After posting the first one which was about Paul Telfer (http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/107247-Whatever-happened-to...-Paul-Telfer...-(New-series)) I felt the need to continue and do another one. This week about Jo Tessem. He was signed by Dave Jones for Southampton for £600,000 in 1999, and made his debut on 20 November 1999 at home to Tottenham Hotspur playing an unfamiliar role as right-back in place of the injured Jason Dodd. Although he was a midfielder he was extremely versatile and was often played as a striker in partnership with James Beattie. He was a regular player up to the 2002-03 season and played in the FA Cup Final against Arsenal on 17 May 2003, coming on as a late substitute for Anders Svensson. His final tally for the Saints was 130 matches and 16 goals. Obviously a lot of us knew the above paragraphs but what happened to him after he left...? He left to return to Norway, Tessem returned to Lyn on loan for the first half of the 2004 season in Norway. He was then loaned out to Millwall where he scored once against Cardiff, before signing a three-year contract with Lyn at the start of the 2005 season. During the 2007 season, Jo Tessem announced that he was moving back to England after the season, because his wife was English, and they had decided to live there. He played 208 matches for Lyn from his debut in 1994 until he ended his Lyn Oslo deal after the 2007 season. In January 2008, Tessem joined Bournemouth on a short term deal. He had trained with the squad for over a month before signing. Kevin Bond, the manager, said: "Jo has bags of experience. He's been playing the last two seasons in Norway, so he's been getting regular football and is still very fit. He doesn't miss anything on the ball and he uses it very well. His last season didn't end until November, so he's in good shape and ready to go. Hopefully, it'll prove an ideal move for us, as well as him." Bournemouth were relegated to League Two after five successive seasons of League One football. Tessem had been playing under month-to-month contracts since joining the team, but Bournemouth could not offer a new contract by the end of the season due to their uncertain financial future. In June 2009 Tessem were on trial at the Swedish club Ãrgryte IS in Allsvenskan. Due to an injury he did not sign a contract with the club. Only six days after he discontinued the negotiations with Ãrgryte Tessem went to England for a trial with Southampton FC in Coca-Cola League One. ^ Now I remember that bit; but does anyone else? ^ Tessem then went on to manage Wessex League side Totton & Eling in 2008-2009, winning the league with 100 points. Tessem signed for Eastleigh in February, 2010. After 4 appearances Tessem left the club later in the month. And this is where he is now: Tessem Coaches the 1st Team at Totton Football Academy and started his role at the college in 2009 and still does so. I think that he is an ideal role model for some youngsters, quitely clearly his career began to slope down hill but he never gave in and has chipped in his bit wherever he has gone So well done to him and I hope he is sticks with what he's doing. Maybe he could manage again given his record... Thank You! Part 3 coming soon (If you missed out on Part 1, then here it is: http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/107247-Whatever-happened-to...-Paul-Telfer...-(New-series))
Nice post....I believe he was a policeman in Norway before becoming a pro footballer. I think this would explain why he carried on playing for as long as he could as he probabley appreciated his career more than a player being at the top since school.
I forgot to add he is still a 'Free Agent' as in he still theoretically qualifies as a professional footballer. He hasn't retired...yet...
The thing with Jo is that he pretty much could play anywhere (barring possibly goalkeeper). I remember him playing right back, striker and on the wing at the very least.....
He was recently living just over the back of my house,havent seen him for a couple of months,but often saw him over the local supermarket.
