22-year-old defender Zarek Valentin helped Bodo/Glimt earn promotion to the Norwegian Tippeligaen final season, and in 2014 he’s set to face the likes of Bob Bradley, Combine Diskerud, and Josh Gatt.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
January 10, 2014
2:06 PM
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THINGS ARE HEATING UP within the Norwegian Tippeligaen—particularly from an American soccer perspective.
Final week Stabaek shocked many by hiring Bob Bradley as its head coach, making him the primary American to educate a top-division European crew. Combine Diskerud is a probable guess to make the U.S. World Cup roster, and his Rosenborg crew are among the finest in Norway this yr. Additionally, Michigan native Josh Gatt, a promising younger winger, is returning to well being after serving to Molde to Tippeligaen titles in 2011 and 2012. Molde additionally function U.S. U-20 ahead Ben Spencer, who might additionally start to see common first-team minutes after making his professional debut final season.
And now you’ll be able to add yet one more identify to that record. American defender Zarek Valentin, a key participant in Bodo/Glimt’s current promotion to Norway’s prime tier, is ready to make his Tippeligaen debut when the league begins play in March.
Beforehand on mortgage from Main League Soccer’s Montreal Impression, Valentin, 22, began 27 video games at proper again for Bodo/Glimt final season. Membership administration apparently appreciated what it noticed from six-foot fullback and signed him to a brand new two-year deal.
For his half, Valentin feels good about taking part in his future house video games throughout the Arctic Circle.
“It wouldn’t say it was necessarily easy in any right,” Valentin told ASN of his decision to stay with the club. “Once we got promoted, there’s stuff like the Champions League and the Europa League to consider. They factor into the decision. I felt at home in some sense with the club because I was part of promotion. Once I thought about it a little bit and talked with my family about it, the decision became a lot clearer than it initially was.”
Bodo/Glimt coach and former Norwegian worldwide Jan Halvor Halvorsen was very excited to have Valentin return to the membership because it prepares to face more durable competitors within the Tippeligaen.
“I am very pleased to have signed Valentin,” Halvorsen advised the Norwegian web site an.no. “He delivered a very good first season for us—so good that several league clubs have definitely seen him. Now he is signed for us, and it was very important. He is a defender type that suits our style of play very well. I want offensive fullbacks, and we have that in Valentin. “In addition, he is great type also off the field. He found himself very comfortable in Bodo. He thrives in the team and the city. It’s really good.”
The temper round Bodo/Glimt is constructive lately, principally as a result of its 2013 season was so profitable. Final yr the membership received the second-tier 1.Division by a large margin of 15 factors. The crew additionally confirmed properly towards Tippeligaen golf equipment within the home cup: Bodo/Glimt defeated Odd Grenland earlier than ultimately falling on penalties to third-place Haugesund.
Whereas most promoted groups in any European league merely have the aim of staying up within the prime division and avoiding relegation, Valentin strongly believes that Bodo/Glimt are able to rather more. Within the membership’s historical past, it has by no means received Norway’s prime league however has completed in second place thrice (most just lately in 2003) and has received the Norwegian cup twice.
“I don’t think just staying up would be good enough for our team,” Valentin mentioned. “Personally, if we just stay up I won’t be like ‘mission accomplished.’ That doesn’t sit well with me. I’m not like that. I want to go there and make a mark in the first division.”
A local of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Valentin rose to prominence at College of Arkon the place he performed alongside future MLS standouts Darlington Nagbe and Perry Kitchen. In 2010, he received a nationwide title with the Zips and subsequently signed with MLS the place he was drafted by Chivas USA with the fourth general choose.
After one yr with Chivas, he was traded to Montreal earlier than being loaned to Bodo/Glimt. After taking part in in each leagues, he finds it attention-grabbing to check soccer in Norway and america.
“It’s a different type of league,” Valentin defined. “I think MLS and a lot of us Americans are very athletic guys. In the Norwegian league, surprisingly I was one of the more athletic guys. But it’s definitely more of a mental, thinking, tactical game in the Norwegian division. That’s not to say Americans aren’t smart when we play. I’m just saying they focus on the tactical side because they don’t have the natural athletic gifts we have.”
The mixture of his bodily capacity mixed with the tactical understanding he has gained in Norway has been invaluable for Valentin who believes has improved deal since American followers final noticed him in MLS.
This yr within the Tippeligaen might be a real take a look at for Valentin however he’s assured that the style during which he has improved will enable him to succeed with the elevated degree of competitors.
“It’s crazy because you speak to a lot of players and a single coach or a single system can completely revamp a player’s mentality and game,” Valentin mentioned. “I went to Bodo and the system really fit me. I think I’ve really improved on the defensive end by leaps and bounds. I can realize dangerous situations early and react a lot quicker. It’s tough to make up ground when a forward is in behind you as opposed to it reading the situation beforehand so you’re there before the forward.”
Valentin is aware of has a giant alternative this yr. Following the 2014 World Cup, the proper again place for the U.S. crew turns into extensive open. Steve Cherundolo will possible retire from worldwide play and it isn’t clear if Jurgen Klinsmann considers Geoff Cameron a fullback. Timothy Chandler’s scenario is murky at finest, and Brad Evans hardly performs the place for his membership, the Seattle Sounders.
Valentin has seen that success in Norway has labored out properly for Josh Gatt and Combine Diskerud, and he needs to comply with an identical path.
“You look at those guys, and their success, and it catches your eye,” Valentin mentioned. “That does issue into it a bit and it’s one thing that you just wish to search for as a result of for those who can show your self within the European entrance, I feel that reveals very well for you. Combine goes to play within the Europa league and I actually need these experiences.”
“I feel that may propel me at membership degree and the nationwide crew degree.”
Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Observe him on Twitter.
