‘People informed me to not be part of Liverpool – but it surely was nice to play with Gerrard’
Former scorching prospect of Norwegian soccer Frode Kippe solely spent 122 minutes on the pitch for Liverpool.
But he cherishes his time on the Premier League giants and nonetheless considers his transfer to England’s most profitable membership a dream come true – together with the times he spent enjoying alongside Reds icon Steven Gerrard.
Kippe’s transient appearances have been in League Cup matches in opposition to Hull City and Grimsby Town, two seasons aside. Although many won’t keep in mind the Oslo-born centre-back, he had an extended profession that solely led to 2021 when he retired from Norway’s prime flight with Lillestrm, the membership he re-joined in 2002, on the age of 43.
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Starting his profession in 1997, central defender Kippe made greater than 500 membership appearances and earned eight caps for the Norwegian nationwide aspect. He left Liverpool 22 years in the past at present, however his time there was particular as a result of it was the crew he supported as a boy and the town the place his first youngster was born.
The late Gerard Houllier, former Liverpool boss, signed him from Norwegian prime tier aspect Lillestrom for £700,000 after the 19-year-old defender impressed together with his performances.
Kippe, who had shone for Kolbotn in Norway’s third tier, was snapped up by Lillestrom, one of many nation’s oldest and most profitable groups. His performances there earned him a spot on the under-21 aspect. Liverpool, with their historical past of signing Norwegian gamers, then determined to take a punt on him, after French supervisor Houllier noticed one thing within the 6ft 5in defender.
(Image: Trond Tandberg)
“I was doing well, I was playing in the 1998 European U21 Championship and things were going well and we got the bronze medal,” Kippe informed the Liverpool Echo. “After that was when Liverpool started to get a little bit interested.
“After the 1997/98 season with Lillestrm they invited me over for a one-week trial. Back within the day this was fairly regular for most of the youthful gamers, particularly the U21s. They have been despatched to large golf equipment after which despatched again once more simply so they may get the expertise.
“I did not have any ideas that they might signal me, I simply went there to attempt to do my finest. I wasn’t anticipating something.
“I had this agent, Erik Soler, he was an agent to many of the Norwegian footballers who’d been at Liverpool around that time; Stig Inge Bjornebye, Bjorn-Tore Kvarme and Vegard Heggem. He had all those players and he had a good connection with Gerard Houllier. That was probably the reason I got the trial.”
“Liverpool has always been the biggest club in Norway, the interest is so big, and at that time there were so many Norwegian players, not just at Liverpool but at the other big clubs like Manchester United (Ole Gunnar Solskjaer) and Leeds United (Alf Inge Haaland).”
“English clubs liked Norwegian players at the time because they had a reputation for being hard working and not causing many problems, so there were a lot at the time when I came over. The market wasn’t like it is now, teams were relying a lot on Scandinavian players.
“When I came to visit in 1998 I believed it might be one week, I’d have an excellent time after which head residence. They known as me in and stated they wished to signal me after which all of it occurred. I came to visit on my own however I used to be so completely happy to get the chance. Liverpool, for me, I’ve supported all of them my life and it was a dream come true.
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“People were telling me at the time that it wasn’t a good career move for me, that I wouldn’t get the chance to play. I needed to play and find a smaller club and then try and get ready to sign for a bigger club later in my career.
“But I knew that I would not have had the prospect to play for Liverpool once more and it was one thing that I needed to do. I could not say no and I knew it was an extended shot to play common soccer, however to have a shot at simply enjoying for Liverpool was well worth the danger.”
When Kippe arrived in Merseyside he was taken aback by the level of ability of team-mates, some of whom would go on to become among the greatest talents in club history. He said: “It was an enormous step for me from enjoying within the Norwegian Premier League to the English, the extent was a lot larger and the usual of the gamers was unbelievable.
“Michael Owen was World Player of the Year, a big star; Steven Gerrard was coming through and we got to play a lot together in the reserve team. And they had guys like Jamie Carragher, Paul Ince, Jamie Redknapp as the captain, there were a lot of good players and it was a big, big step for me.
(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
“The first six months I was there I was just enjoying it. After that I started to want to play more football, because it becomes your normal life and your focus goes back on wanting to play and not just be a part of something. But it was just a great time in my life and a great experience to play with those guys and get to know them.
“I’ve two children who’re Liverpool followers and it is unusual now to look again and see Liverpool now and suppose ‘I performed there, I used to be a part of that membership’, because it seems like a lifetime in the past.”
Kippe only played twice for Liverpool, both times as a substitute. His first game was in a 4-2 victory over Hull City in the League Cup in 1999, and his second was in a disappointing loss to Grimsby Town two years later in the same competition.
Despite not playing much for Liverpool, Kippe did well during two loan spells at Stoke City. The tall Norwegian defender played a total of 44 games for Stoke, under their Icelandic manager Gudjon Thordarson.
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“I was a little bit sceptical to go to Stoke,” stated Kippe. “I didn’t know too much about the club but I spoke to Houllier and he said he thought it would be great for me. It was a hard-working club and you get to know the English type of play.
“I actually loved Stoke and I used to be so glad I did it. At the time I used to be solely allowed to be on mortgage for 3 months of the 12 months so I went for 3 months in 2000 and three months in 2001, and it it was incredible.
“It was different from Liverpool in that there were so many star players at Liverpool that I didn’t feel the team spirit was as good as I was used to in Norway where we were used to doing lots of things together. At Liverpool it was about coming in to training, leaving training and the players going home to their own lives, there wasn’t much socialising. When I came to Stoke that was different and it was easier for me to come into it.”
(Image: Birmingham Post and Mail)
In 2002, Kippe returned to Norway to hitch Lillestrm, the place he settled down. During his 19 years on the membership, he gained two Norwegian Cup medals and competed twice within the Europa League, with the newest competitors being in 2018.
Year after 12 months, Kippe was a key participant in Lillestrm’s defence till 2019 when the membership was relegated from the highest league. While enjoying within the Eliteserien, Kippe confronted one opponent who he believed was destined for greatness – Erling Haaland, who was then enjoying for Molde FK.
“I played against Erling Haaland and it was clear to see he was a huge talent,” Kippe shared. “You felt like he was a senior player at 17 as he was strong and quick and scoring goals. You felt his presence when you played against him, he was physical and didn’t back down, man to man, and I liked his mentality.
(Image: Trond Tandberg)
“I didn’t expect him to be so good so quickly but everyone here is thrilled to have a player like him. Sweden had Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and I know we had Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but he wasn’t the same type of player, not like Haaland.”
Kippe retired from skilled soccer on the finish of the 2019 season however returned to assist Lillestrom supervisor Geir Bakke throughout a season affected by Covid-related accidents.
He made just a few substitute appearances, however then left the membership. After enjoying a handful of video games for Kolbotn within the Norwegian Fourth Division in 2021, he retired once more on the age of 43, deciding to concentrate on incomes his UEFA teaching badges.
Speaking on the time, the now 46-year-old stated: “I’m done now. I retired at the end of the 2019/20 season but we had some injuries so I came back to help out as a substitute, I didn’t start any games but I was happy to help.
“I’m lastly retired now, I’ve determined that. I used to be definitely the oldest participant in Norway. I’ve been fortunate to keep away from critical accidents and been capable of practice nicely.
(Image: Trond Tandberg)
“I had a good health department to rely on who helped me out and I just appreciated the game more and more as I got older.
“The final six or seven years I used to be simply seeing after every season if I might go once more and the way lengthy I might maintain enjoying for. I wished to play as a lot as I good and I simply made positive I used to be consuming proper and taking care of my physique and ensuring I had the remainder I wanted.
“The older you get the more time you have to invest in all of that to play as a professional. I tried yoga and stuff like that but I just felt that I had to make more time to rest after about 35, I needed more recovery time.
“I had to ensure I used to be doing issues to be prepared for the session the day after. I wasn’t the kind of participant to not be in day by day. I wanted to be in each session and simply deal with my physique, that is the place I put my focus.
“I did a lot of weight training and kept the power in my legs, and that is a problem to keep them as strong as they were when you were in your 20s. “There’s no accidents and my physique continues to be okay but it surely’s the correct time now. I’m 43.”
