FORMER Spurs ace Steffen Iversen has been declared bankrupt by Norwegian tax officials
FORMER Spurs ace Steffen Iversen has been declared bankrupt by Norwegian tax officials – leading his former agent to take a swipe at the British legal system over the striker’s financial woes.
The forward is fondly remembered by Tottenham fans for his exquisite lob against Wimbledon in the 1999 League Cup semi-final.
Iversen, 43, also played for Wolves and Crystal Palace in England – he but now faces a public hearing with tax authorities in Trondheim tomorrow (December 10).
Christian Eidem, the player’s former agent, has taken the opportunity to blast the UK divorce courts for Iversen’s situation, saying a costly split from former wife Anna Crane in 2013 wiped out the vast majority of his assets.
Eidem said: “The divorce took place under UK jurisdiction even though Steffen had moved back to Norway in 2004 and has lived there with only one short gap.
“He had an international career of great distinction and an excellent club career.
“If the couple had divorced in Norway it would have been a fair settlement. But just as his playing and earning days were ending, so he lost most of his assets in the divorce because of the inequality in the English system.”
Iversen scored 21 goals in 80 caps for Norway – including their first ever at a European Championships when he netted the winner against Spain at Euro 2000.
He joined Tottenham from Rosenborg in 1996, grabbing 36 goals in 144 appearances for the North Londoners before he left for a single season with Wolves in 2003.
Iversen married British singer Crane – one half of failed pop duo Masai – in 2004. He moved back to his native Norway that year to play for Valerenga and also enjoyed a second spell with Rosenborg.
Crane bought a £3.25million property in Hertfordshire in 2006 where she lived with the couple’s two children while Iversen commuted to Norway – sometimes spending as long as seven weeks away from his family.
In 2011 he moved back to England to play for Crystal Palace and for eight months the couple lived together.
When his spell at Selhurst Park ended Iversen returned to Norway and the couple lived apart until their divorce.
Iversen’s earnings from his playing days were largely lost in the settlement. He worked as a TV pundit and as a coach for lower league Norwegian sides.
Tax officials have not released information due to tomorrow’s hearing. Such cases are usually based on significant unpaid or under-paid tax over a number of years that would exceed the declared assets of the individual.