Rekdal calls time on playing days

Vålerenga IF player-coach Kjetil Rekdal has announced that he will hang up his boots next month - bringing to an end the playing days of one of Norway's finest footballers.

Final mission
The 34-year-old midfield player has had a long and distinguished career - and his final mission is now to save Vålerenga from relegation. On Sunday his team secured a crucial 4-3 victory at Bryne FK to keep their survival hopes alive. "Because of injuries I have been playing much more than expected this year," Rekdal said.

'Three cup finals'
"But next season you will not see me in boots, only in a suit at football matches," he continued. "We have three cup finals left now. It would be lovely to beat [SFK] Lyn and Tromsø [IL] in our next matches and go to [SK] Brann with no pressure in the last match."

Grazer tie
As well as the climax to the Norwegian season, Rekdal must also plan for the UEFA Cup first-round second leg against Grazer SK in Austria on 15 October. The first leg in Norway finished 0-0. Rekdal has been player-coach at Vålerenga for the last three seasons and has not yet decided if he will continue as the club's coach next season.

Debut at 16
After making his debut for Molde FK as a 16-year-old, Rekdal was first capped by Norway at just 18. He joined FC Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1988 and later moved to Belgian club K. Lierse SK, as well as enjoying spells with Stade Rennais FC in France and Hertha BSC Berlin back in Germany.

International highlights
On the international stage, Rekdal was an ever-present as Norway qualified for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, scoring a crucial equaliser against England at Wembley. He then scored their first World Cup finals goal since 1938 against Mexico in the United States - which secured their first-ever finals win. Four years later in the World Cup in France he scored the winner from the penalty spot in a memorable group game against Brazil.