Rosenborg seek lucky 13th

Can anybody stop Rosenborg BK winning a 13th successive title? That is the question as Norway waits for the new Tippeliga season to kick off on Saturday.

End of an era?
If confidence is low among the chasing pack one can hardly blame them given the Trondheim side have won the league in each of the last 12 seasons under Nils-Arne Eggen. However, the 62-year old coach, who was recently knighted by King Harald, finally decided to call it a day at the end of last season and without his charismatic presence there is plenty of speculation that the Rosenborg era might indeed be approaching an end.

Question of style
Eggen's replacement, the former Norwegian international Aage Hareide, may boast an impeccable record as a coach having won the the Allsvenskan with Helsingborgs IF and the Danish Superliga with Brøndby IF but it remains to be seen how he marries his defensive philosophy with Rosenborg's traditional offensive style. The absence of retired playmaker, Bent Skammelsrud, who has now joined the coach staff, could also handicap Hareide. "As always we will have everything to lose, but I am confident that the players will quickly fit into my system and prove they are still the best in the country," said Hareide.

Vålerenga threat
Rosenborg kick off the new season at the Lerkendal stadium against Vålerenga Fotball, last year's cup winners, who appear to be one of the few clubs capable of challenging them. Vålerenga have brought in experienced midfield player Lars Bohinen and striker Morten Berre, and if they can hold on to young jewels Pa-Modou Kah and Swedish striker Tobias Grahn, they could well have a big say in the title race.

The Sørensen factor
SFK Lyn were the surprise of last season capturing third spot and positive results in pre-season suggest the purchase of Jan Derek Sørensen could ensure they progress further. Ambitious Molde FK, who finished six points short of Rosenborg, should also challenge. Critics have suggested their defensive football kept supporters away from their superbly modernised stadium last term but Swedish coach Gunder Bengtsson has promised: "We will give priority to our attacking play this season, hopefully that will create more chances and goals."

Stabæk worries
In debt to the tune of €3m and having sold nine players, things look less positive for Stabæk IF, while the prospects of Viking FK, conquerors of Chelsea FC in this season's UEFA Cup, seem dimmed now midfield player Erik Fuglestad has been ruled out for most of the season. Things appear somewhat brighter at Odds BK who have kept most of their impressive squad intact and could easily challenge for a spot in Europe with players like midfield player Jan Gunnar Solli, Dutch winger Edwin van Ankeren and strikers Sebastian Henriksson, Espen Hoff and Martin Wiik.

New faces
Elswhere, strikers Uwe Rösler and Rikhardur Dadasson and defender Gunnar Halle will boost Lilleström SK while SK Brann have received reason for optimism with the arrivals of Nigerian international midfeld player Seyi Olofinjana, former Coventry City FC winger Runar Normann, central defender Tore Ophaug and highly rated midfield player Kenneth Storvik. That leaves Bryne FK, Sogndal IL, FK Bodø/Glimt and newcomers Aalesund FK and Tromsø IL to fight it out at the other end of the table in a season where the number 13 could yet prove lucky for Rosenborg.