the-curious-case-of-runar-berg/%23more-301 . dead . 30 April 2013 . Nordic Football News . 2 February 2009 . 8 July 2013 .
  5. News: Berg gir bort 100 000 kroner av lønna . Norwegian . Dagbladet . 26 September 2006 . 5 July 2013.
  6. News: Gjør comeback . Norwegian . Avisa Nordland . 13 March 2012 . 9 July 2013.
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20091027121446/http://geocities.com/thomsof/landslaget/landslaget.html Norway – International Players