The role of a Norway national football team manager was first established in 1953 with the appointment of Austrian Willibald Hahn. Prior to 1953, the team was selected by a selection committee, which also continued to select the team until 1969.
Nineteen men have occupied the post since its inception; one of those were in a short-term caretaker manager role: Ragnar Larsen (one game in his first spell). Egil Olsen is the only manager who has qualified for a World Cup; achieving a Round of 16-appearance at the 1998 World Cup as the best result. Nils Johan Semb is the only manager who has qualified for a European Championship. Ragnar Larsen became the first Norwegian manager when he led the team as a caretaker in a match in 1958. His successor, Kristian Henriksen was the first Norwegian to manage the team on a permanent basis. Wilhelm Kment, Larsen (one as caretaker) and Olsen managed Norway on more than one occasion, all with two spells.
Statistical summary The following table provides a summary of the complete record of each Norway manager including their progress in both the World Cup and the European Championship. Prior to 1953, the squad was selected by a selection committee, which also continued to select the team until 1969. Statistics correct as of 18 November 2019
Image ManagerTenurePWDLWin %Competitions1953–19551954 World Cup – failed to qualify1956–19571958 World Cup – failed to qualify1958 (caretaker)195819591960 European Nations' Cup – failed to qualify 1960–19621962 World Cup – failed to qualify1962–19661964 European Nations' Cup – failed to qualify1966 World Cup – failed to qualify1967–1969Euro 1968 – failed to qualify1970 World Cup – failed to qualify1970–19711972–1974Euro 1972 – failed to qualify1974 World Cup – failed to qualify andNils Arne Eggen1974–1977Euro 1976 – failed to qualify1978 World Cup – failed to qualify1978–1987Euro 1980 – failed to qualify1982 World Cup – failed to qualifyEuro 1984 – failed to qualify1986 World Cup – failed to qualify andNils Arne EggenOnly Olympic team's qualification to the 1988 Summer Olympics. Norway did not qualify. 1986–19871987–1988Euro 1988 – failed to qualify1988–19901990 World Cup – failed to qualify 1990–1998Euro 1992 – failed to qualify1994 World Cup – group stageEuro 1996 – failed to qualify1998 World Cup – round of 161998–2003Euro 2000 – group stage2002 World Cup – failed to qualifyEuro 2004 – failed to qualify 2004–20082006 World Cup – failed to qualifyEuro 2008 – failed to qualify 2009–20132010 World Cup – failed to qualifyEuro 2012 – failed to qualify 2013–20162014 World Cup – failed to qualifyEuro 2016 – failed to qualify 2017–20202018 World Cup – failed to qualify 2020–
Key: P–games played, W–games won, D–games drawn; L–games lost, %–win percentage
Notes
References