The Norway men's national handball team represents Norway at international handball competitions, and is governed by Norges Håndballforbund (NHF). As of 2026, Norway has been in two finals and won three medals. The most successful era of men's Norwegian handball team was between 2015 and 2020, led by former coach Christian Berge and star player Sander Sagosen. In that period, they won two silver medals at the World Championship and played two semifinals of the European Championship winning one bronze medal.
Honours Competition Total Olympic Games 0 0 0 0 World Championship 0 2 0 2 European Championship 0 0 1 1 Total 0 2 1 3
In 2016, they were honored with a Rio 2016 Fair Play Award for great sportsmanship.
Competitive record Olympic Games Olympic record Games Round Position 1936 Berlin Did not qualify Not held from 1948 to 1968 1972 MunichMatch for 9th place9th of 1253119087 1976 Montreal Did not qualify 1980 Moscow 1984 Los Angeles 1988 Seoul 1992 Barcelona 1996 Atlanta 2000 Sydney 2004 Athens 2008 Beijing 2012 London 2016 Rio de Janeiro 2020 TokyoQuarterfinals7th of 126303161163 2024 Paris6th of 126303167169 2028 Los Angeles TBD 2032 Brisbane Total3/15–17917418419
World Championship
+ World Championship record Year Round Position 1938 Did not qualify 1954 1958Match for 5th place66303118102 1961Match for 7th place762047385 1964Preliminary round1131023747 1967Preliminary round1330034458 1970Preliminary round1330032328 1974 Did not qualify 1978 1982 1986 1990 1993Preliminary round136222145123 1995 Did not qualify 1997Round of 16126123132141 1999Preliminary round136213156162 2001Round of 16146213139155 2003 Did not qualify 2005Match for 7th place79612258219 2007Match for 13th place136402181137 2009Match for 9th place99603280232 2011Match for 9th place99504259255 2013 Did not qualify 2015 2017Final29702274234 2019Final210802325256 2021Quarterfinals67502219197 2023Match for 5th place69702278233 2025 Main round 10 6402180147 2027 Qualified 2029 TBD 2031 Qualified Total20/32–1196574731212811
European Championship Year Round Position 1994 Did not qualify 1996 1998 2000Match for 7th place86114133144 2002 Did not qualify 2004 2006Main round116204178177 2008Match for 5th place67221196185 2010Main round76303169164 2012Preliminary round1331028087 2014Preliminary round1430127784 2016Bronze final48413235232 2018Main round764021911722020Bronze final3 9801273236 2022Match for 5th place58602246211 2024Main round97313208196 2026Main round97313224222 2028 TBD 2030 2032 Total12/20–763873122102110 * Colored background indicates that medal was won in the tournament. ** Red border color indicates that tournament was held on home soil.
Other tournaments Gjensidige Cup 2019 – Winner – Winner Gjensidige Cup 2024 – Winner
Team Current squad The squad for two qualification matches for the 2027 World Men's Handball Championship against Turkey in May 2026.
Caps and goals as of 16 May 2026.
Head coach: Magnus Andersson
Extended squad / recent call-ups
Coaching staff Role Name Head coach Magnus Andersson Assistant coach Henrik Kronborg Goalkeeping coach Mats Olsson Resource coach Željko Tomac Physical trainer Eirik Haukali Doctor Thomas Torgalsen Physiotherapist Harald Markussen Masseur Geir Stølsvik Team administrator Gry Hege Knudsen Team administrator Ragnhild Oulie Bruland Head leader Ingrid Blindheim Mentor Tjolle Ström Talent coach Claus Dalgaard-Hansen Mental coach Erik Hofseth Social media Finn Aagaard
Past squads 1958 World Men's Handball Championship (6th place) Oddvar Klepperås, Erik Vellan, Finn Arne Johansen, Knut Reese Larsen, Ivar Sandboe, Jonny Hovde, Jon Narvestad, Roy Yssen, Jan Flatla, Rolf Rustad, Kjell Svestad, John Tresse, Agnar Hagen, Odd Nielsen, Hans Lien. Coach:
1961 World Men's Handball Championship (7th place) Kai Killerud, Knut Strøm, Finn Arne Johansen, Knut Reese Larsen, Kaj Ringlund, Bjørn Erik Sandsten, Svein Sand, Roy Yssen, Kjell Kleven, Rolf Rustad, Kjell Svestad, Arild Gulden, Ingar Engum, Gunnar Bergstrand. Coach:
1964 World Men's Handball Championship (11th place) Carl Graff-Wang, Knut Strøm, Finn Arne Johansen, Arnulf Bæk, Oddvar Klepperås, Trygve Hegnar, Jan Petter Aas, Per Graver, Jan-Egil Uthberg, Rolf Rustad, Kjell Svestad, Arild Gulden, Erik Schønfeldt. Coach: John Tresse
1967 World Men's Handball Championship (13th place) Carl Graff-Wang, Arnulf Bæk, Pål Cappelen, Pål Bye, Oddvar Klepperås, Inge K. Hansen, Jon Reinertsen, Per Graver, Jan-Egil Uthberg, Rolf Rustad, Kjell Svestad, Arild Gulden, Erik Schønfeldt, Jon Arne Gunnerud, Rolf Gustav Lundberg, Terje Høilund. Coach: Kjell Kleven
1970 World Men's Handball Championship (13th place) Carl Graff-Wang, Arnulf Bæk, Pål Cappelen, Pål Bye, Harald Tyrdal, Inge K. Hansen, Jon Reinertsen, Per Graver, Jan-Egil Uthberg, Kai Killerud, Jan Otto Kvalheim, Jan Cato Nabseth, Robert Wagtskjold. Coach: Kjell Kleven
1972 Summer Olympics (9th place) Carl Graff-Wang, Finn Urdal, Geir Røse, Harald Tyrdal, Arnulf Bæk, Inge K. Hansen, Jan Økseter, Jon Reinertsen, Pål Bye, Pål Cappelen, Per Søderstrøm, Per Ankre, Roger Hverven, Sten Osther, Torstein Hansen, Ulf Magnusson. Coach: Thor Ole Rimejorde
1993 World Men's Handball Championship (13th place) Svein Erik Bjerkrheim, Gunnar Fosseng, John Petter Sando, Roger Kjendalen, Sjur Bø Tollefsen, Ole Gustav Gjekstad, Rune Erland, Morten Schønfeldt, Øystein Havang, Kjetil Lundeberg, Fredrik Brubakken, Simen Muffetangen, Knut Håland, Morten Haugstvedt, Karl Erik Bøhn. Coach: Gunnar Pettersen
1997 World Men's Handball Championship (12th place) Frode Scheie, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Stein Olaf Sando, Stig Rasch, Sjur Bø Tollefsen, Preben Vildalen, Kristian Hansen, Marius Riise, Øystein Havang, Frode Hagen, Johnny Jensen, Steinar Ege, Geir Oustorp, Glenn Solberg, Stian Vatne. Coach: Harald Madsen
1999 World Men's Handball Championship (13th place) Frode Scheie, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Svein-Erik Bjerkrheim, Stig Rasch, Tormod Moldestad, Thomas Pettersen, Stig Penne, Morten Daland, Christian Berge (captain), Frode Hagen, Rune Haugseng, Endre Nordli, Geir Oustorp, Tor Bjørn Andersen, Trond Førde Eriksen. Coach: Christer Magnusson
2000 European Men's Handball Championship (8th place) Frode Scheie (captain), Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Stig Rasch, Tormod Moldestad, Stein Olaf Sando, Stig Penne, Vidar Gjesdal, Eivind Ellingsen, Christian Berge, Frode Hagen, Preben Vildalen, Gunnar Fosseng, Geir Oustorp, Thomas Pettersen, Sindre Walstad, Johnny Jensen. Coach: Christer Magnusson
2001 World Men's Handball Championship (14th place) Steinar Ege, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Håvard Tvedten, Kristian Hansen, Tormod Moldestad, Roger Kvannli, Stig Penne, Eivind Ellingsen, Christian Berge, Frode Hagen, Preben Vildalen, Gunnar Fosseng (captain), Trond Førde Eriksen, Rune Skjærvold, Johnny Jensen, Børge Lund. Coach: Christer Magnusson
2005 World Men's Handball Championship (7th place) Steinar Ege, Glenn Solberg (captain), Håvard Tvedten, Frank Løke, Børge Lund, Frode Hagen, Preben Vildalen, Ole Erevik, Jarle Rykkje, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Kristian Kjelling, Sindre Walstad, André Jørgensen, Johnny Jensen, Marius Riise, Rune Skjærvold. Coach: Gunnar Pettersen
2006 European Men's Handball Championship (11th place) Steinar Ege (captain), Alexander Buchmann, Christian Berge, Frank Løke, Kjetil Strand, Ole Magnus Ekelund, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund, Håvard Tvedten, Preben Vildalen, Ole Erevik, Jarle Rykkje, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Kristian Kjelling, André Jørgensen, Johnny Jensen, Rune Skjærvold. Coach: Gunnar Pettersen
2007 World Men's Handball Championship (13th place) Steinar Ege (captain), Alexander Buchmann, Erlend Mamelund, Frank Løke, Kjetil Strand, Jan-Richard Lislerud Hansen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund, Håvard Tvedten, Preben Vildalen, Ole Erevik, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Kristian Kjelling, André Jørgensen, Johnny Jensen, Rune Skjærvold, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Lars Olav Olaussen. Coach: Gunnar Pettersen
2008 European Men's Handball Championship (6th place) Steinar Ege (captain), Glenn Solberg, Frode Hagen, Frank Løke, Kjetil Strand, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund, Håvard Tvedten, Ole Erevik, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Kristian Kjelling, André Jørgensen, Johnny Jensen, Thomas Skoglund, Rune Skjærvold. Coach: Gunnar Pettersen
2009 World Men's Handball Championship (9th place) Steinar Ege (captain), Johnny Jensen, Stian Vatne, Thomas Drange, Frank Løke, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Bjarte Myrhol, Håvard Tvedten, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Christoffer Rambo, Alexander Buchmann, Kristian Kjelling, Svenn Erik Medhus, Vegard Samdahl, Thomas Skoglund, Christian Spanne. Coach: Robert Hedin
2010 European Men's Handball Championship (7th place) Steinar Ege (captain), Stian Vatne, Frank Løke, Kjetil Strand, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund, Håvard Tvedten, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Christoffer Rambo, Kristian Kjelling, Vegard Samdahl, Thomas Skoglund, Einar Sand Koren, Christian Spanne, Magnus Dahl. Coach: Robert Hedin
2011 World Men's Handball Championship (9th place) Steinar Ege (captain), Frank Løke, Kjetil Strand, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund, Håvard Tvedten, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Christoffer Rambo, Espen Lie Hansen, Kristian Kjelling, Vegard Samdahl, Thomas Skoglund, Einar Sand Koren, Eivind Tangen. Coach: Robert Hedin
2012 European Men's Handball Championship (13th place) , Vegard Samdahl, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund (captain), Håvard Tvedten, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Christoffer Rambo, Espen Lie Hansen, Svenn Erik Medhus, Magnus Jøndal, Johnny Jensen, Einar Riegelhuth Koren, , Kent Robin Tønnesen. Coach: Robert Hedin
2014 European Men's Handball Championship (14th place) Magnus Dahl, Sander Sagosen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund (captain), Håvard Tvedten, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Christoffer Rambo, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Christian O'Sullivan, Kristian Bjørnsen, André Lindboe, Magnus Gullerud, Kristian Kjelling, Harald Reinkind, Steffen Berg Løkkebø, Espen Lie Hansen. Coach: Robert Hedin
2016 European Men's Handball Championship (4th place) Sander Sagosen, Thomas Kristensen, Joakim Hykkerud, Bjarte Myrhol (captain), Petter Øverby, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Espen Christensen, Magnus Jøndal, Kristian Bjørnsen, André Lindboe, Magnus Gullerud, Christian O'Sullivan, Harald Reinkind, Espen Lie Hansen. Coach: Christian Berge
2017 World Men's Handball Championship (2nd place) Sander Sagosen, Joakim Hykkerud, Bjarte Myrhol (captain), Petter Øverby, Ole Erevik, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Espen Christensen, Magnus Jøndal, Kristian Bjørnsen, André Lindboe, Magnus Gullerud, Magnus Abelvik Rød, Christian O'Sullivan, Eivind Tangen, Gøran Johannessen, Torbjørn Bergerud, Espen Lie Hansen. Coach: Christian Berge
2018 European Men's Handball Championship (7th place) Sander Sagosen, Joakim Hykkerud, Bjarte Myrhol (captain), Henrik Jakobsen, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Espen Christensen, Magnus Jøndal, Kristian Bjørnsen, Magnus Gullerud, Gøran Sørheim, Gøran Johannessen, Christian O'Sullivan, Eivind Tangen, Harald Reinkind, Torbjørn Bergerud, Espen Lie Hansen, Magnus Abelvik Rød, Kristian Sæverås. Coach: Christian Berge
2019 World Men's Handball Championship (2nd place) Sander Sagosen, Bjarte Myrhol (captain), Henrik Jakobsen, Petter Øverby, Espen Christensen, Magnus Jøndal, Kristian Bjørnsen, Magnus Gullerud, Gøran Johannessen, Christian O'Sullivan, Eivind Tangen, Harald Reinkind, Torbjørn Bergerud, Kevin Gulliksen, Alexander Blonz, Magnus Abelvik Rød, Espen Lie Hansen. Coach: Christian Berge
2020 European Men's Handball Championship (3rd place) Tom Kåre Nikolaisen, Sander Sagosen, Sander Øverjordet, Petter Øverby, Kristian Sæverås, Espen Christensen, Magnus Jøndal, William Aar, Kristian Bjørnsen (captain), Magnus Gullerud, Gøran Johannessen, Christian O'Sullivan, Eivind Tangen, Harald Reinkind, Torbjørn Bergerud, Kevin Gulliksen, Alexander Blonz, Magnus Abelvik Rød. Coach: Christian Berge