Norwegian Striker Frode Johnsen off to Japan!

Having served his position as a Striker for Norwegian football club Rosenborg for many years straight, Frode Johnsen will finish his career and retire from the game of professional football by joining the Japanese team Nagoya Grampus Eight.

Frode Johnsen is mostly known for his aerial headers, and has scored numerous important goals for his club team Rosenborg during the Champions League. It remains to be seen if he manages to keep his position on the National squad, but I am at least going to promise myself to watch one of his games the next time I visit Nagoya, the 3rd biggest city of Japan.

Having lived for a year in Nagoya during 1997 - 1998, I instantly became a Nagoya Grampus Eight fan. Being more specific, I actually stayed in Toyota city, the city of the famous car manufacturer. Nagoya Grampus Eight started off as being the Company Team of Toyota Corporation during the '50s, and even today, the team still receive high amounts of money-supports whenever needed. Despite the strong economy, with literally having the possibility to buying any kind of Japanese player they would desire, Nagoya Grampus Eight still have problems placing high in the J-League. My absolute favourite football player of all times, Gary Linker, played for the Nagoyan squad for a couple of years until 1996. However, due to seasons plagued by serious injuries, Gary Lineker rarely played, and sat mostly off the pitch as a substitute. Nagoya Grampus Eight fans do not forget how much money was invested in acquiring this well aknowledged player, and one thing is for sure, very few benefits were ever seen. However, the Grampus Manager at that time, Current Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger, did do his job in 1995 when the Team managed to take home the Emperor's Cup. Alongside Lineker, other greats like Dragan Stojkovic have appeared on the Grampus Eight rooster list.

Lets just hope the Norwegian striker retires from football by leaving a positive reputation behind, which highly likely ends after his time with Nagoya Grampus Eight.

Nagoya Grampus Eight fan, Chief Gutti Guttormsen