Erik Huseklepp
{{short description|Norwegian footballer (born 1984)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Erik Huseklepp
| image = Erik Huseklepp - 2010-05-09 at 22-10-36.jpg
| upright = 0.8
| caption = Huseklepp in 2010
| full_name = Erik André Huseklepp{{cite web |url=https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/person/profil/?fiksId=2409368 |title=Erik Andre Huseklepp |publisher=Football Association of Norway |access-date=29 October 2019 |language=no}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|9|5|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Bergen, Norway
| height = 1.88 m
| position = Second striker, winger
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}– |youthclubs1 = Bjarg
| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2000 |youthclubs2 = Fyllingen
| youthyears3 = 2000–2004 |youthclubs3 = Vadmyra
| years1 = 2004–2005 |clubs1 = Fyllingen |caps1 = 42 |goals1 = 9
| years2 = 2005–2010 |clubs2 = Brann |caps2 = 120 |goals2 = 29
| years3 = 2011 |clubs3 = Bari |caps3 = 14 |goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2011–2012 |clubs4 = Portsmouth |caps4 = 27 |goals4 = 6
| years5 = 2012 |clubs5 = → Birmingham City (loan) |caps5 = 11 |goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2012–2016 |clubs6 = Brann |caps6 = 128 |goals6 = 26
| years7 = 2017 |clubs7 = Haugesund |caps7 = 15 |goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2017 |clubs8 = → Åsane (loan) |caps8 = 12 |goals8 = 6
| years9 = 2018–2019 |clubs9 = Åsane |caps9 = 20 |goals9 = 6
| years10= 2019–2021 |clubs10= Fyllingsdalen |caps10= 37 |goals10= 16
| totalcaps = 426
| totalgoals = 103
| nationalyears1 = 2005–2006 |nationalteam1 = Norway U21 |nationalcaps1 = 8 |nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2008–2014 |nationalteam2 = Norway |nationalcaps2 = 36 | nationalgoals2 = 7
| manageryears1 = 2019–2021 | managerclubs1 = Fyllingsdalen (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2022–2024 | managerclubs2 = Brann (assistant)
}}
Erik André Huseklepp (born 5 September 1984) is a Norwegian professional football coach and former player who is currently assistant manager of Eliteserien club Brann. A former forward, he previously played for Fyllingen and Brann in Norway, for Bari in Italy, and for Portsmouth and Birmingham City in England. He is the son of Ingvald Huseklepp, a former winger for Brann in the late 1970s.{{cite news |url=https://www.aftenposten.no/sport/fotball/i/0n9r90/her-begynte-det-for-huseklepp |title=Her begynte det for Huseklepp |language=no |trans-title=This is where it began for Huseklepp |first1=Geir Martin |last1=Strande |first2=Roy |last2=Ellingsen |newspaper=Aftenposten |date=10 October 2011 |access-date=20 July 2024}}
Club career
=Early career=
At the age of 16 Huseklepp played youth football for Fyllingen. After two seasons in Vadmyra IL, where he played both junior and senior football, he returned to Fyllingen, this time in the senior team.{{cite news|url=http://www.fyllingenfotball.no/index.php?mid=0§ion=article&id=961|title=Gratulerer, Erik!|date=13 August 2009|publisher=Fyllingen Fotball|language=no|access-date=16 August 2009}}
=Brann=
Huseklepp played in the Norwegian Second Division in 2004 and the first half of 2005, but left on 10 August to sign for Brann, because he was not given a place in the junior squad. He scored nineteen seconds into his first league match as a starter, and subsequently became a first team regular.
In 2006, Huseklepp had a hard time making the first team, starting just six games in the Norwegian Premier League and being substituted in all of them. The 2007 season was much the same, with Brann coach Mons Ivar Mjelde preferring to use Huseklepp as an impact player, taking on tiring defenders in the closing stages of the game. Huseklepp signalled that he would not sign a new contract with Brann, and as he has made himself a name as a flamboyant and technically gifted winger, a number of clubs were interested in signing the player.{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_2840929,00.html |title=City confirm winger interest |work=Sky Sports |date=1 November 2007 |access-date=6 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406113142/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_2840929,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2008}} However, in November 2007, Huseklepp signed a new three-year contract with Brann. The team became league champions that year.
=Bari=
=Portsmouth=
On 16 August 2011, Huseklepp signed a three-year contract with English Championship (second-tier) club Portsmouth;{{cite web |url=http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Huseklepp-Signs-2478.aspx |title=Huseklepp signs |publisher=Portsmouth F.C. |date=17 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406125253/http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Huseklepp-Signs-2478.aspx |archive-date=6 April 2012}} the fee was reported as £1.5 million.{{cite news |url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/serie-a/2009-2010/bari-to-sell-huseklepp_sto2910761/story.shtml |title=Bari to sell Huseklepp |website=Eurosport |date=17 August 2011 |access-date=9 January 2020}} He made his debut in a 0–0 draw with Bristol City, replacing Liam Lawrence in the 87th minute. He scored his first goal against Blackpool on 24 September with a stoppage-time winner. Three days later he scored a last-minute own goal that made Portsmouth lose 3–2 at home to Peterborough United. He then scored two goals against Nottingham Forest in a 3–0 win on 5 November.{{cite news|title=Portsmouth 3–0 Nott'm Forest|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15504533.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=5 November 2011}} On 28 January 2012, Huseklepp scored two goals in a 3–0 victory against Peterborough United.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16664106.stm |title=Peterborough 0–3 Portsmouth|work=BBC Sport |date=28 January 2012}} Huseklepp was the subject of a viral video created by the Youtuber KSI during his time at Portsmouth.{{Cite web |title=Erik Huseklepp is BEAST. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Hb9zHbsFs&pp=ygUSRXJpayBodXNla2xlcHAga3Np}}
=Birmingham City=
With Portsmouth in administration, the club informed Huseklepp that they needed him to accept a loan move to Championship rivals Birmingham City in order to help relieve their financial difficulties. Although reluctant to leave Portsmouth, where he had established a good relationship with the fans,{{cite news |url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/viking_shocked_by_fratton_exit_1_3561683 |title=Viking shocked by Fratton exit |first=Jordan |last=Cross |newspaper=The News |location=Portsmouth |date=25 February 2012 |access-date=26 February 2012}} he complied with the request, and joined Birmingham on 23 February 2012 on loan until the end of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17141797 |title=Birmingham City sign Portsmouth's Erik Huseklepp on loan |work=BBC Sport |date=23 February 2012 |access-date=23 February 2012}} He made his debut for the club a couple of days later in a 2–1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17082688 |title=Birmingham 1–2 Nott'm Forest |work=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2012}}
=Return to Brann=
After the Birmingham loan expired, Huseklepp could not gain a deal with Blues, and returned to Portsmouth, with his club suffering relegation. As the club was in administration, he was linked with various clubs, most of them from his homeland. Brann was the most hopeful ahead the deal, and was appealing for sponsorship to sign the player.{{cite news|url=http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/portsmouth/fb_news.php?storyid=17531|title=TRANSFER: Brann seek sponsorship to bring back Huseklepp|publisher=Fans' Network|date=17 July 2012|access-date=27 July 2012}} After the departure of Rodolph Austin to Leeds United, the Norwegian club provided funds, and on 28 July 2012, it was announced that Brann had reached a verbal agreement with Huseklepp.{{cite news |url=http://fotball.bt.no/eliteserien/article244170.ece |title=Muntlig enighet om Huseklepp |publisher=Bergens Tidende |language=no |date=27 July 2012 |access-date=27 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730003306/http://fotball.bt.no/eliteserien/article244170.ece |archive-date=30 July 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.brann.no/news/article/1rld80k0rvjq01sgrby5k76ce1/title/huseklepp-snart-klar-for-brann |title=Huseklepp Signs for Brann |date=28 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122223320/http://www.brann.no/news/article/1rld80k0rvjq01sgrby5k76ce1/title/huseklepp-snart-klar-for-brann |archive-date=22 November 2016}} Huseklepp changed shirt-number ahead of the 2013 season to number 23, which was used by Tomasz Sokolowski the previous season. The change was part of a sponsor-agreement with Auto 23 who paid parts of the transfer-fee when Huseklepp returned to Brann.{{cite news|url=http://fotball.bt.no/eliteserien/article264008.ece |language=no |title=Huseklepps femte nummer |publisher=Bergens Tidende |first=Anders |last=Pamer |date=16 January 2013 |access-date=7 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130160721/http://fotball.bt.no/eliteserien/article264008.ece |archive-date=30 January 2013}}
=Haugesund and loan to Åsane=
For the 2017 season Huseklepp signed with Haugesund.
In July 2017 he joined Norwegian second-tier side Åsane on loan for the rest of the season.{{cite news|last1=Opheim|first1=Steffen|title=Huseklepp er klar for Åsane|url=https://www.ba.no/sk-brann/sport/fotball/huseklepp-er-klar-for-asane/s/5-8-623199|access-date=6 January 2018|work=Bergensavisen|date=29 July 2017|language=no}} During the loan, he scored 6 goals in 12 matches.{{cite news|last1=Nordsetrønningen|first1=Alf-Ivar Rabben|title=Erik Huseklepp blir værende i Åsane.|url=http://www.tv2.no/a/9507189/|access-date=6 January 2018|work=TV 2|date=November 2017|language=no}}
=Åsane=
=Return to Fyllingen=
Huseklepp went back to Fyllingen as player and assistant on 7 January 2019.[https://www.bt.no/100Sport/fotball/Huseklepp-vender-tilbake-til-Fyllingsdalen-267069b.html Huseklepp vender tilbake til Fyllingsdalen], bt.no, 7 January 2019{{cite web|url=https://www.tv2.no/a/10328283/ |title=Erik Huseklepp klar for ny klubb|language=no |date=7 January 2019 |access-date= 1 February 2019}}
International career
On 12 August 2009, Huseklepp scored his first international goal in the 60th minute of the 4–0 victory over Scotland, after strike partner John Carew had hit both posts. He was awarded Man of the Match by the viewers in his international debut which he played from the start.[http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/landslag/huseklepp-foerste-bergenser-siden-kniksen-2856094.html "Huseklepp første bergenser siden Kniksen"] {{in lang|no}}. TV2.no. 13 August 2009. Huseklepp was the first player hailing from Bergen since 1963 to score for the national team. He scored the winning goal against Portugal during the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying in a 1–0 win.{{cite web|url=http://www.home.no/greenriver/players/huseklepp.html |title=Erik Huseklepp |access-date=12 November 2011 |first=Thomas |last=Søfting |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805235945/http://www.home.no/greenriver/players/huseklepp.html |archive-date=5 August 2012}}
After he played his 25th match at international level against Cyprus in October 2011, Huseklepp also became the first player from Bergen to receive the Gold Watch since Helge Karlsen in 1977.{{cite news |url=http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/landslag/-koedder-du-eller-hva-er-det-med-bergensere-da-3606823.html |language=no |title=– Kødder du eller? Hva er det med bergensere da? |publisher=TV2 |first=Mats |last=Wedervang |date=11 October 2011 |access-date=12 April 2013}} {{asof|February 2013|post=,}} he has been capped 33 times for Norway, scoring seven goals.
Coaching career
Huseklepp was appointed as assistant coach at Brann on 5 January 2022,{{cite web |title=Huseklepp blir ny assistenttrener |url=https://www.brann.no/nyheter/huseklepp-blir-ny-assistenttrener |website=Brann |language=no |date=5 January 2022}} as part of the coaching staff under manager Eirik Horneland.{{cite news |last1=Bøyum |first1=Mads |last2=Vik |first2=Øystein |title=Erik Huseklepp går inn i Branns trenerteam |url=https://www.aftenposten.no/sport/fotball/i/V9pjv4/erik-huseklepp-gaar-inn-i-branns-trenerteam |work=aftenposten.no |date=5 January 2022 |language=nb}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|15 September 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=120242|title=Erik Huseklepp|language=no|date=13 July 2012|work=AltomFotball.no}}{{cite web|title=NIFS - Norsk & Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk|url=http://www.nifs.no/personprofil.php?land=2&u=7152&t=28&person_id=17294|website=nifs.no|access-date=6 January 2018|language=no}}{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Fyllingen
|2004 |rowspan="2"|2. divisjon |25 | 8 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 8 | ||
| 2005
|17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!42 | 9 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 42 | 9 | ||
| rowspan="7"|Brann
|2005 |rowspan="6"|Tippeligaen |9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2006
|11 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| 2007
|22 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 36 | 3 | |
| 2008
|18 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 30 | 2 | |
| 2009
|30 | 15 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 15 | ||
| 2010
|30 | 10 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 10 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!120 | 29 | 15 | 2 | 23 | 1 | 158 | 32 | |
| Bari
|14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 2 | ||
| Portsmouth
|27 | 6 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 6 | ||
| Birmingham City
|Football League Championship|Championship |11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| rowspan="6"|Brann
|2012 |rowspan="3"|Tippeligaen |12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | |
| 2013
|30 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 8 | |
| 2014
|30 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 6 | |
| 2015
|30 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 10 | |
| 2016
|Tippeligaen |26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 4 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!128 | 26 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 33 | |
| Haugesund
|2017 |15 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 22 | 4 | |
| Åsane (loan)
|2017 |OBOS-ligaen |12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 6 | |
| Åsane
|2018 |OBOS-ligaen |20 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 7 | |
| rowspan="3"|Fyllingsdalen
|2019 |rowspan="2"|Norsk Tipping-ligaen |25 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 14 | |
| 2021
|12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!37 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 19 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!426 | 103 | 36 | 15 | 27 | 2 | 489 | 120 |
=International=
:Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Huseklepp goal.
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center"|1 | 12 August 2009 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo | {{fb|SCO}} | style="text-align:center"|3–0 | style="text-align:center"|4–0 | World Cup 2010 qualifying |
| style="text-align:center"|2 | rowspan=2| 11 August 2010 | rowspan="2"|Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo | rowspan="2"|{{fb|FRA}} | style="text-align:center"|1–1 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 2–1 | rowspan="2"|Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|3 | align="center"| 2–1 | |||||
| style="text-align:center"|4 | 7 September 2010 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo | {{fb|POR}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
| style="text-align:center"|5 | 17 November 2010 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | {{fb|Republic of Ireland}} | style="text-align:center"|2–1 | style="text-align:center"|2–1 | Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|6 | 26 March 2011 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo | {{fb|Denmark}} | style="text-align:center"|1–1 | style="text-align:center"|1–1 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
| style="text-align:center"|7 | 12 November 2011 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff | {{fb|Wales}} | style="text-align:center"|1–2 | style="text-align:center"|1–4 | Friendly |
Honours
Brann
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Huseklepp, Erik}}
Category:Footballers from Bergen
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Norwegian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Norwegian sportsmen
Category:Norway men's international footballers
Category:Norwegian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Fyllingen Fotball players
Category:Portsmouth F.C. players
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Åsane Fotball players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England