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October 13, 2008
ROSENBORG COACH EYES COOPER
Erik Hamren in town to scout Dallas forward
By Phil Stephens
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Erik Hamrén, coach of Norwegian club Rosenborg BK, was at Pizza Hut Park to scout Kenny Cooper in Saturday's game between Dallas and Toronto FC.
Photo by Michael Stephens |
As Kenny Cooper saved FC Dallas once again Saturday night with a pair of goals, local fans were wondering if they were seeing the last of their hometown hero. At least one observer at Pizza Hut Park, Erik Hamrén, was there with that very intention. He is the coach of Rosenborg BK, in the Norwegian Tippeligaen.
Rosenborg officials made at least two substantial offers to FC Dallas and the MLS for Cooper earlier this season and after much speculation, were turned down.
Rosenborg’s pursuit of Cooper is far from being over. Hamrén had been in Dallas all week, watching Cooper in practice. He wrapped up his time in Frisco watching the Jesuit High School graduate step up to the 12-yard spot and score a pressure goal to secure a tie for the Hoops. He was particularly impressed when his first penalty shot was disallowed for team encroachment and Cooper had to do it over again.
“That was real pressure and Cooper was very professional,” Hamrén said in the Verizon Wireless Club atop Pizza Hut Park following the game. “It was big time. His first PK was very good, too.”
The Rosenborg coach was also quite impressed with Cooper’s goal that put Dallas in the lead in the first half. He was impressed with just about everything Cooper did, especially since he is still recuperating from a sprained ankle of more than a week ago and a touch of the virus that went through several of the Dallas players this past week.
“In Rosenborg, I have seen all of his goals. I just wanted to see Kenny in person,” Hamrén said. “Tomorrow, I will go to Chicago and see another MLS game before going back to Norway.”
Hamrén wouldn’t identify a specific player he might be interested in from either Chicago or Columbus, playing at Toyota Park in Chicago. But there was no doubt the Troll Kids, as Rosenborg is called in Trondheim, are keen to sign Cooper, who now has 18 goals on the season, with two games left to play.
“Kenny (Cooper) is only going to get better,” he said. “He is just 23 and he won’t hit his prime until 26, 27 or 28. He has a tremendous future. Physically, he is in top shape now. But, mentally, he will mature and get smarter from experience.”
The Norwegian coach said he hasn’t talked to Cooper or anyone with FC Dallas since he has been here. He doesn’t get involved in the negotiations for players. He has been very impressed with the facilities at Pizza Hut Park and the practice fields. Lerkendal Stadium, where Rosenborg plays, is almost the same size of PHP.
Having seen just one MLS game, at that time, he didn’t feel qualified to assess the quality of the league. But he noted some individual skills and overall athleticism of the players.
“I think the players in our league are more technical,” he said. “I think Kenny would benefit from that. He could score more goals.”
The affable Hamrén spoke almost perfect English. He is Swedish, but has successful international experience. He was coach of the year in the Danish Superliga last year, leading his team Aalborg Boldspilklub to the championship last year. He took over reigns of Rosenborg this season. With three games left in the season, the club is in fifth place of the Tippeligaen.
But the side has had good success in the 2008-2009 UEFA Cup. This season, Rosenborg became the first Norwegian team ever to win a final match in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, according to Wikipedia, beating Dutch team NAC Breda 2-1 on aggregate. The win put RBK in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the 2008-09 UEFA Cup, where they have advanced to the First Round proper. (They have not won the Intertoto Cup, however; under rules instituted for the 2006 competition, the trophy is awarded to the Intertoto Cup club that advances farthest in the UEFA Cup).
Hamrén can visualize a big future for Cooper in Trondheim, where Rosenborg is revered as the “New York Yankees” of the Tippeligaen. The season proper is virtually wrapped up, with competition in the UEFA Cup still ongoing. Preseason for the team begins in mid or late January, with the league season starting in March. That makes this January the crucial time period for the Norwegian club to come to terms with FC Dallas, MLS and ultimately Kenny Cooper.
Rosenborg will also be competing against several other European teams for Cooper. Cardiff City in the English Champions League came hard after Cooper earlier this year and interest from a club in Denmark and another from an EPL club is known.
FC Dallas fans had best enjoy Cooper all they can now. Once the season and hopefully for Dallas, playoffs are over, the tug of war begins. Even though FCD still has its super forward under contract, it will be hard to keep him here if the right money is offered, unless that money is coming from the Hunt Sports Group.
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