The 2020 season was Molde's 13th consecutive year in Eliteserien, and their 44th season in the top flight of Norwegian football. They finished second in the Eliteserien, whilst the Norwegian Cup and Mesterfinalen where cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway. In Europe, Molde where knocked out of the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League by Ferencváros dropping into the Europa League where they progressed to the Round of 32 which will take place in the 2021 season.
Season events On 3 January, Tobias Hestad extended his contract with Molde until the end of 2022.
On 31 January, Molde announced that Etzaz Hussain had signed a new contract with the club, until the end of the 2022 season.
On 11 February, Molde announced the signing of Marcus Holmgren Pedersen on a three-year contract from Tromsø.
On 9 March, Molde cancelled their planned training camp in Marbella, Spain due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The season was scheduled to begin on 4 April, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway the opening games of the season were delayed, first till 2 May, then further delayed till 23 May.
On 4 May, Molde announced the singing of Ola Brynhildsen from Stabæk on a 2 ½ year agreement commencing on 1 July.
On 7 May, the Norwegian government allowed the league to start on 16 June with full training starting immediately.
On 20 May, Ola Brynhildsen's transfer from Stabæk to Molde was concluded.
On 28 May, Molde announced that Vegard Forren would leave the club by mutual agreement on 31 May, after Forren used money gathered from players fines to cover gambling debts.
On 12 June, the Norwegian Football Federation announced that a maximum of 200 home fans would be allowed to attend the upcoming seasons matches.
On 15 June, Molde announced that Kristoffer Haugen had signed a new contract, until the end of the 2022 season.
On 17 June, Molde announced the singing of Albert Braut Tjåland from Bryne and Anton Solbakken from Viking, with the deals becoming official on 1 July.
On 27 June, Molde announced that Erling Moe had signed a new two-year contract with the club, keeping him as manager until the end of the 2022 season.
On 30 June, Molde announced the signing of Sheriff Sinyan on a three-year contract from Lillestrøm.
On 10 September, the Norwegian Football Federation cancelled the 2020 Norwegian Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway.
On 30 September, the Minister of Culture and Gender Equality, Abid Raja, announced that clubs would be able to have crowds of 600 at games from 12 October.
On 6 October, Molde announced the signing of Birk Risa from Odd on a contract until 2023, with John Kitolano moving in the opposite direction on loan from his parent club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Squad
No. Name Nationality Position Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Contract ends Apps. Goals Goalkeepers 1 Andreas Linde GK Helsingborg 2015 2021 143 0 12 Álex Craninx GK Cartagena 2018 2023 28 0 52 Oliver Petersen GK Academy 2019 1 0 Defenders 2 Martin Bjørnbak DF Bodø/Glimt 2019 2022 56 0 3 Birk Risa DF Odd 2020 2023 10 0 5 Sheriff Sinyan DF Lillestrøm 2020 2023 25 0 6 Stian Gregersen DF Academy 2013 2020 77 3 18 Kristoffer Haraldseid DF Haugesund 2019 2022 36 1 27 Marcus Pedersen DF Tromsø 2020 2022 27 3 28 Kristoffer Haugen DF Viking 2018 2022 84 3 Midfielders 7 Magnus Wolff Eikrem MF Seattle Sounders FC 2018 2022 177 40 8 Fredrik Sjølstad MF Kongsvinger 2019 2021 27 1 9 Mattias Moström MF AIK 2007 2020 368 37 11 Martin Ellingsen MF Kongsvinger 2017 2022 83 14 15 Tobias Christensen MF Start 2019 2022 30 2 16 Etzaz Hussain MF Rudeš 2017 2022 233 31 17 Fredrik Aursnes MF Hødd 2016 2021 171 19 19 Eirik Hestad MF Academy 2012 2021 202 32 20 Henry Wingo MF Seattle Sounders FC 2019 2021 30 2 22 Ola Brynhildsen MF Stabæk 2020 2022 39 5 23 Eirik Andersen MF Strømsgodset 2019 2022 23 8 30 Mathis Bolly MF Free agent 2019 2022 40 6 Forwards 10 Leke James FW Free agent 2018 2020 83 43 14 Erling Knudtzon FW Lillestrøm 2019 2021 66 7 37 Ole Sebastian Sundgot FW Academy 2020 1 0 99 Ohi Omoijuanfo FW Stabæk 2019 2021 73 32 Out on loan 26 Mathias Ranmark GK Oppsal 2017 2021 3 0 45 Emil Breivik DF Academy 2022 3 0 46 Tobias Hestad MF Academy 2022 1 0 50 Jakob Ørsahl MF Academy 1 2 Players who left club during season 3 Martin Ove Roseth DF Academy 2016 2021 3 0 5 Vegard Forren DF Brighton & Hove Albion 2017 2021 384 18 25 John Kitolano DF loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers 2020 2021 10 1 21 Tobias Svendsen MF Academy 2015 2020 23 1 44 Simen Bakkemyr Hagbø DF Academy 2018 1 0
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.11 February 2020DFMarcus Holmgren PedersenTromsøUndisclosed20 May 2020MFOla BrynhildsenStabækUndisclosed30 June 2020DFSheriff SinyanLillestrømUndisclosed1 July 2020MFAnton SolbakkenVikingUndisclosed1 July 2020FWAlbert Braut TjålandBryneUndisclosed6 October 2020DFBirk RisaOddUndisclosed
Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.20 January 2020DFJohn KitolanoWolverhampton Wanderers6 October 2020
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.21 February 2020FWDaniel Chima ChukwuTaizhou YuandaUndisclosed31 March 2020DFSimen Bakkemyr HagbøLevangerUndisclosed26 June 2020MFTobias SvendsenHamKamUndisclosed29 June 2020DFMartin Ove RosethSogndalUndisclosed
Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.30 January 2020MFEmil BreivikRaufossEnd of 2020 season30 January 2020MFTobias HestadStjørdals-BlinkEnd of 2020 season6 February 2020GKMathias RanmarkHamKamEnd of 2020 season
Released Date Position Nationality Name Joined Date Ref. 31 December 2019 DF Ruben Gabrielsen Toulouse 1 January 2020 31 December 2019 FW Sivert Gussiås Sandefjord 8 January 2020 31 May 2020 DF Vegard Forren Brann 9 June 2020 31 December 2020 MF Mattias MoströmRetired 31 December 2020 FW Leke James Al Qadsiah 27 January 2021
Friendlies
Competitions Eliteserien
Results summary
Results by match
Results
Table
Norwegian Cup
Champions League
Qualifying rounds
Europa League
Group stage
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals
|colspan="14"|Players away from Molde on loan: |- |colspan="14"|Players who appeared for Molde no longer at the club:
Goal scorers
RankPlayerEliteserienNorwegian CupChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueTotal1 FW99Ohi Omoijuanfo12013162 FW10Leke James13020153 MF7 Magnus Wolff Eikrem7023124 MF16Etzaz Hussain8011105 MF11Martin Ellingsen501286 MF19Eirik Hestad401057 MF22Ola Brynhildsen40004MF23Eirik Andersen400049 MF17Fredrik Aursnes30003FW14Erling Knudtzon20103DF27Marcus Pedersen20103 Own goal3000313MF20Henry Wingo2000214DF28Kristoffer Haugen10001DF6 Stian Gregersen10001DF25John Kitolano10001MF15Tobias Christensen10001DF6 Stian Gregersen10001MF30Mathis Bolly10001MF9 Mattias Moström10001TOTALS77010996
Clean sheets RankPlayerEliteserienNorwegian CupChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueTotal1 GK1 Andreas Linde7031112 GK12Álex Craninx10001TOTALS803112
Disciplinary record NameEliteserienNorwegian CupChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueTotal2 DFMartin Bjørnbak30000000303 DFBirk Risa00000020205 DFSheriff Sinyan30000010406 DFStian Gregersen30001020607 MFMagnus Wolff Eikrem50000000508 MFFredrik Sjølstad210000002110FWLeke James510010006111MFMartin Ellingsen200010003014FWErling Knudtzon100010103015MFTobias Christensen400000004016MFEtzaz Hussain600020008017MFFredrik Aursnes500020209019MFEirik Hestad400020006020MFHenry Wingo200000103022MFOla Brynhildsen200000002023MFEirik Andersen100000001027DFMarcus Pedersen200010003028DFKristoffer Haugen200000103030MFMathis Bolly200000002099MFOhi Omoijuanfo1000000010Players who appeared for Molde no longer at the club:25DFJohn Kitolano1100000011TOTALS56300110100773
See also Molde FK seasons
References