Vegard Forren

Vegard Valgermo Forren (born 16 February 1988) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Eliteserien club Brann. He has been capped over thirty times for Norway.

Vegard Forren
Personal information
Full name Vegard Valgermo Forren[1]
Date of birth (1988-02-16) 16 February 1988
Place of birth Kyrksæterøra, Norway
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Brann
Number 3
Youth career
KIL/Hemne
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2013 Molde 146 (5)
2013 Southampton 0 (0)
2013–2017 Molde 92 (5)
2017 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 (0)
2017–2020 Molde 55 (1)
2020– Brann 11 (0)
National team‡
2008–2010 Norway U21 14 (3)
2011–2012 Norway U23 2 (0)
2012– Norway 33 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 August 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2016

Born in Kyrksæterøra, Forren was originally a youth player at local club KIL/Hemne, before starting his professional career with Molde in 2007. After making over 150 appearances for Molde, he joined Southampton in January 2013 for a fee in the region of £4 million, but ended up not playing a single game. He returned to Molde in July 2013 for an undisclosed fee. Forren plays primarily as a centre back. As of 1 December 2019, Forren has made 384 appearances for Molde, the second-highest number of appearances by any player for the club. Alongside Trond Strande and Mattias Moström, he is the only player to have appearances for Molde in 12 consecutive Eliteserien seasons.

Club career

Molde

Forren was first discovered by Molde FK when they met KIL/Hemne in the first round of the Norwegian Football Cup. KIL/Hemne surprisingly won the match 3–1, with Forren and two other young players impressing highly. They were afterwards invited to trial for Molde in a junior tournament.[2] Shortly after Forren signed a five-year deal with Molde.[3] On 26 August 2007, Forren made his Molde debut as a 59th minute substitute in the club's 12–1 win against Mandalskameratene. He got seven league games in the 2007 season and helped the team promote to the 2008 Tippeligaen. He took the Tippeligaen by storm and European clubs as A.C. Milan, Newcastle,[4] Liverpool[5] and Hoffenheim,[6] have watched him playing for Molde FK. But Forren stated that he wanted to stay in Molde FK for a while, even though his dream was to play in a bigger European league one time. He said that he was still young and have a long career in front of him. He was also linked with Lazio[7] and F.C. Copenhagen.[8]

After winning the Tippeligaen with Molde in 2011, Molde rejected two offers from Club Brugge in December 2011.[9] Forren then won the Norwegian league with Molde in 2012 for the second time in the row and; VG and Aftenposten, along with broadcaster TV2, named Forren as the top defender in the Tippeligaen.[10]

Southampton

On 18 January 2013, Forren signed for Premier League side Southampton on a three-and a half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[11] His first game was for the club's under-21 side on 4 March against Liverpool, when he scored the opening goal for the Saints in the 30th minute with a volley.[12] During his six months at the club, Forren did not make an appearance for the Southampton first team.[13]

Return to Molde

Rumoured to make a return move back to Molde, Forren insisted he wanted to stay at Southampton to fight for his place.[14] However, on 11 July 2013, Forren left Southampton to return to Molde for an undisclosed fee.[15] Molde won the 2013 Norwegian Cup after rivals Rosenborg was defeated 4–2 in the final. Forren assisted Jo Inge Berget on Molde's 2–2 equalizing goal in the game. Forren left the club on 1 January 2017, when his contract expired.[16]

Brighton & Hove Albion

Forren signed for Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion on 7 March 2017 until the end of the 2016–17 season.[17][18] He didn't make a single appearance at the club and was released at the end of the season.[19]

Second return to Molde

Forren re-signed for Molde FK on 27 July 2017.[20] On 12 December 2017, Forren signed a new two-year contract with Molde.[21] On 25 March 2019, Forren extended his contract to the end of the 2021 season.[22] On 28 May 2020, Molde announced that Forren would leave the club by mutual agreement on 31 May 2020,[23] after Forren used money gathered from players fines to cover gambling debts.[24]

Restart at Brann

On 9 June 2020, Forren signed a one-year contract with Brann.[25]

International career

Forren made his debut for Norway U21 in the match against Ukraine U21 on 26 March 2008.[26] He played a total of 14 matches for the under-21 team, scoring three goals, and was later capped twice for the under-23 team.[27]

Forren made his debut for Norway in the 2012 King's Cup match against Thailand on 18 January 2012.[28] He also played against South Korea a few days later, but had to wait to October 2012 for his first competitive match when he started the match against Switzerland,[29] and played five consecutive matches alongside Brede Hangeland in Norway's central defence, until he was left out of the Norwegian squad for the match against Albania in June 2013 due to lack of playing time in Southampton.[30]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 2 August 2020[31]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Molde 2007 1. divisjon 7010———80
2008 Tippeligaen 25051———301
2009 27371———344
2010 28030—4[lower-alpha 1]0—350
2011 29120———311
2012 30130—10[lower-alpha 2]1—432
Total 1465212——141——1818
Southampton 2012–13 Premier League 000000——00
Molde 2013 Tippeligaen 14020—6[lower-alpha 3]0—220
2014 28460—4[lower-alpha 1]2—386
2015 27130—11[lower-alpha 4]1—422
2016 23010—2[lower-alpha 1]0—240
Total 925120——233——1278
Brighton & Hove Albion 2016–17 EFL Championship 000000——00
Molde 2017 Eliteserien 10020———120
2018 26110—8[lower-alpha 1]0—351
2019 18030—7100281
Total 55160——151——762
Brann 2020 Eliteserien 11000———110
Total 11000——00——110
Career total 30411392——525——39518
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Three appearances in Champions League qualifying rounds and seven appearances in Europa League, including play-offs
  3. Four appearances in Champions League qualifying rounds and two appearances in Europa League play-offs
  4. Four appearances in Champions League qualifying rounds and seven appearances in Europa League, including play-offs

International
As of match played 11 November 2016
National teamYearAppsGoals
Norway 201250
201350
2014100
201591
201640
Total331

Honours

Molde

Individual

  • Tippeligaen Defender of the Year: 2012[32]
gollark: I'm fairly sure it can!
gollark: <@683735247489466397> play https://radio-ic.osmarks.net/128k.ogg
gollark: <@683735247489466397> play https://radio-ic.osmarks.net/128k.ogg
gollark: * 6522
gollark: Heavpoot#6552.

References
  1. "Vegard Valgermo Forren" (in Norwegian). Football Association of Norway. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  2. (in Norwegian)"KIL/Hemnes cuphelter skal trene med MFK". Romsdals Budstikke (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  3. (in Norwegian)"KIL/Hemnes cuphelt signerte for MFK". Romsdals Budstikke (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
  4. (in Norwegian)"Storspilte med Milan og Newcastle på tribunen". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  5. (in Norwegian)"Liverpool så Molde-spiller". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 August 2008.
  6. (in Norwegian)"Forren kobles til Bundesliga-klubb". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  7. (in Norwegian)"Lazio vil ha Forren". TV 2 Sporten (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  8. (in Norwegian)"Forren vil vurdere FC København-tilbud". TV 2 Sporten (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  9. "Molde avviste to Brugge-bud på Forren". db.no (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  10. "Meet Southampton's new signing Vegard Forren: The Norway defender 'good enough to play for Manchester United'". Goal.com. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  11. "In Profile – Vegard Forren". Southampton FC. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  12. "Saints U21s 1–1 Liverpool U21s: Report". Southampton F.C. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  13. Lønning, Simen (17 June 2013). "Uviss framtid for Vegard Forren" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  14. "Southampton defender Forren rejects Molde loan return". Goal.com. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  15. "Southampton release Richard Chaplow and Vegard Forren". BBC Sport. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  16. "Alle Eliteserie-overgangene i januar" (in Swedish). m.nettavisen.no. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  17. Camillin, Paul (7 March 2017). "Albion boost defenmsive options". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  18. "Vegard Forren: Brighton sign Norway defender until end of season". BBC Sport. March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  19. "Albion Offer New Deals To Four". Brighton & Hove Albion Official Site. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  20. "FORREN TILBAKE I MOLDE FK". moldefk.no (in Norwegian). Molde FK. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  21. "FORREN MED TO NYE ÅR". moldefk.no (in Norwegian). Molde FK. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  22. "Forren klar for flere år i Molde" [Forren ready for more years in Molde]. moldefk.no (in Norwegian). Molde FK. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  23. "MOLDE FK OG VEGARD FORREN ER ENIGE OM FRATREDELSE". moldefk.no/ (in Norwegian). Molde FK. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  24. "FORREN INNRØMMER GAMBLINGPROBLEM – TOK OPP LÅN FOR Å DEKKE SPILLEGJELD". vg.no/ (in Norwegian). VG. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  25. "FORREN HAR SIGNERT FOR BRANN". brann.no/ (in Norwegian). SK Brann. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  26. "Gullballen til Vegard Forren" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. Norwegian News Agency. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  27. "Vegard Forren's profil". fotball.no (in Norwegian). Football Association of Norway. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  28. "Reginiussens deilige landslagsrevansj". fvn.no (in Norwegian). Fædrelandsvennen. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  29. Saltbones, Fredrik (12 October 2012). "Søderlund og Forren starter for Norge" (in Norwegian). Adresseavisa. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  30. Hustad, Trond (22 May 2013). "- Overrasket og skuffet" (in Norwegian). Romsdals Budstikke. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  31. "Vegard Forren". altomfotball.no. alt om fotball. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  32. "Molde-dominans på årets Kniksenpriser". aftenposten.no (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. 18 November 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
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