Molde
The return of Molde FK legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær, now as manager, coincided with the excitement of the 100th year of the club and their debut season in The NextGen Series.
‘It will be very exciting to see top international football with the next generation of players, some of which will hopefully characterise international football of the future,’ noted Are Lervik, the Academy Director.
They’ve seen excellent achievements from academy teams, including a total of six Norwegian Championships for their U19s. Graduates from these academies include such world-class talents as: Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Øyvind Leonhardsen, Kjetil Rekdal, Trond Andersen, Åge Hareide, Petter Rudi, Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Mame Biram Diouf.
‘We are a small club in the tournament, relying on local players, operating a long-term effort to develop them onto the next level. Nevertheless we believe that we have the ability to challenge the teams we are meeting,’ Lervik commented. The experience his team would gain through The NextGen Series by playing twice a week – as many also play for Molde’s reserve team - was also an appeal to the Academy Director.