Vegard Hansen becomes head coach for Kongsvinger IL Topfotball – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio

After almost 17 years as coach for Mjøndalen, it stopped this summer. Now new adventures await in Kongsvinger. Vegard Hansen, who himself played for the club in the late 90s, was presented on Thursday as the new head coach of Kongsvinger. – It is a well-run and great club with traditions and history. There is a supporter base that has grown a lot. There is also a very good football team. That is perhaps the most important thing, says Hansen. NEW COACH: Former Mjøndalen coach Vegard Hansen was presented as the new coach for Kongsvinger on Thursday. The man who led Mjøndalen from the 3rd division to the Eliteserien has recently followed KIL closely as a TV expert for Discovery. Photo: Stein S Eide / news A past in the club Eirik Mæland announced on 28 June this year that he will not continue as head coach of Kongsvinger IL Toppfotball. Mæland’s current agreement runs until the end of the season. Hansen has long been linked to the job, and at the start of November, Kongsvinger’s general manager Espen Nystuen confirmed that Hansen had been in talks with the club. – I think Nystuen is one of the best football managers in the country, so I’m looking forward to working with him. The team is also very good. They were impressively good this autumn. I hope we get to keep most of them, says Hansen. BACK TO THE CLUB: Kongsvinger held a press conference on Thursday afternoon, where it was announced that Hansen will lead the club in the 1st division next season. Photo: Shad Madian / news The 53-year-old has a past as a player at the club and was given the KIL uniform for one season in 1998. Kongsvinger finished this year’s season impressively and played for promotion to the Eliteserien, but in the qualifying final there was a stop against Sandefjord. That means a new year in the OBOS league. – I am looking forward to getting there. It will be fun to try to develop further what they have done in recent years, says Hansen. – Only feeling sad Vegard Hansen was fired as Mjøndalen coach in August. During a press conference the same day, a clearly emotional Hansen gave his thanks. – I only feel sadness really, he told Drammens Tidende after the press conference. – I have said that I was unable to resign myself. So the board came to that decision. Hansen honored the board that made the decision, and praises them for the tough choice they had to make. He will always have a place in his heart for the old club. – 17 years in a club leaves its mark. Mjøndalen stays in me for quite some time. It will be special to sit on the away bench, he says. THANKS FOR THEM: Molde met Mjøndalen in the 2020 elite series. The two coaches, Vegard Hansen and Erling Moe, wished each other good luck. In August this year, the Mjøndalen coach resigned. Photo: Svein Ove Ekornesvåg / Svein Ove Ekornesvåg Takes the Mjøndalen tradition forward The 53-year-old has trained in the brown jerseys since 2006 and is seen as a club legend. And perhaps he will take a tradition from his old team with him. – Every time we won in Mjøndalen, especially in elite series matches, we sang the opponent’s songs. If we were to beat Mjøndalen, it might be Nystuen and I sing “Branna slå”, he laughs. FOR NEXT SEASON: – I’m looking forward to getting there, says Hansen about leading Kongsvinger in the 1st division next season. Photo: VEGARD WIVESTAD GRØTT / BILDBYRÅN



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