Roald Jensen (11 January 1943 – 6 October 1987),[5] nicknamed "Kniksen", was one of Norway's most celebrated football players.

After Brann's relegation in 1964, Jensen transferred to professional football in Scotland as Heart of Midlothian's first non-British player.

While he was in Scotland, Jensen was unable to play for Norway, as the national team did not allow professional players at that time.

[6] He became Norway's biggest sports star and a darling of the media, and earned the moniker "Kniksen",[6] which translates into "juggler" in English.

The Norwegian League system was reorganized, and the autumn season was the start of a marathon campaign that lasted throughout 1962.

[17] In the book Godfoten, Nils Arne Eggen describes a situation where Jensen and Rolf Birger Pedersen, in the next-to-last game of the season against Rosenborg, took off their football shoes and humiliated their opponents by playing in their socks in a demonstration of superiority.

[22] Jensen transferred to Hearts after the 1964 season, while SK Brann was relegated, and debuted as the Jambo's first overseas international on 2 January 1965.

[citation needed] An important goal was the extra-time winner against Morton in the 1968 Scottish Cup semifinal; however, the Jam Tarts lost the resultant final 1–3 to Dunfermline Athletic.

[24] Controversy started in the pre-season during 1972, when Jensen ended up in a fight with the referee during an indoor tournament in Haukelandshallen.

[25] Despite his long suspension, Jensen was named "footballer of the year" in Norway[25] after playing a total of ten games and scoring three goals in league and cup.

When Jensen also ended up in conflict with new manager Billy Elliott, he and his brother Kjell chose to retire.

Although the selection committee was skeptical of him, due to his young age, Jensen earned excellent reviews for his performance against Austria, and kept his place in the team.

[6][29] However, his breakthrough for Norway was in a game against Sweden on 18 September 1960, where Jensen and his Brann teammate Rolf Birger Pedersen, charmed the entire country with their magnificent football and shy appearance.

In total, Jensen played 31 international games for Norway, and scored five goals, earning his 31st and final cap in a match against Hungary on 27 October 1971.

He died of heart failure on 6 October 1987, while on the football field training with Brann's old-boys' team Gamlekara.

[33] A bronze statue of Kniksen made by the Norwegian sculptor Per Ung was installed outside Brann Stadion in 1995.

[34] In 2008, a large area outside the two new stands at Brann Stadion was named "Kniksens plass" after Roald Jensen.