Odegaard and a strange fate with Arsenal

"I've always had a strange connection with Arsenal. It all started long before I joined the club. I don't even know how to explain it, except for a little story," Odegaard began. Article on The Players' Tribune.

Odegaard was born in 1998, belonging to the generation that always wants to go out to play with friends his age or play football, instead of sitting at home playing video games. But one exception is the popular football video game FIFA by EA Sports, with a management mode (Career Mode). "Here, you know, you can become a coach. And the club that I always choose to manage is Arsenal. That's my team in this game," the Norwegian midfielder said.

As a child, like many children who were passionate about football, Odegaard always watched the Premier League and was impressed with Arsenal's unbeaten squad in the 2003-2004 season. He also watched films of Thierry Henry, then followed Arsenal closely in the following years with playmakers like Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri or Mesut Ozil. "Those are players who are really smart, technical, hold the ball well and have the ability to make creative passes. Those are my favorite types of players," Odegaard said.

"As I got older, around 2015, I started appearing in FIFA," continued the 24-year-old midfielder. "At first I didn't look like me in real life, and I got a score of 67. But I got into the game and that's very important. So, naturally, one of the first things I did. When you pretend to be Arsene Wenger, you bring yourself back to Arsenal. Haha! Me and Arsenal, I think it's a good combination."

That special connection became a reality when Odegaard joined Arsenal two years ago. It was a decision that changed his life. He walks into practice with a smile every day. But his story is definitely not the one in the video game, and this is a very different journey from what he imagined in FIFA. "In real life, you can't just choose where you want to go and everything will be perfect," Odegaard writes.

Odegaard was born in Drammen and spent the first years of his career with local club Drammen Strong. His father, Hans Erik Odegaard is a former footballer and co-founder of the football division of Drammen Strong. He also became the team's coach and directly led his son. For Odegaard, it was a blessing, especially since his father was a midfielder who played in the Norwegian first division. "If I don't play with my friends, I practice with my dad. Those are real training sessions," Odegaard said.

Many former professional athletes often exert pressure, whether intentionally or unintentionally, by forcing training or appearing at their son's training sessions and competitions, even interfering with the coach's work. But the story of father and son Odegaard is completely different. He said: "It was me who pushed my dad. He knew things that other parents didn't. So I wanted him to teach me, to give me an edge."

According to Odegaard, dad was especially obsessed with his cognitive development and nimble legs. He always made his son look over his shoulder before receiving the ball. In the winter, when he can't play outdoors, his dad takes him to the indoor sports room and they do exercises in which he throws the ball from a chair and bounces it back at his son. "He would come in from behind, squeeze me from the side, and I had to look, adjust before taking in. Now, when you see me with my back to a defender, use that touch and reading the game quickly, it's thanks to my dad," Odegaard said.

In 2005, when Odegaard was six years old, his parents and others contributed nearly $5 each so that Drammen Strong could refit the Kjappen soccer field with artificial turf. This is said to be very important to Odegaard's development, as he has spent countless hours on this field.

"I have family, friends and a good life. I was just a kid obsessed with football. There was an artificial football field right next to my house in Drammen - exactly 100 meters away - and I was I lived there all my childhood. Now sometimes when I go home, I see the kids on the same yard talking and taking pictures without any care and I wonder, what are they doing?! That's not the way My friends and I play. We're out there practicing, one on one, until it gets dark. Everything is very serious," Odegaard compared his childhood self to the current youth.

In 2009, Odegaard joined Stromsgodset's youth team, training and competing with older boys. The Norwegian FA also organizes young talent in local district teams, and Odegaard played his first game for Buskerud in January 2010, when he was just 11 years old.

In 2012, Odegaard started training with the first team Stromsgodset, at the age of 13. He made his debut the same year, in a mid-season friendly against local rivals Mjondalen IF. The midfielder also had short training trips to Bayern Munich and Man Utd. In 2013, Odegaard played for both Stromsgodset's youth team (usually aged 17–19) and the club's third team in the fifth tier of Norwegian football, aged 14.

Odegard said: "People always want to know how I grew up in Norway with all these crazy expectations. To be honest, I don't know how to answer. It's strange to say, but at that time I thought... was normal.". "I think I'm too young, maybe too naive? To fully understand everything, you know? People can imagine that I must avoid the media's evaluation of me and live in a foam, but I didn't. I actually read everything they wrote about me." Then everything is over, and I continue to move forward. "

In January 2014, Odegaard - aged 15 - was approved to become a first-team player for Stromsgodset, but no professional contract was signed. According to the rules, to compete in Tippeligaen - the highest division of Norwegian football - players are required to have a professional contract.

However, Stromsgodset "circled the law" by enrolling Odegaard in the B team for amateur players, qualifying him for up to three games per season. The midfielder cannot train with Stromsgodset during the day because he is still in the compulsory education program. So as part of the deal, Odegaard trained two nights a week with Mjondalen IF - a semi-professional First Division club at the time, where his father was one of the coaches.

In April 2014, Odegaard - then 15 years and 118 days old - made his Stromsgodset debut against Aalesunds FK and became the youngest player ever to play at Tippeligaen. On May 5, he signed a professional contract - which eliminates the limit of three matches per season. Eleven days later, Odegaard scored his first professional goal and became the youngest ever goalscorer in Tippeligaen, sealing a 4-1 win over Sarpsborg 08 FF at home. In July, the 1998 midfielder played his first game in Europe, when he replaced Christopher Vilsvik at the end of a 0-1 loss to Steaua Bucuresti in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

Odegaard admitted: "I was very focused on being the best at the time. I knew I had the quality, but remained calm, not really too excited about the future. I enjoyed playing with him. friends for my hometown club After that, things started to progress very quickly. When I was 13, I made my debut for Stromsgodset. When I was 15, I became the youngest player to play for Norway. That's when everything happened. really go crazy."

In August 2014, Odegaard was called up to the national team and played the entire UAE 0-0 draw at Stavanger. He broke the record that has existed for more than a century, when he became the youngest player to play for Norway at professional level, with 15 years and 253 days. The previous record belonged to Tormod Kjellsen - who made his national team debut at 15 years and 351 days in 1910.

In September 2014, Odegaard came on for the second half of a 2-1 home win against Bulgaria in Euro 2016 qualifying. At 15 years and 300 days, he broke another record by becoming the youngest player to compete in qualifying. Euro, breaking the record set by Icelandic player Sigurdur Jonsson in 1983.

For Odegaard, this is an unforgettable memory. He said: "I remember being on the pitch for the last 20 minutes against Bulgaria at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, and the entire audience on the pitch, over 20,000 people, going crazy. Every time I touched the ball, they cheered. I can still hear that sound.It's been a long time since there's been a 'superstar' in Norway so fans were a bit desperate.So when they started hearing rumors about this young man from Drammen, they just want to believe it. They don't even really know if I'm good at kicking. Everything adds to this weird hype."

Wenger revealed that he wanted to sign Odegaard in 2014, when he was just 15 years old. The two chatted live after the Boxing Day match, when Odegaard visited Arsenal's London Colney. But eventually Odegaard joined Real for a fee of about 5 million USD in January 2015.

"I was very close to joining Arsenal," insisted Odegaard. "I met Wenger when I was in London Colney. He took me and my dad to dinner. It was great, but also strange. It was Wenger, you know. He was the legend that I watched on television when growing up, and now I'm sitting across from him and eating steak. I was so nervous, just sitting there thinking 'Is he analyzing me right now? He's going to judge me. if I eat chips? Maybe I shouldn't eat them'. Hahaha!".

So why Real? "I talked a lot with my dad and family. In the end, Madrid is Madrid," explains Odegaard. "They were the reigning Champions League champions with the best players in the world. I loved Isco back then, he dribbled the ball very well. It was a different type of player for me. But what's really important in this game. Real's offer was that they let me play with Team B immediately. And the coach of the team at that time was Zinedine Zidane."

Norwegian football prodigy more about the moment of choosing Real Madrid: "Before I officially responded, I remember my father and I sat on the sofa and watched a televised Real Madrid game. Then he turned to me with a phone in his hand and said, 'Is it time? Should we tell them?' We talked about this decision for too long, because it was difficult to refuse Another great club. But in the end, we did. My father kept a draft on the phone for about a week or two. This information is really simple. "Odegard has decided that if the club still wants my son, he will come." I just asked him to text. "

Real's debut date did not go as smoothly as signaling a difficult journey for Odegaard in Spain. At that time, the owner of the Bernabeu stadium sent a plane to Norway early, leaving Odegaard with no time to shower or dress properly. After arriving in Madrid, the midfielder knew that he would go straight to the training ground for a medical check-up and launch a new club. In the press conference room at the Bernabeu, Odegaard felt awkward wearing an old striped sweater, sitting next to the legendary Emilio Butragueno in an elegant suit.

"I hadn't even showered, was trying to run my fingers through my hair," Odegaard recalls. "It was the most important day of my life and the images were broadcast around the world. I was the player that Real beat other top clubs to sign. But back then, I looked like a player. that random school kid they just pulled out from the stadium tour. At that moment, I thought in my mind, 'I wish I had changed my coat or someone told me I wasn't going to the hotel. Why didn't anyone. tell me?' Hahaha!".

Odegaard admits to being nervous about getting out of his comfort zone. He continued: "When it's my turn to speak, I put on these big headphones and whisper in Norwegian like 'I'm so proud'. But in a strange way, I think the moment is real. It's helped a lot of people to see me. As soon as you're famous, people expect you to be a certain person. It's like you're this superhero who can do anything. You can't play football, so you also have to be able to speak well, be confident, always give your best. But that's not realistic."

Under the agreement, Odegaard trains daily with the first team and plays regularly with the B team. He also revealed stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema or Gareth Bale to be kind, caring and advised. advised and helped him a lot. "It seemed like a smart plan at the time, but in the end, I didn't find a place in either group. With Team B, I wasn't with them very often so I couldn't find a connection. In the first team, I was just a kid who came to practice every day. I didn't participate in matches, felt like an outsider and was stuck in the middle," he said.

In his first two seasons, Odegaard scored five goals in 62 games for Real's B team, but only made one La Liga appearance. Therefore, the midfielder who has not yet turned 18 is criticized by the Spanish media for not meeting expectations. "I was an easy target," he said. "Perhaps if I were Hispanic, I might have had a little more time to mature. Honestly, I don't know. After all, it's just the nature of expectations. There is no level at all. middle in modern football. You can only be the best contract in history, or the worst."

But Odegaard does not regret his decision to join Real and insists he has learned a lot needed to reach the top. "I watch, train and learn from the best players in the world, my idols. I played at the Bernabeu. I learned to be tough and face challenges. That's part of the game. who I am, and the reason I am where I am today. When I was in Norway, it seemed like I had all the options in the world. Just a few years later, I had to face the reality that the The club doesn't wait in line for me anymore."

In January 2017, Odegaard joined Heerenveen on an 18-month loan deal. He scored three goals in 34 matches, then continued to play in the Netherlands with Vitesse on loan. "If you play FIFA and move from Real to Heerenveen, you might think something went wrong. I don't mean to offend the Dutch league," Odegaard said. "But this is a great experience. I get to play regularly at the highest level. I owe a lot of time playing at Heerenveen, where I grew up as a person, and Vitesse, where I grew up as a player. player way".

The 24-year-old midfielder shared more specifically about growing up in the Netherlands. "In Heerenveen, I got my driver's license and didn't need my dad to drive me to practice. I learned to be independent and responsible," he said. "Then at Vitesse I met coach Leonid Slutsky, who was amazing. He believed in my abilities without asking me to create miracles all the time. He improved my decision-making and my team spirit. Soon I was able to find the difficult passes again."

But Odegaard only found his best form and confidence at Real Sociedad, on loan for the 2019-2020 season, scoring seven goals in 36 games. He even scored against Real Madrid to help Sociedad win the quarter-finals of the King's Cup and win La Liga's September best player award. "It's a wonderful club in a beautiful part of the world," Odegaard said of his time with Sociedad. "In a way, the Basque culture is more like Norway. People are more reserved on the surface, but when they're close, they're very caring and protective. I love that."

Impressive performance at Sociedad helps Odegaard return to Real for the 2020-2021 season. He started the opening match of La Liga against Sociedad himself and made his Champions League debut in a Real shirt in a 2-0 win at Inter Milan. However, the Norwegian midfielder still could not compete for the official position and decided to find a new stop in the winter transfer window.

"I spoke to my agent before the transfer window and wanted to leave," Odegaard said. "He tried to reassure me, reminding me that I had just canceled my contract to go back to Madrid. But I made a decision. I can only thank Real for investing in a 16-year-old boy. Everyone has their own. Good intentions and I don't blame anyone, but I needed to find a place where I could settle down. I needed to find a real home. And I found it in North London."

When Arsenal offered a loan contract, Odegaard returned to his childhood with a dream deal on FIFA. At that time, the "Gunners" were in the bottom half of the Premier League table, but Odegaard still accepted because of a conversation via Zoom with coach Mikel Arteta. "I challenge anyone who doesn't believe what Arteta says in live chat," Odegaard praised the Spain coach's ability to convince. "It's hard to explain. Arteta is passionate, intense and sometimes a little crazy. But when Arteta speaks, you understand that whatever he says will happen. He talks about the plan, exactly what it is. I need to change at the club, tell me how I want to fit in and how I will improve."

The fans are another factor that brings Odegaard to the Emirates Stadium. He said: "Arsenal fans messaged me on Instagram telling me to sign. Not just me, my family, my friends and everyone I follow! It's amazing. At Emirates, every time you do one tackle or take a throw-in, the whole stadium cheers like you've scored. They give you confidence that you can do anything."

That season, Arsenal hit the bottom of disappointment when they did not participate in a European Cup for the first time in 25 years. The "Gunners" lost to Villarreal in the Europa League semi-finals, and only finished eighth in the Premier League. But Odegaard personally impressed as a midfielder who led the way, scoring twice in 20 matches under Arteta. This performance convinced the "Gunners" to spend $41 million with $6 million in extra fees to buy Odegaard outright from Real.

Last season, Arsenal prospered when it was always in the top group of the Premier League and only lost fourth place to rival Tottenham in the final rounds. But things at Emirates Stadium have only flourished since this season, stemming from Odegaard becoming Arsenal's new captain, after veteran striker duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette parted ways with the club.

Odegaard flew high in his new role, scoring eight and assisting six, keeping Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. He also won the Player of the Year award for November and December 2022. As a result, Odegaard became the first Arsenal player to receive the honor from Aubameyang in September 2019, and the second Norwegian player to win the award. This is after teammate in the Norwegian team and close friend Erling Haaland.

"We are in the championship race but there is a long way to go and believe me, no one is thinking about the outcome in May," said Odegaard. "It's a cliché but we're focusing on every training session, half time, match. Step by step. If there's anyone who still doesn't fully believe in this team, I would say, There is no limit to what we can achieve. I am proud to be captain of Arsenal and feel like I will be here for a long time."

In the 3-1 win over West Ham on Boxing Day, in addition to giving the fans three points, the Arsenal leadership also invited Wenger to the audience. The 73-year-old former coach sat in the stands near owner Stan Kroenke and son Josh. Throughout the match, Arsenal fans repeatedly chanted Wenger's name to appreciate the dedication of this military leader.

It was the first time the legendary former French coach returned to the Emirates Stadium since leaving Arsenal in 2018. And also the first time Odegaard spoke directly with Wenger since negotiating the contract over a steak and meal. french fries 2014.

"We had a nice chat and Wenger said he would keep a close eye on my career even if I chose Real," Odegaard revealed. "He was honest and said that he used to worry about the way things were going for me. But now he is happy to see me doing well in the right environment. Wenger realized something. Since when I left Norway, everything seemed temporary. I didn't have real stability and deep connection, up until now, and that's very important."

Arsenal are close to qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since the 2017-2018 season, under Wenger. At that time, they passed the group stage, but lost to Bayern with a total score of 2-10 in the 1/8 round. Of course, everything does not stop at the top 4, when the "Gunners" aspire to win the first Premier League title since the 2003-2004 unbeaten season with Wenger. If more dreamy, they are also aiming for a double title, having entered the 1/8 round of the Europa League.

Odegard said: "Every time I lead the team out of the Emirates tunnel, I have my own moment.". "I want to really feel the atmosphere and power of the fans. When they play North London Forever with the megaphone, I always listen and start singing with my breath. Every time I get goose bumps. I close my eyes and think about myself when I was a child on the artificial lawn of Delamen. What will happen?" If you show that child a picture of this moment and tell him that this is his future, what will happen? It's a long journey, but I'm realizing my dream. I'm at home, and the best is still ahead. "