# Mats Solheim

Mats Goberg Solheim (born 3 December 1987) is a former Norwegian footballer who played as a defender.

## Career
### Sogndal

Solheim started his career at the local club Loen IL, continuing at Stryn TIL in the lower divisions. He initially played as a striker. 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.
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.

### 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.
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. 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. 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.

### Stabæk

In November 2019, Solheim returned to Norwegian football, joining Stabæk on a three-year contract. He retired in August 2021 to become a banker.

## Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Sogndal | 2006 | 1. divisjon | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Sogndal | 2007 | 1. divisjon | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 3 |
| Sogndal | 2008 | 1. divisjon | 28 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 5 |
| Sogndal | 2009 | 1. divisjon | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 5 |
| Sogndal | 2010 | 1. divisjon | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 1 |
| Sogndal | 2011 | Eliteserien | 25 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 29 | 5 |
| Sogndal | Total | Total | 115 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 125 | 19 |
| Kalmar | 2012 | Allsvenskan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Kalmar | 2013 | Allsvenskan | 24 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 25 | 4 |
| Kalmar | 2014 | Allsvenskan | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 2 |
| Kalmar | Total | Total | 50 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 52 | 6 |
| Hammarby IF | 2015 | Allsvenskan | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 2 |
| Hammarby IF | 2016 | Allsvenskan | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 2 |
| Hammarby IF | 2017 | Allsvenskan | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 1 |
| Hammarby IF | 2018 | Allsvenskan | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 |
| Hammarby IF | 2019 | Allsvenskan | 27 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 30 | 4 |
| Hammarby IF | Total | Total | 111 | 8 | 10 | 1 | — | — | 121 | 9 |
| Stabæk | 2020 | Eliteserien | 29 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 3 |
| Stabæk | 2021 | Eliteserien | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Stabæk | Total | Total | 40 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 316 | 34 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 339 | 37 |
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in promotion play-offs

## Honours
### Sogndal

* Norwegian First Division: 2010