AMSTERDAM – While New York City FC fans and folks from the tri-state area at large may all be excited to welcome Mikkel Diskerud into their collective mix, it's quite possible that only a small portion of those people know much about the player beyond his US national team exploits.
We're here to help.
Being that we're midway through the technology-driven teens, every budding romance somehow involves an online profile. Consider this article Diskerud’s, of sorts, and get ready for some fun; the 24-year-old Diskerud is savvy on the field and a legitimate hoot off it.
How did he get here?
A native of Oslo, Diskerud began his junior career with local side Frigg before he was quickly snapped up by Stabæk (now helmed by American coach Bob Bradley, who gave Mix his first US cap in 2010).
After three years in the youth set-up, an 18-year-old Diskerud started training with the Stabæk first team during their title-winning season of 2008, but he was not officially a champ given he failed to make a single league appearance. His debut finally came in 2009 and he made it one to remember, scoring an 84th-minute equalizer against Brann. He went on to bag three goals in 21 games to help the Blue Ones finish third.
After two more seasons as a Stabaek regular (2010 and 2011), he spent a half-season on loan to Belgian club Gent (January-June 2012) before eventually making the jump to Norwegian giants Rosenborg in August 2012. Diskerud notched eight goals and seven assists in 78 games for the Troll Kids, including a stunning late series-winner against Europa League foe Legia Warsaw during his first semester with the club.
Internationally, Diskerud became a USMNT player after previously appearing four times for Norway's Under-18's and U-19's. The dual citizen -- his American mother from Arizona met his Norwegian dad in college at Arizona State -- now has five goals and two assists in 25 games for the ‘Nats.
The midfielder was a member of the World Cup 2014 squad, but he was one of just two field players who did not get a game.
How does he operate?
In club life, Diskerud has usually worked as a No. 10 or as a two-way central midfielder whose main responsibility was directing traffic smoothly forward. He likes to change the point of attack and is a threat to punish weak clearances with shots from above the area.
Diskerud has also become known for pulling off late-game heroics, both professionally and internationally. The aforementioned debut US cap saw him cleverly set up Juan Agudelo for a late 1-0 winner in South Africa, and his first US goal came in stoppage time of a 2-2 draw against Russia in Krasnodar in November 2012 that reportedly caused Russian president Vladimir Putin to spill hot coffee on his tie.
The Requisite "Likes" Category
Diskerud becomes extremely loyal to the teams he plays for: When his first Rosenborg contract expired, he quickly made it known that no other Tippeligaen club could lure him and he once gave up a lot of salary and concessions to spend time away for Olympic qualifying while on loan to Gent.
He also loves interacting with fans, and his now sprawling BigSoccer thread – complete with regular and highly comical guest appearances by the man himself – is already the stuff of legend. Rounding out the personality picture, Diskerud collects snapback caps, can expertly discuss hair products (for his glorious flowing mane, of course) and holds a unnatural public love for Taco Bell.
Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.
