The Norwegian quit the Dons for a return to Norway last month and admits the offer he received was just too good to turn down
19:14, 15 Apr 2026Updated 19:37, 15 Apr 2026
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MARCH 21: Aberdeen’s Sivert Heltne Nilsen arrives during a William Hill Premiership match between Rangers and Aberdeen at Ibrox Stadium, on March 21, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group)
Sivert Nilsen admitted he left Aberdeen because FK Haugesund tabled a deal he just couldn’t refuse.
The experienced midfielder had just over a season left on his Aberdeen deal but the ambitious OBOS Ligaen side offered him a three-year contract, with the potential of a coaching role beyond that.
This move has also given him the opportunity to play more regularly as a central midfielder; at Pittodrie he had become more of a squad player in his final months and also had to fill in as a central defender.
New Dons manager Stephen Robinson didn’t want to let Nilsen go, but knew he couldn’t stand in his way.
He had to go out and sign Elvis Bwomono as cover, allowing him to return home.
Aberdeen’s defensive issues are set to improve with Mats Knoester nearing a return.
Sivert Heltne Nilsen
Nilsen told Record Sport: “Haugesund offered me over three years of a contract here. They are ambitious and they really showed that they wanted me here and to be an important player for the team.
“I feel I can get more out of myself if I have a bit more responsibility in the organisation.
“Haugesund are looking to rebuild and want to build a team that will get back into the Eliteserien.
“I felt it was maybe a better option for me to start over and to try a new project with a long-term plan.
“The club wants to get back to where it was before, with hard work and young, local and hungry players.
“That was why I was very eager to go there as well, because it was the start of a new project.
“In my career, it’s always had a little bit of success when I can come into a new project and grow together with the team. That’s how I am as a player. There could then be the possibility of a coaching role after that, if it suits all parties.”
Sivert Heltne Nilsen has touched down in Norway(Image: Bergens Tidende)
The 34-year-old also admitted that returning to Norway also made sense for family reasons.
He explained: “It was also a good option for my family, with my wife qualifying to work as a doctor.
“It was hard for her to get a job in Aberdeen because she needed to pass language tests and other things.
“The biggest reason, however, was maybe in the long-term to play football.
“That’s my biggest motivation to be able to play football for a long time because I love playing football and I’m very passionate about football.”
Nilsen was just under two seasons at Pittodrie. It was something of a rollercoaster but he admitted he loved life in the Granite City and will continue to be an Aberdeen fan.
He claimed: “I really feel like Aberdeen will be a part of my life even in the future.
“I will follow the club very closely and I think that in itself means or tells me how special Aberdeen is as a club actually.
“It takes up a big part of the city and the people in the city.
“I lived in Westhill where people were amazing.
“I always felt love when I walked up the main stand from being on the bench, people smiled and waved.
“I just felt thankful for all the love I got from everyone all around.
“I never felt frustration from the fans or anything.”
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the likeable Norwegian. He was signed by Jimmy Thelin and then saw him sacked earlier this season. He also found himself in the firing line. Nilsen admitted there were times he was running on empty and he knew it.
“You could feel the whole spectrum with the good times and the bad times,” the former Dons player admitted.
“I actually appreciated both times and I felt like it was a learning process for myself and also for the club in itself.
“To be a part of the bad times, you almost need to like the good times as well, and I actually did.
“I never had a problem with the passion or the frustration from anything.
“There was some tough criticism at time.
“I know the period where I came from a long season in Norway.
“I just remember I was out of energy in the Christmas times there, but then the bad times started and you didn’t want to say to yourself that you were empty.
“You wanted to keep fighting.”
Aberdeen skipper Graeme Shinnie and Sivert Heltne Nilsen
Aberdeen lifted the Scottish Cup in Nilsen’s time but the one frustration was that Aberdeen didn’t get up there challenging at the top of the Premiership.
He confirmed: “We had some good times in the start, but we wished we could do even better, I think, with the performances.
“The goal was to challenge the best teams, but we did a little bit in the start and also for sure in the cup.
“I wished in my time that we could be even closer to the top teams.
“Yes, we won the Scottish Cup but I would have liked to see us being stronger in the league.
“That is the one frustration from my time at the club because the people at the club and the supporters deserve success.”
Aberdeen is still looking to secure its top-flight status but he is in no doubt Robinson will deliver that.
He confidently claimed: “It has been a difficult season in the league but Stephen Robinson is a good manager.
“I was impressed with him. “I am sure he will get the results the club needs and then they can build again next season.”