Erik Hoftun
Birth date3 March 1969 (age 57)
Birth placeKyrksæterøra, Norway
Height1.86 m
PositionCentre-back, sweeper
Youthclubs 1KIL/Hemne
Years 11987–1992
Clubs 1KIL/Hemne
Caps 1141
Goals 118
Years 21992–1993
Clubs 2Molde
Caps 244
Goals 25
Years 31994–2005
Clubs 3Rosenborg
Caps 3279
Goals 314
Years 42005–2007
Clubs 4Bodø/Glimt
Caps 456
Goals 42
Totalcaps520
Totalgoals39
Nationalyears 11997–2002
Nationalteam 1Norway
Nationalcaps 130
Nationalgoals 10
Manageryears 12014–2018
Managerclubs 1Rosenborg (assistant)

Erik Hoftun (born 3 March 1969) is a Norwegian former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Career

Born in Kyrksæterøra, Hoftun started his career at KIL/Hemne before moving to Molde FK in 1992. He went to Rosenborg BK in 1994, where he won 11 league titles and 3 cup titles in 11 years. Hoftun was a key player for Rosenborg in the Norwegian league and the UEFA Champions League, where he played a total of 82 matches.

At his peak, Hoftun was arguably one of the best central defenders in Scandinavia, with superb anticipation and offensive qualities. His lack of speed was his one major weakness, though he usually managed to mask it through footballing experience and understanding of the game. For Norway's national team, he has been capped 30 times.[1] In a 2004 issue of the official UEFA Champions League publication, Champions Magazine, Hoftun was ranked as no. 86 in a list of the 250 greatest European football players of all time.[2] The jury's comment on Hoftun read:

Rosenborg and Norway's defender is a legend in his home country. He's provided stability for his club in a remarkable 74 Champions League games since 1995.[3]

In 2005, Hoftun moved to FK Bodø/Glimt, where he finished his career as an active football player. On 24 June 2007, while playing a match for Bodø/Glimt, Hoftun suffered from cardiac arrest after getting a knee in the chest in a duel. The club's doctor ran onto the pitch to revive him. The doctor's fast reaction is likely to have saved Hoftun's life.[4]

In November 2007, Hoftun returned to Rosenborg in an administrative role, and worked as assistant director after Knut Torbjørn Eggen resigned. On 18 August 2008, he got the position permanently.[5]

Honours

Rosenborg

Individual

References

  1. ^ Søfting, Thomas. "Erik Hoftun" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  2. ^ De udødelige - vm2002 - Dagbladet.no
  3. ^ RBKweb - Legender: Erik Hoftun
  4. ^ Baade, Gunnhild & Holli, Kristian (24 June 2007). "Hoftun fikk livreddende behandling" (in Norwegian). vg.no. Verdens Gang. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  5. ^ Burheim, Mads Gudim (18 August 2008). "Hoftun ansatt som sportslig leder i RBK" (in Norwegian). dagbladet.no. Dagbladet. Retrieved 7 May 2012.