erik thorstvedt - fact file

1988 - 1996            goalkeeper

Born on 28th October 1962 in Stavanger, Norway.

Height : - .m

Weight : -  - kgs


Highly popular goalkeeper of the late 1980s and early 1990s, who started the trend of throwing his gloves into the Spurs crowd, who adored Erik the Viking.

Having developed his early talent at Viking Stavanger - a club that runs through his football career, which he knew he was going to have when he signed his first professional contract in 1985 - and Eik-Tonsberg, Erik moved abroad to try his luck with Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany.  His parents were happy for him, although it meant he had ot move abroad and he wouldn't be able to mow their lawn anymore !  He experienced a tough time, but when he returned to Scandinavia, he found success at IFK Goteborg in Sweden.  He was part of the team that won the Swedish league title in 1988, but did not warrant a medal, as he had not taken part in enough games to qualify for one.

With Tottenham looking for an experienced goalkeeper to replace the dodgy Bobby Mimms and to bring on the young Ian Walker, Terry Venables turned to the tall Norwegian and he rapidly won fans over with a fine series of performances and while unspectacular, he provided a sound presence behind the defence to give them confidence.  This was despite a gaffe in his first game for Spurs, when he was in goal in a live screening of a game against Nottingham Forest at White Hart Lane.  Taking a long shot, he took his eye off the ball, perhaps thinking about what he was going to do with the ball once he had gathered it, it slipped through his fingers and dropped into the goal to give Forest the lead.  Luckily, he produced a good performance for the rest of the match and Spurs ran out 2-1 winners.

His part in the FA Cup run in 1991 was notable, making some good saves to keep Spurs in the cup, with it becoming his first major medal when Tottenham beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the Final at Wembley.  With a great rapport with the fans, his performances limited the opportunities of Ian Walker to stake his claim between the posts.  His ability caught the eye of Norwegian national coach Egil Olsen and he picked Erik for the 1994 World Cup squad, after Norway had knocked England out in qualifying and he played each game for his country there.  Kept two clean sheets v Mexico and Republic of Ireland, but, with all four teams having gained four points, Norway had only scored one goal, so finished bottom on goal difference and exited the tournament.

In and out the Spurs side after that tournament, due to the rise of Walker's star, Thorstvedt eventually had to retire in 1996 after a series of back injuries meant he was unable to continue playing at the top level.

After his playing career ended, Erik helped out with coaching the goalkeepers of the Norway national side and assisted Espen Baardsen in his move to Tottenham, having invited him over from America to train with him at the club.  He also took over as Director of Football at Viking, returning to his first club.  Thorstvedt also acts as an analyst for TV channel Canal+ and TV Norge - the channel who have a reality show based on a football team called Tufte IL, of which Thorstvedt is the coach. 

A player who will long remain in the hearts and minds of Tottenham supporters, because of his appreciation of the supporters backing and one who played an important part in the club's history at an uncertain time.

 

NICKNAME :  Erik The Viking

Career Record
 
Club Signed Fee Debut Apps Goals
Viking Stavanger (Norway) 1980 ?? ??  0 0
Eik-Tonsberg (Norway) 1982 ?? ??  44 0
Viking Stavanger (Norway) 1985 ?? ??  38 0
Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany) 1986 ?? ??  12 0
IFK Goteborg (Sweden) 1987 ?? ??  22 0
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1989 ?? v Nottingham Forest (First Division) (home)  won 2-1 216 + 2 as a sub 0
- ?? ?? ??  ?? ??

Career Record
Eik-Tonsberg (Norway)
44 League appearances; 0 goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
European appearances; goals
Viking Stavanger (Norway)
38 League appearances; 0 goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
European appearances; goals
Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany)
12 League appearances; 0 goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
European appearances; goals
IFK Goteburg (Sweden)

22 League appearances; 0 goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
European appearances; goals
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
171 + 2 as a sub League appearances; 0 goals
14 FA Cup appearances; 0 goals
25 League Cup appearances; 0 goals
6 European appearances; 0 goals

Honours
Norway international
97 full caps;  0 goals
Under-21 caps; goals
FA Cup winners medal 1990-91 (THFC)

Milestones
- appearance

           

Tottenham keeper Erik Thorstvedt became the first Premiership substitute to enter the field of play when he replaced Ian Walker at half-time on the opening day of the season in 1992.
 

 

1991  (THFC programme)

Erik could have been a basketball player.

Erik would allow his son to be a footballer.

Most important qualities for a footballer are desire and ball control.

Most over-rated quality is having a good back pass !

Most admires in life - Woody Allen

Most admires in football - our own captain Gary Mabbutt, performing despite his diabetes.

Greatest ambition ?   To win more, more, more.

Most content ever when getting Wembley medal.

Perfect happiness - Holidaying on a tropical island with no phone/papers after having won the Double.

Greatest mistake - first game against Forest.

Greatest fear - being eaten by a shark.

Thing you don't like about yourself - I'm a bit lazy off the pitch.

What would you change about your appearance ?  I get my fair share of stick because of my nose.

What characteristic do you deplore in others ?  Dishonesty

Greatest extravagance ?  I drive a Range Rover, but it's not mine.

Book which has had the greatest influence on you ?  Encyclopaedia Britannica

What do you always carry with you ?  The above

Any annoying habits you would like to lose ?  I'm sure that my wife could list a few.

Favourite smell ?  Smell of Xmas dinner.

Greatest regret ?  Not having won the World Cup with Norway - yet !

What single thing would improve the quality of your life ?  Another kid - perhaps ?

What alternative talent would you like most ?  Golf - I'm struggling !

 

 

What they said about Erik Thorstvedt
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What Erik Thorstvedt said about ...
exchanging his shirt with flamboyant Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campo at the World Cup ...  19.06.1994 (??)

"I've been looking for new kitchen curtains for a long time."

goalkeeping when a young boy ...  .. (THFC programme)

".As a kid aged 10-14, I was lucky when I started watching my local side, Viking Stavanger, they were just becoming a good team.

My favourite in the side was goalkeeper Erik Johannesen and the side won the league four years running in the early 1970s.  We also watched English game son television, so I saw a lot of the matches and knew all the players.  Ray Clemence and Peter Shilton were the two up and coming England goalkeepers at the time, as well as Joe Corrigan and Phil Parkes."
 

? ...  .. ()

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             Appearances

Season League FA Cup League Cup UEFA Cup
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