{{for|the defender|Geir Johansen (footballer, born 1968)}} {{short description|Norwegian footballer (born 1960)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Geir Johansen | image = | fullname = Geir "Bolla" Johansen | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|7|7|df=y}} | birth_place = | height = | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1975?–1987 | years2 = 1988–1989 | years3 = 1990–1993 | years4 = 1994–1995 | years5 = 1996 | clubs1 = [[Eik-Tønsberg]] | clubs2 = [[Moss FK|Moss]] | clubs3 = [[Eik-Tønsberg]] | clubs4 = [[IL Ivrig|Ivrig]] | clubs5 = [[Eik-Tønsberg]] | nationalyears1= 1981 | nationalteam1 = [[Norway national under-21 football team|Norway u-21]] | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1= 0 | nationalyears2= 1983 | nationalteam2 = [[Norway national football team|Norway]] | nationalcaps2 = 4 | nationalgoals2= 0 | manageryears1 = 1994–1995 | managerclubs1 = [[IL Ivrig|Ivrig]] (player-manager) | manageryears2 = 1997–1998 | managerclubs2 = [[Eik-Tønsberg]] (assistant) | manageryears3 = 1998– | managerclubs3 = [[Eik-Tønsberg]] }} '''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.<ref name=myth>{{cite news|title=Super-Bolla. Mannen, myten og ballen|last=Hole|first=Svein-Erik|date=30 April 1999|work=Tønsbergs Blad|page=19|language=no}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fotballsesongen 1988|work=[[Aftenposten]]|date=27 April 1988|pages=38–39|language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Spillerstaller 1. divisjon fotball menn sesongen 1990|agency=[[Norwegian News Agency]]|date=17 April 1990|language=Norwegian}}</ref>

Johansen was capped eight times for [[Norway national football team|Norway]] in 1981, and then four times for [[Norway national football team|Norway]] in 1983.<ref>{{NFF|3687361}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bolla blir mossekråke|last=Grinvoll|first=Even|date=14 December 1987|work=Tønsbergs Blad|page=19|language=no}}</ref> Johansen recorded one [[assist (association football)|assist]] in his debut match for Moss.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tap i premièren|last=Johnsen|first=Lars|date=2 May 1988|work=Moss Avis|page=11|language=no}}</ref> To complicate matters somewhat, Moss also drafted a young defender from their junior ranks into their senior squad, whose name was [[Geir Johansen (footballer, born 1968)|Geir Johansen]] as well.<ref>{{cite news|title=– Morn, Geir Johansen|date=19 January 1988|work=[[Moss Dagblad]]|page=9|language=no}}</ref>

Ahead of the 1994 season he went on to minnows [[IL Ivrig]], becoming player-manager for the Fourth Division team.<ref>{{cite news|title='Bolla' blir ny Ivrigtrener|work=Jarlsberg|date=11 October 1993|page=8|language=no}}</ref> In the winter of 1996 he returned to Eik, appearing in pre-season friendlies. Among others, he scored 5 goals against [[Tønsberg FK]].<ref>{{cite news|title='Bolla' i A-trøya igjen|last=Edvaradsen|first=John Arne|date=5 February 1996|work=Tønsbergs Blad|page=13|language=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Fotball|date=8 February 1996|work=Tønsbergs Blad|page=20|language=no}}</ref> Ahead of the 1997 season he was offered the positionas assistant manager.<ref>{{cite news|title='Bolla' kan bli hjelpetrener|last=Edvardsen|first=John Arne|date=19 September 1996|work=Tønsbergs Blad|page=21|language=no}}</ref> He took over as manager in August 1998.<ref>{{cite news|title=Opp og ned for Bolla|last=Strømnes|first=André|date=10 August 1998|work=Tønsbergs Blad|page=13|language=no}}</ref>

==Playing style== He was described as a "petite, light, technically brilliant player".<ref>{{cite news|title=En ny Geir i angrepet|date=14 December 1987|work=Moss Dagblad|page=9|language=no}}</ref> 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 [[smoking|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.<ref name=myth/>

==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.<ref name=myth/>

His favourite English team was [[Manchester City]]. A main hobby outside of football was [[Harness racing]].<ref name=myth/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johansen, Geir}} [[Category:1960 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Norwegian men's footballers]] [[Category:FK Eik Tønsberg players]] [[Category:Moss FK players]] [[Category:Norwegian First Division players]] [[Category:Norway men's under-21 international footballers]] [[Category:Norway men's international footballers]] [[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Men's association football midfielders]] [[Category:20th-century Norwegian sportsmen]]