Markus Henriksen

[juanes]

Club:Norway Rosenborg BK

Nationality:Norway

Age:18

Height:N/A

Weight:N/A

Position:Central midfielder

 

http://www.rbk.no/multimedia/archive/00068/Markus_Henriksen_act_68195a.jpg

 

The son of Rosenborg BK 's assistant manager Trond Henriksen broke into the club's first 11 before he turned 18.

 

Nepotism? Not on your nelly.

 

Markus Henriksen is a central midfielder of the highest caliber, and is already one of the biggest, if not the biggest, talents in the country.

 

He has an understanding of the game that belies his years, with excellent positional sense and mature decision-making, giving him an advantage over other players his age, and over many his senior.

 

Henriksen is a box-to-box player who can be utilized as an attacking or defensive midfielder, having a lot to offer in both roles.

 

He has great vision, a good passing game and a powerful shot - always looking to test the goalkeeper from distance.

 

Henriksen came as a boy to Rosenborg, emerging early as an exciting midfielder with a well-developed understanding of football.

 

In addition to his obvious technique, what was also striking was his remarkable endurance.

 

Henriksen made his Rosenborg debut in May 2009 in a cup game against Gjøvik-Lyn, and debuted in the Norwegian Tippeligaen (Premier League) against Sandefjord in September 2009.

 

He played three games that season and was a champion at the age of just 17, as Rosenborg clinched the title.

 

The following season Henriksen made his real breakthrough.

 

He became a regular at Rosenborg under Eric Hamrén and remained in the first team when Nils Arne Eggen took over as boss.

 

Still aged just 17, Henriksen broke his duck for Rosenberg in April 2010 against Odd Grenland Skien, bagging a brace to help his side to a 3-1 victory.

 

And things just got better for the teen.

 

Three days after his 18th birthday, Henriksen scored in the Champions League second qualifying round as his side beat Linfield FC Belfast 2-0, and astonishingly found the net again in the next round away at AIK Solna.

Scouts from Werder Bremen came to the match against the Northern Irishmen, but Rosenborg 

assistant director Erik Hoftun was quick to rule out a move, firmly declaring the teen was not for sale and saying he would be continuing his development at Rosenborg.

 

Henriksen has scored one goal in three appearances for the Norway U19 national team, and was called up to the Under 21 squad for friendly matches against Hungary and Finland in late May and early June 2010. It will only be a matter of time before he is called up to the senior side, and he could well be the man to steer Norway to its first major tournament since Euro 2000.

 

Henriksen has the skill, strength and composure to succeed at the very highest level, and recently said he would be interested in playing for Arsenal.

 

Henriksen's coaches and mentors will have the tendency to wrap him up cotton wool, somewhat justifiably so, to help his progress. But whether Henriksen continues to develop his game at Rosenborg, or opts for Arsene Wenger's experience and great success and nurturing young talents into world beaters,  one thing is for sure - this teen will get to the very top.