20 Facts About Tom Lund

Tom Lund never played professionally, despite receiving offers from big international clubs.

Tom Lund is widely considered one of the greatest Norwegian football players of all time.

Tom Lund retired from football in 1982 while still being regarded as one of the best players in Norwegian football.

Tom Lund won 47 caps with the Norwegian national team.

Tom Lund quickly became considered by far the best player on the team, and one of the best in Norway.

Tom Lund made his debut on the national team in 1971, at the age of 20.

Tom Lund was offered around 1 million kroner for a two-year contract, the highest for any Norwegian player at the time.

Tom Lund was close to accepting, but eventually declined the offer, in large part because he thought the contract was too long.

Tom Lund later turned down offers from Real Madrid, Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Bayern Munich, and Feyenoord, among others.

However, in their tenth game, against Fredrikstad, Tom Lund tore his ankle.

Tom Lund had to sit out several weeks to get surgery.

Tom Lund spent most of 1979 and 1980 struggling with injury.

Tom Lund was named Norwegian Sportsperson of the Year, the first football player to receive the award.

Norwegian football was still not professional, and Tom Lund had a burgeoning business that he wanted to focus on.

Tom Lund remained on the team to help them transission through a relatively quiet 1982 season, placing fourth in the league, after which he retired at the age of 32.

Tom Lund helped the team win the cup in 1985, and the league in 1986.

Tom Lund was capped 47 times for the Norwegian national team, 5 as captain, and scored 12 goals.

Tom Lund has a fear of flying, which was a problem for international games.

Tom Lund was thin, and fairly short, and was considered weak in the air.

Tom Lund was consistently praised by international opponents: Scottish manager Willie Ormond and Northern-Irish manager Terry Neill both considered him to be good enough for any team in the world.