LILLESTRØM: The veteran players reflecting on Lillestrøm’s dramatic turnaround after a turbulent 2024 are sharing stories that seem almost unbelievable. Ruben Gabrielsen and Thomas Lehne Olsen are looking back at a remarkable shift in fortunes for the club.
“Chaos! Complete chaos,” Gabrielsen said. Both he and Lehne Olsen have experienced a great deal in their careers, but nothing compares to the challenges of 2024, a year that would have made for compelling television.
“A comedy,” Lehne Olsen described it. Now, over a year after Lillestrøm’s nightmare season ended in relegation, the situation has been completely reversed, and the mood is positive – though Gabrielsen jokingly expressed his dissatisfaction with his teammate. “Didn’t you bring coffee for me? I told you to!”
With Gabrielsen recovering from a shoulder operation just 24 hours prior, it’s clear he’s no stranger to adversity. “What should we talk about?” Gabrielsen asked the reporter. “’Is it over soon?’” Lehne Olsen quipped with a grin.
Now 34 years ancient, the Lillestrøm veterans are contemplating the possibility of retirement. “Yeah, damn, this could be the last season,” Gabrielsen admitted. “Just imagine the day we’re no longer fine enough and have to run on the field after the game. That’s when it’s over, you know,” said the LSK captain.
The low point could have approach after the 2024 season. “You perceive really embarrassed, and you feel like you owe the club something,” Gabrielsen explained. Lehne Olsen added, “I left the country to clear my head.”
Despite the difficulties, both players ultimately decided to stay with LSK, a decision they are now incredibly grateful for. However, the autumn of 2024 remains a period they will never forget. TV2.no reports that the club experienced significant turmoil and multiple coaching changes during that time, but has now found a new level of stability.
