2009 SK Brann Season - Highlights

Highlights

• January 6: Two players left Brann. Nicolai Misje did not get his contract renewed, while Michael Thwaite was sold to the newly started Australian club Gold Coast United .
• January 10: Erlend Hanstveit chose to not take Brann up on their last contract offer. He reasoned his decision with his wish to play abroad. The wingback had played for the club since 1998.
• January 26: Njogu Demba-Nyrén returned to Denmark after signing a 3.5 year contract with OB. In addition to a money fee worth between NOK 6 and 7 million, Brann also got the Danish striker David Nielsen.
• February 26: Brann signed the young striker Cato Hansen from Bryne FK.
• February 27: Rodolph Austins transfer to Brann was made permanent. The Jamaican midfielder signed a four-year deal with Brann.
• March 11: Yaw Amankwah was loaned out to Alta IF.
• March 12: Kristian Flittie Onstad was brought to Brann on a loan deal from Esbjerg fB.
• March 16: Brann opened their Premiership-season with a poor performance against the newly promoted Sandefjord Fotball. Brann lost 1-3 in Sandefjord in a match that featured the official debuts of Bjørnar Holmvik, Cato Hansen, David Nielsen and Kristian Flittie Onstad.
• March 22: Brann took their first point of the season after playing 1-1 against the reignig champions Stabæk Fotball. The match was characterized by terrible playing conditions, as the new gras at Brann Stadion hadn't had time to grow properly into the soil.
• April 27: Brann took their first three-pointer of the season after a 2-0 win against Bodø/Glimt away in the sixth round of the 2009 Norwegian Premier League. David Nielsen scored both of Brann's goals, his first in the red jersey.
• May 13: Brann advanced to the second round of the Norwegian Cup after a 6-0 win over IL Høyang.
• May 24: Brann advanced to the third round of the Norwegian Cup after a 2-0 win over Lyngbø SK.
• June 17: Brann advanced to the fourth round of the Norwegian Cup after a 4-2 win over Nest-Sotra.
• July 9: Brann advanced to the quarterfinals of the Norwegian Cup after a 1-0 win over FC Lyn Oslo.
• August 5: Brann signed the Uruguayanan striker Diego Guastavino from FC Lyn Oslo.
• August 7: Cato Hansen was loaned out to fellow Bergen-based club Løv-Ham for the remainder of the season.
• August 8: Brann was knocked-out of the Norwegian Cup after a 5-1 loss against Odd Grenland in the quarterfinals. The match at Skagerak Arena was not without controversy. After 29 minutes, Håkon Opdal and Hassan El Fakiri got injured in a duel after a cornerkick. Opdal injured his knee, but was able to continue, while El Fakiri had to leave the pitch temporary to treat a cut in the head. Three minutes later, Opdal got an easy pass that he intended to play up the pitch. Just when he was about to kick the ball, Opdal's knee gave up on him, causing him to fall to the ground and losing control over the ball. Odd-striker Péter Kovács took advantage of the situation and put the ball in the net with ease. His actions was seen as an act of unsportsmanship and a breach of Fair Play by the Brann-players. Brann also had Eirik Bakke sent off, while Ólafur Örn Bjarnason missed a penalty kick.
• August 12: Bjørn Dahl signed a contract with Hønefoss BK on a free transfer.
• August 26: Ármann Björnsson signed with League One-club Hartlepool United on a free transfer.
• September 1: Azar Karadas signed with Turkish-club Kasımpaşa S.K.. The deal was worth around NOK 2.000.000.
• Oktober 19: On a press conference on Brann Stadion, Brann's director of football Bjørn Dahl announced a NOK 20m deficit, due to lack of revenue as a direct consequence of the credit crunch.
• November 1: Brann finished their season with a 1-1 draw at home against league champions Rosenborg BK.
• November 21: Johan Thorbjørnsen signed for Løv-Ham.