Blackburn Rovers felt Morten Gamst Pedersen impact which no other English club did: View | OneFootball

Pedersen became a Rovers legend in his nine years at the club

Morten Gamst Pedersen became a Blackburn Rovers legend for his consistently brilliant performances in his nine years at the club.

Then only 22 years old, he was brought to Ewood Park by Graeme Souness in 2004, but initially struggled to adapt to the Premier League from Norwegian football.

He soon became a fan-favourite though, and was a constant on the left wing under multiple different managers as Rovers finished in the top seven twice, reached FA Cup and League Cup semi-finals, and played in the UEFA Cup for consecutive seasons in his time at Ewood Park.

His final years at the club were marred by off-pitch issues and eventual relegation to the Championship in 2012, and he left a year later to play in Turkey, but Pedersen's overall influence in his nine years certainly cemented him as a Rovers legend.

Pedersen is loved at Rovers

The Norwegian international enjoyed a breakthrough season in his native country with Tromso prior to his arrival at Ewood Park in 2004 for a fee of around £1.5m and was immediately thrust into the starting XI just days after his arrival against Manchester United, providing an assist to Paul Dickov to give Rovers the lead.

He found life tough in his debut season though, as Graeme Souness was sacked in September and new boss Mark Hughes left him out of the matchday squad for over three months - he then netted the winner away at Portsmouth when he did eventually return to the team in January, and never truly looked back as he became an ever-present under Hughes.

His second season in East Lancashire was arguably his most successful on a personal level as he registered ten goals and six assists in 42 games in all competitions, including key winners against Newcastle, Arsenal and Middlesbrough, with Rovers finishing in sixth place and just four points off Champions League qualification.

Pedersen continued to consistently provide goals and assists in domestic and European competitions under Hughes, but his departure in the summer of 2008 saw the beginning of a downwards trend for the club, with Paul Ince quickly hired and soon sacked, then Sam Allardyce brought in to steady the ship.

He stayed in the team under Allardyce, and then under new boss Steve Kean who was controversially hired after the Venky's took over the club in late 2010 - but Rovers were soon relegated under Kean in the 2011/12 season.

Pedersen chose to stay around for one year in the Championship and registered one goal and seven assists in 33 games in all competitions as Rovers went through three different permanent managers and could only finish 17th on their return to the second-tier.

At 31, he was told he could leave the club that summer, and subsequently joined Turkish side Karabükspor on a free transfer in August.

He undoubtedly left Ewood Park as a modern-day club legend, especially given the years of decline that the club has suffered since his departure, and was a much-loved player, not just by Rovers supporters, but also by neutral Premier League fans for his fierce left foot, great set-piece and crossing ability, and willingness to try the outrageous on the pitch.

Rovers are the only English club lucky enough to have Pedersen play for them in his career, which is testament to the great times he had and the brilliant relationship that he built with the fans at Ewood Park.

Pedersen is still going strong

Despite playing in lesser leagues and countries since he left Rovers in 2013, Pedersen is still playing professional football in 2024 at the ripe old age of 42.

He was underused in his time at Karabükspor in the Super Lig, and soon returned to his native Norway with Rosenborg, where he helped them win the top-flight and Norwegian Football Cup in 2015.

Pedersen returned to his previous club Tromso in 2016, twelve years after leaving for Blackburn, and took his old number seven shirt while featuring heavily in the Eliteserien in his four years back at the Romssa Arena.

He has since bounced around the Norwegian lower leagues with Alta, Asane and Ranheim, and is now a free agent heading into the upcoming summer window, but is reportedly not finished with football yet and is “ready for an adventure,” at 42-years-old, amid multiple offers, including one from Senegal.

Blackburn fans will be pleased to know that their adopted Rover is still flourishing, and will have been just as delighted to welcome him back to Ewood Park in the pre-match build-up to their Championship game against Southampton in April.

Pedersen's warm welcome upon his return was another sure sign of the status he holds at the club, and Rovers can count themselves fortunate to have watched him at the peak of his powers for the club in the Premier League.