# ØIF Arendal

ØIF Arendal is a Norwegian handball team located in Arendal, Norway. They compete in REMA 1000-ligaen, which is the highest league for men's handball clubs in Norway.

## History

The club was founded on April 1, 1929. The club was promoted to the first division, the REMA 1000-ligaen, in the 2008/2009 season. Former international Preben Vildalen was also a member of the promoted team. The team debuted in the elite series on September 26, 2009, defeating Runar Sandefjord 27–24 at home. They finished fourth in 2010 and 2011. In the 2012/2013 season, the team moved from the Nedeneshallen sports hall to the new Sør Amfi. On 30 December 2014, ØIF won the Norwegian Cup after defeating Bodø HK 23–22 in the final. ØIF won the Norwegian League in 2015, 2016 and 2019.

## Team
### Current squad

    Squad for the 2024–25 season
ØIF Arendal :
Goalkeepers
01 Kristijan Jurisic
12 Magnus Tveitdal Olsen
16 Simen Westby Johansen
Left Wingers
08 Dagur Gautason
27 Sebastian Løvlie Simonsen
29 Tengel Østerhus Lindheim
Right Wingers
02 Adrian Gjeisklid Evensen
09 Mathias Wahlstrøm
81 Sander Løvlie Simonsen
Line Players
06 Sondre Gjerdalen
17 Adrian Hesslekrans
21 Oscar Gran
55 Alexander Løke Gautestad
Left Backs
07 Vemund Norheim Ask
10 Magnus Langeland
11 Jørg William Fiala Gjermundnes
28 Theodor Robertsen Østland
Central Backs
03 Josip Vidović
23 Pelle Boesen
34 Arni Bergur Sigurbergsson
Right Backs
13 Birk Hermann Inselseth
19 Mikkel Sommer Lund :

### Technical staff

* Head coach: Heine Jensen
* Assistant coach: Sondre Paulsen
* Physiotherapist: Harald Eiker Berg
* Physiotherapist: Preben Jørgensen

### Transfers

    Transfers for the 2025–26 season

## Previous squads

2018–2019 Team :
| Shirt No | Nationality | Player | Birth Date | Position |
| 1 | Norway | Kristijan Jurisic | (1995-09-06) 6 September 1995 (age 29) | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Croatia | Josip Vidović | (1990-05-21) 21 May 1990 (age 34) | Central Back |
| 5 | Norway | Kristoffer Pedersen | (1998-06-16) 16 June 1998 (age 26) | Left Back |
| 6 | Sweden | Martin Lindell | (1993-07-25) 25 July 1993 (age 31) | Left Back |
| 8 | Norway | Hermann Vildalen | (1995-09-17) 17 September 1995 (age 29) | Left Back |
| 9 | Norway | André Lindboe | (1988-06-24) 24 June 1988 (age 36) | Left Winger |
| 10 | Norway | Sondre Paulsen | (1988-05-21) 21 May 1988 (age 36) | Right Winger |
| 11 | Norway | Jørg William Fiala Gjermundnes | (2001-04-29) 29 April 2001 (age 23) | Left Back |
| 12 | Norway | André Bergsholm Kristensen | (2000-03-15) 15 March 2000 (age 24) | Goalkeeper |
| 13 | Iceland | Nökkvi Dan Ellidason | (1997-06-24) 24 June 1997 (age 27) | Central Back |
| 14 | Norway | Eirik Heia Pedersen | (1989-01-03) 3 January 1989 (age 36) | Left Back |
| 15 | Norway | Laurits Mo Rannekleiv | (1994-01-31) 31 January 1994 (age 31) | Line Player |
| 16 | Norway | Oliver Trondal | (2001-08-31) 31 August 2001 (age 23) | Goalkeeper |
| 17 | Norway | Olaf Richter Hoffstad | (1999-01-08) 8 January 1999 (age 26) | Left Winger |
| 20 | Norway | Kjetil Andal | (1999-02-26) 26 February 1999 (age 25) | Left Winger |
| 22 | Denmark | Jesper Munk Johanson | (1990-12-22) 22 December 1990 (age 34) | Line Player |
| 23 | Sweden | Maximilian Jonsson | (1989-10-12) 12 October 1989 (age 35) | Right Back |
| 81 | Norway | Sander Løvlie Simonsen | (1998-07-09) 9 July 1998 (age 26) | Right Winger |
| 87 | Sweden | Per Kenny Ekman | (1987-07-01) 1 July 1987 (age 37) | Line Player |
2015–2016 Team :
| Shirt No | Nationality | Player | Birth Date | Position |
| 1 | Norway | Svenn Erik Medhus | (1982-06-22) 22 June 1982 (age 42) | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Norway | Alexander Friden | (1995-01-17) 17 January 1995 (age 30) | Central Back |
| 3 | Croatia | Josip Vidović | (1990-05-21) 21 May 1990 (age 34) | Central Back |
| 4 | Norway | Haakon Finsrud | (1994-04-09) 9 April 1994 (age 30) | Left Winger |
| 5 | Norway | Grunde Sakariassen | (1996-11-30) 30 November 1996 (age 28) | Left Winger |
| 7 | Norway | Lars Erik Bjørnsen | (1982-07-20) 20 July 1982 (age 42) | Right Winger |
| 8 | Norway | Magnus Jøndal | (1988-02-07) 7 February 1988 (age 37) | Left Winger |
| 9 | Norway | David Svenningsen | (1988-01-22) 22 January 1988 (age 37) | Central Back |
| 10 | Norway | Sondre Paulsen | (1988-05-21) 21 May 1988 (age 36) | Right Winger |
| 12 | Norway | Aasmund Strat | (1990-04-25) 25 April 1990 (age 34) | Goalkeeper |
| 14 | Norway | Eirik Heia Pedersen | (1989-01-03) 3 January 1989 (age 36) | Left Back |
| 15 | Norway | Laurits Mo Rannekleiv | (1994-01-31) 31 January 1994 (age 31) | Line Player |
| 16 | Norway | Markus Evensen | (1997-11-11) 11 November 1997 (age 27) | Goalkeeper |
| 17 | Norway | David Andre Rui | (1991-07-31) 31 July 1991 (age 33) | Left Winger |
| 18 | Iceland | Einar Ingi Hrafnsson | (1984-09-16) 16 September 1984 (age 40) | Line Player |
| 20 | Norway | Fredrik Aamodt Langeld | (1996-05-12) 12 May 1996 (age 28) | Right Back |
| 21 | Denmark | Lars Jakobsen | (1987-09-10) 10 September 1987 (age 37) | Left Back |
| 24 | Croatia | Robert Markotić | (1990-03-07) 7 March 1990 (age 34) | Right Back |
| 26 | Norway | Eirik Køpp | (1996-01-10) 10 January 1996 (age 29) | Left Back |
| 81 | Norway | Sander Løvlie Simonsen | (1998-07-09) 9 July 1998 (age 26) | Right Winger |
| 87 | Sweden | Per Kenny Ekman | (1987-07-01) 1 July 1987 (age 37) | Line Player |

## Accomplishments

* Norwegian League:
** Gold (3): 2015, 2016, 2019
** Silver (2): 2020, 2021
** Bronze (1): 2018
* Norwegian Cup:
** Gold (1): 2014
** Silver (1): 2021

## EHF ranking

    As of 29/6/2024
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 88 | HC Zubří | 51 |
| 89 | Põlva Serviti | 49 |
| 90 | SKKP Handball Brno | 49 |
| 91 | ØIF Arendal | 48 |
| 92 | Handball Club Holon | 46 |
| 93 | KS Azoty-Puławy | 46 |
| 94 | Riihimäki Cocks | 46 |

## Former club members
### Notable former players
#### Goalkeepers

* Svenn Erik Medhus (2010–2017)
* César Almeida (2016-2017)

#### Right wingers

* Lars Erik Bjørnsen (2015–2016)
* Sondre Paulsen (2010–2021)

#### Left wingers

* Magnus Jøndal (2014–2016)
* André Lindboe (2018–2021)
* August Pedersen (2016–2018)

#### Line players

* Håvard Augensen (2009–2011)
* Frederik Børm (2021–2023)
* Luigj Quni (2019–2020)

#### Left backs

* André Jørgensen (1996–1998, 2010–2015)
* Hermann Vildalen (2012–2014, 2020–2021)
* René Bach Madsen (2013–2014)
* Nico Rönnberg (2013–2014)

#### Central backs

* Preben Vildalen (2007–2010)
* Mario Matic (2019–2024)

#### Right backs

* Magnus Søndenå (2021–2023)
* Nikola Kedžo (2016)
* Marcus Dahlin (2014–2015)