IK Start

IK Start
Full name	Idrettsklubben Start
Founded	19 September 1905; 106 years ago
Ground	Sør Arena; Kristiansand; (Capacity: 11,700)
Chairman	Magne Kristiansen
Manager	Mons Ivar Mjelde
League	Adeccoligaen
2011	Tippeligaen, 15th (relegated)
Home colours	Away colours

IK Start is a Norwegian football club from the town of Kristiansand, currently playing in Adeccoligaen having been relegated from Tippeligaen in 2011. The club was founded on 19 September 1905. The coach is Mons Ivar Mjelde. The team plays in yellow jerseys, black shorts and yellow socks at home, and blue jerseys, white shorts and blue socks away.

They play their home matches at Sør Arena, the club's own football stadium, opened in 2007. Before moving to Sør Arena, IK Start played their games at Kristiansand Stadion. The team's official supporter club is called "Menigheden" (Dialectal for "The Congregation")

Start's style of playing is often described as 'makrellfotball' (mackerel football), meaning the whole team is in constant, coordinated motion. Another feature of their playing style is the so-called 'Start-vippen' (Start-tip), where the ball at a free-kick is tipped up by one player before hit by another.

[edit] History

Start were Norwegian champions in 1978 and 1980. They participated in the European Cup in 1979 and 1981, as well as being qualified for the UEFA-cup 2006/2007. The years since 1995 have been turbulent, but recent investments have given greater expectations for the future. In 2004 they won the Norwegian First Division and were promoted to the Norwegian Premier League.

In 2005 they reached second place, following Vålerenga, after a strong comeback season in the Norwegian Premier League. For this, Start earned a place in the UEFA Cup 2006.

In 2006, after beating Skála Ítróttarfelag of the Faroe Islands in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup, and Drogheda United of Ireland in the second qualifying round (after penalties), they reached the first round of the UEFA Cup, where they were knocked out by AFC Ajax of the Netherlands.

2007 was a bad year for Start, with problems working as a team and management issues. It led to a disappointing 13th place, leading to Start's relegation to Adeccoligaen. In 2008 the club got financial problems. The local government saved the club from bankruptcy.

Ahead of the 2009-season, Knut Tørum was appointed head coach of Start. The next two seasons, Start was positioned at the lower half of Tippeligaen. On 22 June 2011, Start had 13 points in 12 matches, and Tørum decided to resign hours before a cup-match against Strømsgodset, a match Start won without Tørum. Mons Ivar Mjelde replaced Tørum as head coach, but was not able to save Start from relegation.

[edit] Current squad

As of 5 January 2012. ^[1] Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Alexander Lund Hansen
2	DF	Glenn Andersen
4	DF	Birger Madsen
5	MF	Oladapo Olufemi
6	MF	Espen Søgård
8	MF	Espen Hoff
9	MF	Ernest Asante
10	MF	Solomon Owello
13	GK	Johnny Kristiansen

No.	Position	Player
14	MF	Espen Børufsen
16	FW	Christian Tveit
18	FW	Matthías Vilhjálmsson
21	DF	Henrik Dahlum
22	MF	Sondre Trondstad
26	DF	Jesper Mathisen
28	DF	Rolf Daniel Vikstøl
29	DF	Espen Knudsen
33	DF	Amin Nouri

For season transfers, see transfers winter 2011–12.

[edit] Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.		Position	Player

[edit] Achievements

Norwegian Premier League:
- Winners (2): 1978, 1980
- Runners-up (1): 2005
- Bronze medal (7): 1973, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1992
Norwegian cup:
- Semi finalist (5): 1975, 1978, 1988, 2000, 2006
Norwegian First Division:
- Winners (3): 1968, 1972, 2004
- Promotion: 1958/59, 1988, 1999, 2001, 2008

[edit] Recent history

Season		Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	Cup	Notes
2000	TL	13	26	5	6	15	40	66	21	semi-final	relegated to 1. Division
2001	D1	2	30	18	8	4	59	33	62	last 16	promoted to Tippeligaen
2002	TL	14	26	2	5	19	21	72	11	last 16	relegated to 1. Division
2003	D1	9	30	12	4	14	53	50	40	3rd round
2004	D1	1	30	24	2	4	71	28	74	3rd round	promoted to Tippeligaen
2005	TL	2	26	13	6	7	47	35	45	last 16
2006	TL	6	26	10	7	9	29	32	37	semi-final
2007	TL	13	26	6	8	12	34	44	26	last 16	relegated to Adeccoligaen
2008	AL	3	30	17	8	5	58	34	59	last 16	promoted to Tippeligaen
2009	TL	9	30	10	10	10	46	52	40	3rd round
2010	TL	8	30	11	9	10	57	60	42	quarter-final
2011	TL	15	30	7	5	18	39	61	26	semi-final	relegated to Adeccoligaen

^[2]

[edit] European record

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1974–75	UEFA Cup	1. round	Djurgården	1-2	0-5	1-7
1976–77	UEFA Cup	1. round	Wacker Innsbruck	0-5	1-2	1-7
1977–78	UEFA Cup	1. round	Fram	6-0	2-0	8-0
		2. round	Eintracht Braunschweig	1-0	0-4	1-4
1978–79	UEFA Cup	1. round	Esbjerg	0-0	0-1	0-1
1979-80	European Cup	1. round	Strasbourg	1-2	0-4	1-6
1981-82	European Cup	1. round	AZ	1-3	0-1	1-4
2006-07	UEFA Cup	1. qualifying round	Skála	3-0	1-0	4-0
		2. qualifying round	Drogheda United	1-0	0-1	1-1 (11-10 p)
		1. round	Ajax	2-5	0-4	2-9