ULLEVAAL (Dagbladet): – I probably have something in my head that is not quite right. Some people around me wonder how I can be so little afraid of risk. But I think we live in Norway. How wrong can it go?
Dagbladet meets Mathisen at the Ullevaal stadium. There is one day until the EC qualifier between Norway and Georgia. The match ended 2-1 to Norway, which means that the hope for the European Championship play-offs next summer is alive with a few percentages.
Once back in his home town of Kristiansand, it wasn’t like the 36-year-old sat down and waited for the next football broadcast on TV 2. Now he’s taking action in the garden.
SELLER: Here are the two homes Jesper Mathisen will build in the garden in Kristiansand. He and his family live in the house behind. view more
During the next few months, he will build two detached houses on his own land. Both are sold for NOK 12-13 million. The project is part of the interest in property development. Mathisen also buys and sells shares.
According to The friend of the fatherland he and three other people earned NOK 60 million from the sale of a padel company. Now he takes the business further, and smiles a little to himself:
– For many years, I was a little too happy to bet on the odds. So I have moved over to the housing market. I also do a bit of stocks. There are better odds of making money here than there were on the long odds, trotting and the betting coupon.
ACTIVE: – I have it in my blood that something has to happen, says Jesper Mathisen. Photo: Bjørn Langsem Show more
– Did it get out of hand?
– Yes, at times I gave a little too much gas. I have not wasted huge sums that I did not have in the account. But I have it in my blood that something has to happen.
He points out:
– I am happy that I have moved to property development and the stock market. I have to have something other than just TV 2. If not I don’t work.
According to the tax lists, the football expert had an income of NOK 13.5 million in 2021.
Fædrelandsvennen writes that he has assets of NOK 15 million in one “friend’s fund”. The Salt Value fund is managed by Harald Espedal, a well-known figure in the financial community.
The legend dead
These are just some of the balls Mathisen has in the air. And now there are two detached houses in the garden to be built and sold. The plan is for them to be ready to move in next summer.
– I have a little too much debt and the interest rate is a little too high. I have worked for two years regulating two detached houses where we live in Kristiansand. Now the politicians have approved this, says Mathisen.
– An architect has designed two beautiful houses, in what I like to call the city’s best location. Now they are going out on the market. We are betting that it will go well and that we will have some nice neighbours.
The football expert lives with Trine Mjåland. Together they have sons Jens and Svein. The latter is named after Jesper’s father, the late Start legend Svein “Matta” Mathisen (58).
– As soon as the detached houses are sold, construction starts. There will be a construction project in the garden for the next six to eight months. It’s going to be awesome. I can’t wait to get it out into the world. When we saw the drawings, we considered moving into one of the houses ourselves. But it probably won’t be like that.
CELEBRATE: Erling Braut Haaland scored a nice goal in national team training. Jesper Mathisen explains why Haaland makes it look easy. Video: Red Card Show more
When Dagbladet asks how the business goes outside TV 2, he replies:
– I’m okay. But I know that the rent is what it is. I feel the same way as many others in Norway right now. Then we will see if the interest rate peak has not been reached and if there will soon be a little more in the account again.
He won’t go into exactly how bad things could be with his previous hobby – gambling.
– I don’t think it’s suitable for print. There have been a lot of crazy bets over the years. But it was also a lot of fun.
ACTIVE: The football expert played in Start from 2004 to 2014. Left: Morten Moldskred from Tromsø. Photo: NTB Show more
– Yes, could you, for example, bet NOK 100,000 on the first throw-in in a football match?
– No, not that kind of game. I guess that for ten years I was the Norwegian who watched the most tennis. I caught most of it both day and night. At times I have seen more tennis than football. There is always a tennis match you can bet on.
– What was your favorite object?
– I followed Casper Ruud early in his career. But now, fortunately, I have stopped playing both football and tennis. I spend time and money on more sensible things where there are good opportunities to do it right.
The world gasps
Mathisen has previously admitted that he lost NOK 154,000 in a tennis match at the US Open in 2007.
– Did you need professional help to stop gambling?
– No, I’ve never had that. I think we need to step on the gas and take some chances as well. In the end, it ended up being pretty good. Then we’ll see how it goes in the future.
GOOD COLLEAGUES: Jesper Mathisen at work outside the Ullevaal stadium. Here together with TV 2 colleagues Marius Skjelbæk (tv) and Simen Stamsø Møller. Photo: Bjørn Langsem Show more
Mathisen is crystal clear about his current passion:
– I like to be involved in processes. I have bought, renovated and sold houses. Next to football, I think things like that are really fun to do. Fortunately, I know so many good people that I bring the best in the class with me to carry out the project in the garden, he says.
– I have received good inquiries already. Someone should come and see. Others have more things they wonder about. Selling should go well, even in today’s troubled housing market.
– So you are a businessman and cheat outside of football?
– Yes, I am.
LEGEND: Svein “Matta” Mathisen was a legend in Start. Here from when Jesper launched the book “Daddy’s last fight” in 2011. Photo: NTB Show more
But it is football that he is best known for. It started as a player in Start from 2004 to 2014. He is the son of his father – “Matta” – and this has followed him.
Just like his father was, he is an expert on TV 2. “Matta” was known for having a loose tie and lines with a twinkle in his eye. He died of cancer aged just 58 in 2011.
START LEGEND: Svein “Matta” Mathisen made a name for himself as a player in Start. He was also sports manager and football expert on TV 2. Photo: NTB Show more
Today, Jesper has built himself up to become a star in TV 2. He is the one who comes up with the big analyses. It is he who, in the hours before the international match, reveals which first eleven student Ståle Solbakken will field. It was he who said that Lars Bohinen had been fired from Stabæk before everyone else.
Competence, acquaintances and a down-to-earth appearance… then you often get far.
But the most important thing right now: Will Norway make it to the EC finals in Germany next summer?
Most agree that the opportunity is through the playoff in the Nations League in March. But this is not certain either.
NORWEGIAN JUBILEE: Erling Braut Haaland celebrates scoring as Norway beat Georgia 2-1 on Tuesday 12 September. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Show more
First, we have to see which teams go to the playoffs through the qualifiers. Then the question is where you are ranked when the places in the playoffs are awarded.
– I was pretty sure that it was going to happen during the previous meeting in June. But there are many factors, groups and teams involved. It is difficult to give an accurate percentage of what is possible, Mathisen points out.
On November 19, we will at least know the answer. Norway then plays its last match in the European Championship qualifier away to Scotland.
Mathisen may have quickly made “a hit” in the market as well. With the tipping coupon crumpled up, there has been a lot of rod in. Roughly the opposite of how it has been for the national football team.
2023-09-25 06:49:24
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