Espen Johnsen

Espen Johnsen (born December 20, 1979 in Kristiansand) is a Norwegian football goalkeeper who currently plays for Strømsgodset IF. His brother Marius Johnsen is also a footballer, currently playing for Lillestrøm SK.

Football career

His career started in local club FK Vigør. After a few years playing for IK Start, he was brought to Rosenborg in Trondheim, who won the Norwegian series 13 times in a row from 1992. He was mostly benched his first two years there because of the Icelandic goalkeeper Arni Gautur Arason, who left Rosenborg in 2003 for Manchester City. Espen then established himself as the first-choice in Rosenborg as well as on the Norwegian national team, but lost his place after a six-month injury layoff resulting from an injury sustained while playing against Spain.

After becoming second choice in Rosenborg after the purchase of Lars Hirschfeld, Johnsen made it clear that he was not satisfied with his "demotion", and on October 6, 2006, Strømsgodset IF announced that he had agreed to join them on a one year loan deal starting January 2007.

Education and personal life

Espen is studying to be an M.D. at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. When living in Kristiansand, he studied at the Agder University College, taking his exam in Christian studies. He is an active member of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway, although since his move to Trondheim, he has also visited and attended other churches and congregations.

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