Kjetil Rekdal: – Stefan Johansen is extremely important for Norway – Aftenposten

Seven stitches above the eye, gladiator tattoo on his arm and physically stronger. Stefan Johansen is Norway’s new midfield boss.

LILLESTRØM: Friday plays Celtic pro’s 65 match for club and national team this season. Several of Norway’s former midfield hero believes 24-year-old from Vardo is the right man in the right place for the coaching staff is new national team.

– Stefan is an extremely important player for Norway. He has the strength that he is good both ways. He has offensive power, aggressiveness defensively, which are qualities a modern midfielder must have, in addition to that he is a leader on the pitch, says former captain Kjetil Rekdal (46).

Johansen played his 17th cap for Norway in 0 -0 match against Sweden at Ullevaal Monday. There was Celtic’s Norwegian bestemann Aftenposten player exchange. Friday waiting Azerbaijan in the important European Championship qualifying match.

Tough game program a challenge

For 24-year-old flight from Bodo / Glimt to the estate, then on to Scotland, was about to be adult, professional and more aware. A more mature Johansen says he has learned a lot along the way that have given him a key role at club and national teams.

– I’ve played fast over an entire season of a new club, I have developed myself and taken new steps and has been very conscious of this with diet and sleep. There I was not as conscious of when I was younger. There have been a decisive factor that I’ve managed to play over 60 games this year, says Johansen.

He dominated at times large in domestic league, førhan was taken to Scotland in January last year. This year, he was named Player of the Year by his colleagues in the Scottish league and enjoys great respect in Celtic.

– I felt I took major steps when I was in Strømsgodset, but in Scotland, I have learned new things all the time. Playing so many games has been a challenge for me, but I’ve handled it well and I know what it takes to make it. And to win titles with the team is important. Now I have won the league three years running (two in Celtic, one of the estate, editor.) Plus a cuptittel in Scotland. The season has been a huge upswing, says Johansen.

obvious the team

– He plays for a club that has a tremendous impact on them, playing the titles each year, and he has evolved to become one of the best and most important players at Celtic. It takes him into the national team. Therefore, he is basically obvious on the Norwegian national team in the future. But he’s not going to remain in Celtic forever I think, so the next club elections are also important for his further development, says Kjetil Rekdal who has 82 caps behind him.

He is supported by Sandefjord trainer and former teammate on the national team, Lars Bohinen (45).

– I think Stefan is good. He has a good pass repertoire, good punch in his game, is a good first defender and choices he takes is for me just keeps getting better. He still has some way to go, but Stefan Norway has a potential supporter of the national team for many years, says the man with 49 A-caps for Norway.

– arrow pointing his right up. He is much more stable in their performance, and he has a good mix of both being an aggressive leader on the pitch, to be the one who can beat the decisive passes. For me it’s about exploiting his best’ve då have the correct player next to him on the Norwegian midfielder, says Ståle Solbakken (47) with 57 appearances for Norway.

Flew into tattoo artist from Sweden

Stefan Johansen laughs when he gets questions about the scar over his right eye. Seven stitches were needed to get patched up the wound after an unpleasant encounter with an opponent. The arm has a gladiator tattoo got plenty of space. Thus, Johansen received both the old and new body decorations for a footballer.

– It was something I wanted in, so I and a friend had flown over a Swede who made it, he says and smiles.

Norway-Azerbaijan kicks off Friday. 20:45.

Published: 10.jun. 2015 6:59 p.m.