Oddvar Hansen
Encyclopedia
Oddvar Ingolf Hansen was a Norwegian footballer and coach, who represented Brann in his hometown Bergen
.
As a player, Hansen was a right-back who played 238 first-team games for Brann between 1940 and 1956. He was a losing cup finalist
in 1950. He also won 19 caps for Norway
between 1948 and 1954, and was a member of Norway's squad at the 1952 Olympics
.
As a coach, Hansen became player-coach of Brann in 1955 when he took over from Englishman George Ainsley
. He had three spells as Brann's head coach (1955–57, 1960–63 and 1965–68), and is best remembered for leading the club to consecutive league
titles in 1962 and 1963. The 1963 title would turn out to be Brann's last league championship in 44 years, until the drought came to an end in 2007
.
In addition to his achievements in football, Hansen was also an excellent table tennis
player, who became national champion in 1947. He died on 31 March 2011, less than two weeks before what would have been his 90th birthday.
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
.
As a player, Hansen was a right-back who played 238 first-team games for Brann between 1940 and 1956. He was a losing cup finalist
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...
in 1950. He also won 19 caps for Norway
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...
between 1948 and 1954, and was a member of Norway's squad at the 1952 Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
.
As a coach, Hansen became player-coach of Brann in 1955 when he took over from Englishman George Ainsley
George Ainsley
George Edward Ainsley was an English professional footballer and football manager.George Ainsley,a centre forward, played for his local side South Shields St. Andrews before joining Sunderland in April 1932. He made his league debut on 6 May 1933 in a 1-1 draw away to Chelsea...
. He had three spells as Brann's head coach (1955–57, 1960–63 and 1965–68), and is best remembered for leading the club to consecutive league
Tippeligaen
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...
titles in 1962 and 1963. The 1963 title would turn out to be Brann's last league championship in 44 years, until the drought came to an end in 2007
2007 in Norwegian football
The 2007 season is the 102. season of competitive football in Norway.* Tippeligaen 2007 * Adeccoligaen 2007 * Norwegian Football Cup 2007* Toppserien 2007 -Men's national team:...
.
In addition to his achievements in football, Hansen was also an excellent table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
player, who became national champion in 1947. He died on 31 March 2011, less than two weeks before what would have been his 90th birthday.