Editing Lillestrøm SK (section)

==History==
Lillestrøm SK was founded on 2 April 1917. It has been [[Tippeligaen|Norwegian League]] champions five times, most recently in 1989, and also in 1986, 1977, 1976 and 1959. Additionally, they have won the [[Norwegian Football Cup|Norwegian Cup]] in 1985, 1981, 1978, 1977, 2007 and 2017.<ref name="history">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lsk.no/?aid=9093813|title=Lillestrøm|access-date=9 September 2008|archive-date=22 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922061553/http://www.lsk.no/?aid=9093813|url-status=live}}</ref>

When [[Arne Erlandsen]] left for Sweden and [[IFK Göteborg]] after the [[2004 Tippeligaen|2004 season]], former LSK player and [[Germany national football team|German international]] [[Uwe Rösler]] took over as head coach of the team. His first season in charge became a successful one, with Lillestrøm finishing fourth in the league. This position secured LSK a place in the [[Royal League]]. The team also made it to the [[2005 Norwegian Football Cup|2005 Norwegian Cup]] final, but lost 4–2 to [[Molde FK|Molde]] in front of a crowd of 25,000 at [[Ullevaal Stadion]].{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

In the [[2006 Tippeligaen|2006 season]], Lillestrøm were among the top favourites to win the league.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}} Following a disappointing 4th place, it was announced on 13 November 2006 that Uwe Rösler had been fired from his position as head coach of Lillestrøm. Only a few days later [[Tom Nordlie]] signed a three-year contract.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

[[File:Ullevaal Stadion VG 2006-05-12.JPG|thumb|left|The supporters of Lillestrøm, "Kanari-fansen". From a match between Lillestrøm and [[Vålerenga Fotball|Vålerenga]] at [[Ullevaal Stadion]] in 2006.]]
A key signing ahead of the [[2007 Tippeligaen|2007 season]] included [[Fredrikstad FK|Fredrikstad]]'s [[Simen Brenne]], an attacking midfielder with a knack for scoring important goals. LSK under Nordlie played a 4–3–3 system, which invites rapid transitional play between defence and attack, Lillestrøm finished fourth in the league and won the [[2007 Norwegian Football Cup|2007 Norwegian cup]], beating [[FK Haugesund|Haugesund]] 2–0 in the [[2007 Norwegian Football Cup Final|final]] at Ullevaal Stadion.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

On 29 May 2008, [[Tom Nordlie]] resigned from his position as head coach after a disappointing start of the [[2008 Tippeligaen|2008 season]]. Statements from Nordlie suggested that fundamental disagreements with club director [[Jan Åge Fjørtoft]] also contributed to his resignation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.p4.no/story.aspx?id=273883 |title=Tom Nordlie trekker seg – P4 – 29.05.08 <!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=4 June 2008 |archive-date=30 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530202252/http://www.p4.no/story.aspx?id=273883 |url-status=live }}</ref> It later emerged that the conflict between the controversial coach and the players was another big contributor behind Nordlie's departure, his punishing training regime in the run-up to the 2008 season being cited as the main complaint. Nordlie, no stranger to controversy during his career, had reportedly "lost the dressing room" as early as autumn 2007.

[[Erland Johnsen]] and [[Frode Grodås]] stepped in as caretakers until a new head coach was hired. On 19 August 2008, the club announced that [[Henning Berg]] would take over as head coach on 1 January 2009, after leaving his post at [[FK Lyn|Lyn]]. Berg's first task would be to rescue the team from relegation, a feat he accomplished in his very first match as head coach. LSK beat [[Rosenborg BK|Rosenborg]] 4–2 in a classic encounter to secure their place in the Tippeligaen.

The [[2009 Tippeligaen|2009 season]] was one of great upheaval. In an increasingly tight economic position, LSK sold or released 11 players before and during the season, with Berg also restructuring the squad and bringing in new talent. Enormous injury problems also made the start to the season a difficult one for Berg's charges. After 9 games, LSK had won none and drawn four<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vglive.no/#frontpage=20130314&eliteguiden=s-livetable-sid-509-viewby-9|title=VG Live|access-date=14 March 2013|archive-date=5 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905065123/https://vglive.no/#frontpage=20130314&eliteguiden=s-livetable-sid-509-viewby-9|url-status=live}}</ref> and seemed destined for relegation.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} An impressive comeback saw Lillestrøm deliver a strong second half to the season, eventually finishing 11th. Newcomer [[Nosa Igiebor]] had an especially impressive first season in the Lillestrøm jersey.

The team continued to impress over the course of the winter and start of the [[2010 Tippeligaen|2010 season]]. LSK were in early June fifth in the Tippeligaen, undefeated in 14 league matches. They saw, however, a dramatic drop in form over the summer which saw them briefly flirt with relegation, before a late surge of form late in the season salvaged 10th place.

In [[2011 Tippeligaen|2011]], LSK made an exciting start to the new season, scoring an incredible 18 goals from their first five league matches, including a 7–0 drubbing of Stabæk in their first league match of the season – away from home. Early season form was good enough for the team to flirt with the top three until the end of July. Early in August, however, stars [[Anthony Ujah]] and Nosa Igiebor were sold to stave off the dire economic straits of the club. Also, in-form Icelandic midfielder [[Stefán Gíslason]] was out of contract and left the club. In mid-August, prodigy striker [[Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson]] was injured for the rest of the season, and the club failed to win any of their last 11 league games, a new record for Lillestrøm.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}}

Coach Henning Berg was sacked three matches before the end of the season as investor [[Per Berg (businessman)|Per Berg]] promised fresh funds for acquiring quality players after the season. The club again flirted with the prospect of relegation; however, the incessant poor form of [[IK Start|Start]] and [[Sarpsborg 08 FF|Sarpsborg]] meant Lillestrøm again saved themselves.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} This despite an abject 34 points gathered over 30 league matches,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vglive.no/#frontpage=20130314&eliteguiden=s-livetable-sid-574-viewby-30|title=VG Live|access-date=14 March 2013|archive-date=5 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905065123/https://vglive.no/#frontpage=20130314&eliteguiden=s-livetable-sid-574-viewby-30|url-status=live}}</ref> which normally would mean relegation.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}

Former [[IF Elfsborg|Elfsborg]] coach [[Magnus Haglund]] was appointed coach after the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk/artikkel.php?artid=10040382 |language=no |title=Haglund er LSKs nye hovedtrener |work=vg.no |publisher=[[Verdens Gang]] |date=23 November 2011 |access-date=7 April 2012 |archive-date=24 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124111236/http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk/artikkel.php?artid=10040382 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lillestrøm was quite active in the transfer window ahead of the 2012 season, and bought 11 new players.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/article3369660.ece |language=no |title=- Har ikke opplevd lignende i Norge |work=nettavisen.no |publisher=[[Nettavisen]] |first=Egil |last=Sande |date=4 April 2012 |access-date=7 April 2012 |archive-date=6 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406143537/http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/article3369660.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> The change of coach and flurry of transfers did the club no good, however, as they again flirted with relegation until just a few weeks before the end of the season, hovering between 12th and 14th place before a strong finish to the season{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} propelled them into 9th.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vglive.no/#frontpage=20130314&eliteguiden=s-livetable-sid-601-viewby-30|title=VG Live|access-date=14 March 2013|archive-date=5 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905065123/https://vglive.no/#frontpage=20130314&eliteguiden=s-livetable-sid-601-viewby-30|url-status=live}}</ref> On the whole the season was deemed a big disappointment, however, and Haglund's position has been subject to debate throughout the winter pre-season.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}

Ahead of the 2013 season, the club again has reined in spending and started the season with a first team squad of just 18 full senior players and additional backup players from the youth academy. LSK under Haglund have performed well away from home (2nd best away record in 2012), but often struggled on their own turf.