# 2020 Molde FK season

The 2020 season was Molde's 13th consecutive year in Eliteserien, and their 44th season in the top flight of Norwegian football. They finished second in the Eliteserien, whilst the Norwegian Cup and Mesterfinalen where cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway. In Europe, Molde where knocked out of the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League by Ferencváros dropping into the Europa League where they progressed to the Round of 32 which will take place in the 2021 season.

## Season events

On 3 January, Tobias Hestad extended his contract with Molde until the end of 2022.
On 31 January, Molde announced that Etzaz Hussain had signed a new contract with the club, until the end of the 2022 season.
On 11 February, Molde announced the signing of Marcus Holmgren Pedersen on a three-year contract from Tromsø.
On 9 March, Molde cancelled their planned training camp in Marbella, Spain due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The season was scheduled to begin on 4 April, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway the opening games of the season were delayed, first till 2 May, then further delayed till 23 May.
On 4 May, Molde announced the singing of Ola Brynhildsen from Stabæk on a 2 ½ year agreement commencing on 1 July.
On 7 May, the Norwegian government allowed the league to start on 16 June with full training starting immediately.
On 20 May, Ola Brynhildsen's transfer from Stabæk to Molde was concluded.
On 28 May, Molde announced that Vegard Forren would leave the club by mutual agreement on 31 May, after Forren used money gathered from players fines to cover gambling debts.
On 12 June, the Norwegian Football Federation announced that a maximum of 200 home fans would be allowed to attend the upcoming seasons matches.
On 15 June, Molde announced that Kristoffer Haugen had signed a new contract, until the end of the 2022 season.
On 17 June, Molde announced the singing of Albert Braut Tjåland from Bryne and Anton Solbakken from Viking, with the deals becoming official on 1 July.
On 27 June, Molde announced that Erling Moe had signed a new two-year contract with the club, keeping him as manager until the end of the 2022 season.
On 30 June, Molde announced the signing of Sheriff Sinyan on a three-year contract from Lillestrøm.
On 10 September, the Norwegian Football Federation cancelled the 2020 Norwegian Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway.
On 30 September, the Minister of Culture and Gender Equality, Abid Raja, announced that clubs would be able to have crowds of 600 at games from 12 October.
On 6 October, Molde announced the signing of Birk Risa from Odd on a contract until 2023, with John Kitolano moving in the opposite direction on loan from his parent club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

## Squad

    As of match played 19 December 2020
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Andreas Linde | GK | (1993-07-24)24 July 1993 (aged 27) | Helsingborg | 2015 | 2021 | 143 | 0 |
| 12 | Álex Craninx | GK | (1995-10-21)21 October 1995 (aged 25) | Cartagena | 2018 | 2023 | 28 | 0 |
| 52 | Oliver Petersen | GK | (2001-09-26)26 September 2001 (aged 19) | Academy | 2019 | | 1 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Martin Bjørnbak | DF | (1992-03-22)22 March 1992 (aged 28) | Bodø/Glimt | 2019 | 2022 | 56 | 0 |
| 3 | Birk Risa | DF | (1998-02-13)13 February 1998 (aged 22) | Odd | 2020 | 2023 | 10 | 0 |
| 5 | Sheriff Sinyan | DF | (1996-07-19)19 July 1996 (aged 24) | Lillestrøm | 2020 | 2023 | 25 | 0 |
| 6 | Stian Gregersen | DF | (1995-05-17)17 May 1995 (aged 25) | Academy | 2013 | 2020 | 77 | 3 |
| 18 | Kristoffer Haraldseid | DF | (1994-01-17)17 January 1994 (aged 26) | Haugesund | 2019 | 2022 | 36 | 1 |
| 27 | Marcus Pedersen | DF | (2000-07-16)16 July 2000 (aged 20) | Tromsø | 2020 | 2022 | 27 | 3 |
| 28 | Kristoffer Haugen | DF | (1994-02-21)21 February 1994 (aged 26) | Viking | 2018 | 2022 | 84 | 3 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 7 | Magnus Wolff Eikrem | MF | (1990-08-08)8 August 1990 (aged 30) | Seattle Sounders FC | 2018 | 2022 | 177 | 40 |
| 8 | Fredrik Sjølstad | MF | (1994-03-29)29 March 1994 (aged 26) | Kongsvinger | 2019 | 2021 | 27 | 1 |
| 9 | Mattias Moström | MF | (1983-02-25)25 February 1983 (aged 37) | AIK | 2007 | 2020 | 368 | 37 |
| 11 | Martin Ellingsen | MF | (1995-05-02)2 May 1995 (aged 25) | Kongsvinger | 2017 | 2022 | 83 | 14 |
| 15 | Tobias Christensen | MF | (2000-05-11)11 May 2000 (aged 20) | Start | 2019 | 2022 | 30 | 2 |
| 16 | Etzaz Hussain | MF | (1993-01-27)27 January 1993 (aged 27) | Rudeš | 2017 | 2022 | 233 | 31 |
| 17 | Fredrik Aursnes | MF | (1995-12-10)10 December 1995 (aged 25) | Hødd | 2016 | 2021 | 171 | 19 |
| 19 | Eirik Hestad | MF | (1995-06-26)26 June 1995 (aged 25) | Academy | 2012 | 2021 | 202 | 32 |
| 20 | Henry Wingo | MF | (1995-10-04)4 October 1995 (aged 25) | Seattle Sounders FC | 2019 | 2021 | 30 | 2 |
| 22 | Ola Brynhildsen | MF | (1999-04-27)27 April 1999 (aged 21) | Stabæk | 2020 | 2022 | 39 | 5 |
| 23 | Eirik Andersen | MF | (1992-09-21)21 September 1992 (aged 28) | Strømsgodset | 2019 | 2022 | 23 | 8 |
| 30 | Mathis Bolly | MF | (1990-11-14)14 November 1990 (aged 30) | Free agent | 2019 | 2022 | 40 | 6 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 10 | Leke James | FW | (1992-11-01)1 November 1992 (aged 28) | Free agent | 2018 | 2020 | 83 | 43 |
| 14 | Erling Knudtzon | FW | (1988-12-15)15 December 1988 (aged 32) | Lillestrøm | 2019 | 2021 | 66 | 7 |
| 37 | Ole Sebastian Sundgot | FW | (2001-01-12)12 January 2001 (aged 19) | Academy | 2020 | | 1 | 0 |
| 99 | Ohi Omoijuanfo | FW | (1994-01-10)10 January 1994 (aged 26) | Stabæk | 2019 | 2021 | 73 | 32 |
| Out on loan ||||||||||
| 26 | Mathias Ranmark | GK | (1995-10-16)16 October 1995 (aged 25) | Oppsal | 2017 | 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| 45 | Emil Breivik | DF | (2000-06-11)11 June 2000 (aged 20) | Academy | | 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| 46 | Tobias Hestad | MF | (2000-12-29)29 December 2000 (aged 19) | Academy | | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 50 | Jakob Ørsahl | MF | (2001-07-14)14 July 2001 (aged 19) | Academy | | | 1 | 2 |
| Players who left club during season ||||||||||
| 3 | Martin Ove Roseth | DF | (1998-07-10)10 July 1998 (aged 22) | Academy | 2016 | 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | Vegard Forren | DF | (1988-02-16)16 February 1988 (aged 32) | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2017 | 2021 | 384 | 18 |
| 25 | John Kitolano | DF | (1999-10-18)18 October 1999 (aged 21) | loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2020 | 2021 | 10 | 1 |
| 21 | Tobias Svendsen | MF | (1999-08-31)31 August 1999 (aged 21) | Academy | 2015 | 2020 | 23 | 1 |
| 44 | Simen Bakkemyr Hagbø | DF | (1999-05-03)3 May 1999 (aged 21) | Academy | 2018 | | 1 | 0 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 11 February 2020 | DF | Marcus Holmgren Pedersen | Tromsø | Undisclosed |
| 20 May 2020 | MF | Ola Brynhildsen | Stabæk | Undisclosed |
| 30 June 2020 | DF | Sheriff Sinyan | Lillestrøm | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 2020 | MF | Anton Solbakken | Viking | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 2020 | FW | Albert Braut Tjåland | Bryne | Undisclosed |
| 6 October 2020 | DF | Birk Risa | Odd | Undisclosed |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| 20 January 2020 | DF | | John Kitolano | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 6 October 2020 | |

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 21 February 2020 | FW | Daniel Chima Chukwu | Taizhou Yuanda | Undisclosed |
| 31 March 2020 | DF | Simen Bakkemyr Hagbø | Levanger | Undisclosed |
| 26 June 2020 | MF | Tobias Svendsen | HamKam | Undisclosed |
| 29 June 2020 | DF | Martin Ove Roseth | Sogndal | Undisclosed |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date to |
| 30 January 2020 | MF | Emil Breivik | Raufoss | End of 2020 season |
| 30 January 2020 | MF | Tobias Hestad | Stjørdals-Blink | End of 2020 season |
| 6 February 2020 | GK | Mathias Ranmark | HamKam | End of 2020 season |

### Released

| Date | Position | Name | Joined | Date |
| 31 December 2019 | DF | Ruben Gabrielsen | Toulouse | 1 January 2020 |
| 31 December 2019 | FW | Sivert Gussiås | Sandefjord | 8 January 2020 |
| 31 May 2020 | DF | Vegard Forren | Brann | 9 June 2020 |
| 31 December 2020 | MF | Mattias Moström | Retired | Retired |
| 31 December 2020 | FW | Leke James | Al Qadsiah | 27 January 2021 |

## Competitions
### Eliteserien
#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 19 December 2020. Source: see below

#### Results by match

| Match | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H |
| Result | W | W | W | W | D | W | W | W | W | L | W | L | W | L | L | W | L | L | L | W | W | W | W | D | W | W | W | L | W | W |
| Position | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |

#### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Bodø/Glimt (C) | 30 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 103 | 32 | +71 | 81 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Molde | 30 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 77 | 36 | +41 | 62 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Vålerenga | 30 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 51 | 33 | +18 | 55 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round |
| 4 | Rosenborg | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 50 | 35 | +15 | 52 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round |
| 5 | Kristiansund | 30 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 57 | 45 | +12 | 48 | |

### Europa League
#### Group stage

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Arsenal | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 5 | +15 | 18 | Advance to knockout phase |
| 2 | Molde | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 11 | −2 | 10 | Advance to knockout phase |
| 3 | Rapid Wien | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 13 | −2 | 7 | |
| 4 | Dundalk | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 19 | −11 | 0 | |

## Squad statistics

    As of match played 19 December 2020

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Eliteserien | Eliteserien | Norwegian Cup | Norwegian Cup | Champions League | Champions League | Europa League | Europa League |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | SWE | Andreas Linde | 38 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | NOR | Martin Bjørnbak | 23 | 0 | 19+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | NOR | Birk Risa | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | GAM | Sheriff Sinyan | 25 | 0 | 14+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | NOR | Stian Gregersen | 21 | 1 | 10+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | NOR | Magnus Wolff Eikrem | 38 | 12 | 20+7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| 8 | MF | NOR | Fredrik Sjølstad | 6 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | MF | SWE | Mattias Moström | 11 | 1 | 3+6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | NGA | Leke James | 31 | 15 | 16+6 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2+3 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | NOR | Martin Ellingsen | 38 | 8 | 21+6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5+1 | 2 |
| 12 | GK | BEL | Álex Craninx | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | NOR | Erling Knudtzon | 37 | 3 | 12+15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4+1 | 1 | 1+4 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | NOR | Tobias Christensen | 24 | 1 | 11+9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | NOR | Etzaz Hussain | 39 | 10 | 27+1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 3+3 | 1 |
| 17 | MF | NOR | Fredrik Aursnes | 38 | 3 | 26+1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | NOR | Eirik Hestad | 33 | 5 | 14+9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | USA | Henry Wingo | 27 | 2 | 12+7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | NOR | Ola Brynhildsen | 39 | 5 | 18+12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1+4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | NOR | Eirik Andersen | 17 | 4 | 7+10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | NOR | Marcus Pedersen | 27 | 3 | 18+3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | NOR | Kristoffer Haugen | 23 | 1 | 12+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | CIV | Mathis Bolly | 21 | 1 | 2+12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 |
| 37 | FW | NOR | Ole Sebastian Sundgot | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 99 | FW | NOR | Ohi Omoijuanfo | 38 | 16 | 17+10 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1+4 | 1 | 4+2 | 3 |
| Players away from Molde on loan: ||||||||||||||
| Players who appeared for Molde no longer at the club: ||||||||||||||
| 25 | DF | NOR | John Kitolano | 10 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goal scorers

| Rank | Pos. | No. | Nat. | Player | Eliteserien | Norwegian Cup | Champions League | Europa League | Total |
| 1 | FW | 99 | | Ohi Omoijuanfo | 12 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| 2 | FW | 10 | | Leke James | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| 3 | MF | 7 | | Magnus Wolff Eikrem | 7 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| 4 | MF | 16 | | Etzaz Hussain | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 5 | MF | 11 | | Martin Ellingsen | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 6 | MF | 19 | | Eirik Hestad | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 7 | MF | 22 | | Ola Brynhildsen | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | MF | 23 | | Eirik Andersen | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | MF | 17 | | Fredrik Aursnes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | FW | 14 | | Erling Knudtzon | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | DF | 27 | | Marcus Pedersen | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | | | | Own goal | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | MF | 20 | | Henry Wingo | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | DF | 28 | | Kristoffer Haugen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | DF | 6 | | Stian Gregersen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | DF | 25 | | John Kitolano | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | MF | 15 | | Tobias Christensen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | DF | 6 | | Stian Gregersen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | MF | 30 | | Mathis Bolly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | MF | 9 | | Mattias Moström | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 77 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 96 |

### Clean sheets

| Rank | Pos. | No. | Nat. | Player | Eliteserien | Norwegian Cup | Champions League | Europa League | Total |
| 1 | GK | 1 | | Andreas Linde | 7 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 |
| 2 | GK | 12 | | Álex Craninx | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 |

### Disciplinary record

| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Eliteserien | Eliteserien | Norwegian Cup | Norwegian Cup | Champions League | Champions League | Europa League | Europa League | Total | Total |
| 2 | DF | | Martin Bjørnbak | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | | Birk Risa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | | Sheriff Sinyan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | | Stian Gregersen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | | Magnus Wolff Eikrem | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | | Fredrik Sjølstad | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | | Leke James | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | | Martin Ellingsen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | | Erling Knudtzon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | | Tobias Christensen | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | | Etzaz Hussain | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | | Fredrik Aursnes | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | | Eirik Hestad | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | | Henry Wingo | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | | Ola Brynhildsen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | | Eirik Andersen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | | Marcus Pedersen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | | Kristoffer Haugen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | | Mathis Bolly | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 99 | MF | | Ohi Omoijuanfo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for Molde no longer at the club: ||||||||||||||
| 25 | DF | | John Kitolano | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 56 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 77 | 3 |