Bjarne Berntsen
Encyclopedia
Bjarne Berntsen is a Norwegian football coach and former player. He is currently employed as the Director of Viking FK, where he has served as both player and manager in the past.
club Viking in 1977. He played for Viking until 1982, and during this period played 33 matches for the Norway national football team
,
including the famous September 1981 win over England when he played at right-back.
, and he took over on 1 January 2005.
which took place in June 2005 in England. He courted controversy by including in the squad 16-year-old Isabell Herlovsen
, the daughter of a former colleague in the Norway national team - but twice she scored vital goals to keep Norway in the tournament. After mixed fortunes in the group stage, Norway played a memorable semifinal against Sweden which they won by 3-2 after extra time with a goal from Solveig Gulbrandsen
. In the final against Germany Norway lost 3-1.
Berntsen led the national women's team through qualification to the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007
tournament in China, where they won their group by beating Canada and Ghana and drawing against Australia. In the quarter final against the hosts China, in front of 50,000 spectators, Norway won 1-0, the only goal being scored by Herlovsen. In the semifinal the team lost to Germany by 3-0, and they then lost the third-place playoff 4-1 against the USA to finish in fourth place. By virtue of their performance at the World Cup, Norway qualified for the 2008 Olympics.
Apart from Norway and Viking, Berntsen is a keen supporter of England and Liverpool.
Playing career
Bjarne Berntsen began his football career in local club Figgjo IL, and went to Norwegian Premier LeagueNorwegian 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...
club Viking in 1977. He played for Viking until 1982, and during this period played 33 matches for the Norway national football 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 famous September 1981 win over England when he played at right-back.
Manager years
After retiring as a player Berntsen coached Figgjo, Bryne and Viking, as well as being an assistant coach for the men's national team between 1986 and 1987. Between 1999 and 2004 Berntsen was the CEO for Viking Fotball ASA. In late 2004 he, quite surprisingly, was offered the job as head coach for the Norway women's national football teamNorway women's national football team
The Norway women's national football team represents Norway in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Norway, are former European, World and Olympic champions and thus one of the most successful national teams...
, and he took over on 1 January 2005.
International trainer
Berntsen's first tournament with the national women's team was the 2005 UEFA Women's Championship2005 UEFA Women's Championship
The 2005 UEFA Women's Championship, also referred to as WOMEN'S EURO 2005 , was a football tournament for women held from 5 June to 19 June 2005 in Lancashire, England. The UEFA Women's Championship is a regular tournament involving European national teams from countries affiliated to UEFA, the...
which took place in June 2005 in England. He courted controversy by including in the squad 16-year-old Isabell Herlovsen
Isabell Herlovsen
Isabell Lehn Herlovsen is a German-born Norwegian football player who is currently playing for LSK Kvinner FK after being released from her contract with French club Olympique Lyonnais of the Division 1 Féminine...
, the daughter of a former colleague in the Norway national team - but twice she scored vital goals to keep Norway in the tournament. After mixed fortunes in the group stage, Norway played a memorable semifinal against Sweden which they won by 3-2 after extra time with a goal from Solveig Gulbrandsen
Solveig Gulbrandsen
Solveig Gulbrandsen is a Norwegian footballer from the Oppegård area to the South-East of Oslo. She is a midfielder on her club side Stabæk Fotball....
. In the final against Germany Norway lost 3-1.
Berntsen led the national women's team through qualification to the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007
FIFA Women's World Cup 2007
The FIFA Women's World Cup 2007 was an international association football competition for women held in China from September 10, 2007 – September 30, 2007. Originally, China was to host the 2003 Women's World Cup, but the outbreak of SARS in that country forced that event to be moved to the United...
tournament in China, where they won their group by beating Canada and Ghana and drawing against Australia. In the quarter final against the hosts China, in front of 50,000 spectators, Norway won 1-0, the only goal being scored by Herlovsen. In the semifinal the team lost to Germany by 3-0, and they then lost the third-place playoff 4-1 against the USA to finish in fourth place. By virtue of their performance at the World Cup, Norway qualified for the 2008 Olympics.
Apart from Norway and Viking, Berntsen is a keen supporter of England and Liverpool.