Christian Kalvenes
Encyclopedia
Christian Kalvenes is a Norwegian
footballer who currently plays for Brann. He is first and foremost acknowledged for his strength and his heading abilities.
for whom he made 67 appearances scoring 4 goals. In 2003 he returned to SK Brann where he managed only 11 appearances and no goals in 3 years. He played mainly at left, helping the club won the qualifier against Vålerenga same year scored more away goals.
In the next few seasons he was a safe choice at left back Sogndal in addition to score numerous goals on free kicks. In front of the 2004 season, he was brought back to Brann, but where he went mostly injured forward to his debut in 2005. Ironically, he was back from injury around the same time as his rival on the left back, Erlend Hanstveit
. After Hanstveit's recovery, he was forced to find himself as a substitute.
at Ibrox
. In August 2007, Kalvenes was "harshly sent off" against Kilmarnock, a decision which gave Kilmarnock an "undeserved victory." The red card was later overturned. For the season 2007 - 2008, Kalvenes was voted the top left back in Scotland following an impressive season as the tough man in the Dundee United defence.
In January 2008, it was reported that Kalvenes was likely to leave United at the end of his contract and return to Norway; something the player admitted considering in March
, although adding it would be "difficult to walk away" and "tough to leave". Following an injury in mid-April, Kalvenes confirmed he had played his last match for the club, and that he would return to Norway at the end of the season to be closer to his family. In his time at Tannadice Park
, Kalvenes made 48 appearances scoring 2 goals. Kalvenes scored on his competitive debut at Ibrox as United drew 2-2 with Glasgow Rangers in the second game of the 2006-07 season.
That was to be his only goal of a season when he established himself as a regular, playing over 30 games for the Terrors. Midway through his second season at Tannadice Park, the left back hinted at a return to Scandinavia in the summer of 2008, when his contract expired. However, he continued to be a regular starter and ended his Dundee career as he started in his penultimate appearance in April 2008 - with a goal against Rangers. And after temporarily shelving immediate plans to raise a family back in Scandinavia, he signed a two-year deal with Burnley in June 2008.
came as a surprise as it was believed that he would be heading back home to Norway, as stated by the player when he left Dundee Utd at the end of the 2007-2008 season. The 31-year-old Norwegian left full back, pronounced 'Kal-Van-As', signed a two-year deal with the Clarets after his contract with the Scottish club expired. He was to play an important role in the Clarets promotion winning campaign, making twenty-one league appearances with his only goal of the season proving to be a vital one. It came in March at Bloomfield Road on a cold, wet Tuesday evening when his late strike secured an important 1-0 victory over Lancashire rivals Blackpool.
He scored his first goal for Burnley on Tuesday 3 March 2009 in a 1-0 away win to Blackpool
.
He played an important part in helping Burnley gain promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship to the Premier League via the play-offs.
On his Premiership debut in August 2009, he became the first Premiership player from the city of Bergen
.
On 8 April 2010, Kalvenes had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
degree. During his spell at Burnley F.C and Dundee United, he often preached about the importance of pursuing an academic career to High school- and college students. Currently, he is noted for being a part of the campaign against bullying in Norwegian schools.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
footballer who currently plays for Brann. He is first and foremost acknowledged for his strength and his heading abilities.
Norway
Christian Kalvenes was born in the city of Bergen and started his senior career with SK Brann, but played only one match. 10 years and one day after his first match, he played his second league appearance for the club, against FC Lyn Oslo 29 May 2005. In the meantime, he played for both Åsane and Sogndal. Despite the fact that he was one of the great talents of Brann in the 1990s, he never managed to establish themselves in the A-team squad. After several good seasons as a central defender in Åsane he was taken to a Sogndal teams vying for promotion to the Premier League in the summer of 2000. His breakthrough in the Norwegian Premier League came with SogndalSogndal Fotball
Sogndal Fotball is the association football section of Norwegian sports club Sogndal IL from Sogndal in Sogn og Fjordane. The club was founded in 1926....
for whom he made 67 appearances scoring 4 goals. In 2003 he returned to SK Brann where he managed only 11 appearances and no goals in 3 years. He played mainly at left, helping the club won the qualifier against Vålerenga same year scored more away goals.
In the next few seasons he was a safe choice at left back Sogndal in addition to score numerous goals on free kicks. In front of the 2004 season, he was brought back to Brann, but where he went mostly injured forward to his debut in 2005. Ironically, he was back from injury around the same time as his rival on the left back, Erlend Hanstveit
Erlend Hanstveit
Erlend Hanstveit is a Norwegian footballer who plays for Helsingborgs IF.Hailing from Osterøy, he joined Norwegian Premier League team Brann in June 1998 despite interest from big clubs like PSV Eindhoven, Leeds United and Manchester United, with whom he had a trial in December 1997...
. After Hanstveit's recovery, he was forced to find himself as a substitute.
Dundee United
On 2 August 2006, Kalvenes joined Dundee United for a fee of around £50,000. In his competitive debut for United, Kalvenes scored the second goal in a 2-2 draw against RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
. In August 2007, Kalvenes was "harshly sent off" against Kilmarnock, a decision which gave Kilmarnock an "undeserved victory." The red card was later overturned. For the season 2007 - 2008, Kalvenes was voted the top left back in Scotland following an impressive season as the tough man in the Dundee United defence.
In January 2008, it was reported that Kalvenes was likely to leave United at the end of his contract and return to Norway; something the player admitted considering in March
March 2008
March 2008 was the third month of the leap year. It had begun on a Saturday and ended after 31 days on a Monday.-International holidays:* March 2 – Mothering Sunday * March 7 – Nyepi...
, although adding it would be "difficult to walk away" and "tough to leave". Following an injury in mid-April, Kalvenes confirmed he had played his last match for the club, and that he would return to Norway at the end of the season to be closer to his family. In his time at Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
, Kalvenes made 48 appearances scoring 2 goals. Kalvenes scored on his competitive debut at Ibrox as United drew 2-2 with Glasgow Rangers in the second game of the 2006-07 season.
That was to be his only goal of a season when he established himself as a regular, playing over 30 games for the Terrors. Midway through his second season at Tannadice Park, the left back hinted at a return to Scandinavia in the summer of 2008, when his contract expired. However, he continued to be a regular starter and ended his Dundee career as he started in his penultimate appearance in April 2008 - with a goal against Rangers. And after temporarily shelving immediate plans to raise a family back in Scandinavia, he signed a two-year deal with Burnley in June 2008.
Burnley
Burnley snapped up Kalvenes on a Bosman transfer in June 2008. His move to BurnleyBurnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
came as a surprise as it was believed that he would be heading back home to Norway, as stated by the player when he left Dundee Utd at the end of the 2007-2008 season. The 31-year-old Norwegian left full back, pronounced 'Kal-Van-As', signed a two-year deal with the Clarets after his contract with the Scottish club expired. He was to play an important role in the Clarets promotion winning campaign, making twenty-one league appearances with his only goal of the season proving to be a vital one. It came in March at Bloomfield Road on a cold, wet Tuesday evening when his late strike secured an important 1-0 victory over Lancashire rivals Blackpool.
He scored his first goal for Burnley on Tuesday 3 March 2009 in a 1-0 away win to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.
He played an important part in helping Burnley gain promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship to the Premier League via the play-offs.
On his Premiership debut in August 2009, he became the first Premiership player from the city of Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
.
On 8 April 2010, Kalvenes had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
Outside football
Christian Kalvenes is noted for being one of the few footballers in the Norwegian Tippeliga who holds a second profession outside football. He is currently working as a marketing manager for Chess Communications, a virtual network operator. Prior to this, he was also acknowledged for his interest in academics and education. He holds a Master of Business AdministrationMaster of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree. During his spell at Burnley F.C and Dundee United, he often preached about the importance of pursuing an academic career to High school- and college students. Currently, he is noted for being a part of the campaign against bullying in Norwegian schools.
Dundee United
- Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
Runner-up: 1
-
- 2007-082007-08 in Scottish footballThe 2007-08 season was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Gretna were competing in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first ever season in the top-flight, after being promoted as First Division champions the previous season.* Dunfermline Athletic...
- 2007-08
Burnley
- Football League Championship play-offsFootball League Championship play-offsThe Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
Winner: 1
-
- 2008-092009 Football League Championship play-off FinalThe 2009 Football League Championship play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2009, at the end of the 2008–09 season. The match determined the third and final team to gain promotion from the Championship to the Premier League, and was contested by Sheffield United,...
- 2008-09