Tore André Flo facts for kids
Flo in 2018
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 June 1973 | ||
| Place of birth | Flo, Stryn, Norway | ||
| Height | 1.93 m | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1993–1994 | Sogndal | 44 | (21) |
| 1995 | Tromsø | 26 | (18) |
| 1996–1997 | Brann | 40 | (28) |
| 1997–2000 | Chelsea | 112 | (34) |
| 2000–2002 | Rangers | 53 | (29) |
| 2002–2003 | Sunderland | 29 | (4) |
| 2003–2005 | Siena | 63 | (13) |
| 2005–2006 | Vålerenga | 24 | (4) |
| 2007–2008 | Leeds United | 23 | (4) |
| 2008–2009 | Milton Keynes Dons | 13 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Sogndal | 22 | (2) |
| Total | 449 | (157) | |
| National team | |||
| 1995–2004 | Norway | 76 | (23) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2022–2024 | Sogndal | ||
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Tore André Flo (born 15 June 1973) is a Norwegian football coach and a former striker. He used to be the manager of the 1. divisjon club Sogndal.
Flo played 76 games for the Norwegian national team, scoring 23 goals. He played for Norway in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000. He scored Norway's first goal when they beat Brazil 2–1 in the 1998 World Cup, helping Norway move to the next round.
During his career, he played for clubs like Sogndal, Tromsø, and Brann in Norway. He then moved to England to play for Chelsea. After a great time there, he was sold to Rangers for £12 million, becoming the most expensive Norwegian player at that time. Flo also played for Sunderland, Siena, Vålerenga, and Leeds United. He retired in 2008 but came back to play for Milton Keynes Dons and Sogndal before retiring for good in 2012. After playing, he joined Chelsea's coaching staff.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Tore André Flo comes from the village of Flo in Stryn, Norway. He is part of a family famous for playing football. Many of his relatives, including his brothers Jostein and Jarle, and cousins, have played in Norway's top league, Tippeligaen.
Tore André Flo's Club Career
Starting Out in Norway
Flo began his football journey with his local amateur club, Stryn. In 1993, he joined Sogndal, where he played alongside his brothers Jostein and Jarle. He made his debut in Norway's top league, Tippeligaen, in April 1994. When Sogndal was moved down to a lower league in 1994, Flo moved to Tromsø.
At Tromsø, Flo became very successful. He scored 18 goals in the 1995 season, making him the club's top scorer. His excellent play led to him being chosen for the Norwegian national team.
In 1996, Flo moved to Bergen to play for Brann. He continued to play well, scoring 28 goals during his time there. Many people thought he was one of Norway's best attackers.
Playing in England: Chelsea
In the summer of 1997, Chelsea, a team in the English Premier League, bought Flo for £300,000.
Flo scored in his very first game for Chelsea, though they lost 3–2 to Coventry City. In his first season, he scored 15 goals. This included a hat-trick (three goals in one game) against Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea finished 4th in the Premier League and won the League Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup. Flo helped a lot in the Cup Winners' Cup, scoring two important goals against Real Betis.
The next year, Chelsea was fighting for the league title. Flo scored ten league goals. However, the manager, Gianluca Vialli, often changed players, and Chelsea also signed another striker, Pierluigi Casiraghi. This meant Flo didn't always get to play. Chelsea finished third, which allowed them to play in the UEFA Champions League for the first time.
In the 1999–00 season, Flo scored 19 goals, making him Chelsea's top scorer. He helped the club win the FA Cup and reach the Champions League quarter-finals. He scored twice in a 3–1 win against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge. He scored again in the return game, but Chelsea lost in extra time. By the 2000–01 season, Chelsea had signed more strikers, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eiður Guðjohnsen. Flo found himself on the bench more often and asked to leave. He played 163 games for Chelsea and scored 50 goals.
Moving to Scotland: Rangers
In November 2000, Flo was sold to Rangers, a team in the Scottish Premier League. The deal was worth £12 million, which was a record at the time for a Norwegian player and for any Scottish club.
Flo started well at Rangers, scoring in his first game in a 5–1 win against their rivals Celtic. He scored 18 goals in 30 league games. His second season at Rangers was very good, with 22 goals in 42 games. He scored the first goal in the 2002 League Cup final, which Rangers won.
Back in England: Sunderland and Leeds
Flo was sold to Sunderland in 2002. He scored in his first game for them, a 1–1 draw with Manchester United. However, he struggled to fit into Sunderland's playing style and scored only 6 goals in 33 games. Sunderland was moved down to a lower league, and Flo left the club in 2003.
After Sunderland, Flo went to Italy to play for Siena for two seasons. He helped the team stay in Italy's top division. He then returned to Norway to play for Vålerenga in 2005, but injuries limited his playing time.
In January 2007, Flo came back to England to play for Leeds United. He scored his first goal for Leeds against West Bromwich Albion. Injuries again kept him from playing much. He became a favorite among Leeds fans even without playing many games. In March 2008, Flo announced he was retiring from football.
Short Comebacks
On 21 November 2008, Flo decided to play again and signed with Milton Keynes Dons. He played his first game for them in December 2008. He was released from his contract in May 2009.
In 2011, two years after retiring again, Flo made a surprising second comeback to his old club, Sogndal. He scored two goals in his first start, helping Sogndal win 2–1 against the league champions Molde. He retired for the third time in August 2012.
International Career for Norway
Flo played 76 games for the Norwegian national team and scored 23 goals. This makes him Norway's joint-4th highest goalscorer. He got the nickname Flonaldo (a fun name based on the famous Brazilian player Ronaldo) after Norway beat Brazil 4–2 in a friendly game.
Flo played for Norway in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He scored a goal in a 2–1 win over Brazil, which helped Norway reach the second round of the tournament. Flo decided to stop playing for the national team in 2004 to spend more time with his family.
Playing Style
Tore André Flo was a fast, tall, and strong striker. He was good at scoring goals and was especially known for his ability to head the ball. Even though he was big, he also had good technical skills and could work well with his teammates.
Managerial Career
After he stopped playing football in 2012, Flo went back to his old club Chelsea. He became a club ambassador and a coach in their Academy, working with young players. He later became a technical coach for players who were on loan to other clubs.
On 17 November 2021, Flo was announced as the new head coach of Sogndal in Norway for the 2022 season. This was the club where he started and ended his playing career.
Personal Life
Tore André Flo comes from a family where many members play football. His brother Jostein Flo and his cousin Håvard Flo also played for clubs abroad and for the Norwegian national team. Other family members, like Kjell Rune Flo, Jarle Flo, Ulrik Flo, and Per Egil Flo, have also played in Norway's top league.
Tore André Flo Academy
In 2010, Tore André Flo and football coach Sean Faulkner started a football academy in Berkshire, England. The academy teaches children aged 5 to 17 at schools, clubs, and holiday camps. Flo himself coaches some of these sessions.
Images for kids
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Flo playing for Vålerenga in June 2006
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Tore André Flo (right) and Ulrik Flo.
Honours and Achievements
Brann
- Runner-up in Tippeligaen: 1997
Chelsea
- FA Cup: 1999–2000
- Football League Cup: 1997–98
- FA Charity Shield: 2000
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1997–98
- UEFA Super Cup: 1998
Rangers
- Scottish Cup: 2001–02
- Scottish League Cup: 2001–02
See also
In Spanish: Tore André Flo para niños
