Sander Svendsen
{{Short description|Norwegian footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Sander Svendsen
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|8|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Molde, Norway
| height = 1.74 m
| currentclub = Viking
| clubnumber = 7
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Molde
| years1 = 2013–2017 | clubs1 = Molde | caps1 = 80 | goals1 = 17
| years2 = 2017–2019 | clubs2 = Hammarby | caps2 = 29 | goals2 = 6
| years3 = 2019 | clubs3 = → Odd (loan) | caps3 = 15 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2019–2022 | clubs4 = OB | caps4 = 54 | goals4 = 17
| years5 = 2020 | clubs5 = → Brann (loan) | caps5 = 10 | goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2021 | clubs6 = → Odd (loan) | caps6 = 28 | goals6 = 8
| years7 = 2022– | clubs7 = Viking | caps7 = 68 | goals7 = 13
| nationalyears1 = 2012
| nationalteam1 = Norway U15
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 2013
| nationalteam2 = Norway U16
| nationalcaps2 = 9
| nationalgoals2 = 4
| nationalyears3 = 2014
| nationalteam3 = Norway U17
| nationalcaps3 = 7
| nationalgoals3 = 4
| nationalyears4 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam4 = Norway U18
| nationalcaps4 = 8
| nationalgoals4 = 1
| nationalyears5 = 2014–2017
| nationalteam5 = Norway U19
| nationalcaps5 = 4
| nationalgoals5 = 1
| nationalyears6 = 2015–2017
| nationalteam6 = Norway U21
| nationalcaps6 = 8
| nationalgoals6 = 0
| club-update = 4 December 2024
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Sander Svendsen (born 6 August 1997) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a forward or a winger for Eliteserien club Viking.
Early life
Sander Svendsen was born in Molde, and started to play football at a young age at the local club Molde FK. Both his parents, mother Ellen and father Svend Jarle, had represented the club at senior level. At age 14, Svendsen began to train regularly with Molde's senior team.{{cite web |url=http://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/allsvenskan/kraven-fran-pappan-det-har-varit-tungt/|title=Nyförvärvet: "Därför valde jag Hammarby"|work=Expressen|date=16 August 2017|access-date=11 September 2017|language=sv}}
Club career
=Molde FK=
Svendsen made his first team debut on 9 May 2013, aged only 15, against Aalesund in a 4–1 win. He was brought on shortly before the final whistle by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær.{{cite web|url=https://www.dagbladet.no/sport/sander-15-og-hakon-15-debuterte-i-tippeligaen/62771391|title=Sander (15) og Håkon (15) debuterte i Tippeligaen|author=Arvid Steen |author2=Sten Simonsen |author3=Christian M. Hugsted |publisher=Dagbladet |date=9 May 2013 |access-date=11 September 2017|language=no}} He scored his first competitive goal for the side on 21 April 2014, in a 5–1 win against Sarpsborg.{{cite web|url=http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/molde/elyounoussi-dobbel-mot-gamleklubben/a/10147663/|title=Elyounoussi-dobbel mot gamleklubben|author=Ole Kristian Strøm |publisher=Verdens Gang|date=21 April 2013|access-date=11 September 2017|language=no}} Aged 16 years and 259 days, he is the fifth-youngest goalscorer in Eliteserien history.{{cite web|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/100Sport/fotball/Her-blir-Sander-16-tidenes-nest-yngste-malscorer-i-Tippeligaen-185887b.html|title=Her blir Sander (16) tidenes nest yngste målscorer i Tippeligaen|publisher=Aftenposten|work=aftenposten.no|date=21 April 2014|access-date=10 October 2018}} Amid his breakthrough at Molde, Svendsen trialed with the Dutch giants Ajax on several occasions. At the end of 2013, however, Svendsen signed a new three-year contract with Molde.{{cite web|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/100Sport/fotball/Molde-brodre-i-sokelyset-til-Ajax-222467b.html|title=Molde-brødre i søkelyset til Ajax|author=Trond Hustad |publisher=Aftenposten|date=29 October 2013|access-date=11 September 2017|language=no}}
In 2014, Svendsen became the youngest player ever to win the Norwegian top flight, Eliteserien. Molde secured the championship title following a 2–1 victory against Viking on 4 October.{{cite web|url=http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk-fotball/skullerud-har-utviklet-oss-etter-at-jeg-tok-over-etter-solskjaer/a/23309414/|title=Skullerud: - Har utviklet oss etter at jeg tok over etter Solskjær - Norsk fotball - VG |website=Verdens Gang |date=4 October 2014 |access-date=5 January 2017|language=no}} Svendsen made 12 league appearances throughout the campaign.{{cite web |url=http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=276235&tournamentId=1&seasonId=335&teamId=309&useFullUrl=false |title=Sander Svendsen |language=no |work=altomfotball.no |publisher=TV2 |date=12 July 2013 |access-date=12 July 2013}} The same year, The Guardian rated him as one of the most promising football players in Europe born in 1997.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/ng-interactive/2014/oct/14/next-generation-2014-40-of-the-best-young-talents-in-world-football |title=Next Generation 2014: 40 of the best young talents in world football | Football|newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=5 January 2017|language=en}} The Danish newspaper BT also named Svendsen as one of the 20 best Scandinavian players under the age of 20.{{cite web|url=https://www.bt.dk/fodbold/bt-kaarer-her-er-skandinaviens-20-bedste-fodbold-teenagere|title=BT kårer: Her er Skandinaviens 20 bedste fodbold-teenagere|author=Michel Wikkelsø Davidsen |publisher=BT|date=27 August 2014|access-date=12 September 2017|language=da}}
Sander Svendsen made his continental debut during the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League, on 24 July 2014, in a 1–1 draw against the Slovenian club Gorica in the second qualifying round.{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=250060898/profile/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920050054/https://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=250060898/profile/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 September 2017|title=Sander Svendsen|publisher=UEFA|access-date=11 September 2017|language=en}} He scored his first goal in the tournament in the third qualifying round about a week later, against Zorya Luhansk from Ukraine on away turf. The game finished 1–1 as Svendsen scored a late equalizer in the 88th minute.{{cite news|url=https://www.aftenbladet.no/100Sport/fotball/Sander-reddet-Molde-182500b.html|title=Sander reddet Molde|newspaper=Aftenposten|date=31 July 2014|access-date=11 September 2017|language=en}}
In 2015, Svendsen played 26 league games for Molde. He scored a brace in a local derby against Aalesund on 20 April, in a 5–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.dagbladet.no/sport/a-score-to-mal-i-derby-som-17-aring-ma-vaere-en-utrolig-folelse/60770091|title=- Å score to mål i derby som 17-åring må være en utrolig følelse|author=Øyvind Godø |author2=Håvard Røyrvik |publisher=Dagbladet|date=20 April 2015|access-date=11 September 2017|language=no}} He scored another two goals on 16 May, in a 3–3 draw against Stabæk.{{cite web|url=http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/molde/tomaalsscorer-svendsen-17-nekter-aa-gi-opp-haapet-om-seriegull/a/23453572/|title=Tomålsscorer Svendsen (17) nekter å gi opp håpet om seriegull|author=Martin Brøste |publisher=Verdens Gang|date=16 May 2015|access-date=11 September 2017|language=no}} At the end of the season, Svendsen was prized as the domestic "Talent of the Year" by the Norwegian Football Association.{{cite news|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/100Sport/fotball/Svendsen-karet-til-arets-fotballtalent-i-Norge-190729b.html|title=Svendsen kåret til årets fotballtalent i Norge|newspaper=Aftenposten|date=22 November 2015|access-date=11 September 2017|language=no}} Roughly at the same time, Svendsen also renewed his contract with Molde, with his new deal lasting until the end of 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.dagbladet.no/sport/brodrene-svendsen-med-nye-molde-avtaler/60480306|title=Brødrene Svendsen med nye Molde-avtaler|agency=Norwegian News Agency|newspaper=Dagbladet|date=8 December 2015|access-date=11 September 2017|language=no}}
During the upcoming season, Svendsen made 25 league appearances for Molde and scored 4 goals. He was used as a utility player, appearing as a striker, winger and central midfielder throughout the 2016 season. In April 2017, Tuttosport named Svendsen as one of the 98 best young players in Europe under the age of 21. The Italian newspaper nominated Svendsen for the Golden Boy award.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/golden-boy-shortlist-14-premier-10217726|title=Golden Boy shortlist: 14 Premier League players included among the nominees|newspaper=Mirror|date=13 April 2017|access-date=11 September 2017|language=en}}
=Hammarby IF=
On 11 August 2017, Sander Svendsen transferred to Hammarby IF in Allsvenskan.{{cite web|title=SVENDSEN TIL HAMMARBY|url=http://www.moldefk.no/nyheter/svendsen-til-hammarby|website=www.moldefk.no|publisher=Molde FK|access-date=11 August 2017|language=no|date=1 August 2017}} The transfer fee was reportedly set at around 4 million Swedish kronor (approximately £0,4 million), as Svendsen only had six months left on his previous contract with Molde.{{cite web|title=Officiellt: Hammarby värvar anfallare från Molde - för fyra miljoner|url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/allsvenskan/officiellt-hammarby-varvar-anfallare-fran-molde---for-fyra-miljoner/|website=www.fotbollskanalen.se|publisher=Fotbollskanalen|access-date=12 August 2017|language=sv|date=1 August 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.fotbolldirekt.se/2017/08/12/pa-fd-bajens-klipp-4-miljoner-tre-jattetalanger/|title=PÅ FD: Bajens klipp – bara 4 miljoner för tre jättetalanger|publisher=Fotbolldirekt|date=12 August 2017|access-date=30 August 2017}} Svendsen signed a four-year deal with the Stockholm-based side.{{cite news|url=http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/bajen-varvar-sander-svendsen/|title=Bajen värvar Sander Svendsen|publisher=Hammarby Fotboll|date=11 August 2017|access-date=12 August 2017}} He made his debut for the club only a few days later in a 2–2 home draw against Östersund, coming on as a second half sub.{{cite news|url=http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/bittert-men-hoppingivande-kryss-mot-ofk/|title=Bittert men hoppingivande kryss mot ÖFK|publisher=Hammarby Fotboll|date=13 August 2017|access-date=13 August 2017}} Svendsen scored his first competitive goal for the club on 16 August, in a 3–1 win against Akropolis IF in round 2 of the 2017–18 Svenska Cupen.{{cite news|url=http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/bajen-aterstallde-ordningen-mot-slakten/|title=Bajen återställde ordningen mot släkten|publisher=Hammarby Fotboll|date=16 August 2017|access-date=17 August 2017}} On 21 August, he scored his first goal in Allsvenskan, in a 3–0 away win against Örebro SK.{{cite news|url=http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/tigerrandig-utklassningsseger-i-orebro/|title=Tigerrandig utklassningsseger i Örebro|publisher=Hammarby Fotboll|date=21 August 2017|access-date=22 August 2017}} Svendsen scored his first brace for Hammarby in a 3–3 home draw against IK Sirius on 23 October.{{cite news|url=http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/bittert-kryss-efter-holmgang-mot-sirius/|title=Bittert kryss efter holmgång mot Sirius|publisher=Hammarby Fotboll|date=23 October 2017|access-date=25 October 2017}} He scored another two goals, and also provided one assist, as Hammarby won 4–1 away against GIF Sundsvall on 29 October.{{cite news|url=http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/aktuellt/nyheter/tillbaka-i-vinnarsparet-igen-efter-storseger-i-sundsvall/|title=Tillbaka i vinnarspåret igen efter storseger i Sundsvall|publisher=Hammarby Fotboll|date=29 October 2017|access-date=29 October 2017}}
==Odd (loan)==
On 26 March 2019, Odds BK announced the signing of Svendsen on a loan deal until the summer.{{cite web|url=https://www.odd.no/nyheter/sander-svendsen-er-klar-for-odd|title=Sander Svendsen er klar for Odd|language=no|date=26 March 2019|website=Odds BK|access-date=27 August 2022}}
=OB=
On 8 July 2019, Danish Superliga club Odense Boldklub announced that they had signed Svendsen on a four-year contract.[https://www.ob.dk/nyhedsarkiv/ob-koeber-sander-svendsen-i-hammarby/ OB køber Sander Svendsen i Hammarby], ob.dk, 8 July 2019
==Brann (loan)==
On the last day of the transfer window 2020, SK Brann announced that they had signed Svendsen on a six-month loan deal.[https://www.nrk.no/vestland/sander-svendsen-klar-for-brann-_-eitt-sekund-for-midnatt-1.15192492], nrk.no, 8 October 2020
==Odd (loan)==
On 19 April 2021, Odd announced the signing of Svendsen on a loan deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.odd.no/nyheter/svendsen-er-tilbake|title=Svendsen er tilbake|language=no|date=19 April 2021|website=Odds BK|access-date=27 August 2022}} On 16 August 2021, Odd confirmed that Svendsen had returned to OB.[https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/ob-har-kaldt-sander-svendsen-retur/ OB har kaldt Sander Svendsen retur], bold.dk, 16 August 2021 However, on 31 August 2021, it was confirmed that the loan-spell at Odd had been extended until the end of 2021.[https://www.ob.dk/nyhedsarkiv/sander-svendsen-fortsaetter-paa-udleje/ Sander Svendsen fortsætter på udleje], ob.dk, 31 August 2021
=Viking=
On 29 August 2022, Viking FK announced the signing of Svendsen on a three-and-a-half-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.aftenbladet.no/sport/i/7d9JWK/haaper-dette-blir-et-fantastisk-eventyr|title=– Håper dette blir et fantastisk eventyr|language=no|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|date=29 August 2022|access-date=29 August 2022}}
International career
From 2012 and onwards, Svendsen has won caps for several of the Norwegian youth national teams. For example, he established himself as a prolific member of the U17's in 2014, scoring 4 goals in 7 matches throughout the year.{{cite news|url=https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/person/profil/?p=n&fiksId=2683178|title=Sander Svendsen, kampstatistikk|publisher=Norges Fotballforbund|access-date=14 September 2017|language=no}}
Svendsen made his debut for the Norwegian U21s on 13 June 2015, aged 17, in a 2–0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.{{cite news|url=https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/kamp/?fiksId=6163643|title=Kampreferat av Norge - Bosnia-Herzegovina - 13.06.2015|publisher=Norges Fotballforbund|access-date=14 September 2017|language=no}}
Style of play
Sander Svendsen has been prized for his great ball control and vision, with fine technique and dribbling skills. His former teammate at Molde, Mattias Moström, has compared Svendsen's style of play to that of Lionel Messi. "He can shoot with both feet ... He is excellent in small spaces, gets past his opponent and then a swift finish", Moström said.{{cite news|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/oq5BB/hyllar-bajens-nyforvarv-han-ar-en-mini-messi|title=Hyllar Bajens nyförvärv: "Han är en mini-Messi"|publisher=Aftonbladet|date=13 August 2017|access-date=12 September 2017}}
Personal life
He is the older brother of fellow footballer Tobias Svendsen, a midfielder born in 1999. The duo played together at Molde between 2015 and 2017.{{cite news|title=Nå er Tobias blitt voksen|last=Hustad|first=Trond|date=12 July 2016|work=Romsdals Budstikke|pages=12–13|language=no}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 1 December 2024}}{{Soccerway|218004}}{{NIFS|95742}}
| 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 !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="6"|Molde
|2013 |2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2014
|Eliteserien |12 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 17 | 5 | ||
| 2015
|Eliteserien |26 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 36 | 10 | ||
| 2016
|Eliteserien |25 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 29 | 5 | ||
| 2017
|Eliteserien |15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 18 | 5 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!80 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 103 | 25 | ||
| rowspan="4"|Hammarby
|2017 |10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 11 | 7 | |||
| 2018
|Allsvenskan |19 | 0 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 23 | 1 | |||
| 2019
|Allsvenskan |0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 3 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!29 | 6 | 8 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 37 | 9 | |||
| Odd (loan)
|2019 |Eliteserien |15 | 0 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 18 | 1 | |||
| rowspan="5"|OB
|32 | 13 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 33 | 13 | |||
| 2020–21
|Danish Superliga |2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22
|Danish Superliga |13 | 4 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 16 | 4 | |||
| 2022–23
|Danish Superliga |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 7 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!54 | 17 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 59 | 17 | |||
| Brann (loan)
|2020 |Eliteserien |10 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 10 | 1 | ||||
| Odd (loan)
|2021 |Eliteserien |28 | 8 | 3 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 31 | 10 | |||
| rowspan="4"|Viking
|2022 |Eliteserien |11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 13 | 2 | |||
| 2023
|Eliteserien |30 | 5 | 4 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 34 | 7 | |||
| 2024
|Eliteserien |27 | 7 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 30 | 8 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!68 | 13 | 9 | 4 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 77 | 17 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!284 | 62 | 41 | 17 | 10 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 335 | 80 |
Honours
Molde
=Individual=
- Talent of the Year in Norway: 2015
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Viking FK squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Svendsen, Sander}}
Category:Footballers from Molde
Category:Norwegian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Norway men's youth international footballers
Category:Norway men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Hammarby Fotboll players
Category:Odense Boldklub players
Category:Danish Superliga players
Category:Norwegian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Sweden
Category:Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Denmark
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden