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The boy on the left is about to break through for Norway. The boy in the middle already knows all about winning with the flag on his chest.
– He was a good player. With his winning spirit and willingness to train, I think he could have quickly ended up in the Eliteserien, says Torbjørn Lysaker Heggem to Adresseavisen.
– He was not as technical as some others, but had a head and a motor that could take him far, says former Astor coach, Jan Christian Sørli.
The plan failed
November 2024, Ullevaal: There was never any plan that this article would be about cross-country star and WC favorite Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.
After the performances in autumn, Torbjørn Lysaker Heggem deserves his own 15 minutes in the limelight – completely independent of others.
On a daily basis, he plays solidly in the defense of English West Bromwich, who are chasing promotion to the Premier League.
There is also a good chance that Heggem will start his very first game for Norway.
The Astor picture
But: At the same time that Heggem jogs with Erling Braut Haaland and co out on the Ullevaal mat during Wednesday’s training, an SMS ticks in.
It’s a picture. From a boys’ team in small and blue.
A picture that opens up questions.
Last week, Adresseavisen mentioned the Astor environment, due to keeper Viljar Myhra’s unknown past in the district club.
In this picture, a pure young Torbjørn Heggem stands together with another well-known sportsman:
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.
Typical «eight»
Summer 2011, Tertnes Cup, Bergen: – We trained together a few times, and have also played on the same team: It was during an elite tournament in Bergen, says Heggem today, when we talk to him about the relationship with Klæbo.
We have previously discussed Heggem’s own way up and forward. About the boy who was so eager in Astor that he often played with boys two years older. Later, Heggem would become an RBK junior, before he had to go through both Ranheim and the Swedish Brommapojkarna until he became an England professional and debutant on the national team this fall.
– In the tournament in Bergen, I was with those who were two years older, and we were also allowed to have one overage with us. It was Johannes. My impression is that he bet a lot on football. He was promising, and a typical «eight» (indreløper). Later he would also play for Nardo, so football meant a lot to him, says Heggem.
Astor ended up fighting for fifth place in the Tertnes Cup, which also had other well-known names on the participant list: For Strømsgodset, a pure young Martin Ødegaard played.
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Skarsem and Solbakken
Back to Klæbo, his football interest can be emphasized by the fact that he – like Heggem – took part in extra training with other talents at this time. Then the skiing star played with future top players such as Olaus Skarsem (also Astor), Ola Solbakken (Melhus), Vegard Erlien (Byåsen) and Dennis Tørseth Johnsen (Tiller).
These trainings started at the age of 11, and continued weekly for the next few years.
– We had a solid team willing to train, like both Torbjørn and Johannes. And indoors, Astor was the best in town, says trainer Sørli today.
Difficult choice
Klæbo’s passion for football is also confirmed by mother Elisatbeth Høsflot Klæbo. While the son is busy in Italian, “mother Klæbo” tells of a son who was so unsure whether he wanted to be a soccer player or a skier, that he needed extra hospitalization days to choose the upper secondary school: Either KVT (football). Or Heimdal (cross-country skiing).
In the end, the choice fell on cross-country skiing, although national team player Heggem believes Klæbo could also have become a top athlete with a ball in his legs.
Sprint and classic
Selv er Heggem happy he became at his last in his boyhood:
– I guess I never had any doubts about football. But I skied until I was 13–14 years old and was the best in classic and sprint. I probably have some good results from circuit racing, but it was okay that it turned out the way it did, he smiles, who has seen the same as the rest of football-Norway:
That there is a decline in the defensive line, which increases his chances to start against Slovenia.
– It will be exciting to see. I have not received any indications, but have played regularly in England, and hope that I will at least join you in the discussions, he says.
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