Mats Solheim

Mats Goberg Solheim (born 3 December 1987) is a Norwegian footballer who plays as a defender for Eliteserien club Stabæk.[1]

Mats Goberg Solheim

Solheim playing for Hammarby in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Mats Goberg Solheim
Date of birth	(1987-12-03) 3 December 1987
Place of birth	Loen, Norway
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s)	Defender
Club information
Current team	Stabæk
Number	5
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Stryn TIL	34	(57)
2006–2011	Sogndal	113	(18)
2012–2015	Kalmar	50	(5)
2015–2019	Hammarby IF	111	(8)
2020–	Stabæk	9	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 July 2020

Career

Sogndal

Solheim started his career at the local club Stryn IL in the lower divisions, where he initially played as a striker.[2] He attracted interest from the professional club Sogndal, then playing in the Norwegian second tier, during the summer of 2006. He subsequently joined the club and went on to enjoy a promotion to Tippeligaen four seasons later, in 2010.

During his time at Sogndal he got known as a utility player, being used in almost every outfield position. He has since established himself as a natural wing back on either flanks.[3]

Solheim played a total of 25 games, scoring 4 times, during the 2011 Tippeligaen-season. He attracted interest from several other Norwegian clubs after the successful campaign, but opted to move abroad, signing for Kalmar FF in the Swedish Allsvenskan.[4]

Kalmar FF

He had a rough start to his stint at Kalmar FF, when he injured his anterior cruciate ligament in February 2012 during the pre-season. He was forced to the sideline throughout the rest of the year.[5]

Solheim made his competitive debut for Kalmar on 2 April 2013 against Syrianska FC, on the first match day of the 2013 Allsvenskan. He crowned his debut for the side by scoring in a 3–0 victory.[2] He played as a regular at Kalmar during the upcoming two seasons, featuring in a total of 50 games in Allsvenskan, scoring on 5 occasions.

Hammarby IF

On 31 March 2015, the last day of the Swedish transfer window, Hammarby IF announced that they had signed Solheim on a three year-contract.[6] He reunited with his former manager Nanne Bergstrand, who first had brought him to Sweden, at the Stockholm-based outfit.

Solheim established himself as a first choice left defender at Hammarby during the 2015 season. He missed out on the whole first half of the 2016 season due to another, less serious, knee injury.[7]

Career statistics

As of 19 July 2020

Season	Club	Division	League		Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2006	Sogndal	Adeccoligaen	8	0	0	0	8	0
2007			18	3	0	0	18	3
2008			28	5	1	0	29	5
2009			14	5	0	0	14	5
2010			22	1	2	0	24	1
2011		Tippeligaen	23	4	4	1	27	5
2012	Kalmar	Allsvenskan	0	0	0	0	0	0
2013			24	3	1	1	25	4
2014			26	2	1	0	27	2
2015	Hammarby		26	2	0	0	26	2
2016			16	2	0	0	16	2
2017			27	1	3	0	30	1
2018			16	0	2	0	16	0
2019			26	3	3	1	29	4
2020	Stabæk	Eliteserien	9	0	0	0	9	0
Career Total			284	30	17	3	301	33

Honours

Club

Sogndal

• Norwegian First Division: 2010

References

1. "Mats Solheim profile" (in Swedish). SVFF. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
2. "Norsk inhoppare blev Kalmars solskenshistoria" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
3. "Solheim - "Har spelat på alla positioner på planen - även målvakt"" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
4. "Mats Solheim valde Kalmar FF framför Tippeligan" (in Swedish). Fotbolltransfers. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
5. "Solheim borta hela säsongen" (in Swedish). Svergies Radio. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
6. "Mats Solheim lämnar Kalmar FF" (in Swedish). Kalmar FF. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
7. "Mats Solheim skadad – missar vårsäsongen" (in Swedish). Expressen. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.

External links

• www.nifs on Mats Solheim
• www.altomfootball on Mats Solheim