Eliteserien Young Team of the Year

It has been an incredible season in Eliteserien with Bodø/Glimt running away with the league title for the first time in their history, and I have enjoyed watching so many games this season.

With just one more gameweek to go I thought I would take some time to go through the players that have impressed me this season, starting with those young ones.

Norway has started to produce some talent that is making the world take notice of, with Haaland and Ødegaard leading the way. But there are still plenty playing in Eliteserien, so lets take a look at 11 of them as I pick out my young team of the season.

My own rules will be the players have to be 21 or younger at the start of the year, so born in 1998 or later. Also that they must have played at least 20 games in the  league this year, so that rules out guys like Jens Petter Hauge, who left mid season.

Goalkeeper

There is only one goalkeeper who is in the running for this and that is Kristoffer Klaesson. The Vålerenga keeper just turned 20 in November and he has been the number one for his club all season long. He made a couple of mistakes early in the season, but since then he has grown into his role and become one of the leading stoppers in the division.

His shot stopping is as good as anyone in the league, and his decision making is getting better and better. Good with the ball at his feet and becoming more and more comfortable organising his defense, he is almost certainly one for the future in the national team, and Vålerenga will do well to hang on to him for another season as their number one.

Right Back

Two young players have had very impressive seasons at right backs for their teams. One is Alfons Sampsted who is part of the Glimt team that have been so impressive. But just edging it for me into the YTOTY is Christian Borchgrevink. The Vålerenga right back has really shown his qualities this season, especially on the attacking front. 

His partnership with Aron Dønnum on the right hand side has been one of the main attacking weapons for Vålerenga, Borchgrevink is constantly overlapping and his delivery is really excellent. Probably has some work to do on the defensive side of his game, but his four assists, as well as plenty other chances he has created from open play and his set piece delivery, means it has been a very successful season for the 21 year old. His first full season as a starter he will only improve and expect him to be even better next year.

Left Back

The stand out left back in the division is without doubt Fredrik Bjørkan at Glimt. Having just turned 22 in August, the Norwegian u21 international has a big future and without a doubt will be on that has some interest in him this winter.

Really comfortable on the ball going forward, he underlaps and overlaps equally well, and linked up incredibly well with Hauge before he left for Milan. Quick, strong in the tackle and a decent 1 v 1 defender, Bjørkan has a big future, hopefully we get to see him at Glimt again next season.

Centre Back #1

The first central defender in the team is going in to the last weekend with the potential of relegation still hanging over him, but for Start this season he has been really impressive everytime I have seen him. Jesper Daland has played every game this season for the Kristiansand club and also made his international U21 debut this season.

Aggressive and quick enough, Daland has been Start's best defensive player this year and given this was his first season playing for the club, it was really impressive. He looks set to be a player that will definitely remain in Eliteserien next year, even if Start do go down I can see him getting a move to another club. He turns 21 in January and is probably the stand out young central defender playing in Eliteserien for me.

Centre Back #2

If it had been half way through the season I'd have certainly had a place for Kolskogen of Brann, who looked really strong in the early part of the season, but he has faded away and perhaps lacks quality on the ball to become a top defender. 

Another who deserves a mention and is maybe a little unlucky to be left out, is Henrik Heggheim at Viking. Comfortable on the ball and a strong defender, he maybe lacks enough pace to step up a level, but he has been really good this year. He is only 19 though, and could well develop into a top player for Viking and maybe beyond.

So, the other place in my YTOTY goes to Odin Bjørtuft, central defender for Odd. Turning 22 years old this month, Bjørtuft has really impressed me both defensively and in the way he brings the ball out from the back. 

Recently when playing beside Hoff, he has showed real aggression and leadership in winning aerial duels and being the ball winning defender. But he is very good on the ball and looks a real prospect. He has played nearly every game this season in a young team that has been really good to watch. Definitely deserving of a place for his performances throughout the whole of the year.

Central Midfielder

There is a lot of talent in the midfield area in Eliteserien, and it has been really tough to pick out three. But the one that would sit in the middle and make the play tick, keep the tempo up and control the game, is Emil Bohinen. Son of Lars, Emil is carving out his own career and has been a crucial player again for Stabæk this year.

The left footed 21 year old is tall and strong on the ball, and really controls play from midfield. He also hits set pieces and penalties this year, scoring five goals. But his main quality is in possession during open play, and he looks set to move on to a club abroad this winter potentially. The under 21 international has played over 50 league games the last two seasons, and is ready to step up a level.

Right Central Midfield

Probably the biggest young talent currently playing in Eliteserien in my eyes, is Joshua Kitolano.
Playing in the midfield three for Odd, he has started nearly every game and at 19 years old is a huge talent.

The way he receives the ball on the half turn and uses his body to hold players off is something that is hard to teach. He has a really big future, and after the season he has had, he could well be another one that finds himself at a bigger club in 2021.

Left Central Midfield

There are so many choices for the other midfielder, but for a struggling team, Johan Hove of Strømsgodset has been outstanding. More of an advanced midfielder than Kitolano, he often finds himself in the box and has shown his eye for goal with 10 league goals his season.

Off the ball the he very good on the high press and can win the ball back high up the pitch for is team. Just 20 years old, Hove has played every game this season and really impressed throughout. Comfortable on the ball, and eye for goal, and hard working, Hove won't be in Eliteserien for long.

Right Wing

The man of many tattoos and some awful haircuts, Aron Dønnum has really stood out any time I have watched him for Vålerenga. Left footed and playing on the right hand side he has linked up so well with Borchgrevink all season, as well as being a real danger when cutting inside.

He works really hard, can be a little petulant when he loses the ball or things don't go his way, but his quality is without question. Eight goals and five assists, and more successful dribbles than anyone else in the league, Dønnum at 22 had been linked with moves to Turkey and elsewhere already.

A real talent and someone full of self belief, Dønnum is a joy to watch. 

Left Wing

Obviously Jens Petter Hauge would have had this position nailed on before his move to Milan, but there is another youngster who has shown real potential this season, and he is a teammate to Dønnum. Osame Sahraoui turned 19 this year and has got better and better all year. 

His low centre of gravity and dribbling ability is what sets him apart from others in his position. His decision making needs to improve a little, but that will come. He has shown he has an eye for a pass and real quality on the ball that mark him out as a special talent. A real break out season for him, next year look for him to increase his goal and assist output and become one of the best attacking players in the league

Centre Forward

Unfortunately no central striker has really stood out in terms of young players. Gussiås at Sandefjord has had a decent season, but not enough to get in this team. So I give this place to a guy who I love, but generally plays on the left wing. 

I think he could play through the middle in the future, but his performances for Haugesund have been really solid all season, and Kristoffer Velde deserves to be in here. The 21 year old works really hard and is a really tough player to play against. He is aggressive and has shown an eye for goal with eight league goals.

He doubled his goal tally for last year, and hopefully he can progress again and reach double figures next season.

Some Others

Some other players that were perhaps unlucky to miss out after decent seasons for young players were Hugto Vetlesen, Carlo Holse, Emil Konradsen Ceide, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Olaus Skarsem and the previous mentioned defenders.

Another who I think had a really strong end to the season and one to look out for is Oliver Edvardsen. The Stabæk wide man has really stepped up since Vetlesen left for Glimt, and I am backing him to have a big season in 2021.