When injury forced Vegard Heggem to retire at 28, the former Liverpool defender did not turn to coaching or punditry. Instead, he built a salmon fishing lodge in his native Norway.
The Norwegian full-back spent five years at Anfield after joining from Rosenborg in 1998 – the first signing of Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier's short-lived joint-manager reign. He impressed during his first two seasons, making 61 appearances, before injury devastated his career. He featured in just four more matches before leaving the Reds and hanging up his boots.
“Former Liverpool defender Vegard Heggem opened a salmon fishing lodge after retiring at 28 due to injury.”
Heggem, now 50, pursued a long-term passion by establishing Aunan Lodge, a salmon fishing retreat. He told LFCTV in 2021: "When I moved away to play football, I started to think about what to do when my playing days were over. I've got a passion for fishing, in particular salmon fishing, so the idea of opening a fishing lodge seemed like a great idea. I can't imagine a better job now than being host for fishermen from all over the world that come here to hunt for Atlantic salmon."
The lodge is decorated with Liverpool memorabilia, reflecting a career he looks back on with affection despite the fitness troubles. "There wasn't much I could have done differently," Heggem said. "I was really unlucky with injuries. I did my very best to get back playing. I thought the club did everything they could to get me fit. But rather than be bitter or regretful about the games I didn't play, I'd rather appreciate those games that I did play. I've scored in front of the Kop, what more can you really ask for?"
He scored twice in front of the Kop: first in a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough in February 1999, then against Bradford City in November of the same year. Heggem also holds a place in Liverpool folklore as the player substituted to make way for Steven Gerrard's debut in a 2-0 victory over Blackburn in November 1998.
A 20-cap Norway international, Heggem was part of his country's squad at the 1998 World Cup – though he remained an unused substitute – and at Euro 2000. On Saturday, he will no doubt be watching when England face Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals, a match that will evoke memories of his own international career cut short by injury.
