The Daily Mail have produced a ‘special report’ on Martin Odegaard in their Thursday edition, ahead of Arsenal’s game in Norway against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.

Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard controls the ball during the UEFA Europa League Group A football match between Arsenal and Bodoe/Glimt at The Arsenal Stadium in London, on October 6, 2022. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard controls the ball during the UEFA Europa League Group A football match between Arsenal and Bodoe/Glimt at The Arsenal Stadium in London, on October 6, 2022. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

When put together, the words ‘Daily Mail’ and ‘special report’ tend to strike terror in the hearts of most people, but in this case it is the good kind of ‘special report’ from Daniel Matthews.

We were afraid of being embarrassed by a 13-year-old! A decade on from Martin Odegaard’s incredible debut, he’s back in Norway as Arsenal captain Daily Mail13 Oct 2022By DANIEL MATTHEWS REX Teen sensation: Odegaard, then 15, playing for Stromsgodset in Norway SOME of the finer details have gone fuzzy in the memory of Martin Strange, but even a decade on he can still plot the course of a 2012 friendly and why it mattered to Norwegian side Mjondalen. ‘We beat Stromsgodset 5-2, which at the time was a big deal for us,’ Strange recalls. ‘We were in the second tier and they were local opposition.’ Arch-rivals, in fact. And though some regulars were missing from each side, Stromsgodset were still a top-flight scalp. ‘But of course the headline wasn’t that,’ Strange explains. ‘Most of the attention was regarding a 13-year- old playing for Stromsgodset. Which is understandable.’ These days, Strange rents out heavy machinery to entrepreneurs. That June afternoon near Drammen, he was dealing with something rather smaller. But still worth a few bob. ‘We were leading 4-0 at half-time,’ Strange recalls. He was playing left back, and after the break Stromsgodset sent on a new right winger — Martin Odegaard. It was the 13-year- old’s senior debut, a club record. After just 25 minutes, however, he had created his first goal. Within three years, Odegaard was en route to Real Madrid. Now, a decade on, the 23- year- old returns to Norway as captain of Arsenal, who face Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League. ‘I remember it well,’ he says of that debut. ‘I was a kid. I feel young today and it’s like 10 years ago now. I was a kid. It was a good time. I was playing football, having fun, I just enjoyed doing what I love.’ ‘I didn’t think about it at the time — that it would be a historic event,’ admits Bjorn Petter Ingebretsen, who was then Stromsgodset’s assistant coach. ‘But we got in trouble with the federation after the game — he was too young to play — so that made it a historic event after all!’ Stromsgodset knew they were bending the rules. ‘But we took a chance and got a warning,’ Ingebretsen says. The previous night, Odegaard (below) struggled to sleep after hearing he was allowed to play. His selection was a surprise to Mjondalen, too. But they were well prepared — Odegaard’s father, Hans Erik, was Mjondalen assistant coach and the player had trained with them. At half-time, Ingebretsen and manager Ronny Deila — later boss of Celtic — gave the 13-yearold his final tips. ‘Just be Martin,’ they told him. ‘And be careful with your legs!’ Yes, it was a friendly. But Mjondalen were a physical side. ‘There was nothing they didn’t try to take the ball off him,’ says Ingebretsen. Strange insists he veered the other way. ‘I was kind of careful,’ he recalls. ‘I didn’t want to hurt him.’ With good reason. ‘He was only 13 and his dad was the assistant coach. It wasn’t the headline you wanted!’ Fortunately, Odegaard did most of the damage, feeding Peter Kovacs who was fouled inside the area before scoring a penalty. ‘A very good pass,’ the teenager reflected after the game. Strange adds: ‘He did as he does today, he cut inside and delivered the assist to one of the strikers.’ A member of Mjondalen staff claims the left back tried to offer Odegaard advice on the pitch. Strange can’t remember. ‘ He didn’t need instructions,’ he says. The technical ability, the knack for spotting a pass... it was all there, even then. ‘You can see it today — if the defender runs too hard at Martin,’ Strange says, ‘he just stops the ball, puts the ball inside and you’re out.’ That explains why the left back took a safety-first approach. Well partially. ‘You were also a little afraid of being dribbled past by a 13-year-old,’ he admits. No wonder Mjondalen’s then- captain, Christian Gauseth, is not fussed he missed the game. Even if it cost him a spot in history. ‘No regrets at all,’ he laughs. ‘I’m happy I didn’t have to be embarrassed by a schoolboy.’ The midfielder had seen enough in training, when Odegaard would often join after school, and his session at Stromsgodset. Hans Erik, who had drilled his son each day from the age of five, demanded more from Martin than anyone else. Odegaard’s remarkable work ethic has stuck with those he trained with and under. ‘He had an ability to see what’s around him, and that was just unheard of,’ Gauseth says. ‘At our level, I’m sure it felt to him like everything was moving in slow motion.’ One moment remains imprinted on the midfielder’s psyche. Gauseth pressed the youngster from behind before he received the ball. Odegaard went one way, then the other. ‘I was long gone, getting hotdogs in the stands,’ Gauseth ‘I didn’t want to hurt him... his dad was our assistant!’ jokes. Hans Erik wanted players to show his son the physical reality of senior games. ‘He got his education in Viking football,’ Gauseth says. ‘Special measures had to be taken to contain Martin, but I don’t think he got any lasting damage. So mission accomplished.’ Odegaard came through his debut unscathed, too. So why didn’t Strange nab his shirt? ‘I should have,’ he says. ‘But I’d probably have got a message from the kitman to deliver it back. ‘I would be sitting on something if I’d asked him… I don’t think he’d value my shirt equally!’ It was nevertheless a rare opportunity. That debut proved a false start to Odegaard’s senior career — after the federation’s warning, the midfielder didn’t play again until after his 15th birthday. Following that first outing, Odegaard headed home to watch Euro 2012. This week, he has returned to Norway via the very top of world football. Still, somehow, just 23. And still applying lessons from those early days? ‘He played the ball backwards too much and I wanted him to play more forward passes,’ Ingebretsen says, before finishing with a joke. ‘That’s what I taught him.’
Daily Mail Special Report on Martin Odegaard

Speaking with Martin Strange, they recall Martin Odegaard’s senior debut for Mjondalen at the age of just 13.

“We beat Stromsgodset 5-2, which at the time was a big deal for us,” Strange said. “We were in the second tier and they were local opposition.

“But of course the headline wasn’t that. “Most of the attention was regarding a 13-year- old playing for Stromsgodset. Which is understandable.”

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After just 25 minutes on the pitch, Odegaard got his first assist.

Now 23, it is a decade since that first outing for Odegaard, who returns to Norway as captain of Arsenal on Thursday.

He is also, let’s not forget, Norway captain, too.

The MARTIN’S MAGIC box

Martin's Magic Daily Mail 13 October 2022
Martin’s Magic Daily Mail 13 October 2022

Speaking to the media before the game, Odegaard was asked about his memory of making his debut 10 years ago. “Yeah, I remember it well,” he said.

“I was a kid, I feel young today but that was about eight, ten years ago so I was a kid. It was a good time obviously, I was playing football, having fun, enjoying life doing what I love.

“It was a great time, everything went really quick but I enjoyed it and there’s nothing more to say, it was fun.”

Returning to Norway, where he has not played for ‘a while’, Odegaard said, “There were a lot of kids outside, training on the pitch next to the stadium.

“I saw a lot of Arsenal shirts, it’s good to see this reception and hopefully we will see them tomorrow and hopefully the atmosphere will be brilliant again.

“I think the fans here are really good, they did a good job at the Emirates as well so I’m looking forward to the game and the atmosphere.”

This season, Odegaard has three goals and an assist in 10 games across all competitions. All of those have come in the eight Premier League games he has played, having played just 52 minutes across two Europa League games.

He feels he is playing the best football of his career so far. “Yes I think so.

“I think I’ve developed a lot in the last few years. I’ve always been good on the ball but I feel like I’m developing a different side of my game now as well, without the ball.

“How to improve and affect the game in different ways, so yeah I feel like I’m doing well and of course when the team is doing well it makes things easier for me as well.

“I’m really happy to be part of this team and happy with where we are at the moment, but we want more of course.”

(You can read the full Daily Mail article in the alt text of the newspaper image.)

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