Who are Shamrock Rovers' next Europa Conference League opponents Molde?

Molde celebrating scoring against Dundalk in Tallaght Stadium in the 2020 Europa League

Molde celebrating scoring against Dundalk in Tallaght Stadium in the 2020 Europa League Credit: Conor Ryan (ETPhotos)

Shamrock Rovers continue their Europa Conference League campaign in Norway against Molde on Thursday (kick-off 6.45pm local time / 5.45pm Irish time). 

So who are Molde?

Molde are currently the run away leaders of the Eliteserien in Norway and are on the brink of winning the title. They sit 15 points clear of second placed Bodo/Glimt with six games remaining.

In the last five seasons, they have finished runners up four times in the Eliteserien and were champions in 2019. That was their fourth league title since 2011. They won with a 14 point gap over Bodo-Glimt.

They are the reigning Norwegian Cup holders having won the trophy five times (in 1994, 2005, 2013, 2014 and 2011).

They are the former club of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erling Haaland (who was the club’s top league goalscorer in 2018). Solksjaer was manager between 2011 and 2014.

Where do they play? 

The club play on an artificial surface out of quite the picturesque location of the 11,250 capacity Aker Stadion.

The venue is named after Aker which is a company controlled by the club’s owner Kjell Inge Rokke. Norwegian media named him the richest man in Norway in 2018 with a reported fortune of over €2 billion. Rokke was previously a part owner of Wimbledon FC and was involved in the controversial move to Milton Keynes.

Dermot Desmond, who owns a 25% share of Shamrock Rovers and is the largest shareholder at Celtic, also has a reported estimated worth of €2 billion. 



How many away fans will be travelling to Norway?

The Hoops brought 1,000 supporters to their last European away game in Ghent but are expected to have about 10% of that figure in Norway next Thursday.

How have Molde gone in Europe this season?

Molde progressed through three rounds to make the group stages of the Europa Conference League. They entered in the second qualifying round and defeated Swedish side Elfsborg (4-1 home and 2-1 away) followed by a 4-2 aggregate win over Hungarian team Kisvarda (winning 3-0 at home). In the play-off round Wolfsberger from Austria 4-1 on aggregate (winning 4-1 away).

They played out a scoreless draw with Gent in their opening group game but lost last time out 3-2 away to Djurgarden. 



What European pedigree do Molde have?

The club are one of just two Norwegian clubs who have reached the group stages of the Champions League – they did so back in the 1999/2000 season. This season is the fifth time they’ve made UEFA group stages. They were in the Europa League group stages in 2012, 2015 and 2020.

Two years ago they came up against a Dundalk squad in Europe that contained three players that are now with the Hoops - Daniel Cleary, Sean Gannon and Sean Hoare.

Molde played in an empty Tallaght Stadium back then beating Dundalk in the Europa League group stages winning 3-1. They finished runners up to Arsenal in that group, beat Hoffenheim 5-3 on aggregate in the last 16 before being knocked out by Granada in the last 16.

Last year, they were eliminated on penalties by Trabzonspor in the Europa Conference League third qualifying round.

Prior to playing against Dundalk, they faced League of Ireland opposition in 2013. Sligo Rovers welcomed Molde to the Showgrounds for the Bit O’ Red’s first ever Champions League night with the visitors winning 1-0. The second-leg saw Molde win 2-0.

Who is their manager?

The Norwegians are managed by Erling Moe who led them to the 2019 league title.

Which players should we watch out for?

For those with a fondness for the Premier League, they might recognise Molde’s skipper as former Cardiff City winger Magnus Wolff Eikrem.

Sheriff Sinyan is a five time capped Gambian international. Striker Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson has been capped 17 times for Iceland. Martin Linnes has lined out 28 times for the Norwegian national team.            

They have two Ivory Coast international forwards - Datro Fofana and Mathis Bolly. Fofana scored both goals in their 3-2 defeat to Djurgarden.

What formation do they play?

At home to Gent, they went with a 4-3-2-1 system but the lined out 5-4-1 away to Djurgarden.

Where can I see the match?

The game will be shown live in Ireland on Virgin Three and it is on BT Sport Four as well.

How are Rovers flying there?

It is a trip west before flying north as the Hoops are flying out of Shannon Airport on Tuesday.

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile