Martin Andresen

Martin Andresen

Personal information
Date of birth	(1977-02-02) 2 February 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth	Kråkstad, Norway
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Central midfielder
Youth career
	Kråkstad
	Ski
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–1997	Moss	45	(10)
1997	Viking	26	(8)
1998–1999	Stabæk	47	(16)
1999–2000	Wimbledon	13	(1)
2000	→ Molde (loan)	9	(1)
2001–2004	Stabæk	87	(16)
2003–2004	→ Blackburn (loan)	11	(0)
2005–2007	Brann	64	(11)
2008–2010	Vålerenga	40	(2)
2011–2012	Follo	8	(0)
2013	Stabæk	1	(0)
2015	Sandefjord	3	(0)
Total		355	(65)
International career
1995–1998	Norway U21	24	(4)
2001–2009	Norway	43	(3)
Managerial career
2008–2012	Vålerenga
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Martin Andresen (born 2 February 1977) is a Norwegian former professional football player^[1] and manager, who played as a central midfielder. Martin is also keen bridge player ^[2] winning both a North American and European championship.

Andresen was born in Kråkstad. He was a regular on many Norway national youth teams while playing for Moss, Viking and Stabæk Fotball from 1995 to 1999.

After the 1999 season, Andresen was sold to Premier League club Wimbledon in a deal worth £1 million. But like many of the other Norwegians in the club, his stay became short and unsuccessful. He scored once for Wimbledon; in a 2–1 loss to Liverpool.^[3] He had a short loan spell at Molde.

Andresen returned to Stabæk in 2001, where he proved himself to be one of the best central midfielders in Norway.

After a successful 2003 season, where Stabæk captured the bronze medals in the Norwegian Premier League, Andresen was loaned out to the Premiership club Blackburn Rovers for six months in 2004, from February to August, but did not sign a longer deal with the English club. Andresen return to Stabæk to save the club from relegation from the Norwegian Premier League. Andresen played while injured and Stabæk could not save their top spot in league Norway. Andresen, not willing to play in the Adeccoliga, asked to be sold. Many clubs in Norway were interested in the national team captain; the high price scared many away, including the champions Rosenborg. Vålerenga looked set to capture Andresen at Christmas 2004. Brann was helped by local investors to sign him on 23 December 2004.^{[citation needed]}

Andresen became the most expensive transfer in Brann history, in a deal worth ca. 15.000.000 NOK (£1.310.000). After a disappointing first season, much ruined by injuries, Andresen made it clear that he would be "fit for fight" in 2006. In the pre-season he was appointed captain for Brann, clearly showing his importance for the club on and off the field. In 2006, Brann had their best season opening ever,^{[citation needed]} with Andresen filling the captain role. He also periodically captained team Norway, playing in central midfield. In 2007 Brann won the Norwegian League, with Andresen as captain. He was described as the most valuable player by many Norwegian pundits.^[who?] He was also named in the Team of the Year.

Andresen was announced as the new manager of Vålerenga on 6 November 2007 while still under contract with Brann for the remainder of the year. Brann terminated their working relationship with Andresen the day after. He signed a three-year-long contract with Vålerenga as player and manager. Andresen became the first player/head coach in Norway's top division (Tippeligaen) since Kjetil Rekdal (also with Vålerenga) in 2002.

He retired as a player before the 2010 season, but continued to play several matches for the reserve team in the Norwegian Second Division. In 2011, he played for Follo FK who were in the same division, making eight appearances for the club.

On 15 October 2012, Andresen was dismissed as manager for Vålerenga.^[4]

Andresen came out of retirement and joined Stabæk, who had been relegated from Tippeligaen, ahead of the 2013 season.^[5]

Andresen came out for retirement for a second time on 18 August 2015, and joined Sandefjord Fotball for the remainder of the 2015 Tippeligaen season.^[1]

Andresen made his debut for Norway national team in a 15 August 2001 friendly match against Turkey and earned a total of 43 caps, scoring three goals.^[6]

• North American Bridge Championships (1)
  • Nail Life Master Open Pairs (1) 2009^[7]

• European Bridge League Championships (1)
  • Champions' Cup (1) 2021^[8]

Martin Andresen is an heir to the Norwegian furniture manufacturer Skeidar.

As of 18 August 2015

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Season	Club	League			Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Moss	1995	1. divisjon	21	4			21	4
	1996	Tippeligaen	24	6			24	6
	Total		45	10			45	10
Viking	1997	Tippeligaen	26	8			26	8
Stabæk	1998	Tippeligaen	25	8			25	8
	1999		22	8			22	8
	Total		47	16			47	16
Wimbledon	1999–2000	Premier League	14	1	2	0	15	1
Molde	2000	Tippeligaen	9	1	0	0	9	1
Stabæk	2001	Tippeligaen	24	6	3	1	27	7
	2002		25	1	5	1	30	2
	2003		25	8	4	1	29	9
	Total		74	15	12	3	86	18
Blackburn	2003–04	Premier League	11	0	0	0	11	0
Stabæk	2004	Tippeligaen	13	1	2	0	15	1
Brann	2005	Tippeligaen	17	2	1	0	18	2
	2006		24	3	2	0	26	3
	2007		23	6	1	0	24	6
	Total		64	11	4	0	68	11
Vålerenga	2008	Tippeligaen	23	1	5	0	28	1
	2009		17	1	5	0	22	1
	2010		0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		40	2	10	0	50	2
Follo	2011	2. divisjon	5	0	0	0	5	0
	2012		3	0	0	0	3	0
	Total		8	0	0	0	8	0
Stabæk	2013	1. divisjon	1	0	0	0	1	0
Sandefjord	2015	Tippeligaen	3	0	0	0	3	0
Career total			353	65	30	3	383	68

Stabæk

• Norwegian Cup: 1998

Brann

• Norwegian Premier League: 2007

Vålerenga

• Norwegian Cup: 2008

Individual

• Kniksen of the year: 2003
• Kniksen award: midfielder of the year in 2003
• Norwegian Football Association Gold Watch

• Martin Andresen at National-Football-Teams.com