ÖFB player celebrates promotion in Norway

Raphael Schifferl can celebrate promotion to the Eliteserien with FK Haugesund.

In the second division of Norway, the club won its penultimate league match away at Asane Fotball 3-1 last weekend, putting themselves in a good starting position.

Because rival Kongsvinger lost to Stabaek, Haugesund was able to celebrate promotion from the couch.

Haugesund also has the championship title in its own hands. A draw on the last matchday is enough to secure the championship. Depending on the result of second-placed Stromsgodset IF, who are two points behind, even a defeat could be enough.

Schifferl "extremely relieved"

An Austrian also celebrated with Schifferl, who only made his debut for the club in October.

After his contract expired at 1860 Munich, the 27-year-old moved to Norway. He has so far made four league appearances, plus one cup match in which he scored.

"Everything just falls away from you. I'm extremely relieved. A week and a half ago, it wasn't in our own hands anymore. If we had to go into the playoffs, we would have played until Christmas," Raphael Schifferl said happily to the "Kronen Zeitung".

Future unclear

"I was indeed on the couch, but I didn't watch the game; instead, I was on the phone and checked the live ticker now and then. It's really cool. The most important thing is now done. Luckily, on Sunday at home against Odds, it's only about the title," the 27-year-old continued.

What happens next for Schifferl is not yet clear. Although the center-back only moved to Haugesund in September, he only signed a contract until the end of the year. This contract was not automatically extended by the promotion.

"I'm glad we got promoted. Now it's an option for me to stay. But we haven't talked about that yet," Schifferl told the "Krone".