# Svein Mathisen

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Norwegian footballer (1952-2011)

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Svein Mathisen Personal information Full name Svein Erling Mathisen Date of birth (1952-09-30)30 September 1952 Place of birth Sauda, Norway Date of death 27 January 2011(2011-01-27) (aged 58) Place of death Kristiansand, Norway Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Position Attacking midfielder Youth career IK Start Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1973–1989 IK Start 327 (106) 1978 Hibernian 3 (0) International career 1975–1984 Norway 25 (2) * Club domestic league appearances and goals

**Svein Erling "Matta" Mathisen** (30 September 1952 – 27 January 2011) was a Norwegian [footballer](/source/Association_football). With the exception of a short spell with Scottish club [Hibernian](/source/Hibernian_F.C.) in 1978, "Matta" played for [IK Start](/source/IK_Start) throughout his career, where he won the Norwegian league title in 1978 and 1980. Mathisen was capped 25 times for [Norway](/source/Norway_national_football_team), scoring twice.

Playing [attacking midfielder](/source/Attacking_midfielder) or [striker](/source/Striker_(association_football)), Mathisen played 327 top-tier league matches, and scored 106 goals. Both numbers are club records, and when he retired in 1989 he also held the domestic "matches played" record. It has later been beaten by [Ola By Rise](/source/Ola_By_Rise), [Roar Strand](/source/Roar_Strand), [Christer Basma](/source/Christer_Basma), [Erik Hoftun](/source/Erik_Hoftun) and [Bjørn Johansen](/source/Bj%C3%B8rn_Johansen_(footballer)).

In 2010, Mathisen was diagnosed with [stomach cancer](/source/Stomach_cancer), and began treatment for it, but he continued to play football and appear on television. In an interview with [Verdens Gang](/source/Verdens_Gang), Mathisen said the sickness had taught him to love the little things in life, and that he was optimistic about his recovery.[1]

Svein Mathisen died in his sleep from cancer in the early hours of 27 January 2011, nearly six months after being diagnosed. His last public appearance had been at a local football tournament just a few days prior. Several football personalities expressed grief over his death, and his old club IK Start cancelled all activities for the day.[2]

Mathisen's son [Jesper](/source/Jesper_Mathisen) is also a footballer, who plays as a central defender or defensive midfielder for IK Start. He is also a former under-21 international for Norway.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Kreftsyk "Matta": - Lever på lånt tid"](http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk/artikkel.php?artid=10027640). 23 September 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["- "Matta" var en av de største"](http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk/artikkel.php?artid=10037844). 27 January 2011.

- Jeffrey, Jim (2005). *The Men Who Made Hibernian F.C. since 1946*. Tempus Publishing Ltd. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7524-3091-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7524-3091-2).

## External links

- [Svein Mathisen](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/22189.html) at National-Football-Teams.com

- [Svein Mathisen](http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player3/sveinmathisen.html) at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF National Norway

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