Berg defies credit crunch for Bodø/Glimt

Veteran midfielder Runar Berg has edged himself towards legendary status with FK Bodø/Glimt after agreeing to play for free in 2009, because the Norwegian club "need the money more than me at the moment".

Immense gesture
Now 38, Berg signed a five-year contract with the club at the age of 35 after playing for the likes of Rosenborg BK and AC Venezia. Having earned a wage of around €90,000 last year, he hopes his gesture will ensure that his team-mates do not have to endure pay cuts this season, with the club experiencing financial difficulties, with debts reported at €1m, despite finishing fourth in the league in 2008.

Reasoned decision
"This isn't something I decided overnight," explained the man capped four times by Norway. "I thought about it for a month before I went to the club with the proposal. The club's faith in me when they gave me that contract was one of the reasons why I'm doing this. I have played at the top level in Italy, and have managed to earn some money from playing football. I will use some of those earnings this year. Bodø/Glimt need the money more than me at the moment."

'A legend'
Sporting director Ernst Pedersen, the father of Blackburn Rovers FC winger Morten Gamst Pedersen, has already had to leave this club as a result of cutbacks, while Bodø/Glimt were compelled to sell star striker Trond Olsen to league rivals Rosenborg. Thus the club were dazzled by Berg's generous offer. "I didn't know what to say when Runar came to my office with the proposal," said club director Bjørn Tore Hansen. "He is one of the giants of Norwegian football, and this will make him a legend. This is quite unique, and I won't expect other players to offer the same."