Magnus Wolff Eikrem
{{short description|Norwegian footballer (born 1990)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Magnus Wolff Eikrem
| image = Magnus Wolff Eikrem (Molde FK) - Norway national under-21 football team (01).jpg
| caption = Eikrem with Norway U21 in 2011
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|8|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Molde, Norway
| height = 1.73 m{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=The official website for European football |url=https://www.uefa.com/errors/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=UEFA |language=en}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Molde
| clubnumber = 7
| youthyears1 = 2002–2006
| youthclubs1 = Molde
| youthyears2 = 2006–2009
| youthclubs2 = Manchester United
| years1 = 2009–2011
| clubs1 = Manchester United
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2011–2013
| clubs2 = Molde
| caps2 = 68
| goals2 = 6
| years3 = 2013–2014
| clubs3 = Heerenveen
| caps3 = 13
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2014
| clubs4 = Cardiff City
| caps4 = 9
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2015–2018
| clubs5 = Malmö FF
| caps5 = 66
| goals5 = 12
| years6 = 2018
| clubs6 = Seattle Sounders
| caps6 = 15
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2018–
| clubs7 = Molde
| caps7 = 158
| goals7 = 51
| nationalyears1 = 2007
| nationalteam1 = Norway U17
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2008–2009
| nationalteam2 = Norway U19
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2010–2013
| nationalteam3 = Norway U21
| nationalcaps3 = 12
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| nationalyears4 = 2012–2016
| nationalteam4 = Norway
| nationalcaps4 = 17
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| club-update = 4 May 2025
| nationalteam-update = 25 September 2016
}}
Magnus Wolff Eikrem (born 8 August 1990) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays for Molde FK in Eliteserien. His regular playing position is in attacking midfield, though he can play anywhere across the midfield.
Career
=Early years=
Born in Molde, Eikrem began his football career as a 12-year-old with his local club, Molde FK. He was picked up after he attended one of Ole Gunnar Solskjær's soccer schools in Norway, despite the schools being for youngsters aged 14–16. Nevertheless, he impressed the coaches so much that they allowed him to attend, and he was signed by Manchester United on his 16th birthday.{{cite news |first=Stuart |last=Mathieson |title=Ole's star pupil chooses Reds |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/216/216168_oles_star_pupil_chooses_reds.html |work=Manchester Evening News |publisher=M.E.N. Media |date=20 June 2006 |access-date=13 June 2007 }}
File:Magnus_Eikrem_Captain.JPG in 2010.]]
=Manchester United=
Eikrem was a regular starter for the United under-18 side in the 2006–07 season, and helped the team to the final of the FA Youth Cup, where they lost to Liverpool 4–3 on penalties after the two-legged match finished 2–2 on aggregate. Eikrem was one of two United players to miss a penalty in the shoot-out, the other being captain Sam Hewson.{{cite web |first=Stuart |last=Mawhinney |title=Liverpool retain Youth Cup |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFAYouthCup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/04/FAYC_Report.htm |work=TheFA.com |publisher=The Football Association |date=26 April 2007 |access-date=13 June 2007 }} Eikrem also captained the Manchester United youth team to the final of the 2007 Milk Cup but United lost in stoppage time to Brazilian side Fluminense.{{cite news |title=Boys from Brazil edge out United |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/6930663.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=3 August 2007 |access-date=22 September 2009 }} A few days later, he played in his first game for the Manchester United first team, coming on as a substitute for Ryan Giggs in a 4–0 pre-season friendly win away to Dunfermline Athletic.{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Bartram |title=Report: Dunfermline 0 Utd 4 |url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={87C73467-BE93-4D12-8E9E-152F1F1CC55D}&newsid=451177&page=3 |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |page=3 |date=8 August 2007 |access-date=22 September 2009 }}
Eikrem continued as a regular member of the under-18 side throughout the 2007–08 season, making the odd appearance on the reserve team bench, before becoming a full member of the reserve side in 2008–09. During the season, he helped United to second place in the 2008–09 Premier Reserve League,{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Bartram |title=Reserves face champions |url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=6631695 |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=30 April 2009 |access-date=22 September 2009 }} as well as a cup double over Bolton Wanderers in the Manchester and Lancashire Senior Cups.{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Bartram |title=Reserves: Bolton 0 United 1 |url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=6632444 |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=12 May 2009 |access-date=22 September 2009 }}{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Bartram |title=Reserves: Bolton 0 Utd 1 |url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=6637945 |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=17 August 2009 |access-date=22 September 2009 }}
After playing in the reserve team's first four games of the 2009–10 season and scoring in a 2–1 league win over Wigan Athletic,{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Bartram |title=Reserves: United 2 Wigan 1 |url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=6638953 |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=3 September 2009 |access-date=22 September 2009 }} Eikrem was rewarded by being given the number 42 shirt for the first team's League Cup third round match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Hibbs |title=Today at Old Trafford - 13:18 |url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={6DDFCB6E-3471-4E45-9385-F04D05F4A70D}&newsid=6637707 |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=22 September 2009 |access-date=22 September 2009 }} For the 2010–11 football season, Eikrem was named as a member of United's Champions League squad. He was named as a member of a "B-squad" alongside several other younger players such as Will Keane, Joe Dudgeon, Oliver Gill, Ben Amos and Corry Evans.
=Molde=
In January 2011, Eikrem transferred back to Norwegian team Molde, who were managed by former Manchester United reserve team manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær. In his first season, Eikrem was involved in the Molde squad that won Tippeligaen for the first time. He helped successfully defend the title in the 2012 Tippeligaen season.{{cite web|first=Trond |last=Hustad |title=Jeg er enig med Molde |url=http://fotball.rbnett.no/eliteserien/article188908.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102181923/http://fotball.rbnett.no/eliteserien/article188908.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 January 2011 |work=rbnett.no |publisher=Romsdals Budstikke |date=29 December 2010 |access-date=14 April 2011 }}
=Heerenveen=
On 24 June 2013, Eikrem signed a four-year contract for Heerenveen.{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11917/8791341/transfer-news-heerenveen-sign-magnus-wolff-eikrem-and-yanic-wildschut |title=Transfer News: Heerenveen sign Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Yanic Wildschut |publisher=Sky Sports |first=Gerrit van |last=Leeuwen |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=30 September 2013 }} He made his debut in the Eredivisie in a 4–2 home win against AZ.{{cite news |url=http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/nederland/wolff-eikrem-vant-den-norske-midtbaneduellen-4098032.html |language=no |title=Wolff Eikrem vant den norske midtbaneduellen |publisher=TV 2 |first=Truls Grane |last=Sylvarnes |date=3 August 2013 |access-date=8 September 2013}} He scored his first goal for Heerenveen on 23 August 2013, against defending champions Ajax.{{cite news |title=Wolff Eikrem scoret sitt første mål i Nederland |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2013/08/23/sport/fotball/wolff_eikrem/heerenveen/28866824/ |language=no |publisher=Dagbladet |first=Christian M. |last=Hugsted |date=23 August 2013 |access-date=8 September 2013 }}
=Cardiff City=
On 8 January 2014, Welsh side Cardiff City announced that Eikrem had signed a contract with the club, for an undisclosed fee and duration.{{cite news |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/eikrem-signs-1282175.aspx |title=City sign Magnus Wolff Eikrem |work=cardiffcityfc.co.uk |publisher=Cardiff City FC |date=8 January 2014 |access-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126185559/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/eikrem-signs-1282175.aspx |archive-date=26 January 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=Cardiff City sign Norwegian midfielder Magnus Wolff Eikrem |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25656994 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=8 January 2014 |access-date=8 January 2014 }} He made his debut three days later, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute for Gary Medel in a 2–0 home defeat against West Ham United. He went on to make six top-flight appearances as Cardiff were relegated back to the second tier.
After a poor start to the 2014–15 season, Solskjaer was sacked and his replacement, Russell Slade, placed Eikrem on the transfer list.{{cite news|title=Bruno Ecuele Manga and Ravel Morrison are Cardiff injury doubts|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29950313|access-date=1 November 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=7 November 2014}} On 19 December 2014, Eikrem had his contract terminated by mutual consent after not playing under Slade.{{cite news|title=Cardiff City: Magnus Wolff Eikrem leaves the Bluebirds|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30542689|access-date=1 November 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=19 December 2014}}
=Malmö FF=
On 26 January 2015, Eikrem signed a three-year contract with Swedish champions Malmö FF.{{cite web|url=http://www.mff.se/Aktuellt/Nyheter/2015-01-26_Valkommen_till_MFF_Magnus_Wolff_Eikrem |title=Välkommen till MFF, Magnus Wolff Eikrem |publisher=Malmö FF |work=mff.se |date=26 January 2015 |access-date=26 January 2015 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128114347/http://www.mff.se/Aktuellt/Nyheter/2015-01-26_Valkommen_till_MFF_Magnus_Wolff_Eikrem |archive-date=28 January 2015 }} On 22 February 2015, Eikrem scored one goal and made two assists in his first competitive match for the club, a cup fixture against Assyriska FF that Malmö won 3–0.{{cite web |url=https://svenskfotboll.se/cuper-och-serier/svenska-cupen-herrar/grupp-1/?scr=result&fmid=2906520 |title=Malmö FF 3–0 Assyriska FF |publisher=The Swedish Football Association |work=svenskfotboll.se |date=22 February 2015 |access-date=23 February 2015 |language=sv }}
=Seattle Sounders FC=
Eikrem joined Seattle Sounders FC on 30 January 2018.{{cite web| url = https://www.soundersfc.com/post/2018/01/30/sounders-fc-signs-norwegian-midfielder-magnus-wolff-eikrem| title = Sounders FC signs Norwegian midfielder Magnus Wolff Eikrem {{!}} Seattle Sounders}} He was waived on 20 July 2018.{{cite web| url = https://www.soundersfc.com/post/2018/07/20/sounders-fc-waives-midfielder-magnus-wolff-eikrem| title = Sounders FC waives midfielder Magnus Wolff Eikrem {{!}} Seattle Sounders}}
=Return to Molde=
On 25 July 2018, Eikrem returned to Molde after five years away, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract.{{cite web |title=MAGNUS ER TILBAKE! |url=http://www.moldefk.no/nyheter/magnus-er-tilbake |website=moldefk.no/ |publisher=Molde FK |access-date=25 July 2018 |language=no |date=25 July 2018}} The day after, on 26 July, he made his first appearance since returning to the club as a 65th minute substitute in a 3–0 home victory over Laçi in the Europa League.{{cite web |title=Molde vs. Laçi 3 - 0 |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/07/26/europe/uefa-cup/molde-fotballklubb/kf-laci/2800227/ |website=uk.soccerway.com |publisher=Soccerway |access-date=3 June 2019 |date=26 July 2018}} He played an important role in Molde's title-winning season in 2019, and was nominated to the Eliteserien Player of the Year award.{{cite web |title=Nominert til "Årets spiller" |url=https://www.nrk.no/mr/nominert-til-_arets-spiller_-1.14790537 |website=nrk.no |publisher=NRK |access-date=4 December 2019 |date=21 November 2019}} Eikrem finished the 2019 season with 13 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2020 season, on 17 January, Eikrem was announced as Molde's new captain.{{cite web |url=https://www.aftenposten.no/sport/fotball/i/e8BJvR/dette-er-moldes-nye-kaptein-en-stor-aere |title=Dette er Moldes nye kaptein: – En stor ære |website=www.aftenposten.no |language=no |publisher=Aftenposten |date=17 January 2020 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
International career
Eikrem received his first international call-up to the under-21s alongside Manchester United teammate Joshua King in November 2010. Eikrem made his debut for the senior team when he replaced Markus Henriksen as a substitute in the 75th minute in a 1-1 friendly draw against Denmark on 15 January 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk/landslaget/artikkel.php?artid=10075559 |language=no |title=Elyounoussi reddet Norge: - Dette lover godt |work=vg.no |publisher=VG |date=15 January 2012 |access-date=15 January 2012 }}
Personal life
Eikrem is the son of former Molde player, Knut Hallvard Eikrem, who made over 220 appearances for the club in his time there.{{cite news |first=Jørgen |last=Gundersen |title=Eikrem (16) fikk United-debuten |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/sport/2006/11/17/483290.html |language=no |work=Dagbladet.no |publisher=DB Medialab AS |date=17 November 2006 |access-date=22 September 2009 }} Eikrem has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.{{cite news |url=http://www.tribalfootball.com/magnus-eikrem-wins-long-term-man-utd-contract-399961 |title=Magnus Eikrem wins long-term Man Utd contract |publisher=Tribal Football |work=tribalfootball.com |date=24 October 2009 |access-date=20 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027011801/http://www.tribalfootball.com/magnus-eikrem-wins-long-term-man-utd-contract-399961 |archive-date=27 October 2009 }}
Career statistics
=Club=
File:Magnus Wolff Eikrem - Cardiff City 2014.jpg on 11 January 2014.]]
{{updated|match played 4 May 2025}}{{cite web|title=Magnus Wolff Eikrem|url=http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=230146&tournamentId=1&seasonId=341&teamId=309&useFullUrl=false|website=altomfotball.no|publisher=TV 2|access-date=10 April 2019|language=no}}
| 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"|National cup{{efn|Includes Norwegian Football Cup, Svenska Cupen, FA Cup, KNVB Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Football League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4" |Molde
|2011 |28 | 4 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 31 | 5 | |||
| 2012
|Tippeligaen |27 | 0 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 10 | 2 | 41 | 3 | ||
| 2013
|Tippeligaen |13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 14 | 3 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!68 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 86 | 11 | |
| Heerenveen
|13 | 2 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 16 | 2 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Cardiff City
|6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 8 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 5 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| rowspan="4"|Malmö
|2015 |28 | 7 | 5 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | 7{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 40 | 10 | ||
| 2016
|Allsvenskan |23 | 4 | 5 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 28 | 5 | |||
| 2017
|Allsvenskan |15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 17 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!66 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 85 | 16 | |
| Seattle Sounders FC
|2018 |16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2{{efn|Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League}} | 1 | 18 | 2 | ||
| rowspan="9"|Molde
|2018 |14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 6{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 20 | 4 | ||
| 2019
|Eliteserien |25 | 11 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 7{{efn|name=UEL}} | 2 | 33 | 13 | ||
| 2020
|Eliteserien |27 | 7 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 15{{efn|Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, ten appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 5 | 42 | 12 | ||
| 2021
|Eliteserien |24 | 5 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 4{{efn|name=UEC|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 1 | 29 | 6 | ||
| 2022
|Eliteserien |21 | 6 | 5 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | 8{{efn|name=UEC}} | 0 | 34 | 9 | ||
| 2023
|Eliteserien |20 | 6 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 11{{efn|Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Conference League}} | 3 | 33 | 10 | ||
| 2024
|Eliteserien |23 | 12 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 9{{efn|Six appearances in UEFA Europa League, three appearances in Europa Conference League}} | 3 | 35 | 16 | ||
| 2025
|Eliteserien |4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 3{{efn|name=UEC}} | 1 | 9 | 2 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!158 | 51 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 15 | 236 | 72 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!330 | 72 | 39 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 82 | 17 | 453 | 102 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
Appearances and goals by national team and year
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| National team||Year||Apps||Goals | ||
|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Norway
|2012 | 8 | 0 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total||16||0 |
Honours
Molde
- Eliteserien: 2011, 2012, 2019, 2022{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
- Norwegian Cup: 2013, 2021, 2023{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
Malmö FF
- Allsvenskan: 2016, 2017{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.mff.se/Personer/A_truppen/Utespelare/Magnus_Wolff_Eikrem Malmö FF profile] {{in lang|sv}}
- {{Svenskfotboll|pid=8406|fid=855796}}
- {{Soccerway|magnus-wolff-eikrem/101489}}
{{Molde FK squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eikrem, Magnus Wolff}}
Category:Footballers from Molde
Category:Norwegian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Norwegian sportsmen
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Manchester United F.C. players
Category:SC Heerenveen players
Category:Cardiff City F.C. players
Category:Seattle Sounders FC players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Norway men's international footballers
Category:Norway men's youth international footballers
Category:Norway men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Norwegian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Wales
Category:Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands