Football Season Guide

Ranheim fans must still be pinching themselves as a first Eliteserien season produced a sensational seventh place finish. It was an incredible season for Svein Maalen's side, and it could in truth have been even better with the bubble bursting slightly in the autumn and any plans of keeping up with the top four clubs evaporated quickly. But with the resources available and the teams they were up against a top half finish was beyond everyone's dreams before a ball had been kicked last season. Expectation is curbed once again ahead of the 2019 campaign, and that can only be a good thing. There's no doubt that the club and Maalen are ambitious, but they are well aware of the framework needed for Ranheim to operate in the top division of Norwegian football. There will never be any marquee signings, and the better performers at the club will always be in the shop window for the bigger teams. It's a credit to the work done at the Trondheim club that Brann have snapped up to of their starting eleven from last season ahead of this one. And as long as they have a healthy relationship with big brother Rosenborg, Ranheim will be able to produce and develop excellent footballers and give them a wealth of experience in the Eliteserien.