Kristofer Hæstad

Football player infobox
playername = Kristofer Hæstad


fullname = Kristofer Kruger Hæstad
nickname = Doffen (Jace)
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|12|9
cityofbirth =
height = 172 cm
cityofbirth = Kristiansand
countryofbirth = Norway
currentclub = Vålerenga IF
clubnumber = 23
position = Central midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs = Randesund
Vigør
years = 2001–2007
2007
2008–
clubs = Start
→ Wigan Athletic "(loan)"
Vålerenga IF
caps(goals) = 0101 0(16)
003 0(0)
000 0(0)
nationalyears = 2005–
nationalteam = Norway
nationalcaps(goals) = 015 0(1)
pcupdate = 18:53, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
ntupdate = February 16, 2006

Kristofer "Doffen" Hæstad (born December 9, 1983) is a Norwegian footballer. He is a central midfielder for Vålerenga.

Hæstad played for the youth teams of Randesund IL and Vigør. He was signed by Start in 2001, and debuted in the Norwegian Premier League in 2002, when the youthful Start squad only made 11 points and were relegated.

After two seasons in the First Division, Start were once again promoted in 2004, with Hæstad as one of the team’s central players. Hæstad has continued in great form after the promotion, and was named player of the month by NRK in April 2005. In May the same year, he debuted for the national team in a private match against Costa Rica, to great acclaim.

In July 2006, Hæstad launched a music single "This Is For Real" together with four other professional Norwegian footballers - Morten Gamst Pedersen, Freddy dos Santos, Raymond Kvisvik, and Øyvind Svenning. They call their band "The Players".

On August 25, 2006 it was revealed that Manchester United watched the talented Norwegian during a UEFA Cup qualifying game against Drogheda United. [Source: [http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=412221&CPID=8&clid=1&lid=2&title=United+watch+Norwegian+starlet Sky Sports] ] He was also rumoured to be wanted by Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United and Leeds United. [Source: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/5291896.stm BBC Sport] ]

On December 29 2006 it was announced that Wigan Athletic had secured Hæstad on a 6 mounths loan contract. The Wigan boss, Paul Jewell expressed delight on signing the talented midfielder. [Source: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/6218199.stm BBC Sport] ] The Norwegian newspaper VG would later reveal that it not was a standard loan contract, but an intricate deal that could see Hæstad stay at Wigan until July 2010, if they pick up an option to buy him at the end of the current season. [Source: [http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=147144 VG] ] Hæstad made his Premier League debut on January 13, 2007 against Chelsea, [cite web|title=Tactical Formation|work=Football-Lineups.com
url=http://www.football-lineups.com/wiki/_match3155.php | accessdate=January 20 | accessyear=2007] but was released from his loan contract at Wigan Athletic by mutual consent on 1 April 2007.cite news
title = Wigan release Norwegian Haestad
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/6515639.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-04-01
accessdate = 2007-04-01]

Hæstad made a scoring return for IK Start on his return to Norway after scoring the fourth goal in a 4-2 victory away to Aalesund

On 2 January 2008, Kristofer Hæstad signed a 4-year contract with Vålerenga IF. On March 29 2008, Hæstad made his competetive debut for Vålerenga IF in the season's first game against Aalesund FK.

Honours

*Kniksen award: midfielder of the year in 2005

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=41307|name=Kristofer Hæstad
*no icon [http://ikstart.no/dt_helter.aspx?m=169&amid=71606 Start's bio of Hæstad]
* [http://www.wiganlatics.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10429~960623,00.html Nor-blimey] (subscription required)