Lillestrøm S.K.

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Lillestrøm Sportsklubb is a Norwegian football club from the town of Lillestrøm. It was founded in 1917, after the merger of two local clubs. Their home ground is Åråsen, which seats 12,250 spectators. The average attendance is just above 8000 spectators. The club holds the Norwegian record for the most consecutive years without being relegated from the premier league. Over the years the club has had around 40 players who have represented the Norwegian national side. There has also been a number of foreigners who have represented the national teams of Sweden, Iceland, Senegal, Finland, Malta, Australia, South Africa, Slovenia, Tunisia, Canada and Nigeria.

Lillestrøm has been Norwegian league champions five times, most recently in 1989, and also in 1986, 1977, 1976, and 1959. Additionally, they have won the Norwegian Cup in 1985, 1981, 1978, and 1977.

On September 14 1977 Lillestrøm played against AFC Ajax Amsterdam in the European champions cup, at Ullevaal Stadium and won 2-0. The match was seen by more than 20,000 spectators, which became an all-time record attendance for any LSK match at home. But Lillestrøm lost the second-leg match in Amsterdam 4-0. It was after these two matches Ajax decided that they wanted Lillestrøm´s Tom Lund to replace Johann Cruyff when he left for FC Barcelona. But due to his loyalty and love for the club he never did leave Lillestrøm. A statue of him has been erected outside Åråsen.

When Arne Erlandsen left for Sweden and IFK Göteborg after the 2004-season, former LSK player and German international Uwe Rösler took over as head coach of the team. His first season in charge became a successful one, with Lillestrøm finishing as number four in the league. The fourth place secured LSK a place in the Royal League. The team also made it to the Norwegian Cup final, but surprisingly lost 4-2 to Molde FK in front of a crowd of 25,000 at Ullevaal stadium.

In the 2006-season (which kicked off on April 9 with a 3-3 draw at home against Rosenborg) Lillestrøm will be among the bookmakers top favourites to win the league. If so happens it would be the first time since 1989 that Lillestrøm finishes at the top. These high expectations lays heavily on the shoulders of Canadian international Olivier Occean, who was signed from Odd Grenland in December on a deal worth about €1 million.

Famous players

The supporters of Lillestrøm, "Kanarifansen". From a match between Lillestrøm and Vålerenga at Ullevaal Stadion in 2006.

• Tom Lund
• Kjetil Osvold
• Arne Erlandsen
• Jan Åge Fjørtoft
• Mons Ivar Mjelde
• Ståle Solbakken
• Gunnar Halle
• Ronny Johnsen
• Henning Berg
• Rúnar Kristinsson
• Heiðar Helguson
• Uwe Rösler
• Torgeir Bjarmann
• Frode Kippe

Current squad

As of May 24 2006

[link]

Achievements

• Norwegian Premier League:
• *Winners (5): 1959, 1976, 1977, 1986, 1989
• *Runners-up (8): 1959-60, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1994, 1996, 2001

• Norwegian Football Cup:
• *Winners (4): 1977, 1978, 1981, 1985
• *Runners-up (7): 1953, 1955, 1958, 1980, 1986, 1992, 2005

• Royal League:
• *Runners-up (1): 2005-06

External links

• [Home Page]
• ["Kanari-Fansen", the Lillestrøm SK Supporters Club]
• ["Fugla.com", source for Lillestrøm SK news]
• ["Ultras Felt C", Ultras]
• http://www.lskhistorikk.com Historic facts concerning LSK
• http://www.lskshopen.no The official shop for all LSK fans