This afternoon marks fifteen years since Fulham signed Brede Hangeland. When this rather unremarkable transfer went through, it generated barely a stir even amongst our own fanbase. The media had already consigned the Whites to the drop after the disastrous Lawrie Sanchez experiment and considered the appointment of Roy Hodgson, condemned as a failure following his ill-fated spell at Blackburn, as rather evidence that the eccentric Mohamed Al-Fayed had lost his marbles. Hangeland, who worked with Hodgson at Viking Stavanger, was used to winning titles in Scandinavia rather than battling against the drop and the Thames barrier he forged with Aaron Hughes took a while to form.

Indeed, for much of the period we now dub the Great Escape in retrospect, Fulham were prone to the same devastating defensive lapses that had plagued the whole of their frustrating campaign. Hangeland’s debut delivered a rare clean sheet at Bolton, but the Whites didn’t manage to keep another one until Brian McBride’s brilliant header beat his old side Everton on his return from cruciate ligament damage in mid-March. It was another six weeks until a third arrived, crucially at Reading, where Hodgson’s heroes hit the bar three times, before Hangeland’s compatriot Erik Nevland stepped off the bench to score his first Fulham goal.

When it mattered though, Hangeland – already a reassuring and towering figure at the heart of the defence – delivered. After the Manchester City miracle, Fulham inched past relegation rivals Birmingham City after McBride and Nevland dovetailed again to take matters to the final day. You’ll all have your own memories of that unbearable day in the searing heat at Fratton Park. I’ll have to confess to have not been looking when Jimmy Bullard fizzed that free kick onto Danny Murphy’s head such were my nerves, but I saw it hit the net. Hangeland was outstanding in repelling the Pompey waves of attacks that followed.

I don’t need to give a chronological account of the rest of the Norwegian’s Craven Cottage career – for one thing, it would take too long. But, in his own understated way, he quickly became a leader of the finest Fulham side I’ve ever seen. The understanding between Hughes, an underrated defender who Sanchez had successfully prised away from Aston Villa for the staggeringly small sum of a million pounds, and Hangeland became telepathic. Hangeland’s confidence on the ball meant he was able to dribble or distribute from the back and his presence imbued confidence into a midfield that gradually began to outplay some of the Premier League’s best sides.

The towering Norwegian was a weapon in both boxes as evidenced by the goals he scored – memorably sealing Fulham’s first win of the 2008/09 season against Arsenal and also scoring great headers against Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk in that incredible Europa League run. He became the club captain after the departure of Danny Murphy, memorably heading a late equaliser against Manchester United and led by example, with his defending as understated as it was vital. Not for him lunging tackles to draw attention to his own attributes. As a thinker about the game, Hangeland’s reading of what was in front of him was the reason why he was so successful: it made him an underrated centre half despite the lack of pace that seemed a perquisite to prosper in the Premier League.

Hangeland had a special bond with the Fulham faithful that wasn’t tarnished by the disappointment of the Europa League final, when Atletico Madrid’s winner was diverted in off our gallant centre back. It couldn’t be severed by his departure, ordered by Felix Magath, following Fulham’s relegation in 2014. The skipper deserved much better to be released by email, especially after enduring the German’s cheese-based recipe for recovery from an injury. The Whites certainly wouldn’t have languished in the Championship for four years with Hangeland at the heart of their back four – a point emphasised by the fact that he continued to play in the top flight for Crystal Palace.

The Norwegian’s relationship with the Craven Cottage regulars was built on loyalty. He appreciated the opportunity to play in the Premier League and grew to love the club and its erudite followers, especially after Hodgson’s men survived by the skin of their teeth in 2008 and went on to scale unimaginable heights. The typical footballer would have cashed in on this success – and Hangeland was hardly short of suitors. Arsene Wenger identified him as the solution to Arsenal’s defensive woes, but even if the Gunners had matched Fulham’s valuation of the Texan-born centre half, Hangeland probably wouldn’t have moved: he considered Fulham the perfect fit for him.

He underlined that point after his unsatisfactory exit, returning to the Cottage to watch Fulham play in the Championship. He arrived unannounced and stood in the Hammersmith End. Unlike Terry Angus, he didn’t lead the chants himself and he probably wouldn’t have joined in as ‘Hangeland, Hangeland, Hangeland’ echoed around Fulham’s famous home. He is a modest man, who would have plenty to shout about, but that just isn’t in Brede’s character. A football man through and through it is no surprise that he became one of the leading analysts on Nordic television before stepping into coaching with the Norwegian national side. Hopefully, Hangeland knows he’ll always be guaranteed a rapturous reception in a part of SW6 he can always call home.

Tusen, takk, Brede!

His physical characters