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EgyptianPlayers.com take you for a deep look at goalkeeper
Rami Shaaban's new Norwegian club.
Read more on: Rami's
Page
The beautiful town of Fredrikstad...
(Image: IFFR)
Fredrikstad Fotballklubb, commonly abbreviated
FFK, is a team from the south-eastern Norwegian town
of Fredrikstad. With about 70,000 inhabitants it is
a rather large town according to Norwegian standards,
and it is a town with a rich football history.
Back in the 50s and 60s FFK was, arguably, Norway's
best football team, and the majority of the club's 19
trophies, 9 league championships and 10 cup championships,
were won in this period. FFK's Norwegian record of 19
trophies wasn't broken until the mighty Rosenborg Ballklubb
of Trondheim won their 7th consecutive league championship
in 1998 bringing them up to a total of 20 trophies.
Another 6 consecutive league championships and two cup
championships has since then left Rosenborg with 28
trophies leaving FFK well behind in second place. Viking
Fotballklubb of Stavanger are the third most successful
team with 13 trophies.
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Ironically, the same year as FFK won their last trophy, 1984,
and the worst period of FFK's history started. FFK were relegated
from the Norwegian top flight in 1984, and weren't back until
2004. The absolute low point was reached with an 8th place
in the Norwegian 3rd level in 1999.
But in 2002 things changed in Fredrikstad. The present coach,
Knut-Thorbjorn Eggen was hired, and with him the optimism
came back to Fredrikstad. With the financial support of the
local millionaire Terje Hoili, himself a former FFK player,
FFK at last managed to gain a promotion to the Norwegian 2nd
level (1st division) that same year. With the new optimism,
the fans also found their way back to Fredrikstad Stadium,
setting a new Norwegian attendance record for the 3rd level
with 7,013 spectators at the game against Kvikk Halden on
the 15th of the 9th 2002 which FFK won 7-1. The following
year, 2003, FFK managed to gain promotion to the Norwegian
top level in their first year in the 1st division.
Rami's manager is Norway's ex-manager Egil
Olsen... (Image: Siste)
However, their return to the Norwegian Premier
Division wasn't all glory. At the summer break 2004, FFK were
rock bottom and thought to be finished. But an astonishing
series of results in the autumn made sure FFK survived.
This season was almost the opposite of 2004. Under former
Norwegian national team coach Egil "Drillo" Olsen
FFK enjoyed a good spring, but after an autumn collapse, only
beating league runners-up Start in Kristiansand on the last
night ensured that FFK would enjoy yet another year of top
flight football.
FFK's long term goal is to yet again become a top Norwegian
football team, and to fuel those ambitions the club is currently
building a new stadium with a capacity of around 12,000 to
replace the time worn Fredrikstad Stadium. The recent signing
of former Arsenal goalkeeper Rami Shaaban is also seen by
the fans as a sign that the club leaders are serious about
the club's ambitions.
Fredrikstad Fotballklubb facts:
Founded: April 7th 1903
Nickname: Aristokratene (the Aristocrats)
League champions: 1938, 1939, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1957,
1960, and 1961.
Cup champions: 1932, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1950, 1957, 1961,
1966 and 1984.
Home ground: Fredrikstad Stadium (10.500)
Attendance record: 15.534 against Larvik Turn 30.09.1956
EgyptianPlayers.com will bring you all the news you need about
Rami at his new club...
- Discuss the latest about Egyptian soccer in EP
forums
- Read reports on Rami in Rami
Shaaban's page
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