For 15 years he has been the Norwegian national team coach in handball, but after this year’s EC it is over. On Tuesday, the Icelander takes out his last squad as Norway manager. The time as national team manager cannot be described as anything other than a great success. As head coach, he has won 16 championship medals – ten gold, three silver and three bronze. At the same time, his team has avoided major scandals. Which is no accident, Hergeirsson believes. Facts about 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 the 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. The “scandal” in Germany – We have worked on our values and how we want it to be in the team. Our gatherings are short and intense, with high expectations. Therefore, we cannot spend time on distractions and the wrong focus, he says – and continues: – We have been spared major scandals for a long, long time. The reason for that is that we have actually spent a lot of time and focus on working with our values. However, it has not always been rosy. During the WC in Germany in 2017, the national team women broke with their own values, Hergeirsson believes. FINAL LOSS: Kari Brattset Dale and Norway had a tough time in the final against France in 2017. Photo: Vidar Ruud / NTB – Showed no respect Norway entered the championship as big favourites, and the Norwegian women played their way to the final. But in a nerve-wracking final, it was opponents France who won 23–21. – Then I feel we failed the exam, says Hergeirsson today. The disappointment was great among the Norwegian players. Tears flowed for several. But it was more than just disappointment, says Hergeirsson. He characterizes the reaction as a breach of the handball association’s values. – France won because they were lower than us, and we deservedly lost. After the match, there was of course disappointment and a lot of emotion. If you look at pictures from the medal ceremony, we do not appear according to our values. It does not apply to all, but to many. We did not honor the team that won and did not show respect for the fact that they were better than us, says the Icelander. French anger He was not alone in reacting. France star Alexandra Lacrabère told VG that the Norwegian players had a “lack of respect” and that “it was lovely to see Nora Mørk cry”. MERCILESS: Thorir Hergeirsson gets involved when he talks about the handball association’s values. Photo: Fredrik Saltbones / news After the championship, there was a showdown at the “chamber set” for the Norwegian national team. – We worked on it afterwards. We tackled it and used pictures as an example of how … it’s okay to be sad, and it’s okay to be disappointed. It’s even okay to be pissed off. But just when you go and accept the medals, you must at least show respect for the winner. And you can enjoy a little smile, even if it’s not real, says Hergeirsson. – We quickly got back on track And where the reaction after the final against France was a failing grade, Hergeirsson believes that the players reacted well after the “rebuke”. – This group is good at taking points for improvement, and it quickly fell into place. And I think we have also passed that exam very well, he says. When you agree to a place on the national team, you agree to two main things, he says. 1: Yes to high goals. You agree to be part of a team where you will commit to fighting for medals. 2: The second is about you being a good representative of the four core values in Norwegian handball, which are enthusiasm, commitment, respect and fair play. – When everything goes well, the values are easy to relate to. But when it goes less well, you are tested and challenged on it. We are only human. Sometimes we do right, and sometimes we do wrong. In 2017, we made mistakes. But I think we quickly got back on track, says Hergeirsson. Published 04.11.2024, at 06.32
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The reactions made Thorir Hergeirsson stand up – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
