Erik Ruthford Pedersen (EN)

Erik Ruthford Pedersen (born 1946) is a name held in high regard across Norwegian football – not only for his long and loyal service to the clubs he’s been part of, but also for the person he is: a player, coach, motivator – and above all, a genuinely good human being.

Erik made his official debut for IK Start on May 5, 1968 – the opening league match of that season – at home against Eik. The match ended in a 2–1 victory and marked the beginning of a short but significant playing career in yellow and black. He retired after the 1970 season, but his love for football and for Start never faded.

He soon took charge of the club’s youth department, beginning what would become a long and meaningful coaching journey. In 1977, he managed Vindbjart, and the following year, Vigør in Norway’s second division, guiding the team to a respectable sixth-place finish. He then took over as head coach of Bodø/Glimt in the top division from 1979 to 1980, before returning to Kristiansand – and eventually to what would become his life’s work: IK Start.

Whenever the club has faced challenges, Erik has stepped up – whether as a support figure or as head coach when needed. Within IK Start, he’s been a pillar in the coaching staff for decades, with a special focus on goalkeepers. Holding the UEFA Goalkeeper A License, the highest certified level for goalkeeper coaching, Erik has helped shape some of Norway’s finest keepers, including:

• Roy Amundsen (league champion 1978)

• Jon Abrahamsen (Bodø/Glimt)

• Roald Rørheim (league champion 1980)

• Frode Hansen

• Thomas Gill

• Dimitri Muraru (50 appearances in two seasons for Start)

• Frode Olsen (former Start and national team keeper)

• Rune Nilssen

• Espen Johnsen (18 caps for Norway)

• Tommy Runar

• Kenneth Høie

• …and most recently: Jasper Silva Torkildsen

Erik’s final match as a goalkeeper coach at the top level marked the end of a remarkable era. He continued with Start’s first team through the end of that season – ever the loyal servant of the club.

But Erik is more than a coach. He is a culture bearer, a unifying presence, and a role model for players and coaches alike. He has always put the team before himself, and his passion and love for the game have left a lasting impact on everyone around him. It’s no coincidence that both of his sons and a grandchild have worn the Start jersey – for Erik, football and family have always gone hand in hand.

In 2016, he was named an Honorary Member of IK Start – a distinction he received to a standing ovation from a full house. A fitting tribute to a lifetime of dedication to the club and to Norwegian football.

Now enjoying a well-earned retirement after hanging up his goalkeeper gloves, Erik’s legacy lives on – in Start, and in Norwegian football as a whole. Erik Ruthford Pedersen is not just a part of the club’s history – he is a cornerstone in what has made IK Start what it is today