Stig Inge Bjørnebye

[refugee]

I haven't seen it posted anywhere, but I just wanted to make sure that @Ryan saw it.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/paul-ince-picks-former-liverpool-7514294

Paul Ince has always had a bit of an odd streak. This is - let's not forget - the man who once demanded his team mates call him 'The Guvnor'.
However, the former team mate Ince just described as "the best I ever played with" isn't just odd. It's way past that. It's insanely, crazily, bizarrely bonkers.
Before we reveal the lucky man the England midfielder has selected, let's just remind ourselves of the players in the running for title of "Paul Ince's best ever team mate."
At Man United, Ince played with Roy Keane, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs and Bryan Robson.

John Peters/Manchester United via Getty

Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne and Tony Adams lined up alongside him for England.

Reuters

He shared an Inter Milan dressing room with Roberto Carlos, Javier Zanetti and Youri Djorkaeff.

Popperfoto/Getty

And at Liverpool, he had team mates like Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler.

Reuters

So, with footballing superstars like that in the mix, who has Ince picked out as the best he ever played with?
Stig Inge Bjørnebye. Yes, former Liverpool and Norway left-back Stig Inge Bjørnebye.

Stig Inge Bjørnebye: one-time Liverpool defender and clearly big mates with Paul Ince

Here's exactly what Ince had to say about the man:

"Stig Inge Bjørnebye. Amazing. Maybe the best I ever played with, because he had the inner drive, the ability to question himself, the ability to work hard all the time.
"He was not the greatest talent, but he had something that many of the others lacked: guts."
The cynics among you may decide the fact Ince made this statement at a Norwegian book launch casts doubt on its credibility. The skeptics may suggest the former England captain felt the need to big up his former Norwegian colleague while talking to Norwegian people in Norway.
Us? We reckon Ince just really appreciated Bjørnebye quiet efficiency and occasionally thunderous shots from full-back…

 

[Modo]

he's having a laugh

 

[Hansern]

Nah, he obviously said it because he was in Norway. Hoping it will create some postive PR and sell some books. His comments about Kvarme though: "he was a great guy"... Nothing about his football ability at all. No wonder as he was shite obviously.

A few of my mates were there and met Ince. Said he was a decent fella.

 

[Richey]

Not even sure that Bjornebye was the best Norwegian player who Ince played with! Heggem was better.

 

[dantes]

Poor the Leonhardsen.

 

[Judge Jules]

I don't remember Bjornebye being that desperately awful TBH.

Leonhardsen was really unlucky. He was a good attacking CM before Uncle Roy tried to turn him into a wide midfielder and sent his career into a tailspin.

 

[Hansern]

I don't remember Bjornebye being that desperately awful TBH.

Leonhardsen was really unlucky. He was a good attacking CM before Uncle Roy tried to turn him into a wide midfielder and sent his career into a tailspin.

Dont think he was either. That season we scored for fun playing 3-5-2 under Evans he had the most assists. Some excellent crosses that Fowler benefited from.
In the end he wasnt good enough and Heggem was miles better. Shame about the injuries.

 

[Insignificance]

I think he meant the best Ski Jumper he ever played with to be honest. Cant see any other logic to it.

 

[LarryHagman]

Ince has always been fucked in the head.
Bjornebye was ok. If we were compiling a dross list from the last 20-odd years, there would be dozens ahead of him.