Norway coach Stale Solbakken announces plans to step down after the 2026 World Cup campaign, citing a desire to return to club football.
Bollywood Fever: Norway’s national football team coach, Stale Solbakken, has announced that he is likely to step down from his role once his contract expires after the 2026 World Cup campaign.
The 56-year-old former Norway midfielder, who took over the national team in 2020, made the statement as his team prepares to kick off their Nations League B campaign against Kazakhstan on Friday.
Despite having feared striker Erling Haaland in his squad, Norway failed to qualify for Euro 2024, adding to a long history of near misses in major tournaments.
Norway has not participated in a World Cup since 1998, where Solbakken himself was part of the squad, and their last appearance in a major finals was at Euro 2000.
“I’ll take this qualification now and then there’s a high probability that I’ll do something else after that regardless,” Solbakken told reporters on Monday.
He added that if Norway qualifies for the 2026 World Cup, he will remain in charge through the finals before stepping down.
Solbakken expressed his desire to return to club football, stating, “While I’m still young and virile, I want to do something else too. I’ve said no to a number of club jobs that really tempted me, but I’m determined to make one last attempt here, and then I think that’s it.”
Norway has produced some outstanding football talents in recent years, including Haaland, his Manchester City teammate Oscar Bobb, and Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard.
However, despite their individual brilliance, the national team has struggled to secure qualification for major tournaments.
Solbakken, who previously enjoyed great success as manager of Danish side FC Copenhagen and also had a stint in England with Wolverhampton Wanderers, hinted at his frustration with the international football calendar.
“I really enjoy being with the boys, but there are far too few (international) matches. The last seven or eight months have been a nightmare with four friendly games, and the last two leading into the boys’ summer holidays,” he said.
As Norway looks ahead to the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Solbakken’s focus will be on making one final push to lead the team to success.
However, it seems likely that his tenure with the national team will conclude after the tournament, paving the way for a return to club management.
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