\n<\/p>\n
Key to their success has been captain Zlatko Tripic.<\/p>\n
The winger, who turns 33 on Tuesday, 3 December, joined the club immediately following their relegation in 2018.<\/p>\n
He had previously won the Norwegian title twice with Molde in 2011 and 2012 – and arrived from Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol, where he had played in Europe.<\/p>\n
“It’s a great story,” said Risan. “We had just got relegated in 2017 and it was a big surprise when Zlatko turned up. <\/p>\n
“He was a profile, someone we didn’t think [we could sign]. We thought he just came to keep fit and train. <\/p>\n
“But he really liked the idea of taking the club to something great and being part of a good story. <\/p>\n
“Viking is traditionally a big club, but it was down in the dust. He’s been a big part of taking Viking back to the top of the table.”<\/p>\n
Tripic scored the winner in their 2019 cup final success over Haugesund, but left in 2020 for Turkish side Goztepe, returning 18 months later.<\/p>\n
And the Croatia-born forward has reached double figures in both goals and assists in each of the past three seasons – something no Viking player had ever done before.<\/p>\n
Tripic notched the third goal, from a first-half penalty, in the 5-1 victory over ninth-placed Valerenga which sealed the title.<\/p>\n
And now he has done something no player has done in a generation – lifted the Eliteserien title as Viking captain. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n