Steinar Nilsen
Encyclopedia
Steinar Nilsen is a Norwegian
football manager
. He also had a long active playing career behind him, mainly as a defender
, before he retired in 2004.
In 2005, after Per Mathias Høgmo resigned his job as Tromsø I.L.-manager, Nilsen became assistant manager to Otto Ulseth
, Høgmo's former assistant. A horrible start to Tromsø I.L.'s season saw Ulseth fired and Nilsen promoted to head manager. This move was criticised by many Norwegian sports commentator
s, with some, especially Ivar Hoff, claiming it would assuredly mean Tromsø I.L. would be relegated. However, Nilsen was exactly what Tromsø I.L. needed. He turned Tromsø I.L.'s poor form around, and they became, after a good run in the autumn-part of the season, safe from relegation. Nilsen also led Tromsø I.L. to a historic UEFA Cup
victory over Galatasaray
, making Tromsø I.L. the first Norwegian team (together with Viking F.K.
) to reach the UEFA Cup's group stage. At the end of the 2005-campaign, Nilsen stepped down from his position as Tromsø I.L. manager, despite urges from many fans for him to stay longer.
In 2006, following another string of bad results, Tromsø I.L.-manager Ivar Morten Normark
was fired and Nilsen once more stepped in as replacement manager for the remainder of the season, in hopes that he could save Tromsø I.L. from relegation. Nilsen's effect was not as noticeable on the team this time, however, and with four matches left of the season Tromsø I.L. looked like they would almost certainly be relegated. However, a string of three consecutive wins at the end of season put Tromsø I.L. in 10th place, meaning Nilsen had once more saved Tromsø I.L. from relegation.
In 2007, his first full season as Tromsø-manager, Nilsen led Tromsø to a comfortable 6th place finish, just a few points shy of European qualification.
In December 2007, Nilsen was involved in a bar brawl where the press initially reported that he had allegedly struck a bar guest with a beer glass. However, neither Nilsen nor the other guest confirmed this to the police, and the charges were dropped. Nilsen later stated that the incident had been emotionally hard, because of the big media focus.
November 21 2008 Nilsen signed a three year contract with SK Brann, to become the successor to Mons Ivar Mjelde who in October resigned as manager. On May 21st 2010 Nilsen's spell as manager for SK Brann ended when he was relieved of his contract after one of SK Branns worst starts in the Norwegian Premier League Tippeligaen
in several decades. SK Brann, the 2007 Norwegian champions, by then stood with only ten points after twelve rounds and had suffered an early Cup exit to a team a couple of leagues below the Premiership. The players of SK Brann also questioned Nilsens leadership abilities, however Nilsen insisted that he is far from done with football managing.
Nilsens older brother, Roger Nilsen
, was also a professional footballer and is as of July 2009 the assistant coach in Viking FK.
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 manager
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:...
. He also had a long active playing career behind him, mainly as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, before he retired in 2004.
Career
Nilsen played for Tromsø IL between 1989 and 1997, before he was sold to AC Milan. Nilsen never managed to make a big impact on the club, however, and thus moved to SSC Napoli, before returning to Tromsø IL in 2003.In 2005, after Per Mathias Høgmo resigned his job as Tromsø I.L.-manager, Nilsen became assistant manager to Otto Ulseth
Otto Ulseth
Otto Ulseth is a Norwegian football coach and journalist. Ulseth has worked as sports journalist in Adresseavisen, Dagbladet, and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. As a football coach he has worked as manager of Tromsø IL in 2005 and assistant coach of Iraq's national team from 2007 to 2008...
, Høgmo's former assistant. A horrible start to Tromsø I.L.'s season saw Ulseth fired and Nilsen promoted to head manager. This move was criticised by many Norwegian sports commentator
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
s, with some, especially Ivar Hoff, claiming it would assuredly mean Tromsø I.L. would be relegated. However, Nilsen was exactly what Tromsø I.L. needed. He turned Tromsø I.L.'s poor form around, and they became, after a good run in the autumn-part of the season, safe from relegation. Nilsen also led Tromsø I.L. to a historic UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
victory over Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
, making Tromsø I.L. the first Norwegian team (together with Viking F.K.
Viking F.K.
Viking Fotballklubb is a Norwegian football club from the city of Stavanger. The club was founded in 1899 as football was becoming increasingly popular...
) to reach the UEFA Cup's group stage. At the end of the 2005-campaign, Nilsen stepped down from his position as Tromsø I.L. manager, despite urges from many fans for him to stay longer.
In 2006, following another string of bad results, Tromsø I.L.-manager Ivar Morten Normark
Ivar Morten Normark
Ivar Morten Normark is a Norwegian football coach and former player. For the time being, Normark coaches the Sápmi national football team....
was fired and Nilsen once more stepped in as replacement manager for the remainder of the season, in hopes that he could save Tromsø I.L. from relegation. Nilsen's effect was not as noticeable on the team this time, however, and with four matches left of the season Tromsø I.L. looked like they would almost certainly be relegated. However, a string of three consecutive wins at the end of season put Tromsø I.L. in 10th place, meaning Nilsen had once more saved Tromsø I.L. from relegation.
In 2007, his first full season as Tromsø-manager, Nilsen led Tromsø to a comfortable 6th place finish, just a few points shy of European qualification.
In December 2007, Nilsen was involved in a bar brawl where the press initially reported that he had allegedly struck a bar guest with a beer glass. However, neither Nilsen nor the other guest confirmed this to the police, and the charges were dropped. Nilsen later stated that the incident had been emotionally hard, because of the big media focus.
November 21 2008 Nilsen signed a three year contract with SK Brann, to become the successor to Mons Ivar Mjelde who in October resigned as manager. On May 21st 2010 Nilsen's spell as manager for SK Brann ended when he was relieved of his contract after one of SK Branns worst starts in the Norwegian Premier League Tippeligaen
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...
in several decades. SK Brann, the 2007 Norwegian champions, by then stood with only ten points after twelve rounds and had suffered an early Cup exit to a team a couple of leagues below the Premiership. The players of SK Brann also questioned Nilsens leadership abilities, however Nilsen insisted that he is far from done with football managing.
Nilsens older brother, Roger Nilsen
Roger Nilsen
Roger Nilsen is a Norwegian football coach and former defender. He played 32 matches and scored 3 goals for Norway, and was a part of the 1994 FIFA World Cup squad....
, was also a professional footballer and is as of July 2009 the assistant coach in Viking FK.
External links
- Nilsen profile at www.til.no
- Nilsen profile at Norwegian FA