Geir Johansen

For the defender, see Geir Johansen (footballer, born 1968).

Geir Johansen
Personal information
Full name Geir "Bolla" Johansen
Date of birth (1960-07-07) 7 July 1960 (age 64)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975?–1987 Eik-Tønsberg
1988–1989 Moss
1990–1993 Eik-Tønsberg
1994–1995 Ivrig
1996 Eik-Tønsberg
International career
1981 Norway u-21 8 (0)
1983 Norway 4 (0)
Managerial career
1994–1995 Ivrig (player-manager)
1997–1998 Eik-Tønsberg (assistant)
1998– Eik-Tønsberg
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Geir "Bolla" Johansen (born 7 July 1960) is a retired Norwegian football midfielder.

Career

As a young player he was on trials with FC Eindhoven and spent a fortnight with Borussia Mönchengladbach. He did not like the prospect of playing and living alone in a foreign country.[1]

He played for Eik-Tønsberg most of the 1980s, but joined Moss FK ahead of the 1988 season. With Moss being the reigning champions, the team contested the 1988–89 European Cup but was knocked out by Real Madrid. In 1990 Johansen rejoined Eik.[2][3]

Johansen was capped eight times for Norway in 1981, and then four times for Norway in 1983.[4]

Eik was relegated from the 1985 Norwegian First Division. When Johansen was offered a contract by Moss in the closing months of 1987, he was enticed by the prospect of playing in the top tier as well as in European competition. Johansen would commute with the Moss–Horten Ferry.[5] Johansen recorded one assist in his debut match for Moss.[6] To complicate matters somewhat, Moss also drafted a young defender from their junior ranks into their senior squad, whose name was Geir Johansen as well.[7]

Ahead of the 1994 season he went on to minnows IL Ivrig, becoming player-manager for the Fourth Division team.[8] In the winter of 1996 he returned to Eik, appearing in pre-season friendlies. Among others, he scored 5 goals against Tønsberg FK.[9][10] Ahead of the 1997 season he was offered the positionas assistant manager.[11] He took over as manager in August 1998.[12]

Playing style

He was described as a "petite, light, technically brilliant player".[13] Johansen was also an old school player, did not like stamina training and regularly had the lowest performance among the team members in stamina tests. In line with this, he smoked throughout his playing career. He preferred the ball to be passed directly to his feet, and if it was not, he had a tendency to "protest" by placing his hands on his hips. The direct pass was often used when Johansen lurked inside the penalty area, his back facing the goal, and when he turned around he was often fouled, causing a penalty kick.[1]

Personal life

His nickname was "Bolla" ("The Bun"). He acquired the nickname in his family, as a toddler, because of his round cheeks. When working as a manager, he preferred that his players did not use the nickname.[1]

His favourite English team was Manchester City. A main hobby outside of football was Harness racing.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hole, Svein-Erik (30 April 1999). "Super-Bolla. Mannen, myten og ballen". Tønsbergs Blad (in Norwegian). p. 19.
  2. ^ "Fotballsesongen 1988". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 27 April 1988. pp. 38–39.
  3. ^ "Spillerstaller 1. divisjon fotball menn sesongen 1990" (in Norwegian). Norwegian News Agency. 17 April 1990.
  4. ^ Geir Johansen at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)
  5. ^ Grinvoll, Even (14 December 1987). "Bolla blir mossekråke". Tønsbergs Blad (in Norwegian). p. 19.
  6. ^ Johnsen, Lars (2 May 1988). "Tap i premièren". Moss Avis (in Norwegian). p. 11.
  7. ^ "– Morn, Geir Johansen". Moss Dagblad (in Norwegian). 19 January 1988. p. 9.
  8. ^ "'Bolla' blir ny Ivrigtrener". Jarlsberg (in Norwegian). 11 October 1993. p. 8.
  9. ^ Edvaradsen, John Arne (5 February 1996). "'Bolla' i A-trøya igjen". Tønsbergs Blad (in Norwegian). p. 13.
  10. ^ "Fotball". Tønsbergs Blad (in Norwegian). 8 February 1996. p. 20.
  11. ^ Edvardsen, John Arne (19 September 1996). "'Bolla' kan bli hjelpetrener". Tønsbergs Blad (in Norwegian). p. 21.
  12. ^ Strømnes, André (10 August 1998). "Opp og ned for Bolla". Tønsbergs Blad (in Norwegian). p. 13.
  13. ^ "En ny Geir i angrepet". Moss Dagblad (in Norwegian). 14 December 1987. p. 9.