# 2008 SK Brann season

The 2008 season was SK Brann's 100th season and their 22nd consecutive season in the Tippeligaen.

## Information

Manager: Mons Ivar Mjelde League: Tippeligaen Shirt supplier: Kappa
Shirt sponsor: Sparebanken Vest Average league attendance: 16,954
League: 8th
Norwegian Cup: 4th round (0-8 vs. Molde) Champions League: Third qualifying round (0-1 (h) and 1-2 (a) vs. Marseille)
UEFA Cup: First round (2-0 (h) and 0-2 (a) vs. Deportivo Coruña. Brann lost 2–3 on the penalty shootout) Top goal scorer: Thorstein Helstad (11 in league, 13 over-all)
Player of the year: Olafur Örn Bjarnason

## Season events

* January 16: Brann signed the Gambian-Swedish striker Njogu Demba-Nyrén from Esbjerg fB. The deal was worth about NOK 9.500.000 (Euro 1.200.000).
* January 25: Brann signed the former Lillestrøm and Leeds United-player Gylfi Einarsson to a three-year deal. The Icelandic midfielder came on a free transfer, after his release from Leeds in the summer of 2007.
* January 28: Brann signed the Australian international, Michael Thwaite to a three-year deal. He was brought in to replace Ramiro Corrales, who was sold to Major League Soccer the very same day.
* February 7: Joakim Sjöhage transferred to his old club IF Elfsborg on a one-year loan deal.
* February 13: Brann lost the first leg in the Round of 32 in the 2007-08 UEFA Cup. Everton FC won 2–0 at Brann Stadion, in what was Brann's first official game of the season.
* February 21: Brann was knocked out of the 2007-08 UEFA Cup, after being crushed by Everton in the 2nd leg of the Round of 32.
* March 30: Brann opened the Premieship-season with a 4–2 win over Fredrikstad F.K. in front of a capacity crowd at Brann Stadion. Thorstein Helstad scored a hat-trick while Azar Karadas scored with a header.
* April 19: Brann's horrific opening of the season continued after losing 0–3 to their main rivals in 2007, Stabæk. Brann was 11th in the Premiership after 4 rounds, with only 4 points won.
* May 16: Brann beat Vålerenga 1–0 in a match that saw the return of two former Brann-profiles, former captain Martin Andresen and the club's former top goalscorer Bengt Sæternes. The result sent Brann to a 5th position in the league after 7 rounds, 6 point behind Stabæk IF.
* June 18: Michael Thwaite was loaned out to Australian side; Melbourne Victory
* July 15: Brann signed the Icelandic international Birkir Sævarsson from Valur.
* July 25: Thorstein Helstad was sold to Le Mans Union Club 72. The transfer was believed to be worth around €2.000.000. Meanwhile, FC Lyn Oslo approved Brann's offer on their talented striker Odion Jude Ighalo
* July 29: Nicolai Misje was loaned out to Bryne FK.
* August 5: Brann lost 2–1 against FK Ventspils away, but still qualified for the third qualifying round of the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League after a 1–0 victory at Brann stadion.
* August 7: Espen Steffensen was sacked from his job as assistant coach, and replaced by Brann's former head coach Harald Aabrekk. .
* August 29: Brann was denied entry to the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League after losing 1–2 away against Olympique de Marseille in the third qualifying round. Brann lost 0–1 in the first leg.
* August 29: Rodolph Austin signed a loan-deal with Brann.
* September 1: Brann signed Stabæk's left fullback Bjørnar Holmvik. Holmvik joined Brann on January 1, 2009 on a free Bosman transfer.
* September 18: Brann played their best match of season when they beat Deportivo de La Coruña 2–0 at home in the first leg of the first round of the 2008–09 UEFA Cup.
* October 2: Brann was knocked out of the 2008–09 UEFA Cup after losing 0–2 away against Deportivo de La Coruña. Derportivo won 3–2 on the penalty shootout.
* October 8: Mons Ivar Mjelde resigned as head coach for SK Brann after six seasons as boss on Brann Stadion. The bad results in 2008 and lack of support from the players were said to be the reason for his resignment. He agreed to lead the club in its last three games of the season. Mjelde led Brann to its first trophy in 22 years when they won the Norwegian Football Cup in 2004 and its first league championship in 44 years when they won the Tippeliga in 2007. He also led the club to bronze and silver medals in the league.
* October 26: Brann's supporters took farewell with two of their most celebrated heroes the last 5 years. Head coach Mons Ivar Mjelde, and striker Robbie Winters both made their last appearance on Brann Stadion. Winters signed with Brann in the summer of 2002, while Mjelde had been under contract with the club since 1996.
* November 11: Joakim Sjöhage was sold to Trelleborgs FF.
* November 21: Brann hired Steinar Nilsen as their new head coach. The former AC Milan and S.S.C. Napoli-player had great success with Tromsø IL in the 2008 season, and was looking for a more high profiled job. Once again Brann hired a young inexperienced head coach. Mons Ivar Mjelde was only 35 when he was hired in 2003, while Nilsen was 36-year-old when he signed with the club.
* November 26: Rune Skarsfjord was hired as Steinar Nilsen's new assistant coach. The former FK Haugesund head coach signed a three-year deal.
* November 28: Tore Kannelønning did not get a new contract offer from Brann, thus leaving the club.
* December 12: Trond Fredrik Ludvigsen signed for his old club Bodø/Glimt.

## Squad

Matches and goals updated as of November 21, 2008 and is for league only.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | NOR | Johan Thorbjørnsen |
| 2 | DF | ISL | Birkir Sævarsson |
| 3 | DF | NOR | Bjørn Dahl |
| 4 | DF | NOR | Cato Guntveit |
| 5 | MF | JAM | Rodolph Austin |
| 6 | DF | NOR | Azar Karadas |
| 7 | MF | NOR | Hassan El Fakiri |
| 8 | MF | ISL | Gylfi Einarsson |
| 9 | MF | NOR | Jan Gunnar Solli |
| 10 | FW | GAM | Njogu Demba-Nyrén |
| 11 | MF | NOR | Petter Vaagan Moen |
| 12 | GK | NOR | Håkon Opdal |
| 13 | MF | NOR | Erik Huseklepp |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | MF | GAM | Tijan Jaiteh |
| 15 | DF | NOR | Erlend Hanstveit |
| 17 | MF | NOR | Eirik Bakke (C) |
| 18 | DF | ISL | Ólafur Örn Bjarnason |
| 19 | DF | NOR | Nicolai Misje |
| 20 | MF | NOR | Trond Fredrik Ludvigsen |
| 21 | DF | ISL | Kristján Örn Sigurðsson |
| 22 | FW | NOR | Thorstein Helstad |
| 24 | GK | NOR | Kenneth Udjus |
| 25 | DF | NOR | Yaw Ihle Amankwah |
| 28 | DF | ISL | Ármann Björnsson |
| 77 | FW | SCO | Robbie Winters |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | FW | SWE | Joakim Sjöhage (on loan to IF Elfsborg) |
| — | DF | AUS | Michael Thwaite (on loan to Melbourne Victory) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | NOR | Knut Walde (on loan to Løv-Ham) |
| — | MF | NOR | Nicolai Misje (on loan to Bryne FK) |

## Transfers

| Players in Only first team squad transfers Winter 2007–08 Njogu Demba-Nyrén from Esbjerg fB. Gylfi Einarsson on free transfer. Michael Thwaite from Wisła Kraków Summer 2007–08 Birkir Sævarsson from Valur Rodolph Austin from Portmore United (loan) | Players out Only first team squad transfers Winter 2007–08 Thor Jørgen Spurkeland to NBK. Martin Andresen to Vålerenga Johan Thorbjørnsen to Sandefjord (loan) Ramiro Corrales to MLS Joakim Sjöhage to IF Elfsborg (loan) Knut Walde to Løv-Ham Arnaud Monkam to Løv-Ham Summer 2007–08 Michael Thwaite to Melbourne Victory (loan) Thorstein Helstad to Le Mans Union Club 72 Nicolai Misje to Bryne FK (loan) |

## Competitions
### Tippeligaen
#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |

#### Results by round

| Round | 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 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | W | L | D | L | W | D | W | W | L | D | D | W | D | L | L | W | L | D | L | D | D | W | L | L | D | W |
| Position | 1 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 |

#### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 6 | Viking | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 38 | 32 | +6 | 39 | |
| 7 | Lyn | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 38 | 34 | +4 | 38 | |
| 8 | Brann | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 33 | |
| 9 | Molde | 26 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 39 | 43 | −4 | 31 | |
| 10 | Vålerenga | 26 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 31 | 37 | −6 | 30 | Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round |
* ↑ Vålerenga qualified for the Europa League third qualifying round as 2008 Norwegian Cup winners.

### 2008–09 UEFA Cup
#### First round
## Matches (goals)

The table shows matches and goals in the Tippeligaen, Norwegian Cup, Champions League and UEFA Cup, and was last updated after the game against Vålerenga on November 2, 2008.
| No. | Position | Player | Premiership | Norwegian Cup | CL | UEFA | Total |
| 1 | GK | Johan Thorbjørnsen | 3 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (0) |
| 12 | GK | Håkon Opdal | 19 (0) | 3 (0) | 4 (0) | 2 (0) | 28 (0) |
| 24 | GK | Kenneth Udjus | 6 (0) | 1 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0) | 9 (0) |
| 3 | DF | Bjørn Dahl | 22 (0) | 3 (0) | 4 (0) | 4 (0) | 33 (0) |
| 15 | DF | Erlend Hanstveit | 26 (0) | 3 (1) | 4 (0) | 4 (0) | 35 (1) |
| 18 | DF | Ólafur Örn Bjarnason | 22 (4) | 3 (1) | 4 (0) | 4 (1) | 33 (6) |
| 21 | DF | Kristján Örn Sigurðsson | 20 (1) | 1 (0) | 3 (1) | 4 (0) | 28 (2) |
| 23 | DF | Michael Thwaite | 2 (0) | 1 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0) | 4 (0) |
| 25 | DF | Yaw Ihle Amankwah | 4 (0) | 1 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 5 (0) |
| 2 | DF/MF | Birkir Sævarsson | 8 (1) | 0 (0) | 2 (0) | 1 (0) | 11 (1) |
| 6 | DF/FW | Azar Karadas | 21 (3) | 4 (0) | 4 (0) | 3 (0) | 32 (3) |
| 28 | DF/FW | Ármann Smári Björnsson | 8 (0) | 2 (0) | 1 (1) | 2 (0) | 13 (1) |
| 4 | DF/MF | Cato Guntveit | 13 (0) | 2 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0) | 17 (0) |
| 5 | MF | Rodolph Austin | 9 (1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0) | 11 (1) |
| 7 | MF | Hassan El Fakiri | 17 (0) | 3 (0) | 4 (0) | 2 (0) | 26 (0) |
| 8 | MF | Gylfi Einarsson | 14 (3) | 2 (0) | 2 (0) | 2 (0) | 20 (3) |
| 9 | MF | Jan Gunnar Solli | 23 (1) | 4 (0) | 2 (0) | 4 (1) | 33 (2) |
| 11 | MF | Petter Vaagan Moen | 23 (3) | 2 (0) | 3 (0) | 4 (1) | 32 (4) |
| 13 | MF | Erik Huseklepp | 19 (3) | 4 (0) | 4 (0) | 4 (0) | 31 (3) |
| 14 | MF | Tijan Jaiteh | 15 (1) | 3 (0) | 3 (0) | 1 (0) | 22 (1) |
| 17 | MF | Eirik Bakke | 21 (0) | 1 (0) | 3 (0) | 3 (0) | 28 (0) |
| 19 | MF | Nicolai Misje | 0 (0) | 2 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0) |
| 20 | MF/FW | Trond Fredrik Ludvigsen | 7 (0) | 3 (1) | 1 (0) | 0 (0) | 11 (1) |
| 10 | FW | Demba-Nyrén | 17 (3) | 2 (1) | 4 (1) | 2 (0) | 25 (5) |
| 22 | FW | Thorstein Helstad | 12 (11) | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | 2 (0) | 15 (13) |
| 27 | FW | Matias Møvik | 1 (0) | 1 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0) |
| 77 | FW | Robbie Winters | 18 (1) | 4 (3) | 3 (0) | 2 (0) | 27 (4) |