Tromsø IL, perched in the far north of Norway, is not your average football club. For Danish goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard, Tromsø offers something far beyond wages and facilities—it’s about experiences, community, and pride. “It has a very strong family-like feeling, which is really comfortable,” Haugaard says. “You’re not just representing Tromsø specifically, but the whole of Northern Norway—there’s a strong sense of pride in that.”
Jakob Haugaard started his career at Akademisk BK before joining Danish Superliga club Midtjylland in 2011, where he served as a backup goalkeeper until helping the team win the Danish title in the 2014–15 season. In 2015, he moved to Premier League side Stoke City, spending four seasons primarily as a third-choice goalkeeper and making limited appearances. He also had a brief loan stint at Wigan Athletic during this time.
At 6ft6 the Dane is an imposing presence, having joined Tromsø in 2022, it’s a place where he is settled and is happy to call home.
Despite the challenges of the Arctic climate and limited resources, Tromsø has built a reputation for playing an exciting, purposeful style of football while developing young talent. Haugaard, one of the team’s experienced leaders, takes inspiration from seeing young players thrive. He highlights El Hadji Malick Diouf’s journey—a player who arrived from Senegal, adapted to a completely new culture, and is now succeeding at Slavia Prague. “It’s an incredible story. The club’s warmth and care make all the difference for players like him,” he explains.
Haugaard also speaks with enthusiasm about the club’s footballing identity. Tromsø’s style is deliberate and dynamic, moving the ball to draw out the opposition before striking with speed. “When we find the gap, we explode forward with quick, purposeful attacks,” Haugaard says, describing the system that makes Tromsø both unique and competitive. While acknowledging areas for improvement, he believes the mindset within the club is key. “If you focus on the right things and put everything in order, you can make big things happen.”
For Haugaard, Tromsø is a place to embrace football in its purest form. “At the end of the day, it’s about experiences,” he says. Whether it’s the midnight sun, the northern lights, or the satisfaction of proving doubters wrong, Haugaard’s time in Tromsø is about far more than just football. It’s about being part of something special.
It was a pleasure for us to sit down with Jakob and discuss life in the North
THERE’S A STRONG SENSE OF PRIDE IN THAT
I think Tromsø is a great club to be at. It has a very strong family-like feeling, which is really comfortable.
As you know, we’re quite far away from the rest of the other clubs, not just in the country but in Europe, and that does create this extra tight bond between us.
It feels like you’re not just representing Tromsø specifically, but the whole of Northern Norway—there’s a strong sense of pride in that.
It’s special and unique and it’s fantastic to be here. With the snow, the weather, and everything stacked against us, we’ve still managed to find success.
I think that motivates people here to work harder, to prove that it is possible. We’re the underdogs, and we want to show that with a smaller budget and less fancy facilities, if you focus on the right things and put everything in order, you can make big things happen. That’s incredibly motivating to be a part of.
AT THE END OF THE DAY IT’S ABOUT EXPERIENCES.
Nobody comes here for money or fame, and personally, I kind of fell in love with the city, the club, and the way we play football.
That’s why I’m here and why I’m really enjoying it. You’re not attracting players with big wages or state-of-the-art facilities; instead, it’s the experience you offer.
Living in Tromsø with the Northern Lights, and the Midnight Sun—it’s all part of it. At the end of the day, it’s about experiences.
When I look back on my career in 10 or 15 years, I’ll think, “Why not take that chance?” To live in a place like this and do what I love is something special.
Football-wise, I think we’ve proven we can play really good football, develop excellent players, and give young players a real opportunity—something bigger clubs might not offer as quickly. That’s a big selling point for us.
Earlier in my time here, players might have joined late in the transfer window, waiting to see if something “better” came along first.
Now, I feel we can attract players earlier. If someone doesn’t want to come, that’s fine, but we’re now able to convince people of what we’re building here, showing results and player development as proof.
YOU CAN’T HELP BUT FEEL PROUD
Lat season was tough, but if you look at the team, the talent and potential we have are huge. We have a strong squad, real competition for places, and so many young, exciting players. As one of the older, more experienced guys, it’s inspiring to be part of this, seeing the young players give their all.
Take someone like El Hadji Malick Diouf, for example. If you can come from Senegal to Tromsø, adapt to such a huge cultural change, learn the language, and perform—imagine the foundation that gives you for the rest of your career. He’s now doing unbelievably well at Slavia Prague, and it’s an incredible story.
The club has been really good at supporting these young African players when they arrive. You don’t get the finished product straight away, but the club’s warmth and care—helping with things like shopping or learning the language—make a massive difference. It’s a process, and when you see players like Malik or Mamadou Thierno Barry succeed, you can’t help but feel proud. They deserve every bit of their success.
I’M PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT
From my perspective, I think the mindset we have is key. You need to take charge of the game, not let it come to you.
The way we play isn’t overly possession-based; we move the ball to shift the opposition, and then when we find the gap, we explode forward with quick, purposeful attacks.
For example, in our last home game of the season against Strømsgodse, we looked to trigger the opposition press by playing backwards at times. That created space, particularly with our striker Vegard Ostraat Erlien who operates more as a false nine.
He’s so good at timing his runs, finding that gap between the front and back lines, and turning to create opportunities. When it works, it’s really something special to watch.
Of course, there are games where we’ve struggled, particularly when the opposition sits back after scoring first, and we need to find ways to improve there. But when the game opens up, it suits us perfectly. It’s so rewarding to play this style of football.
The highs are much higher compared to a more physical, long-ball approach. I also think it’s more inspiring to work on the tactical details during the week, rather than just focusing on set pieces or second balls.
At the end of the day, we’re building something here. There’s so much potential, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
