Fredrik Mani Pålerud
Norwegian footballer (born 1994)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fredrik Mani Pålerud (born 24 February 1994) is a Norwegian footballer who plays as a right back for IK Start.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Fredrik Mani Pålerud | ||
| Date of birth | 24 February 1994 | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Start | ||
| Number | 2 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Disenå | |||
| Oppstad | |||
| Sander | |||
| 2012–2013 | Tromsø | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012 | Sander | 13 | (2) |
| 2012–2013 | Tromsø 2 | 27 | (1) |
| 2014–2020 | Kongsvinger | 173 | (5) |
| 2021–2022 | Sandnes Ulf | 29 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | Sandefjord | 27 | (0) |
| 2024– | Start | 55 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 July 2026 | |||
Career
He hails from Finnholt and played local youth football for Disenå, Oppstad and Sander IL.[2] He made his senior debut for Sander in the 2012 3. divisjon before moving north in the summer, joining the academy of Tromsø IL.[3] He was not given the chance for the senior team, and moved back to his home region in 2014, this time playing for Kongsvinger IL.[4]
Pålerud became a regular in the right-back position.[5] In 2016 the team was behind a major upset as they, a second-tier side, made it to the 2016 Norwegian Football Cup final. Pålerud scored the winning goal in the semi-final against Strømsgodset.[6][7]
Needing new challenges, Pålerud moved to Western Norway in 2021 to play for fellow second-tier team Sandnes Ulf.[8] In early August 2022 he left Sandnes Ulf as he was signed by Sandefjord Fotball.[9] At the age of 28 Pålerud made his Eliteserien debut in August 2022 against Viking.[3] Sandefjord would meet Kongsvinger in the relegation play-offs,[10] winning the two-legged bout.
Pålerud did not find a new club in the 2023–24 transfer window, but trained with IK Start. As clubs were still allowed to sign free agents, he penned a contract in April 2024 lasting until the end of the year. It was extended for two more years.[11][12] Winning promotion and returning for his second Eliteserien spell in 2026, Pålerud saw Start struggling in the bottom of the table.[13]