Jostein Flo

Jostein Flo (born 3 October 1964 in Flo, Stryn, Norway) is a Norwegian former football player, famous for his physical playing style and aerial dominance. He is currently Director of Football in Strømsgodset.

At club level he usually played center-forward. For the national team he played right winger, and was instrumental for the tactics applied by former Norway coach Egil Olsen. Playing a characteristic 4-5-1 formation, the left back would often hit long crosses to Flo, who in turn would head the ball to either one of the central midfielders or to the striker.

This was known as the Flo Pass, and the Norwegian national team garnered much criticism for its perceived long-ball approach. Egil Olsen did, however, take the national team to two World Cups, and the long ball style of play is considered to have played an important role in accomplishing this.

He played for Stryn, Sogndal, Molde F.K., Lierse S.K., Sheffield United F.C. and Strømsgodset I.F.. He was capped 53 times, and scored 11 goals for the Norwegian national team and was part of his country's squads at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups. Perhaps his most famous appearance for the national side was the World Cup match against Brazil on 23 June 1998, when he came on as a late substitute and contributed heavily to turning a 0-1 deficit to a last-gasp 2-1 upset of the reigning World Cup champions.

Flo retired after the 2002 season, having scored 120 goals in 184 games for Strømsgodset. After his playing career, he worked with marketing for the club before he filled the role of executive director from October, 2004 to January, 2006. Flo is currently the director of football of Strømsgodset.

Personal life

Flo is from a family of footballers; he is the younger brother of Kjell Rune Flo, who also played for Molde, and the older brother of Tore André Flo. who played for Chelsea and Rangers, and Jarle Flo who played for Norwegian Sogndal. Håvard Flo (who played for Sogndal, AGF, SV Werder Bremen, and Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.) is his cousin. In addition, Ulrik Flo is his nephew.

Jostein Flo was a decent high jumper in his younger days, and has a personal best jump of 2.06 metres from 1983 (2.08 m indoor from 1987).

As of 11 January 2015