Vålerenga confirms this in a press release. They write that Strandberg underwent surgery for a prolapse in his back just before Christmas, and was scheduled to start training at the beginning of February, but that it did not turn out that way.
– After the operation, a life-threatening blood clot occurred in the entire left leg and up in the stomach. Strandberg therefore had to undergo extensive emergency surgery at Ullevål hospital in mid-January, says Erik Rosenlund, doctor in Vålerenga.
A long period of rehabilitation awaits Strandberg, the press release states
– This is naturally a life crisis for me. I’ve been playing soccer every day since I learned to walk, and I certainly wasn’t ready to give up. Now everything is taken from me. The football career is over. I was ready to fight for Vålerenga and the national team, and this is a big shock. Right now I’m just happy to be alive, but need time to let it all sink in.
CAREER IS OVER: Stefan Strandberg retires. Photo: Bjørn Langsem / Dagbladet Show more
Strandberg was brought to Vålerenga in the summer of 2022. The 33-year-old’s second period at the Oslo club was turbulent at times, and as you know, ended with relegation.
– He may want to make a statement in the long run. Clearly for Vålerenga’s part, we are talking about an important player. A player who should have been a focal point. He was clearly a mainstay for Vålerenga, who was supposed to ensure that they would get back up to the Eliteserien. Now it will be without Stefan Strandberg, says Dagbladet’s football expert Bernt Hulsker.
In the last half of last year’s season, there were several people who thought he didn’t show up when the club needed him the most.
Refused to talk
– Vålerenga cannot have a captain who hides when it’s windy, wrote VG commentator Leif Welhaven the day after the relegation.
See Strandberg’s career in pictures here:
TWO PERIODS: Stefan Strandberg made his debut for Vålerenga back in 2009. Here in action against Stabæk in 2011. Photo: Bjørn Langsem / Dagbladet.
BAUTA: Stefan Strandberg had many matches with the flag on his chest. Photo: Bjørn Langsem / Dagbladet
ALL FOR NORWAY: Stefan Strandberg finished in 36 games for the A national team. Here together with Mohamed Elyounoussi in the 2-0 victory against Montenegro in 2021. Photo: Bjørn Langsem / Dagbladet
DERBY: Stefan Strandberg played many matches against Lillestrøm in his time as a VIF player. Here he celebrates in the 2-1 victory in 2010. Photo: John T. Pedersen / Dagbladet
BARTEBYEN: In 2012, Stefan Strandberg was brought to Rosenborg. In total, there were over 100 matches for the Trønders. Photo: Hans Arne Vedlog / Dagbladet
ITALY: The 33-year-old was allowed to play Serie A for Salernitana. Photo: NTB
LAST MOMENT: Stefan Strandberg was replaced in the qualifying match against Kristiansund. This was Strandberg’s very last moment on the football pitch as an active footballer. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB
Opened up after the disappointment
Strandberg had then been media-free for over a month. Many had expected that the VIF captain would stand straight in the press zone after the club’s first relegation in 22 years.
It didn’t happen. Strandberg walked straight past the waiting press and got into the car.
A day later, he opened up in an interview with the club.
STEFAN STRANDBERG
This is the footballer Stefan Strandberg:
- Full name: Ken Remi Stefan Strandberg
- Age: 33 (born July 25, 1990)
- Position: Defensive player
- Former clubs: Vålerenga, Salernitana, Ural (Russia), Trapani (Italy), Krasnodar (Russia), Hannover (Germany, loan), Rosenborg, Bryne (loan), Vålerenga, Mandalskameratene.
- A international matches/goals: 36/1
Current: Confirmed on Tuesday that he is retiring as a footballer.
Sea view
– There has been an extremely large amount of traffic on me ever since I came back here again. I have felt at times that there has been a bit too much Strandberg FC instead of Vålerenga. That’s not how it is. Vålerenga is much bigger than me. I’m just a tiny part of it. So I think it has been difficult to be able to focus enough on contributing in the best possible way when the going has been the hardest, he said.
In the same interview, Strandberg indicated that he had had a challenging year on a personal level.
– People have no idea what goes on privately and things I have gone through during this year. No one knows about it, and I’m not ready to sit and talk about everything. Maybe one day.
Stefan Strandberg was not interested in talking to the press after Vålerenga’s relegation. Video: Christian Grieg Sander / Dagbladet. view more
Meaningful career
Strandberg started his career in Mandalskameratene, before he was brought to Vålerenga in 2009. After three years in royal blue, the journey continued to Rosenborg. After playing over 100 games for Trondheim, Strandberg changed Trondheim in favor of Russian Krasnodar.
In a Dagbladet interview, the then 25-year-old Lyngdølen was open about the enormous sums that existed in Russian football at the time.
– The team always lives on the best of the best. I traveled a lot and lived well with Vålerenga and Rosenborg as well. But in Krasnodar, everything is arranged in a different way. It’s amazingly good. We have our own plane. We avoid queuing at airports. When you have this life all the time, you don’t think much about it. But when you sit down and think, it’s an absolutely incredible everyday life, said Strandberg to Dagbladet.
ADDING UP: Stefan Strandberg is finished as a footballer. Photo: Bjørn Langsem / Dagbladet Show more
With the flag on his chest, the centre-back ended up on 36 international matches. The debut for the A national team came back in 2013 when he was substituted in the match against Scotland at Aker Stadion.
Since Ståle Solbakken took over the Norwegian national team in December 2020, Strandberg has gained a lot of trust.