Martin Linnes

Martin Linnes (born 20 September 1991) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Norwegian club Molde. A versatile player, he also played as a left-back, central midfielder, right midfielder and right winger.

Martin Linnes

Personal information
Full name	Martin Linnes
Date of birth	(1991-09-20) 20 September 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth	Sander, Norway
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Molde
Number	21
Youth career
	Sander
	Kongsvinger
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2011	Kongsvinger	41	(1)
2012–2016	Molde	104	(11)
2016–2021	Galatasaray	101	(2)
2021–	Molde	75	(10)
International career‡
2011–2013	Norway U21	7	(0)
2013–2021	Norway	29	(1)
Medal record Molde Winner Tippeligaen 2012 Winner Tippeligaen 2014 Winner Tippeligaen 2022 Winner Norwegian Football Cup 2013 Winner Norwegian Football Cup 2014 Winner Norwegian Football Cup 2021–22 Winner Norwegian Football Cup 2023 Winner Turkish Cup 2016 Winner Turkish Cup 2019 Winner Turkish Super Cup 2016 Winner Süper Lig 2018 Winner Süper Lig 2019
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 March 2021

Club career

Early years

Linnes started his career at Sander, then joined Kongsvinger. In 2010, he made his debut in the Norwegian top division.^[1]

Molde

Linnes joined Molde in 2012, after his contract with Kongsvinger had expired.^[2] On 9 April 2012, he made his first assist against Brann, which Molde won 2–1, and on 4 August 2012, scored his first goal against Sogndal, in a match which Molde won 2–1. On 17 September 2015, Linnes scored the third goal against Fenerbahçe in the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage, 3–1 away win.

After four years for Molde, Linnes agreed with Galatasaray. In his Molde years, he played 152 games, scoring 14 goals and making 26 assists.

Galatasaray

In January 2016, Linnes signed a 3+1⁄2-year contract with Turkish club Galatasaray for a €2 million transfer fee.^[3] He picked number 27 for his shirt from its previous owner, Emmanuel Eboué. He made his debut for Cim-Bom against Akhisar Belediyespor in the 2015–16 Turkish Cup, which ended in a 1–1 draw.

On 26 January 2016, Linnes started as central midfielder with José Rodríguez against Kastamonuspor in 2015–16 Turkish Cup, and made an assist to Sinan Gümüş, who scored the third goal. In the second half, he returned to his main position at right-back, after Tarık Çamdal had been taken from the pitch. Galatasaray won that match 4–1 at home.

On 6 February 2016, he played his first Süper Lig match, a 0–0 draw at home against Konyaspor, playing the full 90 minutes right-back.

On 11 April 2019, Galatasaray extended his contract for two more seasons, until the end of 2020–21 season.^[4]

Return to Molde

On 17 August 2021, Molde announced that they signed their former right-back Martin Linnes.^[5]

Career statistics

Club

As of 7 December 2024^[6][7][8]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	Division	League		National Cup[a]		Europe		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kongsvinger	2010	Tippeligaen	15	0	3	0	—		—		18	0
	2011	1. divisjon	26	1	3	0	—		—		29	1
	Total		41	1	6	0	—		—		47	1
Molde	2012	Tippeligaen	24	1	3	0	11[b]	0	—		35	1
	2013		24	4	6	1	5[c]	1	—		34	6
	2014		28	4	6	0	4[d]	0	—		38	4
	2015		28	2	2	0	11[e]	1	—		41	3
	Total		104	11	17	1	27	2	0	0	148	14
Galatasaray	2015–16	Süper Lig	10	0	7	0	—		—		17	0
	2016–17		18	0	7	1	—		1[f]	0	26	1
	2017–18		20	0	6	0	2[d]	0	—		28	0
	2018–19		19	2	7	2	6[g]	0	1[f]	0	33	4
	2019–20		12	0	4	0	—		—		16	0
	2020–21		22	0	1	0	3[d]	0	—		26	0
	Total		101	2	32	3	11	0	2	0	146	5
Molde	2021	Eliteserien	11	0	0	0	0	0	—		11	0
	2022		23	4	5	2	10[h]	1	—		38	7
	2023		21	5	6	0	5[i]	1	—		32	6
	2024		20	1	2	0	10[h]	1	—		32	2
	Total		75	10	13	2	25	3	—		107	14
Career total			321	23	68	6	63	5	2	0	454	35

1. Includes Norwegian Cup, Turkish Cup
2. Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
5. Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
6. Appearance in Turkish Super Cup
7. Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
8. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
9. Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League

International

As of 30 March 2021^[9]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Norway	2013	2	0
	2014	8	0
	2015	2	0
	2016	3	0
	2017	5	1
	2018	3	0
	2019	0	0
	2020	4	0
	2021	2	0
Total		29	1

Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Linnes goal.^[10]

List of international goals scored by Martin Linnes

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	5 October 2017	San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino	San Marino	8–0	8–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Molde

• Tippeligaen/Eliteserien: 2012, 2014, 2022
• Norwegian Cup: 2013, 2014, 2021–22, 2023

Galatasaray

• Süper Lig: 2017–18, 2018–19
• Türkiye Kupası: 2015–16, 2018–19
• Süper Kupa: 2016, 2019

Norway U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship bronze: 2013^[11]
• Eliteserien Defender of the Year: 2014