Defence Sølved?
The shine of another S-League title had barely worn off when
Eren Serpin unveiled his latest reinforcement to the squad: 28 year-old Norwegian centreback
Sølve Lunde, for the princely sum of S$13.4 million. Capped twice for his national U-20 side, Lunde had never quite fit into former US Open cupwinners Bulgars, and this would be hailed as a fine opportunity for the undeniably-imposing defender to reboot his career.
Given that this was Lunde's fifth transfer in just under two years - each of the last four at a lower fee than before - it was hard to shake that said career had stalled. A productive seven-season stay at Romania's Real Adria had produced no major silverware, nor a short-lived cross-country move to Mingiuta. Dutch side De mannuh held his attention for half a season, and a return home to Norwegian fourth division club Chimes Of Freedom would not whet his appetite either. Bulgars had been proclaimed to be the big break he deserved, but it is known how that ended.
Despite all these warning signs, Serpin was convinced that Lunde was one of the select few men available, who could be entrusted to hold the line for the Birds for much of the next decade. "There aren't many of those around. Former Czech international Jakub Andrle was one that we had been interested in, but the price wasn't right, and we went quite far with Chile's Huenchullán Mosquera before that fell through. Moreover, two of our three main defensive options are pushing 35 years, so Lunde had just the age profile we were looking for - experienced, but with much more to give."
Lunde, who has claimed the Number Four shirt, credited Norwegian club Jålevrenga for making him the player that he had become. "I came through Nellys Nurses' youth setup, and had a fortnight on trial with Vēnī Vīdī Vīcī, but it's safe to say that Jålevrenga was where I was nurtured. I still remember my disbelief when the call came for me to represent the country against Chile, when I was just another so-so talent a year or so back."
Neither that nor Lunde's other U-20 international outing against Iceland went particularly well, and the same could be said for his first big-name venture abroad, to troubled just-relegated American Major League club Disgustin; Lunde would last just over a month there, before a clash of cultures and the weight of expectations had him shipped out to Real Adria.
Lunde however feels that he has matured after his many travels, and is now up to taking responsibility for the backline of a title-winning club. "Serpin and I had long and frank discussions about the system that Grilled Birds have been running, and I think it is something that I can get used to and thrive in. I have always preferred to operate in a team that likes to keep the ball, and the Birds have so many players that are excellent at it."
