Arne Larsen Økland
Encyclopedia
Arne Larsen Økland is a former Norwegian
football
player and coach.
Økland was a striker, and he is regarded as one of the best Norwegian players of his generation. He played 54 internationals for the Norwegian national team
, including the wins against England
in 1981, reigning world champions Italy
in 1985 (where Økland scored the winning goal) and future world champions Argentina
in 1986. Overall, Økland scored 13 goals at the international level.
At club level, Økland began his career at Vard Haugesund in the early 1970s. When the club played their sole season in the Norwegian top division
in 1976, Økland scored 11 goals, and made his international debut the same year. Despite Økland's efforts, Vard were relegated at the end of the season, and he then transferred to Bryne, whom he helped gain a second-place finish in 1980. Later the same year, he was signed by West German
side Bayer Leverkusen
.
Økland enjoyed a successful three-year spell at Leverkusen. Just a few months into his stay at the club, he scored a hat-trick
in a 3-0 win against Bayern Munich. Økland was in fact credited with a fourth goal late in the game as the ball went through a hole in the side netting, but Økland famously told the referee that it wasn't a goal. In his three years at Leverkusen, Økland played 101 Bundesliga matches and scored 43 goals. In 1983, Økland moved to the French
team Racing Club de Paris, where he spent two seasons before returning to Bryne.
In his second spell at Bryne, Økland helped the club win the only major trophy in their history; the 1987 Norwegian Cup
. After this victory, Økland hung up his boots. He was later an assistant coach for the Norwegian national team and head coach at Viking. Today, Økland is CEO of Dolly Dimples, a leading Norwegian pizza
chain.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and coach.
Økland was a striker, and he is regarded as one of the best Norwegian players of his generation. He played 54 internationals for the Norwegian national team
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
, including the wins against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1981, reigning world champions Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
in 1985 (where Økland scored the winning goal) and future world champions Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
in 1986. Overall, Økland scored 13 goals at the international level.
At club level, Økland began his career at Vard Haugesund in the early 1970s. When the club played their sole season in the Norwegian top division
Norwegian Premier League
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
in 1976, Økland scored 11 goals, and made his international debut the same year. Despite Økland's efforts, Vard were relegated at the end of the season, and he then transferred to Bryne, whom he helped gain a second-place finish in 1980. Later the same year, he was signed by West German
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
side Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the most well-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports.-Origins and early years:On 27 November...
.
Økland enjoyed a successful three-year spell at Leverkusen. Just a few months into his stay at the club, he scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a 3-0 win against Bayern Munich. Økland was in fact credited with a fourth goal late in the game as the ball went through a hole in the side netting, but Økland famously told the referee that it wasn't a goal. In his three years at Leverkusen, Økland played 101 Bundesliga matches and scored 43 goals. In 1983, Økland moved to the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
team Racing Club de Paris, where he spent two seasons before returning to Bryne.
In his second spell at Bryne, Økland helped the club win the only major trophy in their history; the 1987 Norwegian Cup
Norwegian football cup
The Norwegian Football Cup is the main knockout cup competition in Norwegian football. It is run by the Football Association of Norway and has been contested since 1902, making it the oldest football tournament in the country. The tournament is commonly known as Cupen or NM, an acronym formed...
. After this victory, Økland hung up his boots. He was later an assistant coach for the Norwegian national team and head coach at Viking. Today, Økland is CEO of Dolly Dimples, a leading Norwegian pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
chain.