With the arrival of spring comes the return of one of Norway’s most popular sports—football. Check out the April 2015 issue of Viking magazine to learn more about Norway’s league system, players to watch and milestones in the sport’s history. One player to keep an eye on is Ørjan Håskjold Nyland. The 24-year-old is a goalkeeper for Norway’s Molde FK. He played his first season with the team in 2013. Check out his interview on page 15 and read more about this impressive shot-stopper below.
Q: What have been some of your biggest challenges?
A: Before I played regularly in my former club (Hødd), I waited three years to get my chance and establish myself as a
No. 1 player. That was hard because I felt I deserved the chance earlier, so I was close to finding another club. But I didn’t give up, and it paid off in the end. The journey after that has been fantastic.
Q: Do you have any routines you like to do before a match?
A: We always have the same session before every game where do the same rituals. We do the same warm-up before the game, so I get as ready as I can be. Other than that, I put my left glove on first, always. I don’t know why, but it has turned into a routine.
Q: What do you like to do when you get some time off?
A: I spend a lot of time with my family and friends, and I travel. I also golf in my spare time.
Q: How do you stay in shape during the off-season?
A: We sit down with our physical coach when the season is over, and he makes a plan for us to follow during our break. We do strength training, running and stability work. The plans are individual, and differ from player to player.