On Tuesday, the confirmation came: Martin Sjögren has finished as Norwegian national team manager. It was in many ways in the cards after another weak European Championship play-off for Norway. Now the question is who will lead Norway in the World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and Albania in September. Norway has very good opportunities to reach the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next summer. These are some of the relevant candidates, according to the experts. Hege Riise Photo: CRAIG BROUGH / Reuters Riise just led the J19 team to a raw strong European Championship final, where it was a 2-1 loss for Spain. She has previously coached LSK Women, among others, and she was interim coach for England last year. Not least, Riise has 188 international matches for Norway. – It’s impossible to get around her. She is the big favorite to take over. As a tactician and strategist, she is very competent, and I am excited about the leadership qualities in such a group. She is also a woman, which I think is important now. In the European Championships, we have seen a number of female coaches deliver strong results, assesses news expert Carl-Erik Torp. – Hege Riise is the obvious candidate. It’s about the experience, the merits she has as a player and coach. She has just finished a very nice championship for J19, says TV 2’s sports commentator Mina Finstad Berg. Torp adds that Riise has long experience with 4-3-3, and the expert believes it will be the best formation for Norway. Nils Lexerød Photo: Marit Hommedal / NTB The 46-year-old leads Vålerenga, which at the time of writing is in 3rd place in the Toppserien. Lexerød came to the Oslo club after leading Norway U19 (2015-19) and the U23 team. news experts Carl-Erik Torp and Elise Thorsnes both highlight the Vålerenga coach, and the latter naturally knows Lexerød extra well. Thorsnes has played in Vålerenga the last two seasons. – If I am not going to think about myself, he is my big favorite. He’s the best coach I’ve had. He has been in the national team system with U19 and U23, and I think he is a natural candidate, says Thorsnes. Alexander Straus Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB The Bergen native was just picked up from Brann to Bayern Munich. He has previously coached Norway’s U19 and U23 teams. Straus is highlighted by news’s experts, but the timing is probably completely wrong for the Bergen native. news spoke with the Bergen native before it became known that Sjögren has finished as national team manager. – Right now it is completely irrelevant, because I have just changed jobs. So I have no focus on that. I have a two-year contract with Bayern Munich. There are no clauses in it, so it is not relevant at all, Straus said. Leif Gunnar Smerud Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB The U21 national team manager started his coaching career in Mandalskameratene before he took over Hønefoss from 2011 to 2013. In June, he led the U21 boys to the European Championship finals next summer. – He has been in the NFF system for a long time. He was also an assistant coach under Bjarne Berntsen when Norway took bronze in the European Championships in 2009, says Thorsnes. In 2016, Smerud was also acting national team manager when Roger Finjord resigned. Ole Gunnar Solskjær Photo: Audun Braastad / NTB scanpix The former Manchester United manager and player has been without a coaching job since he was fired in Manchester on 21 November last year. – I have no idea if he is relevant or interested, but he is definitely available. Why not? When he is available on the market, he should be included in the assessment. This is one of the most attractive jobs in Norwegian football, says Carl-Erik Torp. Pål Arne «Paco» Johansen Photo: MARIUS SIMENSEN / BILDBYRÅN NORWAY The 45-year-old was head of the boys’ U18, U19 and U20 teams before he took over Odd before this season. Odd is now in 9th place with 19 points. – He has a long career in the NFF system, and he was an assistant coach under Bjarne Berntsen. But it probably comes too abruptly considering the Odd project, the news experts consider. Who should be the next coach for the women’s national team? Hege Riise Alexander Straus Nils Lexerød Leif Gunnar Smerud Ole Gunnar Solskjær Pål Arne «Paco» Johansen Someone else Show result
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news expert believes Solskjær is one of Norway’s candidates – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
