History

Club Overview

Odd Grenland is a Norwegian football club from the town of Skien. It was founded in 1894 and is the club which has won the Norwegian Cup the most times, last in 2000. After struggling in the lower divisions for many years, the club finally made it back to the Norwegian Premier League (Tippeligaen) in 1999 and stayed there until they were relegated in 2007. After a dreadful start to the 2005 campaign, Odd managed to crawl up from the relegation zone. However, the team conceded more goals than any other in the league. In 2006 the team only survived relegation by beating Bryne F.K. in the relegation playoffs. In 2007 however, their luck ran out, and they were relegated to the Adeccoligaen after being beaten by Bodø/Glimt in the relegation playoffs. In 2008, with three games still to play, Odd secured the promotion back to the Norwegian Premier League after winning 4-0 against Hødd at Skagerak Arena.

Club History

Idrætsforeningen Odd was founded in 1885 and is thus one of the oldest still existent athletic associations in Norway. The name derives from Viktor Rydbergs book Seierssverdet (Victory Sword), where one of the main characters was a Norwegian athlete called Orvar Odd. From the start Odd was mainly concentrated towards gymnastics, but when some English workers at Skotfoss brought the football to Skien, the city decided to buy a football, and that is how a football team by Odd management arised. However this was not an immediate success. The club made another effort, and 31. March 1894 Odds Ballklubb was founded. Odd Grenland is a direct inheritance of Odds Ballklubb, and is thereby Norway's oldest still existent football team.

Cup Finals

1902 Grane - Odd 2-0
1903 Odd - Grane 1-0
1904 Odd - Porsgrunds FC 4-0
1905 Odd - Akademisk 2-1
1906 Odd - Sarpsborg 1-0
1908 Lyn - Odd 3-2
1909 Lyn - Odd 4-3 eeo
1910 Lyn - Odd 4-2
1913 Odd - Mercantile 2-1
1915 Odd - Kvik Fredrikshald 2-1
1919 Odd - Frigg 1-0
1921 Frigg - Odd 2-0
1922 Odd - Kvik Fredrikshald 5-1
1924 Odd - Mjøndalen 3-0
1926 Odd - Ørn 3-0
1931 Odd - Mjøndalen 3-1
1937 Mjøndalen - Odd 4-2
1960 Rosenborg - Odd 3-3 eeo, rematch 3-2 aet
2000 Odd Grenland - Viking 2-1 aet
2002 Vålerenga - Odd Grenland 1-0

Club Rivalries

Vålerenga IF
Rosenborg BK
Bodø/Glimt
Sandefjord IF
IK Start
Notodden FK

Stars of the Current Squad

Morten "the butcher" Fevang
Tommy Svindal Larsen
Arni Gautur Arason
Chukwuma "Bentley" Akabueze

Club Legends

Einar "Jeia" Gundersen
Thaulow Goberg
Erik Pedersen
Geir Karlsen
Jan Frode Nornes
Edwin van Ankeren
Erik Holtan
Ronny Deila
Alexander Aas

Most Appearances

Most Goals

Player Recognition & Awards

Team Honours

Norwegian Premier League: Runners-up (2): 1950-51, 1956-57
Norwegian Football Cup: Winners (12): 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1913, 1915, 1919, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1931, 2000 Runners-up (8): 1902, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1921, 1937, 1960, 2002

Stadium

Odd (Falkum) Stadium (13,500). Largest crowd: Approx 12,500 people in 1984 cup semi final against Viking. The stadium is rebuilt to hold a capacity of between 13,000 and 14,000, and will be finished in 2008. It is named Skagerak Arena after a local sponsor.

Important Links

official website
oddrane supporter club website