Eirik Bakke

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Eirik Bakke (born September 13, 1977 in Sogndal, Norway) is a Norwegian football player. He plays on the right-hand side or centre of midfield. He currently plays for Championship club Leeds United.

Bakke was bought by Leeds United in 1999 from Norwegian second division side Sogndal for £1.75 million. He rapidly established himself in the side, becoming increasingly important to successive managers as debts forced the sale of big-name players. He and Gary Kelly are the only survivors from the Peter Ridsdale era.

Bakke's career has been blighted by recurrent knee injuries. Patella tendonitis kept him out of the team for the start of the 2004-05 season and was struck with a torn cruciate ligament on his return in January 2005. In August 2005, having recovered from his injury, Bakke was loaned to Aston Villa, but the loan was ended early, after Leeds told Villa that they would only let Bakke go permanently, not on loan.

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