If the Norwegian league is the one the game's authorities in Ireland reckon they should be trying to emulate, then tonight's visitors to Tolka Park are without doubt the kind of club that every side here would love to emulate.
Having played in the Champions League for the last five seasons, Rosenborg have firmly established themselves as the dominant force in their homeland. Their regular participation in the world's most financially-rewarding club competition and the income it generates has enabled them not only to consolidate their position as the best club in Norway, but also to steadily increase their ambitions in Europe. Last year they gave a clear indication of the progress they have made, beating Portuguese side Boavista 5-0 over two legs and Borussia Dortmund 3-0 away on the way to winning their initial Champions League group. In the second round they finally found the competition provided by Real Madrid, Dynamo Kiev and Bayern Munich a little too hot to handle. However, the £7.5 million or so they earned from their participation in the competition has further strengthened the club. The club won their 14th league title last season fairly comfortably and this season they lead second-placed Brann, with whom they drew away on Sunday, by 10 points.
The side boasts several Norwegian internationals. Erik Hoftun, Ole Christer Basma and Roar Strand have represented their country at senior level. Indeed the ongoing ability of the club not only to spot emerging talent in Norway but also then to sell it on for a substantial profit was highlighted during the recent European Championships when, for instance, eight of the 14 players who were capped for the Scandinavian nation in their group game against Yugoslavia either played for the club or had spent some part of their careers there. Steven Iversen, Vegard Heggem and Oyvind Leonhardsen are amongst their better known exports to England while recently John Carew, who had scored nine league goals since the start of the current campaign, departed for Champions League finalists Valencia.
Since last season current boss Nils Arne Eggem has signed left back Stale Stensaas (who returns to his former home after three years with Rangers) and striker Frode Johnsen. While Dermot Keely has added Davy Byrne and Ian Gilzean to his panel ahead of this evening's game, his counterpart was able to pay in excess of u £600,000 for the experienced Petter Belsvik, who would have been available without on a free transfer in October, in order to have the player available for the European qualifying rounds.
