Olsen signs up for more with Norway
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Article summary
Egil Olsen said "this will be my last contract as a coach" after the 69-year-old extended his deal with Norway until after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, adding: "I felt I was still motivated."
Article top media content
Article body
Norway have been given a boost ahead of their crucial UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier against Iceland on 2 September with the news that coach Egil Olsen has extended his contract until after the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Olsen's deal was due to expire after next summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine, which Norway hope to reach by winning qualifying Group H − they are level on ten points with Portugal and Denmark at the summit with three games remaining.
"I felt I was still motivated," said the 69-year-old, who is in his second spell in charge of the national team. "I hope to lead Norway to the FIFA World Cup finals and end on a high note. This will be my last contract as a coach."
It had been announced in November 2009, upon Olsen extending his previous contract, that Ståle Solbakken would succeed him in 2012. However, when Solbakken took charge of Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln earlier this summer after leaving FC København, Olsen was free to extend his stay as Norway coach.
With his immediate future resolved, Olsen's focus now turns to the visit of Iceland, before Norway play Denmark in Copenhagen on 6 September.
