Martin Ødegaard - A Detailed Overview
Early Life
Born on the 17th of December, 1998, in Drammen, Norway, Martin Ødegaard had football in his blood. His father, Hans Erik Ødegaard, was a former professional player himself and nurtured his son’s footballing talent from a young age. Ødegaard began his football journey at local club, Drammen Strong. Showing immense potential, he quickly progressed through the age groups, setting new records in the process.
Club Career - Strømsgodset IF
In 2015, at the age of 15, Ødegaard was promoted to the first-team squad at Strømsgodset IF in the Norwegian top flight, becoming the youngest-ever player to feature in the league. He scored his first professional goal a month later, making history as the youngest goalscorer in Tippeligaen, the country’s top tier. His performances for Strømsgodset drew attention from the top clubs in Europe, and he went on trial with Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid among others. Despite the interest from such high-profile teams, Ødegaard chose to sign with Real Madrid, where he initially played for the club's B team, Castilla.
Club Career - Real Madrid
Ødegaard made his competitive debut for Real Madrid in May 2015, becoming the club's youngest debutant in history. However, despite a strong start, he struggled to break into the first team regularly, largely due to the wealth of talent at the club. This led to him being loaned to Dutch teams Heerenveen and Vitesse Arnhem in back-to-back seasons, where he began to show the qualities that had attracted Real Madrid to him originally. This included excellent dribbling skills, a superb range of passing, and an eye for goal.
Club Career - Loans to Netherlands
At SC Heerenveen, Ødegaard had an 18-month stint starting in January 2017. He made 38 appearances, scoring three goals and providing five assists. In Vitesse, Ødegaard took his game to another level scoring 11 goals and providing 12 assists in just over 40 appearances. His performances earned him recognition as one of the young prospects to watch in European football.
Club Career - Loan to Real Sociedad
Ødegaard was loaned out to Real Sociedad for the 2019-2020 season, where he was outstanding, being one of the standout players in La Liga that season. He was instrumental in Sociedad reaching the Copa del Rey Final, scoring four goals and providing six assists in the league. His performance that season impressed Real Madrid enough to recall him from his loan spell early.
Club Career - Back To Real Madrid and Loan to Arsenal
On his return to Madrid, Ødegaard found first-team opportunities limited, but he continued to impress when given the chance. This led to a loan move to English Premier League side Arsenal in January 2021. At Arsenal, the Norwegian playmaker demonstrated his quality, with displays of playmaking, vision, and creativity that had long been expected of him. After his loan ended, and his situation at Real Madrid did not change, he moved permanently to Arsenal in August 2021. He announced his arrival in style, scoring on his debut in a 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
International Career
Ødegaard had already drawn the attention of the football world with his club displays and earned his first cap for Norway at just 15 years old, making him the youngest player to represent Norway at senior international level. Since then, he has become an integral part of the national team, being named captain in September 2019 at the age of 20. By then, he had become the youngest captain in the history of the Norwegian national team.
Playing Style
Martin Ødegaard is known for his impressive technical skills, particularly his close control and dribbling ability, which allows him to manoeuvre in tight spaces and take on opponents. His vision and passing ability are also exceptional, making him a serious threat in attacking positions. As a versatile midfielder, Ødegaard is capable of playing in several positions in midfield - as an attacking midfielder or as a right-winger.
Personal Life
While much is known about Ødegaard's professional life, he has kept his personal life relatively private. He is known to be a humble and focused individual who prefers to let his football do the talking. He has set up a charitable foundation in his home country of Norway to assist disadvantaged children and youth and is also a UNICEF ambassador.
