Nils Arne Eggen
Encyclopedia
Nils Arne Eggen is the most successful coach
in the history of Norwegian
football. He is best known as the manager for Rosenborg in the period 1988–97 and 1999–2002 (he had a year off in 1998, when Trond Sollied
stepped in as manager). This period is often referred to as "The Golden Age" for the club.
to study, and felt it natural to join Rosenborg. Nils Arne enjoyed winning the Norwegian Football Cup with them in 1960.
In 1963 he moved to Oslo
where he soon joined Vålerenga. They won the Norwegian Premier Division in 1965, before he moved back to Trondheim
where he played an important role for Rosenborg when they won the Premier Division twice - and he himself won the "Player of the Year" in 1968 – before he decided to quit his football career.
He was soon appointed as Rosenborg's coach, together with Tor Røste Fossen
, and in his first season (1971) they won "the double" – first time ever in the club's history. In middle of the 1970s he was the coach for the Norwegian U21 national team, and later for the senior national team.
In 1978 he was once again back as coach in Rosenborg – the team struggling in Norway's second division at that time. Two years later the team once again was among the top teams in the first division. He returned to Rosenborg after being the coach of Moss in 1986-87. At Moss he led the team to the league championship in 1987, something which was nothing less than one of the bigger surprises of Norwegian football. After Eggen left the club, they were relegated the next season.
Nils Arne resigned as manager for Rosenborg in 2002, and Åge Hareide
took over as manager (who in turn was succeeded by Ola By Rise
only a year later). Two of Nils Arne's last achievements was winning the Norwegian Premier Division (11th time in a row), and qualifying for the European UEFA Champions League
(8th time in a row). During his spell as manager Rosenborg also won the Norwegian football cup
a number of times.
After a somewhat turbulent year for Rosenborg in 2004, he was once again appointed by the club in November 2004 – this time as assistant manager/counsellor, a position he later stepped down from in 2005, when he admitted that his role hadn't worked as planned. In May 2010 he again took over as manager of Rosenborg after Erik Hamrén took over as manager of Sweden national football team
. As a caretaker manager until Jan Jönsson
was available to take over, Eggen led Rosenborg to their 22nd Norwegian Premier League
victory.
On the 1st of November 2011 he once again returned to coaching, this time for Orkla
(former Orkdal) at the fifth level of Norwegian football.
In 2003 he was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for his effort in Norwegian football.
and Rinus Michels
for his own work. A fundamental point was the subordination of individuals (the parts) to the whole
, so that the whole could outperform the sum of talents of all its players. Often he has used the metaphor of the Rosenborg rhythm to get his message across. He has had a focus on quick and massive counter-attacks and the building of an offensive attitude in the team. The 4-3-3 system played vital parts in Eggen's philosophy as a coach.
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
in the history of Norwegian
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. He is best known as the manager for Rosenborg in the period 1988–97 and 1999–2002 (he had a year off in 1998, when Trond Sollied
Trond Sollied
Trond Johan Sollied is a Norwegian football manager and retired player, currently managing the Belgian first division team Gent....
stepped in as manager). This period is often referred to as "The Golden Age" for the club.
Biography
Nils Arne began his active football career when he was 15 years old as a defender at Orkdal's senior team. Later on he moved to TrondheimTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
to study, and felt it natural to join Rosenborg. Nils Arne enjoyed winning the Norwegian Football Cup with them in 1960.
In 1963 he moved to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
where he soon joined Vålerenga. They won the Norwegian Premier Division in 1965, before he moved back to Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
where he played an important role for Rosenborg when they won the Premier Division twice - and he himself won the "Player of the Year" in 1968 – before he decided to quit his football career.
He was soon appointed as Rosenborg's coach, together with Tor Røste Fossen
Tor Røste Fossen
Tor Røste Fossen is a Norwegian former football player and coach. He played for Rosenborg BK, Trondheim from 1964 to 1971, earning two league titles and one cup championship. He coached several Norwegian clubs besides coaching the Norway national football team during ten years...
, and in his first season (1971) they won "the double" – first time ever in the club's history. In middle of the 1970s he was the coach for the Norwegian U21 national team, and later for the senior national team.
In 1978 he was once again back as coach in Rosenborg – the team struggling in Norway's second division at that time. Two years later the team once again was among the top teams in the first division. He returned to Rosenborg after being the coach of Moss in 1986-87. At Moss he led the team to the league championship in 1987, something which was nothing less than one of the bigger surprises of Norwegian football. After Eggen left the club, they were relegated the next season.
Nils Arne resigned as manager for Rosenborg in 2002, and Åge Hareide
Åge Hareide
Åge Fridtjof Hareide is a Norwegian football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Viking FK.-Playing career:During his playing career, Hareide played for Hødd, Molde, Manchester City and Norwich City....
took over as manager (who in turn was succeeded by Ola By Rise
Ola By Rise
Ola By Rise is a Norwegian football coach and former player. He is currently assistant coach of the Norwegian national football team. He played 18 seasons and 346 matches in the Norwegian Premier League.-Career:...
only a year later). Two of Nils Arne's last achievements was winning the Norwegian Premier Division (11th time in a row), and qualifying for the European UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
(8th time in a row). During his spell as manager Rosenborg also won the Norwegian football 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...
a number of times.
After a somewhat turbulent year for Rosenborg in 2004, he was once again appointed by the club in November 2004 – this time as assistant manager/counsellor, a position he later stepped down from in 2005, when he admitted that his role hadn't worked as planned. In May 2010 he again took over as manager of Rosenborg after Erik Hamrén took over as manager of Sweden national football team
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
. As a caretaker manager until Jan Jönsson
Jan Jönsson
Jan Jönsson is a former Swedish football player, currently a football coach for Rosenborg.-Coaching career:Between 1993 and 1994 he was inaugurated as the Sanfrecce Hiroshima assistant coach with Stuart Baxter manager who became acquainted in Halmstad.Then, he is inaugurated as a coach with the...
was available to take over, Eggen led Rosenborg to their 22nd Norwegian Premier League
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...
victory.
On the 1st of November 2011 he once again returned to coaching, this time for Orkla
Orkla
Orkla may refer to:* Orkla Group , the Norwegian company* Orkla River in Sør-Trøndelag, Norway...
(former Orkdal) at the fifth level of Norwegian football.
In 2003 he was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for his effort in Norwegian football.
Football philosophy
Nils Arne Eggen's philosophy is a complex phenomenon, and he can be seen as a deep thinker within football. He has mentioned the inspiration of Dutch total footballTotal Football
"Total Football" is the label given to an influential tactical theory of association football in which any outfield player can take over the role of any other player in a team. It was pioneered by Dutch football club Ajax from 1969 to 1973, and further used by the Netherlands National Football...
and Rinus Michels
Rinus Michels
Marinus Jacobus Hendricus Michels OON was a Dutch association football player and coach...
for his own work. A fundamental point was the subordination of individuals (the parts) to the whole
Whole
Whole may refer to:*Holism, the idea that all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by the sum of its component parts alone* in music, a whole step, or Major second...
, so that the whole could outperform the sum of talents of all its players. Often he has used the metaphor of the Rosenborg rhythm to get his message across. He has had a focus on quick and massive counter-attacks and the building of an offensive attitude in the team. The 4-3-3 system played vital parts in Eggen's philosophy as a coach.
Quotes
- "There's hope in hanging snore" - having trouble translating a Norwegian proverbProverbA proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
on an international press conference. - "We play with two stoppers and three spisses" - speaking about Rosenborg's tactics at a press conference before a Champions League game (stoppers meaning centre backs and spisses means forwards).
- "Congratulations, arse-football!" - (Gratulerer, rævva-fotball!), coining a new NorwegianNorwegian languageNorwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
term that's been popular ever since. Told Molde coach Åge HareideÅge HareideÅge Fridtjof Hareide is a Norwegian football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Viking FK.-Playing career:During his playing career, Hareide played for Hødd, Molde, Manchester City and Norwich City....
after Rosenborg lost the semi-final of the 1994 Norwegian Football CupNorwegian Football Cup 1994The Norwegian Football Cup 1994 was won by Molde after they beat Lyn in the cup final. Both team played in the 1st Division at the time.-Final:...
.