Runar Berg: The Ultimate Teammate.

Runar Berg isn’t a superstar. At least he’s not a superstar in common terms, transcending continental and national boundaries. He’s only been capped four times for Norway, far from a footballing powerhouse, and though he’s played for Rosenborg and Venezia, he’s never really played for what you’d call a “big club”.

But he’s a superstar in Norway for his club, Bodø/Glimt, and he’s rapidly ascending to iconic status with one massive gesture: Runar will be playing the 2009 season pro bono for the financially strapped club so that his teammates won’t have to take pay cuts.

A legacy at Bodø/Glimt through his father, this is Runar’s third and final go around with the Tippeligaen’s fourth place finishers. The club is €1m in debt, forcing them to sell their top striker to Rosenborg, Norway’s biggest club, during the winter break while also leaving open the position of sporting director. At 38 Runar’s best days are certainly behind him, but with the club about to potentially endure footballing turmoil due to their financial turmoil, this makes the gesture that much more significant for the club which was in the second division just one year ago. After all, top flight football reaps the same benefits as it does in the rest of the world, and if Bodø/Glimt is struggling financially in the top division – football-wise they did finish fourth, so it’s not all dire, but smaller leagues do tend to see larger fluctuations in the table year to year – a downward tumble will only serve to compound matters.

“This isn’t something I decided overnight. I thought about it for a month before I went to the club with the proposal. The club’s faith in me when they gave me that contract was one of the reasons why I’m doing this. I have played at the top level in Italy, and have managed to earn some money from playing football. I will use some of those earnings this year. Bodø/Glimt need the money more than me at the moment.”

What’s so outrageous is “that contract” Runar got from Bodø/Glimt which paid him so well comparatively dished out €90,000 per annum. Not 90k per fixture, per week, per pine session or per public appearance – per year. By normal standards that’s a good living, so it’s not as though he’s going to be looking for handouts anytime soon, but by professional athlete standards, that’s a pittance. An enormous gesture any way one cuts it.

“I didn’t know what to say when Runar came to my office with the proposal,” said club director Bjørn Tore Hansen.

How about this: maybe it’s time we cease glorifying the likes of Robinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham to pay tribute to the true heroes of sport. The likes of Joseba Etxeberria and Runar Berg. The men who bring a sliver of humanity to an arena which so desperately needs it.

And though he’s clearly not looking for plaudits or rewards from anyone, let’s at least hope his undoubtedly grateful teammates find him with that extra pass a bit more this year.

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Category: Europe