Speculation is flying that Norway’s own “Sunny Boy,” Ole Gunnar Solskjær, may take over as head coach for his homeland’s national men’s football team (herrelandslaget). It finally got a big and badly needed boost this week, when it won an important match and star player Erling Braut Haaland set another record.
The speculation warmed up even more on Friday when Tipsbladet of Denmark reported that Solskjær had said “no thanks” to more conversations with the Danish football federation to coach its national team. The reason was reported to be negotiations with another large football club.
Solskjær, now age 51, had a spectacular player career at Manchester United over 11 seasons. He also played for Molde and in 67 matches for the national team, in which he scored 23 goals. He later had a series of professonal coaching jobs but hasn’t had a post since leaving as Manchester United’s manager in November 2021, when the pandemic was still raging.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported late last month, meanwhile, that Solskjær had remarked at business conference in Oslo that he’d be open to taking over for the current coach of herrelandslaget, Ståle Solbakken. “I’m a proud Norwegian,” Solskjær said from the stage of the Oslo Business Forum. “If the question comes, when Ståle (Solbakken) decides he doesn’t want to be coach any longer, I’ll gladly enter into talks.” Solbakken has already stated publicly that the qualifying round for the next World Cup in 2026 would probably be his last as head coach in Norway.
Solbakken hasn’t managed to lead the Norwegian men into any major tournaments, despite having some of the world’s best football players. Team captain Martin Ødegaard, who plays for Arsenal, is currently out with an ankle injury but Haaland (Manchester City) stepped in as captain for the Nations League match against Slovenia Thursday night at a sold-out Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo.
The match ended with a 3-0 victory, with Haaland scoring two of the goals and setting a new record for scoring the most goals for Norway’s national team. He broke the record set by Jørgen Juves back in 1933, who’d scored 33 goals during his years of playing for herrelandslaget. More than 90 years later Haaland matched the record and then quickly broke it, after scoring 34 goals before roaring Norwegian fans. Alexander Sørloth also scored in the match against Slovenia.
Haaland, age 24, also won high marks as acting captain. Coach Solbakken said after the match that Haaland’s 34 goals over the course of 36 football matches will probably stand for “the next few centuries.” Solbakken called it “an historic moment.” Juve’s previous record of 33 goals were scored after 45 matches.
Haaland, known for being a high-scorer, was also happy, calling it “a fantastic record to take.” He also leaked the news that he’ll soon be a father, too. His partner, 20-year-old Isabel Haugseng Johansen, is pregnant and briefly told reporters on the way out of Ullevaal Stadium Thursday night that she expects Haaland will be a “very good” father. They’re from the same hometown as Haaland, Bryne on Norway’s west coast, and she’s also played football, for Bryne Footballklubb.
Solbakken called it “good for recruiting in football” that both Haaland and Ødegaard will soon be fathers. Ødegaard’s partner, Helene Spilling, is expecting a baby soon.
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
