They were also knocked out of the cup by third tier Fram, and despite it being for health reasons, Bjørn Petter Ingebritsen was replaced in June 2019 by incoming Dane, Henrik Pedersen. Formerly at Red Bull as a youth coach, before stints at HB Køge in Denmark, and Eintracht Braunschweig in Germany, this is his first job in Norway.
Last season they conceded 54 goals, the third worst in the league, and at the other end they managed only 41 goals. Top scorer with only 7 goals, was Lars Jørgen Salvesen, despite only playing 13 games after his summer move from Sarpsborg. They will be hoping he can kick off this season like he finished 2019.
Two young loanees who came in Summer 2019, Ipalibo Jack and Duplexe Tchamba both became important players in the run in, so it will be crucial to hang on to both in 2020. Central midfielder Jack has an option to buy for the club at the end of the summer, but strong defender Tchamba so far will be returning to Strasbourg at the end of June.
Last years best defender, and ever present, was captain Jakob Glesnes. He has left this winter for Philadelphia Union in the MLS.
They have a decent crowd behind them at Marienlyst stadion, and they should be looking to finish far higher up than last years 11th spot, two points off the drop.
Key Players
Mikkel Maigaard joined SIF last summer after impressing with Raufoss in OBOS-ligaen, and he quickly became an important part of the midfield for Henrik Pedersen's men.The 24 year old Danish attacking midfielder is a goal threat, often breaking late into the box, and also has great vision for a pass. He managed four goals in the second half of last season and also adding four assists as he became crucial in saving SIF from relegation.
A potential captain this year for the club, look for him to be involved in more goals this year and to show up as one the top midfielders in the league.
After six months and only two league goals, Strømsgodset and Sarpsborg did a swap involving 31 year old Mos Abdellaoue going the other way. Now 24, Salvesen looks like he has found his feet in Eliteserien with SIF.
He may not be the quickest, but his movement in behind is good, he is tall and good in the air, and possesses a very powerful left foot. His finishing is very calm as well, and with the confidence of the manager he could be one to watch out for in the scoring charts this season.
Another forward player that joined last summer after a prolific two year spell at KFUM Oslo, is Moses Mawa. The 23 year old scored 17 in total last season, four of them after his summer move to SIF. Tall, quick and a confident finisher, he has all the assets of a top Eliteserien striker.
It has the makings of a very decent strikeforce, with Mawa usually being preferred on the left hand side from the wing, although he is a real danger when he gets in behind.
Strømsgodset look like they have done some good business in the winter with the arrival of former Scottish Cup winner with Hibernian, Niklas Gunnarsson, arriving to help out the defense, along with two exciting looking internationalists. Young Icelandic centre back Ari Leifsson, and also Latvian winger Janis Ikaunieks.
These, along with the team that finished last season stronger than started it, should be pushing Strømsgodset towards the top half of the table.
Prediction 6th
Second placed in OBOS-ligaen last season was Sandefjord, the club founded in 1998 coming into the top tier for what will be their 9th season. From the city of Sandefjord, south of Oslo, they, along with Start and Aalesund were the 3 biggest supported clubs in the league last season, so no surprise they are all promoted.
They play games in the Sandefjord Arena, and are managed by the only non Nordic manager in Eliteserien this year, and by far the best dressed manager in Norway. The 37 year old Spaniard Marti Cifuentes has been in charge since May 2018, and he managed only three wins that year as Sandefjord finished bottom of the top tier.It was easier in the second tier, as they lost only three all year, winning 19 and being automatically promoted along with Aalesund.
Unfortunately for Sandefjord it was a winter where they lost quite a few regular players for different reasons. The main one was top scorer in the division last season, Pontus Engblom, the 19 league goal striker has moved back to GIF Sundvall in his homeland, Sweden.
Also a huge chunk has been taken out the middle of the park with experienced duo Håvard Storbæk and Erik Mjelde both retiring after five seasons with the club. Other midfielders leaving were Mohammed Ofkir to Sarpsborg and Spaniard Tito was released from his contract. All of these played over 20 games last season, only Mjelde not being a regular starter.
Also the recent sale of the clubs best defender, Marius Høibråten to Bodø has not improved the mood at the club as preparation for 2020 in Eliteserien has not been ideal.
They have brought in some replacements, with Erik Brenden coming in from Lillestrøm, Kristoffer Hansen after two very good seasons with Ull/Kisa, and also former Brazilian youth international, Ze Eduardo, from Swiss side FC Wil.
Also young striker Sivert Gussiås has come in from Molde after he impressed with 12 goals on loan at Strømmen last season in the OBOS. He could well be given his first chance of Eliteserien football this season with Engblom leaving.
It will be tough coming up without a few of their top players from last year, Sandefjord will be battling all season to avoid heading straight back down.
Key Players
Ruben Herraiz Alcaraz, known as Rufo, is one player that has shown his quality in Eliteserien before, scoring 7 goals in 12 with Sandefjord back in 2018.
The left footed Spaniard was in the Espanyol youth side as a youngster, but his years in Spain were only playing in Segunda B level. He moved to Norway in 2018, and now 27 he is a very important player for Sandefjord.
Playing all across the front 4, usually behind the striker he is very comfortable on the ball and also an accomplished finisher with his left foot. He also links the play quite well from the 10 position, his form will be vital in keeping Sandefjord off the foot of the table.
Another important Spaniard in the side is defensive midfielder Enric Valles. The 30 year old has been at Sandefjord for over four years now, and has experience of two full seasons in Eliteserien.
Although not the most mobile, he is very comfortable taking the ball in tight areas, and does read the game well. He needs somebody beside him to get around the pitch a little more, but he dictates the tempo of play from the middle of the park, and his left foot has a great range of passing.
To complete a trio of important left footed players, it is left back Anton Kralj. The Swede signed at the start of last season and played nearly every game, proving to be a real threat from the left hand side. Short in stature but loves getting forward, he has a great left foot delivery and managed five assists last season.
Having just turned 22 years old he looks like one who could really push on and have a good career in Norwegian football, and a good year with Sandefjord here could earn him a nice move, either to another club in Norway, or back home to Sweden.
Without Engblom, goals with have to come from elsewhere, and it looks likely that the striker position will be shared between 19 year old George Gibson, and 20 year old Sivert Gussiås. One of them will have to get themselves in to double figures this season if Sandefjord have any chance of avoiding the drop.
Prediction 16th
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