Standstill
By Håvard Lindheim, 17 Januar 2005, 11:08
The signing of Bjørn Tore Kvarme does not contribute much to the renewal of the team, but at least he will calm the defensive situation so that Rosenborg has more time to search for "the new Hoftun".
VETERAN: Bjørn Tore Kvarme in action during the very first Champions League match at Lerkendal, the 2-1 win against Blackburn, autumn of 1995.
The local lad is one of the Norwegian proffessionals abroad that has had most success in recent times. Several should remember that he played more or less regular in Liverpool the first year after he left Lerkendal as Bosman player in January 1997. But after he transfered to French club St. Etienne in 1999, he disappeared from the columns of the anglophile Norwegian sports press.
Out of the searchlight, "Beto" played regularily in France, and often did a good job in the Ligue 1. After two seasons for the green shirts, he moved on to Spanish Primera Division and Real Sociedad. Bjørn Tore and his family liked the Basque area, and he had success on the field as well. As many will recollect, Beto and Sociedad almost stole the gold from Real Madrid in the 2002/03-season; the league was settled in the final round.
Then to Bastia, last autumn, where the stay most of all was a disaster outside the field: the family Kvarme didn't like Corsica at all. The sports issue wasn't too bad, as Bjørn Tore played over half of the league matches.
But now, here Kvarme is, back in Rosenborg, exactly eight years after he left Trondheim and started his carreer abroad. It is a footballer with great routine and A squad experience from three of the largest leagues that now comes for free to RBK.
The routine is one thing. Another is that Beto plays in a position where Rosenborg deerly needed to be strengthened. During his years abroad, Kvarme has been remade from a right back to a full blooded middle defender, and that suits RBK well, as players like Torjus Hansén, Are Tronseth and Martin Høyem left the club for free.
Still, there is no doubt that Bjørn Tore Kvarme isn't a youngster anymore. This summer, he'll reach 33, but he should still have two or three seasons left on the highest level. I do have great understanding for those who wanted a younger replacement. RBK has tried, too, with checking out Brede Hangeland and André Muri. These players are good examples on the hunt being a difficult one; Hangeland's club Viking said no, and Muri didn't want to come.
I view Kvarme as a direct replacement for Hansén. Both age and position are near identical, but noone should doubt that the first mentioned is a far better footballer.
And at that, Miika Koppinen hasn't yet had his debut for Rosenborg. The Finnish international has good experience both on the midfield and at the right back, but according to coach Ulseth, his greatest potential is that of middle defender.
Rosenborg has, with its four seasoned players, good coverage and many options in the middle defence. The gentlemen Hoftun, Riseth, Kvarme and Koppinen gives safety and calm in the hunt for a new league triumph, and at the same time, Perry, Eggen and Bratseth gets more time in searching for a new Head of Defence to lead Rosenborg for the coming ten years.
