It was evident from an early age that Martin Odegaard was sure for giant issues – and his father knew it.
The future Arsenal skipper first emerged as a generational prospect at Norwegian outfit Stromsgodset, the place dad Hans Erik made greater than 200 appearances throughout his personal taking part in profession. Just 13 when he began coaching with the membership’s first workforce, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the world’s greatest golf equipment had been knocking at his door to signal the starlet.
And it was shortly earlier than his January 2015 switch to La Liga giants Real Madrid that Odegaard’s dad did his utmost to advertise the prodigy’s skills. That included a private plea to the creators of Football Manager to make sure his son was added to the online game’s database.
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Sports Interactive studio director Miles Jacobson as soon as defined how baby safety legal guidelines forestall Football Manager from together with gamers below the age of 16. However, Odegaard Snr gave his categorical permission to get his progeny concerned.
“Someone reached out to me on Twitter and said, ‘Is Martin Odegaard gonna be in the game?’ And my reply back was he’s under 16, so he can’t. [They asked] ‘What will it take for him to be in the game?’ I would need his parents’ permission,” defined Jacobson.
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(Image: Hans Erik Odegaard on X)
(Image: Getty Images)
“Two days later, I had a picture of Martin Odegaard’s father holding up a sign saying: ‘I agree for Martin to be in the game,’ signed [by] his dad. And the power of social media on that was brilliant.”
Jacobson went on to say the minds at FM feared they’d bought their choice mistaken when Odegaard, 25, struggled to progress at Real. He made simply 11 first-team appearances for Los Blancos and spent most of his outing on mortgage at Heerenveen, Vitesse, Real Sociedad, and at last Arsenal earlier than becoming a member of the Gunners completely in 2021.
(Image: Sports Interactive)
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It’s truthful to say the Gunners are content material with their £30million buy, with Odegaard excelling in north London because the membership have turn into title challengers once more below Mikel Arteta. That’s coincided with the Norwegian’s evolution to turn into membership captain, having already racked up nearly 300 senior video games regardless of only in the near past turning 25.
And dad Hans Erik might be as relieved as any to see his potential fulfilled after going to such lengths to place his star on the map early doorways. Even if that meant signing a singular contract with a view to persuade the FM chiefs to make a singular exception.