Henning Berg

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Henning Berg
Personal information
Full name Henning Stille Berg
Date of birth (1969-09-01) 1 September 1969 (age 43)
Place of birth Eidsvoll, Norway
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Defender
Youth career
1987–1988 Lørenskog
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1988–1991 Vålerenga 66 (2)
1992–1993 Lillestrøm 20 (1)
1993–1997 Blackburn Rovers 159 (4)
1997–2000 Manchester United 66 (2)
2000 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 17 (0)
2000–2003 Blackburn Rovers 74 (3)
2003–2004 Rangers 20 (0)
National team
1992–2004 Norway 100 (9)
Teams managed
2005–2008 Lyn
2009–2011 Lillestrøm
2012 Blackburn Rovers
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Henning Stille Berg (born 1 September 1969) is a Norwegian football manager and former player.[1]

He played as a central defender or right-back from 1988 until 2004, most notably in the Premier League where he won titles with both Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United, thus becoming the first player to win the Premier League with two different clubs.[2] He also played in his native land for Vålerenga and Lillestrøm before finishing his career in the Scottish Premier League with Rangers. He was capped 100 times by Norway, scoring 9 goals.

Berg became a manager in 2005 with Lyn and then Lillestrøm. He returned to Blackburn as manager in 2012, but was sacked after just 57 days in the post, overseeing ten games including only one victory.

Contents

Club career [edit]

Born in Eidsvoll, Berg played for Vålerenga and Lillestrøm before coming to England. Blackburn manager Kenny Dalglish attended an England–Norway match at Wembley on 14 October 1992 to scout Tore Pedersen. However, Pedersen was injured and replaced by Berg. Dalglish was so impressed with Berg that he later offered him a contract.[3] He moved to Blackburn Rovers for £400,000 in January 1993 in the first 1992–93 FA Premier League season.[4]

On February 2, 1993, Berg made his debut for Blackburn as a substitute in the 2-1 Premier League home defeat to Crystal Palace.[5] He soon made the right-back position his own in the Rovers side and played a vital role in Blackburn's successful title-winning season under manager Kenny Dalglish in 1994-95, missing only two games throughout the season. Berg's versatility (he was also a competent centre-back) and consistent performances for Blackburn earned him a move to Manchester United in 1997 for a fee of £5 million - at the time the joint-highest fee ever paid for a defender by a British club.[6]

Berg had supported Manchester United as a boy and manager Alex Ferguson had first wanted to sign Berg for United nine years earlier when he was a teenager, but the move fell through because United could not obtain a work permit.[7]

While at Manchester United, Berg helped the club win two league titles (1999 and 2000), one FA Cup in 1999 and one UEFA Champions League title in 1999; part of the famous Treble winning 1999 side, despite missing the two cup finals through injury.[6] He scored three goals while at the club and is particularly fondly remembered for an outstanding display against Inter Milan in the quarter-finals of United's Champions League winning season.

In 1999, Berg became the first player to win the Premier League with two different clubs, a feat he would be alone with until 2010. Later Nicolas Anelka, Ashley Cole, Gael Clichy, Kolo Touré and Carlos Tevez matched the feat.[8]

Berg was a regular choice in the Manchester United line-up in season 1997-98. He was restricted to just 16 Premier League games in 1998–99 following the arrival of Jaap Stam, only to regain his place in the side during 1999–2000 when Ronny Johnsen was injured.

Berg re-joined Blackburn Rovers in September 2000, initially on loan for three months, before securing a permanent transfer under manager Graeme Souness. Rovers were promoted back to the Premier League in 2001. Further success followed for Berg in the following season, when Blackburn won the League Cup, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, with Berg lifting the trophy as captain.[9]

Berg later moved on from Blackburn and had a season at the Scottish club Rangers in 2003–04, where he played his last game professionally.

International career [edit]

At international level, Berg was part of the Norwegian national team at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, as well as Euro 2000. He made his debut for Norway in a May 1992 friendly match against the Faroe Islands and earned a total of 100 caps over a period of 12 years, scoring 9 goals.[10] His final international match was a May 2004 friendly game against Wales in which he was substituted early on by Claus Lundekvam to mark the end of his Norway career.

Management career [edit]

Lyn [edit]

22 April 2005, Berg was appointed manager of Lyn, at the age of 35. Berg signed a four-year contract with the Oslo side. Berg's first game with Lyn was against Start two days later, getting a 1-1 draw, followed up by winning 6-1 against Molde the next week. Lyn finished 3rd that season.

Lillestrøm [edit]

On 19 August 2008, Lyn announced that Berg had accepted an offer from Lillestrøm, where he had last played in 1992. Henning Berg signed a five-year contract and took over as head coach on 21 October 2008. On 27 October 2011, Henning Berg was sacked three matches before the end of the season as investor Per Berg promised fresh funds for acquiring quality players after the season.

Blackburn Rovers [edit]

While working as a pundit for Norwegian TV, Berg had made a withering assessment of Blackburn's owners, Venky's. He said: "There are no real managers with credibility who would accept a job like that."[11] On 31 October 2012, Blackburn Rovers announced that Berg had accepted an offer for a three-year contract to manage the club.[2] He became Blackburn's first foreign manager. Berg said of his previous comments about the club's owners, Venky's: "That was me looking at it from the outside without knowing really what was going on in the inside. I think this club at the moment is going in the right direction."[11]

Berg's first match in charge of Blackburn came on 3 November 2012, a 2-0 defeat away to Crystal Palace.[12] His first and only win was on 17 November 2012, a 4-1 victory away to Peterborough.[13] That was to prove to be his only win as Blackburn manager, as Berg was sacked on 27 December, after just 57 days in the post.[14]

On the 14th of February 2013, the LMA lodged legal proceedings to the high court against Blackburn Rovers for non-payment of wages to Henning Berg.

Career statistics [edit]

As of July 2004
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental[15] Other[16] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackburn Rovers 1992–93 4 0 – – 4 0
1993–94 40 1 0 0 – – 40 1
1994–95 42 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 42 1
1995–96 37 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 0
1996–97 36 2 2 0 3 0 – – 41 2
Total 159 4 10 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 185 4
Manchester United 1997–98 27 1 2 0 0 0 7 1 0 0 36 2
1998–99 16 0 5 0 3 0 5 0 1 0 29 0
1999–2000 22 1 0 0 0 0 12 0 3 0 37 1
2000–01 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 66 2 7 0 3 0 23 1 4 0 103 3
Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2000–01 17 0 0 0 1 0 – – 18 0
Blackburn Rovers 24 1 3 0 0 0 – – 27 1
2001–02 34 1 2 0 2 0 – – 38 1
2002–03 16 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 – 19 1
Total 91 3 6 0 3 0 2 0 – 102 3
Rangers 2003–04 20 0 3 0 0 0 7 0 – 30 0
Total 20 0 3 0 0 0 7 0 – 30 0
Total 336 4 26 0 22 0 32 1 4 0 420 5

Managerial statistics [edit]

As of 27 December 2012
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L Win %
Lyn Norway 22 April 2005 9 September 2008 7002120000000000000120 700155000000000000055 700142000000000000042 700123000000000000023 700145830000000000045.83
Lillestrøm Norway 21 October 2008 27 October 2011 700189000000000000089 700128000000000000028 700128000000000000028 700133000000000000033 700131460000000000031.46
Blackburn Rovers England 31 October 2012 27 December 2012 700110000000000000010 70001000000000000001 70003000000000000003 70006000000000000006 700110000000000000010.00
Total 7002219000000000000219 700184000000000000084 700173000000000000073 700162000000000000062 700138360000000000038.36
Year Nat Team Pos Pl W D L GF–GA +/− Pts Cup Notes
2005 Norway FC Lyn Oslo 3rd 26 12 8 6 37–21 +16 44/78 3rd Round
2006 Norway FC Lyn Oslo 7th 26 10 5 11 33–36 −3 35/78 4th Round UEFA Cup 1st Qual. Round.
2007 Norway FC Lyn Oslo 9th 26 10 4 12 43–46 −3 34/78 Qtr Final
2008 Norway FC Lyn Oslo - 19 8 5 6 27–23 +4 29/57 Qtr Final Left by mutual consent.
2009 Norway Lillestrøm SK 11th 30 9 10 11 43–50 −7 37/90 4th Round
2010 Norway Lillestrøm SK 10th 30 9 13 8 51–44 +7 40/90 3rd Round
2011 Norway Lillestrøm SK – 27 9 5 13 45–49 −4 32/81 4th Round Sacked after 27 rounds

(Three matches before the end of the season)

Honours [edit]

Club [edit]

Blackburn Rovers
Manchester United

Individual [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Holm, Jan. "Henning Berg". Store Norske Leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 6 November 2012. 
  2. ^ a b c "Blackburn Rovers: Henning Berg appointed manager at Ewood Park". BBC Sport. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012. 
  3. ^ Gaughan, Jack (1 November 2012). "Blackburn Rovers opt for untried former fan favourite Henning Berg to lift the gloom". The Independent. Retrieved 6 November 2012. 
  4. ^ "Berg joins Blackburn". New Straits Times. 30 January 1993. Retrieved 10 February 2013. 
  5. ^ Cryer, Andy (2 November 2012). "Berg believes in Blackburn Rovers ambition". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 6 November 2012. 
  6. ^ a b Flanagan, Chris (1 November 2012). "Berg was big part of a great era at Ewood". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 10 February 2013. 
  7. ^ "United land Berg after nine years". New Straits Times. 12 August 1997. Retrieved 10 February 2013. 
  8. ^ "RECORD: Three more players win PL with two clubs". Infostrada Live. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012. 
  9. ^ "Blackburn Rovers: Henning Berg appointed manager at Ewood Park". BBC Sport. BBC. 
  10. ^ Søfting, Thomas. "Norway - Record International Players". Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 6 November 2012. 
  11. ^ a b Farrell, Dominic (1 November 2012). "Berg rows back on criticism of Blackburn owners as he takes charge". Independent IE. Retrieved 6 November 2012. 
  12. ^ "Crystal Palace 2-0 Blackburn". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 November 2012. 
  13. ^ "Peterborough 1-4 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 17 November 2012. 
  14. ^ "Henning Berg: Blackburn Rovers sack manager after 57 days". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2012. 
  15. ^ Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup
  16. ^ Includes FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup
  17. ^ Bryne, Lars (31 October 2012). "Tilfeldigheter gjorde at Berg ble Blackburn-spiller". Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (in Norwegian). Retrieved 1 November 2012. 

External links [edit]

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Henning_Berg&oldid=549251258"