Jostein Flo
Jostein Flo (born 3 October 1964) is a Norwegian former footballer who played as a forward. Usually a centre-forward or striker, he was known for his physical playing style and aerial dominance, and was also capable of playing on the right flank. He was most recently Director of Football in Strømsgodset.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Jostein Flo[1] | ||
Date of birth | 3 October 1964 | ||
Place of birth | Flo, Stryn, Norway | ||
Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
Stryn | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1987–1990 | Molde | 72 | (26) |
1990–1991 | Lierse | 25 | (7) |
1991–1993 | Sogndal | 48 | (28) |
1993–1996 | Sheffield United | 84 | (19) |
1996–2002 | Strømsgodset | 161 | (110) |
Total | 390 | (190) | |
International career | |||
1987–2000 | Norway | 53 | (11) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Career
At club level, Flo usually played as a centre-forward. For the Norway national team, he also acted as a target man, but instead played right winger, and was instrumental for the tactics applied by former Norway coach Egil Olsen. Playing a characteristic 4–5–1 formation, the left back would often hit long crosses to Flo, who in turn would head the ball to either one of the central midfielders or to the striker. This was known as the Flo Pass.
He played for Stryn, Sogndal, Molde F.K., Lierse S.K., Sheffield United F.C., and Strømsgodset I.F. He was capped 53 times, and scored 11 goals for the Norway national team and was part of his country's squads at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups. Perhaps his most famous appearance for the national side was the World Cup match against Brazil on 23 June 1998, when he came on as a late substitute and contributed heavily to turning a 0–1 deficit to a last-gasp 2–1 upset of the reigning World Cup champions.
Flo retired after the 2002 season, having scored 120 goals in 184 games for Strømsgodset. After his playing career, he worked with marketing for the club before he filled the role of executive director from October 2004 to January 2006. He later became the director of football of Strømsgodset.
Personal life
Flo is from a family of footballers; he is the younger brother of Kjell Rune Flo, who also played for Molde, and the older brother of Tore André Flo. who played for Chelsea and Rangers, and Jarle Flo who played for Norwegian Sogndal.[2] Håvard Flo (who played for Sogndal, AGF, SV Werder Bremen, and Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.) is his cousin.[3] In addition, Ulrik Flo is his nephew.[2]
Jostein Flo was a decent high jumper in his younger days, and has a personal best jump of 2.06 metres from 1983 (2.08 m indoor from 1987).[4]
Career statistics
Club
Season | Club | Division | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
Molde | 1987 | Norwegian First Division | 19 | 2 | — | — | 19 | 2 | ||||
1988 | 22 | 10 | — | — | 22 | 10 | ||||||
1989 | 21 | 12 | — | — | 21 | 12 | ||||||
1990 | Tippeligaen | 10 | 2 | — | — | 10 | 2 | |||||
Total | 72 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 26 | ||||
Lierse | 1990–91 | Belgian First Division | 25 | 7 | — | — | 25 | 7 | ||||
Sogndal | 1991 | Tippeligaen | 10 | 7 | — | — | 10 | 7 | ||||
1992 | 22 | 9 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 25 | 12 | ||||
Total | 32 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 19 | ||
Sheffield United | 1993–94 | Premier League | 33 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 35 | 9 | |
1994–95 | Football League First Division | 32 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 35 | 8 | ||
1995–96 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 4 | ||||
Total | 84 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 21 | ||
Strømsgodset | 1996 | Tippeligaen | 18 | 6 | — | — | 18 | 6 | ||||
1997 | 21 | 14 | — | — | 21 | 14 | ||||||
1998 | 19 | 19 | — | — | 19 | 19 | ||||||
1999 | 25 | 19 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 20 | ||||
2000 | Norwegian First Division | 26 | 25 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 25 | |||
2001 | Tippeligaen | 26 | 15 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 15 | |||
2002 | Norwegian First Division | 26 | 12 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 29 | 14 | |||
Total | 161 | 110 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 170 | 113 | ||
Career total | 374 | 178 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 391 | 186 |
References
- "Jostein Flo" (in Norwegian). Football Association of Norway. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
- Tomasgård, Jørn-Arne (10 June 2011). "Flo-bølgja som ikkje stoppar" (in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- Sogn og Fjordane county encyclopedia - NRK (in Norwegian)
- Norwegian all-time list high jump Archived 7 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine (in Norwegian)