Niklas Sandberg (Norwegian footballer)

Niklas Sandberg (born 18 May 1995) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eliteserien side Sarpsborg 08.

Niklas Sandberg
Sandberg in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-05-18) 18 May 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Sandnes, Norway[1]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Sarpsborg 08
Number 23
Youth career
Lura
Sandnes Ulf
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Sandnes Ulf 18 (0)
2015Sola (loan) 13 (6)
2016Nest-Sotra (loan) 10 (1)
2017–2018 Ullensaker/Kisa 27 (11)
2018 Start 15 (0)
2019–2021 Haugesund 71 (16)
2022–2023 Viking 35 (4)
2023– Sarpsborg 08 17 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 May 2024

Career

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He started his youth career in Lura, but later joined the city's major team Sandnes Ulf. He made his senior debut in 2014.[3] After not being able to establish himself in the first team, he moved to Ull/Kisa in January 2017.[4] He finished the 2017 First Division season with 11 goals and 10 assists.[5] In April 2018, he joined Eliteserien club Start.[6] He made his Eliteserien debut on 9 April 2018 against Lillestrøm.[7] In January 2019, he signed a four-year contract with Haugesund.[8] In January 2021, Viking tried to sign Sandberg, but Haugesund did not want to sell him.[9] One year later, in January 2022, Viking succeeded in their attempt to sign Sandberg. He signed a four-year contract with the club.[10] On 12 March 2022, he made his debut for Viking in a 2–0 cup win against Kongsvinger. One week later, Viking won 5–0 against KFUM Oslo and Sandberg scored two of the goals.[7]

Personal life

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He hails from Sandnes, and is the son of former athletes Richard Sandberg Hansen and Anne Brit Skjæveland; his mother was even an Olympian. His twin brother Joachim is an athlete.[3]

Career statistics

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As of match played 13 November 2022[5][7]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sandnes Ulf 2014 Eliteserien 4 0 0 0 4 0
2015 1. divisjon 4 0 1 0 5 0
2016 1. divisjon 10 0 3 0 13 0
Total 18 0 4 0 22 0
Sola (loan) 2015 2. divisjon 13 6 0 0 13 6
Nest-Sotra (loan) 2016 2. divisjon 10 1 0 0 10 1
Ullensaker/Kisa 2017 1. divisjon 26 11 3 3 1[a] 0 30 14
2018 1. divisjon 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 27 11 3 3 1 0 31 14
Start 2018 Eliteserien 15 0 6 1 21 1
Haugesund 2019 Eliteserien 19 6 6 2 6[b] 2 31 10
2020 Eliteserien 24 7 24 7
2021 Eliteserien 28 3 1 0 29 3
Total 71 16 7 2 6 2 84 20
Viking 2022 Eliteserien 24 2 6 3 6[c] 1 36 6
Career total 178 36 26 9 12 3 1 0 197 48
  1. ^ Appearance in promotion play-offs.
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

References

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  1. ^ Niklas Sandberg at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ Niklas Sandberg at Soccerway
  3. ^ a b Larsen, Jan-Erik (9 July 2014). "Inspirerer hverandre til suksess" (PDF). Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). pp. 22–23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  4. ^ Karstensen, Pål (10 January 2017). "Niklas Sandberg har signert for Ull/Kisa". Rogalands Avis (in Norwegian). Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Niklas Sandberg". altomfotball.no (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Start henter Sandberg fra Ull/Kisa". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). 4 April 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Niklas Sandberg at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)
  8. ^ "Niklas Sandberg til FKH". NRK (in Norwegian). 27 January 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  9. ^ Flygind, Kjetil (28 January 2021). "Viking dropper Niklas Sandberg: – Haugesund ønsker ikke å selge, det må vi akseptere". Stavanger Aftenblad. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  10. ^ Nilssen, Stig (11 January 2022). "Sandberg klar for Viking i fire år". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). Retrieved 11 January 2022.