– The EC will be my last championship. I’ll stop then. It feels right to me, says Hergeirsson at a press conference at Ullevaal on Monday. The news comes one month after Norway swept host nation France off the field in the final and secured Olympic gold in Paris. news has recently spoken several times with Hergeirsson about the future. But the Icelander has kept his cards close to his chest – until now. TOOK OLYMPIC GOLD: It has been a month since Norway won Olympic gold in Paris with Hergeirsson as coach. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB – I know well what you say yes to, and I know well what you say no to. But I think it’s right. First of all for myself, and then I am very much in favor of those who will lead the national team towards an Olympics in 2028, they should get the years between the EC that comes in December and up to that Olympics, he says. Hergeirsson describes his time as national team coach as “absolutely fantastic”. – How do you think the national team women took the message? – They must have cheered, he laughs and adds: – I have no idea. We have tried not to inform too many people too early, because it is good to get the message out together. Then the same message is given, and the same explanation. You can ask them. But life goes on, there are many good people. – So there has been no dialogue between you regarding continuation? – No, not at all. LOSING THE COACH: Camilla Herrem and Hergeirsson have worked closely together on the national team for many years. Now she will have a new coach after the EC in December. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Herrem: – Sad National team star Camilla Herrem tells news that they received the message on Monday. – We got the message just now, at the same time as everyone else. It was something he wanted, says Herrem. The Sola player made his debut in the national team in 2008. Then Hergeirsson was assistant to Marit Breivik. Herrem has thus collaborated with the Icelander for over 18 years. – It’s sad. We have talked a lot with him about both, and about what he thinks. I know he thinks it was a difficult choice. He enjoys being a national team coach, she says. – How would you describe his career, and him as a coach? – He is a fantastic person who has done an incredible amount for Norwegian handball, both on and off the pitch. I have had him in almost all my championships, and we know each other well. The way he has developed himself, the team and a lot around, has been fantastically good. He has done so much good for Norwegian handball. So it is of course a loss that he gives up now, replies Herrem. Facts about Thorir Hergeirsson Photo: SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP This is the handball coach Thorir Hergeirsson: Age: 60 years (born 27 April 1964) Nationality: Icelandic Career: Head coach in Elverum (1989-1994), Gjerpen (1995-97), Nærbø (1999). Coached Norway’s junior national team on the girls’ side from 1994 to 2001, assistant coach on the women’s national team under Marit Breivik (2001-08) and national team manager (2009-2024). Awards: Order of Merit (knight of 1st class – 2017) and Norwegian Sports Leader-Veterans’ honorary award (2012). Coach of the year at the Sports Gala (2023). Gold medals as national team manager: Olympics (2), WC (3) and EC (5). The last one came in the Paris Olympics this summer. A total of 16 championship medals. Current: Ends his career as national team manager in the EC in November and December. Source: NTB Goalkeeping legend Katrine Lunde says that the news of the coach’s exit came a bit suddenly. – Yes, I read it. I thought we would get a message, but there wasn’t much information in advance, says Lunde to news. PRAISES THE COACH: Katrine Lunde describes Hergeirsson as “a good person who is good at reading people”. Photo: Brian Inganga / AP The Vipers player says that she thinks it’s sad, but that she understands that the coach wants to do something new in the next few years. – He will be deeply missed. He is a good coach, a good conversation partner, a good person. He sees people. You have a good time with Thorir. He is good at reading people, says Lunde about Hergeirsson. Tribute by the president Handball president Kåre Geir Lio pays tribute to what Hergeirsson has done for Norwegian handball. – It is a contribution and an effort that stands at the top of the handball association’s history, says Lio and continues: – If you look at Thorir’s life, it has been full of focus on learning, development and improvement. It’s about looking for new ways of doing things. It is about being at the very top of the way of thinking about how handball should be. What I think is perhaps the most fun is how he has handled individual development against a community mindset which is absolutely formidable. POWERFUL TRIO: Handball president Kåre Geir Lio, Thorir Hergeirsson and general secretary Erik Langerud. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB The Handball Association confirms that they have not found a replacement for Hergeirsson. – We must spend sufficient time to find a new heir, but no more time than necessary. We will come back to it later, but that is where we stand now, says general secretary of the handball association, Erik Langerud. The Icelander has been manager of the Norwegian national team for 15 years. Before that, he was an assistant to Marit Breivik for a number of years. The 60-year-old has had great success as national team manager. Hergeirsson has led Norway to a total of ten victories in the Olympics, WC and EC. Published 09/09/2024, at 14.02 Updated 09.09.2024, at 19.26
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Hergeirsson wants to become national team coach – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
