Frode Grodås (born 24 October 1964) is a Norwegian football coach and former national team goalkeeper. He participated at the 1998 FIFA World Cup as well as being an unused substitute at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Early life

Originally from Hornindal Municipality in Sogn og Fjordane, Grodås was born in Volda, Norway.

Playing career

During his career he played for several Norwegian clubs. After his ten-year spell at Lillestrøm he spent six years abroad, in England, Germany and Spain. He won the English FA Cup in 1997 with Chelsea, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 win in the final. He rounded off his career with Norwegian Division One team Hønefoss.

Grodås was last capped in 2002, aged 37 years and 318 days, and is the fourth oldest player at the Norwegian national team.

Coaching career

He has education from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. After retiring as a player, Grodås received the highest level of football coach education in Norway and took over HamKam from 1 December 2005. However, Grodås couldn't deliver the results, and Ham-Kam was relegated. Grodås was fired on 7 November 2006.

In December 2006, Grodås signed a three-year contract with Lillestrøm as a goalkeeper-coach. Grodås is then back in what he regards as his home club. He has also acted as the third-choice goalkeeper for the club. In June 2007 Lillestrøm's first-choice goalkeeper Heinz Müller received a two match suspension after hitting Geir Ludvig Fevang with his left knee. As a result of this, Grodås sat on the substitute bench as backup goalie during the Tippeliga-match against Sandefjord later that month. He returned to the bench in August 2007 after an injury to Müller.

After Lillestrøm manager Tom Nordlie had resigned on 29 May 2008, Grodås stepped in as caretaker together with former Chelsea teammate Erland Johnsen.

In 2010, Grodås ended his term with Lillestrøm in a mutual agreement and took over as goalkeeper-coach for the Norwegian national team. On 8 January 2024, Grodås signed a short contract with Danish Superliga club AGF until the summer of 2024. He would continue to fulfill his position on the Norwegian national team at the same time.

Personal life

Grodås' son, Victor Grodås, is also a footballer, playing for Hødd from Ulsteinvik.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
SeasonClubLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lillestrøm19861. divisjon00000000
198700000000
198822030250
19892206020300
19907020000090
1991Tippeligaen22160281
199222070290
19931904040270
19942203040290
19952507040360
19962103030270
Total182141000170002401
Chelsea1996–97Premier League2105010270
1997–980000000000
Total21050100000270
Tottenham Hotspur1997–98Premier League00000000
Schalke 041998–99Bundesliga2010100040
1999–200000000000
2000–0110000010
2001–020000100010
Total301020000060
Racing Santander (loan)1998–99La Liga600060
Hønefoss20021. divisjon19010200
200330030330
Total49040000000530
Career total322151030170003931

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Norway199110
199260
199320
199460
199550
199670
199780
1998120
199910
200000
200100
200220
Total500

Honours

Lillestrøm

Chelsea

Schalke 04

Individual

  • Kniksen Award Goalkeeper of the Year: 1991, 1993[citation needed]
  • VG Goalkeeper of the Year: 1993[citation needed]
  • Romerikes Blad Athlete of the Year: 1993[citation needed]

External links

  • FIFA competition record (archived)