Ole Martin Årst (born 19 July 1974) is a Norwegian retired professional footballer who played as a forward. He is a former top scorer in both Belgium's and Norway's top leagues.

Ole Martin Årst
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-07-19) 19 July 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Bergen, Norway
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Sortland
Brage/Trondenes
Fløya
Tromsø
Skarp
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Skarp 22 (34)
1995–1997 Tromsø 54 (19)
1997–1999 Anderlecht 36 (11)
1999–2000 Gent 33 (30)
2000–2003 Standard Liège 73 (41)
2003–2007 Tromsø 103 (45)
2007–2011 Start 67 (34)
2012-2013[citation needed] Tromsø 25 (3)
Total 414 (218)
International career
1995–1996 Norway U21 5 (1)
2000–2007 Norway 22 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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The son of a naval officer, Ole Martin Årst was born in Bergen and spent his childhood years in Harstad and Sortland before settling in Tromsø at age 11.[1] He made his professional debut for Tromsø IL on 22 April 1995 against Hamarkameratene at Briskeby stadion. After the 1997 season he was sold to Anderlecht for 13 million kr. He then moved to K.A.A. Gent in Belgium and became as a top goalscorer in 2000 with 30 goals. Then Standard Liège signed him for NOK 24 million. He returned to Tromsø IL in the summer of 2003 for 5 million kr.

Årst became the top scorer in the Tippeligaen 2005, with 16 goals. After a hat-trick against IK Start on 2 October 2005 Årst was ranked as the top league scorer of all times in Tromsø IL with 51 goals. On 9 July 2007, he transferred to IK Start.

Start went down that season, but as Start won a direct promotion in 2008, Årst did not participate in any games due to a serious injury. The same injury limited him to only two games in the 2009 season.

He announced his retirement in October 2009.[2]

He made a comeback for the club in a friendly match in early 2010. He then signed a contract for the duration of 2010, with possibilities of renewal.

Årst signed a one-year deal with Tromsø IL ahead of the 2012 Tippeligaen season. This was his third spell at the club.

International career

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Årst made his debut for the Norway national team in a January 2000 friendly match against Iceland and went on to earn 22 caps, scoring two goals.[3]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Skarp 1994 Third division 22 34 22 34
Tromsø 1995 Tippeligaen 7 1 3 3 2 0 12 4
1996 24 9 8 6 32 15
1997 23 9 4 5 4 3 31 17
Total 54 19 15 14 6 3 75 36
Anderlecht 1997–98 Belgian Pro League 18 10
1998–99 18 1
Total 36 11
Gent 1999–00 Belgian Pro League 32 30
Standard Liège 2000–01 Belgian Pro League 29 14
2001–02 12 6
2002–03 30 19
Total 71 39
Tromsø 2003 Tippeligaen 13 5 3 1 16 6
2004 25 11 3 0 28 11
2005 26 16 2 2 7 4 35 22
2006 26 11 2 2 28 13
2007 13 2 3 5 16 7
Total 103 45 13 10 7 4 123 59
Start 2007 Tippeligaen 12 6 2 0 14 6
2008 Adeccoligaen 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009 Tippeligaen 2 0 0 0 2 0
2010 24 12 3 4 27 16
2011 29 16 6 4 35 20
Total 67 34 11 8 0 0 78 42
Tromsø 2012 Tippeligaen 25 3 5 1 3 0 33 4
Career total 410 214

Honours

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Tromsø

Individual

References

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  1. ^ Johansen, Reidun (19 July 2003). "Årst i hundre" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  2. ^ Samuelsen, Kjetil (30 October 2009). "Årst legger opp". Fædrelandsvennen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  3. ^ Ole Martin Årst at National-Football-Teams.com