IK Start
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| Full name | Idrettsklubben Start | ||
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| Founded | 19 September 1905 | ||
| Ground |
Sør Arena Kristiansand | ||
| Capacity | 14,563 | ||
| Chairman | Magne Kristiansen | ||
| Manager | Steinar Pedersen | ||
| League | Tippeligaen | ||
| 2016 | Tippeligaen, 16th (Relegated) | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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IK Start is a Norwegian football club from the town of Kristiansand, currently playing in Tippeligaen having been promoted from Adeccoligaen in 2012. The club was founded on 19 September 1905. The coach is Steinar Pedersen. The team plays in yellow jerseys, black shorts and yellow socks at home, and blue jerseys, white shorts and blue socks away.
They play their home matches at Sør Arena, the club's own football stadium, opened in 2007. Before moving to Sør Arena, IK Start played their games at Kristiansand Stadion. The team's official supporter club is called "Tigerberget".
Start's style of playing is often described as 'makrellfotball' (mackerel football), meaning the whole team is in constant, coordinated motion. Another feature of their playing style is the so-called 'Start-vippen' (Start-tip), where the ball at a free-kick is tipped up by one player before hit by another.
History
Start were Norwegian champions in 1978 and 1980. They participated in the European Cup in 1979 and 1981, as well as being qualified for the UEFA Champions League 2006–07. The years since 1995 have been turbulent, but recent investments have given greater expectations for the future. In 2004 they won the Norwegian First Division and were promoted to the Norwegian Premier League.
In 2005 they reached second place, following Vålerenga, after a strong comeback season in the Norwegian Premier League. For this, Start earned a place in the UEFA Cup 2006.
In 2006, after beating Skála of the Faroe Islands in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup, and Drogheda United of Ireland in the second qualifying round (after penalties), they reached the first round of the UEFA Cup, where they were knocked out by Ajax of the Netherlands.
2007 was a bad year for Start, with problems working as a team and management issues. It led to a disappointing 13th place, leading to Start's relegation to Adeccoligaen. In 2008 the club got financial problems. The local government saved the club from bankruptcy. The financial difficulties has plagued Start for several seasons, due to the financial crisis and the Norwegian footballteams overspending, Start being no exception. The last couple of seasons, Start has downsized and saved money, for example by changing the turf on Sør Arena, the hopes being that the savings will keep the wheels turning in Start.
Ahead of the 2009 season, Knut Tørum was appointed head coach of Start. The next two seasons, Start was positioned at the lower half of Tippeligaen although achieving some strong results, like being the only team to beat Rosenborg in 2009, at Rosenborgs homeground Lerkendal, delaying their gold celebration. On 22 June 2011, Start had 13 points in 12 matches, and Tørum decided to resign hours before a cup-match against Strømsgodset, a match Start won without Tørum. Mons Ivar Mjelde replaced Tørum as head coach, but was not able to save Start from relegation. Start started the 2012 Adeccoligaen in strong fashion, leading the division and winning important matches and won promotion at the end of the season.
As of 7 August 2016, Start have not won in Tippeligaen for 34 games, since they defeated Stabæk 4-1 on 4 July 2015. This is the longest run without winning a single game across any top division in Europe.
Achievements
- Semi finalist (5): 1975, 1978, 1988, 2000, 2006, 2011
- Winners (4): 1968, 1972, 2004, 2012
- Promotion: 1958–59, 1988, 1999, 2001, 2008
Recent history
Season Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Notes 2003 1. Divisjon 9 30 12 4 14 53 50 40 Third round 2004 1. Divisjon 
130 24 2 4 71 28 74 Third round Promoted to the Tippeligaen 2005 Tippeligaen 2 26 13 6 7 47 35 45 Fourth round 2006 Tippeligaen 6 26 10 7 9 29 32 37 Semi-final 2007 Tippeligaen 
1326 6 8 12 34 44 26 Fourth round Relegated to the 1. Divisjon 2008 1. Divisjon 330 17 8 5 58 34 59 Fourth round Promoted to the Tippeligaen 2009 Tippeligaen 9 30 10 10 10 46 52 40 Third round 2010 Tippeligaen 8 30 11 9 10 57 60 42 Quarter-final 2011 Tippeligaen 1530 7 5 18 39 61 26 Semi-final Relegated to the 1. Divisjon 2012 1. Divisjon 130 20 6 4 71 35 66 Fourth round Promoted to the Tippeligaen 2013 Tippeligaen 9 30 10 8 12 43 46 38 Quarter-final 2014 Tippeligaen 12 30 10 5 15 47 60 35 Fourth round 2015 Tippeligaen 14 30 5 7 18 35 64 22 Second round 2016 Tippeligaen 1630 2 10 18 23 59 16 Third round Relegated to the 1. Divisjon
Current squad
As of 4 June 2016.[1]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaching staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Steinar Pedersen |
| Assistant coach | Odd Berg |
| GK coach | Erik Ruthford Pedersen |
| Physio | Jørgen Rostrup |
| Osteopath | Kurt Støen |
| Equipment manager | Øyvind Evjen |
Former head coaches
| IK Start coaching history from 1947 to present | |
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References
- ↑ "A-laget spillere 2016" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2016-01-18.
External links
Media related to IK Start at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Menigheden – official fan club