# Roger Albertsen > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Roger_Albertsen > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Roger_Albertsen.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Albertsen > Source revision: 1355869471 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Norwegian footballer (1957–2003) Roger Albertsen Personal information Date of birth 15 March 1957 Place of birth Odda Municipality, Norway Date of death 2 March 2003(2003-03-02) (aged 45) Position Midfielder Youth career Odda IL Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1973–1975 Odda IL 1975–1979 FC Den Haag 117 (16) 1979–1980 Feyenoord 28 (1) 1980–1981 FC Den Haag 18 (6) 1981–1982 KFC Winterslag 39 (3) 1982–1985 Olympiacos 65 (7) 1985–1987 Rosenborg 35 (5) Total 299 (38) International career 1976–1984 Norway 25 (3) Managerial career 1986-1987 Orkanger IF 1989–1992 Sistranda IL 1993–1996 Sokna IL 1997–2001 Kongsberg IF * Club domestic league appearances and goals **Roger Albertsen** (15 March 1957 – 2 March 2003) was a Norwegian former professional [footballer](/source/Association_football) who played as a [midfielder](/source/Midfielder). At the age of 17 he travelled abroad, playing professionally for Dutch team [FC Den Haag](/source/FC_Den_Haag). He later played for [Feyenoord Rotterdam](/source/Feyenoord_Rotterdam), [KFC Winterslag](/source/KFC_Winterslag) and [Olympiacos](/source/Olympiacos_F.C.), before he returned to Norway in 1985, making his debut in the [Norwegian Premier League](/source/Tippeligaen) for [Rosenborg](/source/Rosenborg_BK). ## Club career ### Netherlands Albertsen began his career with local lower-division sides [Tyssedal](/source/Tyssedal) and [Odda](/source/Odda_(town)). He was regarded as a promising talent, and represented Norway several times at youth level. Nonetheless, it came as something of a shock when he left the country at age 17 to try his luck in the Netherlands, joining his compatriot [Harald Berg](/source/Harald_Berg)'s old club Den Haag. Albertsen made his debut for the club in 1975, and soon became a regular in the Den Haag lineup, earning praise for his tireless running and no–nonsense physical play. His performance in the [Eredivisie](/source/Eredivisie) at Den Haag did not go unnoticed back home and he made his debut for Norway in 1976. In the summer of 1979, Albertsen was transferred to Feyenoord, where he became a valuable player in the side that finished fourth in the league and won the [cup](/source/KNVB_Cup). However, at the end of the season, after just one year in [Rotterdam](/source/Rotterdam), he returned to Den Haag. ### Winterslag Albertsen played one more season for Den Haag, and then he was on the move again – this time to Belgian side Winterslag (now known as [Racing Genk](/source/Racing_Genk) following a 1988 merger), reportedly because the municipality of The Hague argued Albertsen behaved unsportsmanlike due to his yellow and red cards that season.[1] Albertsen quickly became a fan favorite at the Belgian club, and his performances earned him a recall to the national team for the World Cup qualifier against England – the game that would provide Albertsen's finest moment in a Norway shirt. ### Olympiacos Midway through the 1982–83 season, Albertsen was signed by Greek giants [Olympiacos](/source/Olympiacos_F.C.), where he won a [league championship](/source/Alpha_Ethniki) medal. He spent three years at the club, doing the dirty work in midfield, before his old friend Arne Dokken persuaded him to return home and play for [Rosenborg](/source/Rosenborg_BK) ### Rosenborg So, in the summer of 1985, after a decade abroad, Albertsen played his first-ever [top division](/source/Norwegian_Premier_League) game in the Norwegian league. He was a member of the Rosenborg side that won the title in dramatic fashion in 1985, and played two more years at the [Trondheim](/source/Trondheim) club before retiring because of injury at the end of the [1987 season](/source/Norwegian_First_Division_1987). ## International career Albertsen was capped 25 times[2] for [Norway](/source/Norway_national_football_team), having debuted in 1976. Many remember him from the famous match against [England](/source/England_national_football_team) in 1981, where he was awarded the 1–1 goal, despite that television replays have later shown that Albertsen did in fact not touch the ball, and [Tom Lund](/source/Tom_Lund)'s cross went straight into the net. He made his international debut in a [World Cup qualifier](/source/FIFA_World_Cup_qualification) against [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland_national_football_team) in [1976](/source/1978_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification). He is credited with scoring the equaliser in Norway's win over England in [1981](/source/1982_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)). Bryan Robson gave the visitors the lead after 15 minutes. In the 35th minute, Albertsen went after a cross from Tom Lund and the ball went into the net. Albertsen was credited with the goal, but television replays seem to indicate that Albertsen did not make contact with the ball before it crossed the line. [Hallvar Thoresen](/source/Hallvar_Thoresen) scored Norway's second goal four minutes before half-time and Norway went on to win the game 2–1. Albertsen now got an extended run in the national side, and scored two more goals in a pair of summer friendlies. This time there was no doubt about Albertsen being the scorer. He was also a member of the team that defeated [Yugoslavia](/source/Yugoslavia_national_football_team) 3–1 in a [Euro 84 qualifier](/source/1984_UEFA_European_Football_Championship_qualifying). Shortly after that match, he was on the move again. ## Style of play This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2026) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Albertsen was a [midfielder](/source/Midfielder) known for his physical style of play and consistent work rate. Although he did not become a regular first-choice selection for the Norway national team, he contributed reliably when called upon. While not primarily recognized for technical flair, he was valued for his determination and commitment at club level. ## Retirement and death After retiring from the game, Albertsen worked in the computer business, and also held coaching jobs for lower-division sides Sistranda, Orkanger, Sokna and Kongsberg. In late 2002, he was diagnosed with cancer, and he died from the disease in March 2003.[3] ## Honours **Feyenoord** - [KNVB Cup](/source/KNVB_Cup): 1979–80 **Olympiacos** - [Super League Greece](/source/Super_League_Greece): [1982–83](/source/Alpha_Ethniki_1982-83) **Rosenborg** - [Norwegian Premier League](/source/Norwegian_Premier_League): [1985](/source/Norwegian_First_Division_1985)[4] **Individual** - [Norwegian Football Association Gold Watch](/source/Norwegian_Football_Association_Gold_Watch) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Druk vanuit het stadhuis: toen ADO Den Haag een speler verplicht moest laten gaan"](https://www.omroepwest.nl/sport/4955880/druk-vanuit-het-stadhuis-toen-ado-den-haag-een-speler-verplicht-moest-laten-gaan). *Omroep West* (in Dutch). 17 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Norway – Record International Players](https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/noo-recintlp.html) – RSSSF 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Noorse ex-Feyenoorder Albertsen overlijdt"](https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/noorse-exfeyenoorder-albertsen-overlijdt). *Voetbal International* (in Dutch). 3 March 2003. Retrieved 11 April 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Mestvinnende"](http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_trondelag/sport_nrk_trondelag/rbk/1.1065148) (in Norwegian). [Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Norwegian_Broadcasting_Corporation). 19 October 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2009. ## External links - (in Norwegian) [Career bio](https://web.archive.org/web/20090807131505/http://geocities.com/dagtho/noproff-a.html) at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (archived 7 August 2009) - (in Norwegian) [Career bio, Bergens Tidende](http://fotball.bt.no/stats/player.jhtml?leagueID=1&playerID=1382) - [Roger Albertsen](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/22198.html) at National-Football-Teams.com --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Roger Albertsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Albertsen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Albertsen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.