Erik Nevland

Erik Nevland (born 10 November 1977 in Stavanger, Norway) is a Norwegian football (soccer) striker who currently plays for Fulham F.C. in the English Premier League. He has two cap (football) for Norway national football team, and 22 caps at U-21 level.

Nevland started his career at Viking FK, but in 1997 he was sold to Manchester United F.C. at the age of 19, before he had played a single first team match for the Norwegian side. What prompted Manchester United to sign him was a succession of hat-tricks in three games when he was on trial with them. His only goal for the United first team was in a Football League Cup match against Bury F.C. in October 1998. He never managed to establish himself in the United team, with a successful loan spell at Viking and an unsuccessful one at IFK Göteborg. He only ever made one league appearance for United, as a substitute against Barnsley F.C. on 10 May 1998.

He returned to Viking F.K. on a permanent contract in January 2000, winning the Norwegian Cup Champions in 2001 and scoring the two deciding goals in their famous UEFA Cup victory over Chelsea F.C. in 2002. He joined FC Groningen on a free transfer in November 2004, and since became a cult hero. In his first half-season for his new club he scored 16 times in 20 matches. Nevland also scored the first ever goal in FC Groningen's new Euroborg stadium.

On April 27, 2007, Nevland signed a new three-year contract with FC Groningen. In December 2007, Nevland was voted 'Groninger of the Year' by television viewers in the province of Groningen, in spite of him not being born in Groningen or The Netherlands.

On January 29, 2008, he signed with struggling Premier League side Fulham F.C. for a fee of €2.5 million (Pound sterling1.85 million), plus a further €0.5 million (£370k) if Fulham retained Premier League status, which they did. On February 3, he made only his second ever Premier League appearance when Fulham played Aston Villa at Craven Cottage. He scored his first goal on 12 April 2008, coming on as a late substitute for David Healy (footballer) in a 2–0 victory over Reading FC at the Madejski Stadium. His second goal for the club came in similar circumstances, the second goal of a 2-0 victory over Birmingham City FC, propelling Fulham into 17th place and out of the relegation zone for the first time in 2008. His eye for goal and deadly finishing has drawn comparisons to former Manchester United team mate and fellow Norweigan Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.