Jon Olav Hjelde
Encyclopedia
Jon Olav Hjelde is a Norwegian
former footballer
who played as a central defender.
Hjelde began his career at his local team Vuku, which competed in the Norwegian Third Division. He joined Rosenborg in 1994, where he became backup to the team's regular central defenders Erik Hoftun
and Bjørn Otto Bragstad
. Despite not being a regular in the Rosenborg side, Hjelde was signed by Nottingham Forest
in 1997. He soon became a regular in Forest's first-team.
After seven seasons at Forest, Hjelde moved to South Korea
in 2003, and joined the Busan I'cons. He rejoined Forest after one year in Korea, but played only sporadically and was released at the end of the 2004-05 season.
At this point, Hjelde was considering moving back to Norway, but instead signed a one-year deal with Forest's lower-league neighbours Mansfield in the summer of 2005. He has played regularly for the Stags, forming a defensive team alongside Alex Baptiste
. Hjelde indicated that he would move back to Norway at the end of the 2005-06 season, but later changed his mind, and signed a new one-year contract with the Stags. In May 2007, he retired from football.
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...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played as a central defender.
Hjelde began his career at his local team Vuku, which competed in the Norwegian Third Division. He joined Rosenborg in 1994, where he became backup to the team's regular central defenders Erik Hoftun
Erik Hoftun
Erik Hoftun is a Norwegian former football defender, currently assistant director in Rosenborg BK.-Career:...
and Bjørn Otto Bragstad
Bjørn Otto Bragstad
Bjørn Otto Bragstad is a former football defender from Norway. He currently works as a teacher.-Club career:Bragstad came through the youth ranks at Rosenborg before making his senior debut in the 1989 season. He scored 26 goals in 194 matches for them. In 2000, he joined English team Derby...
. Despite not being a regular in the Rosenborg side, Hjelde was signed by Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in 1997. He soon became a regular in Forest's first-team.
After seven seasons at Forest, Hjelde moved to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
in 2003, and joined the Busan I'cons. He rejoined Forest after one year in Korea, but played only sporadically and was released at the end of the 2004-05 season.
At this point, Hjelde was considering moving back to Norway, but instead signed a one-year deal with Forest's lower-league neighbours Mansfield in the summer of 2005. He has played regularly for the Stags, forming a defensive team alongside Alex Baptiste
Alex Baptiste
Alexander Aaron John "Alex" Baptiste is an English footballer who plays for Blackpool. He usually plays in central defence, but has also played at both full back positions and as a defensive midfielder.-Mansfield Town:...
. Hjelde indicated that he would move back to Norway at the end of the 2005-06 season, but later changed his mind, and signed a new one-year contract with the Stags. In May 2007, he retired from football.