// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Ole Martin Årst? An artist at heart.

Ole Martin Årst

Årst in 2026
Personal information
Date of birth	(1974-07-19) 19 July 1974
Place of birth	Bergen, Norway
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position	Forward
Youth career
	Sortland
	Brage/Trondenes
	Fløya
	Tromsø
	Skarp
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1995	Skarp	22	(34)
1995–1997	Tromsø	54	(19)
1997–1999	Anderlecht	36	(11)
1999–2000	Gent	33	(30)
2000–2003	Standard Liège	73	(41)
2003–2007	Tromsø	103	(45)
2007–2011	Start	67	(34)
2012-2013	Tromsø	25	(3)
Total		414	(218)
International career
1995–1996	Norway U21	5	(1)
2000–2007	Norway	22	(2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ole Martin Årst (born 19 July 1974) is a Norwegian retired professional footballer who played as a forward. He is a former top scorer in both Belgium's and Norway's top leagues.

Club career

The son of a naval officer, Ole Martin Årst was born in Bergen and spent his childhood years in Harstad and Sortland before settling in Tromsø at age 11. He made his professional debut for Tromsø IL on 22 April 1995 against Hamarkameratene at Briskeby stadion. After the 1997 season he was sold to Anderlecht for 13 million kr. He then moved to K.A.A. Gent in Belgium and became as a top scorer in 2000 with 30 goals. Then Standard Liège signed him for NOK 24 million. He returned to Tromsø IL in the summer of 2003 for 5 million kr.

Årst became the top scorer in the Tippeligaen 2005, with 16 goals. After a hat-trick against IK Start on 2 October 2005 Årst was ranked as the top league scorer of all times in Tromsø IL with 51 goals. On 9 July 2007, he transferred to IK Start.

Start went down that season, but as Start won a direct promotion in 2008, Årst did not participate in any games due to a serious injury. The same injury limited him to only two games in the 2009 season.

He announced his retirement in October 2009.

He made a comeback for the club in a friendly match in early 2010. He then signed a contract for the duration of 2010, with possibilities of renewal.

Årst signed a one-year deal with Tromsø IL ahead of the 2012 Tippeligaen season. This was his third spell at the club.

International career

Årst made his debut for the Norway national team in a January 2000 friendly match against Iceland and went on to earn 22 caps, scoring two goals.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Skarp	1994	Third division	22	34			–		22	34
Tromsø	1995	Tippeligaen	7	1	3	3	2	0	12	4
	1996		24	9	8	6	–		32	15
	1997		23	9	4	5	4	3	31	17
	Total		54	19	15	14	6	3	75	36
Anderlecht	1997–98	Belgian Pro League	18	10
	1998–99		18	1
	Total		36	11
Gent	1999–00	Belgian Pro League	32	30
Standard Liège	2000–01	Belgian Pro League	29	14
	2001–02		12	6
	2002–03		30	19
	Total		71	39
Tromsø	2003	Tippeligaen	13	5	3	1	–		16	6
	2004		25	11	3	0	–		28	11
	2005		26	16	2	2	7	4	35	22
	2006		26	11	2	2	–		28	13
	2007		13	2	3	5	–		16	7
	Total		103	45	13	10	7	4	123	59
Start	2007	Tippeligaen	12	6	2	0	–		14	6
	2008	Adeccoligaen	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	2009	Tippeligaen	2	0	0	0	–		2	0
	2010		24	12	3	4	–		27	16
	2011		29	16	6	4	–		35	20
	Total		67	34	11	8	0	0	78	42
Tromsø	2012	Tippeligaen	25	3	5	1	3	0	33	4
Career total			410	214

Honours

Tromsø

• Norwegian Cup: 1996

Individual

• Belgian First Division top scorer: 2000
• Tippeligaen top scorer: 2005
• Kniksen award: striker of the year: 2005