Egil Østenstad

Viking FK

Born in Haugesund, Østenstad started his career with local club Torvastad IL. Østenstad made his international debut for Norway in 1987 on the U-15 level, and won several youth caps up to U21 level. He arrived at Viking FK in 1990, and helped the club to win the Eliteserien title in 1991, when he featured in 10 out of the 22 league games. He played a total of 280 games for the club, scoring 88 goals, before moving to Southampton in the FA Premier League in October 1996.

Southampton

Østenstad was signed by manager Graeme Souness for £800,000 on 3 October 1996 and made his debut at Coventry City on 13 October 1996. In only his third game for the Saints he opened his goal-scoring account in spectacular fashion with a hat-trick in the 6–3 win against Manchester United on 26 October 1996. Subsequently, the Dubious Goals Committee credited his third goal to an own goal by Phil Neville, who touched the ball last in a vain attempt to prevent it from crossing the goal-line, although Østenstad retained the match ball. In his first season at The Dell he led the line well linking up superbly with Matthew Le Tissier and Eyal Berkovic scoring nine goals from 30 league appearances and was voted the Fans' player of the season. During the 1997 close season, Østenstad was a transfer target for Liverpool and Newcastle United, but Østenstad remained at The Dell as neither club was willing to match Southampton's £7 million asking price. By the start of the following…

Østenstad made his debut for the Norway national team in 1993, coming on as a substitute to score twice against the Faroe Islands. He was capped 17 times between 1993 and 1999, mostly as a substitute, and he played in the 1998 World Cup in France. Østenstad scored six times for Norway, making him the most efficient marksman in the history of the Norway national team with one goal in every 94 minutes played. On 7 September 2005, more than six years after his last appearance, he made his comeback with the national team, starting in a 2–1 defeat to Scotland.

Østenstad retired after the 2005 season. He was the director of football for Viking, until he stepped down on 8 June 2011. Østenstad was also the inspiration for the character "Yngve" in the book The Man Who Loved Yngve by Tore Renberg. The author and Østenstad went to the same high school. As of 2024, Østenstad is a key employee of the Haaland family's financial dealings, mainly via his friendship with Erling Haaland's father, Alf-Inge. He is chairman of the latter's investment firm, Tyrannus.