Rune Lange

Rune Lange

Personal information
Date of birth	(1977-06-24) 24 June 1977
Place of birth	Tromsø, Norway
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Fløya
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1993–1994	Fløya	32	(39)
1995–1997	Tromsdalen	54	(30)
1997–2000	Tromsø	72	(50)
2000	Trabzonspor	12	(5)
2001–2006	Club Brugge	108	(52)
2006–2008	Vålerenga	17	(2)
2008	→ Tromsø (loan)	3	(0)
2009	→ Hartlepool United (loan)	3	(1)
2009	Kvik Halden	2	(1)
Total		303	(200)
International career
1997	Norway U20	1	(0)
1998–1999	Norway U21	18	(2)
2004	Norway	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rune Lange (born 24 June 1977) is a Norwegian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Career

Lange hails from the city of Tromsø and joined the club Fløya at the age of five. As a 17-year-old, he became top scorer in the 3. divisjon (fourth tier) with 33 goals in 22 matches, and then moved on to play for Tromsdalen in the 1. divisjon (2nd tier). Lange stayed with the club for three seasons, during which he experienced a relegation and a season in the 2. divisjon (3rd tier).

During the summer of 1997, Lange signed for Tromsø, which played in the Tippeligaen (first tier). He scored seven goals in 11 matches for Tromsø during his first season, and nearly experienced another relegation, but Tromsø survived after having to play qualification matches. Lange also debuted for the Norway under-20 football team. In 1998, Lange scored 20 goals in 26 matches, and was almost sold to Coventry City. Lange stayed at Tromsø, however, as he could not come to an agreement with Coventry on the contract details. In 1999, Lange become top scorer of the Norwegian top division, scoring 23 goals. Lange also made his debut for the Norway U21s that season.

In 2000, Lange started as a player for Tromsø, but was sold to the Turkish side Trabzonspor in July. Lange only played 14 matches and scored seven goals in Turkey.

In April 2001 he moved to Belgian side Club Brugge, the team where he played until 2006.

In 2004, Lange debuted for the Norway national team, playing against Wales.

In February 2009, Lange signed for Hartlepool United on loan until the end of the 2008-09 season. In his third game for Hartlepool, his shoulder was dislocated. On 13 March 2009, Lange had surgery on his injured shoulder and was scheduled not to return to training for at least six weeks.

In September 2009 he signed for Kvik Halden (in the fourth tier of Norwegian football) until the remainder of the season, making four appearances (two league games and both play-off games).

As of March 2011 he was working as a scout for his former employer, Club Brugge.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Fløya	1993	3. divisjon	10	6			—
	1994		22	33			—
	Total		32	39
Tromsdalen	1995	1. divisjon	21	4			—
	1996		21	11			—
	1997	2. divisjon	12	15			—
	Total		54	30
Tromsø	1997	Tippeligaen	9	4	0	0	4	2	13	6
	1998		26	20	2	1	—		28	21
	1999		26	23	5	5	—		31	28
	2000		11	3	1	1	—		12	4
	Total		72	50	8	7	4	2	84	59
Trabzonspor	2000–01	Süper Lig	12	5			—
Club Brugge	2000–01	Belgian First Division	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	2001–02		33	20	6	3	7	4	46	27
	2002–03		11	4	0	0	6	2	17	6
	2003–04		26	12	6	2	7	3	40	17
	2004–05		32	15	6	4	10	3	49	23
	2005–06		2	2	0	0	2	0	4	2
	Total		108	53	18	9	32	12	160	75
Vålerenga	2006	Tippeligaen	6	0	1	0	1	0	8	0
	2007		11	2	2	0	2	1	15	3
	2008		0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		17	2	3	0	3	1	23	3
Tromsø	2008	Tippeligaen	3	0			—		3	0
Hartlepool United	2008–09	League 1	3	1	–				3	1
Career total			300	180

Honours

Club Brugge

• Belgian First Division: 2002–03, 2004–05
• Belgian Cup: 2001–02, 2003–04
• Belgian Supercup: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

External links

• Rune Lange at Soccerbase