Erik Benjaminsen

Erik Benjaminsen (born September 3, 1992) is a soccer player currently playing for Lommedalen in the 3. Divisjon.
With an American mother and a Norwegian father, Benjaminsen has represented both Norway and the United States at youth international level.

Club

Benjaminsen has a Norwegian father and an American mother and was born in San Francisco. He lived in Fresno, California for six years before his family moved to Norway. As a young boy, Benjaminsen joined Hauger FK, but at the age of fifteen he moved to Stabæk. He worked his way through the youth system, playing for the U-19 team and the reserve team.

Benjaminsen made his debut for the senior team in the first round of the 2010 Norwegian Cup, coming on as a substitute in a 12-1 demolition of Høland IL. Benjaminsen signed a professional contract in August 2010, making him eligible for league play.

On 12 May 2012, Benjaminsen made his debut in Tippeligaen in Stabæk's 5-0 loss against Molde, when he replaced Vegar Eggen Hedenstad as a substitute after 16 minutes.

International

Like his teammate Mix Diskerud, Benjaminsen is a dual national holding both Norwegian and American citizenship. Also like Diskerud, Benjaminsen has played for Norwegian youth teams in informal competitions. However, in 2009 Benjaminsen said that, "I am 100% American. I always have been. My goal is to make the US national team. It has always been my dream. If I were to get a call [from US Under-20 team coach Thomas Rongen], I would take it in a heartbeat."

In May 2010, Benjaminsen accepted a callup to the US U-20 team to compete in a youth tournament in the Netherlands.

Future callups were not forthcoming from the US U-20 camp and in September 2010, Benjaminsen accepted a callup to the Norwegian under-19 team. He made his official debut for the team on September 29 in a 2-0 loss to Estonia U-19 in a qualifier for the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.