Leo Ostigard returns to Genoa after a summer that changed his life away from the pitch, but he does so with the club facing an early-season test of nerve. The Norwegian defender has gone from following the birth of his son from the United States during the World Cup to trying to steady a side with only one point from its first five Serie A matches.
Key takeaways
- Ostigard watched partner Aurora Eidmann give birth via FaceTime while he was with Norway at the World Cup in the United States.
- The 26-year-old has now resumed family life in Italy after the tournament, describing the adjustment to fatherhood as increasingly natural.
- Genoa have collected one point from five league fixtures and most recently lost 2-1 away to Parma.
- Daniele De Rossi came under pressure after the poor opening but has been retained by the Genoa board.
- The Rossoblu host Fiorentina, coached by Vanoli, at the Ferraris on Saturday 10 October at 15:00.
A different return from international duty
For Ostigard, an Andalsnes native, the end of Norway’s World Cup campaign marked more than a return to club football. It meant finally joining Aurora Eidmann and their newborn son after a period in which distance had made the personal side of his summer especially difficult.
The Genoa centre-back said being away became harder as time passed because he felt the absence of his child more sharply. While Norway were based in America, he stayed connected through video calls and tried to see his son as often as possible. He also knew the baby was being cared for at home by Eidmann and her family.
Back in Italy, Ostigard has found the rhythm of everyday life markedly different from the travel, hotels and constant schedule of an international tournament. He said it was wonderful to come home to a child waiting for him, adding that fatherhood now feels more familiar, even if the experience remains an unusual one.
Genoa need a response at the Ferraris
The calm Ostigard is seeking at home has not yet been mirrored by Genoa’s league campaign. Their start has been severe: defeats to Napoli (2-0), Lazio (1-0) and Como (4-1) preceded a 1-1 home draw with Frosinone, the team’s first point of the season.
That was followed by a 2-1 loss at Parma’s Tardini, leaving Genoa on one point after five rounds. The run placed De Rossi’s position under scrutiny, although the club’s leadership subsequently confirmed him in charge.
Ostigard acknowledged that Genoa could scarcely have made a worse start, but argued that the squad should not lose hope at this stage. The next opportunity to alter the mood comes after the league restart, when Fiorentina visit the Ferraris on 10 October. For Genoa, it is a home afternoon that carries significance beyond the table: a chance to give De Rossi’s continued backing some substance and to prevent the season’s first chapter from becoming a deeper crisis.
