Roy Hodgson is one of many Brits to have coached in Norway. He was in charge of Viking from 2004 to 2005. Steve Perryman, George Armstrong and Chris Lawler are other legendary British footballers with a coaching life in Norwegian football. Bryan King, Brian Deane and Tommy Cavanagh are other names to notice.
The Spurs legend Perryman had, in 1995, a short stay as manager at Start, Kristiansand. However, he is better known for his sport travel business. Steve Perryman Sport Travel is based in Norway and have long lasting traditions in the trade.
In earlier days when football was invented, Norway were as most nations influenced by British sailors building foundations. Christiania Footballclub, founded in 1885 in Oslo (then Christiania), is generally recognized as the first Norwegian football club. The founder was office manager E. Salvesen and student John George Dahll, both with an earlier living in England.
The two brought along some of their acquaintances, mostly students and high school students, and began training. The club rented Holteløkken by Uranienborg Church for five kroner a year. The number of members in the club rose to 20 during 1885, and the following year the number had increased to 30. Christiania Footballclub had Norwegian rules printed and attempted to introduce the game in Norsk Idrætsblad, with varying success.
The first football match in Norway was played in connection with a British naval visit on 7 October 1886. In front of about 2,000 spectators, Christiania Footballclub won 3-0 over a reduced British naval team.
Over different decades up to the present day, Brits have been known to be engaged in management and coaching. We have drawn up a list. It includes current and former Brits involved in Norwegian football. They have coached at several levels.
Lillestrom are known for their great 70’s and 80’s success. They hired Brits to lead the line. Joe Hooley might be the most popular having great success at this football club. Bill Foulkes and David Hay are also former English footballers with a life as manager at Lillestrom.
Rosenborg also have a passed with a number of Brits in charge. George Curtis and Tommy Cavanagh have both had their time at Lerkendal. Curtis having success, winning the league. Cavanagh getting sacked after a few months.
Brann Bergen have hired a number of Brits during the years. Billy Aitken, George Ainsley, and Donald Colman are former managers at this Norwegian football club. Raymond Freeman, William Cook, Bill Elliott, Tony Knapp, and Les Shannon also held managerial positions here.
Viking from Stavanger have long traditions in Norwegian football. Tony Knapp winning the double at the helm here. Knapp was the national coach of Iceland for two periods, 1974-77 and 1984-85, and the Viking coach from 1978 to 1981. He won “The Double” in 1979 and silver medals in 1981. Tony was a determined coach with firm principles. He was also perceived by some as uncompromising and eccentric. Roy Hodgson is earlier mentioned, having his time here in the early days of this century. Bill Foulkes, Gary Goodchild and Ian Burchnall are other Brits to have coached here. Keith Blunt and Stuart Williams are others with a life as manager at this football club.
Joe Hooley is to our knowledge the only Brit to have been in charge of Bodo Glimt. Hooley was in charge at Aspmyra in 1981. Steinkjer is not a top club at this time, Bill Foulkes used to be their manager. Tony Dunne was his assistant. Tony Dunne took over as manager when Bill Foulkes left the club. This was back in 1981 to 1983.
Interim manager Peter Leven has further strengthened his coaching team with the appointment of Ian Burchnall as first team coach.
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) February 26, 2026
Burchnall brings extensive experience, having managed in Scandinavia with Viking FK and Östersunds FK, as well as in England with Notts County and… pic.twitter.com/jEfFYfRHOo
Stuart Baxter is a Brit who have travelled in Scandinavia. In Norway he has been in charge of Skarp from Tromso and Lyn in Oslo. The former national coach of Finland and South Africa with a past as a player at Preston and Stockport also had long spells in Sweden, coaching teams such as Helsingborg and Orebro.
Arsenal 1970-71 Double hero George Armstrong spent time in Norway, being a player coach at Mjolner in Narvik. Liverpool legend Chris Lawler had a spell in charge of Raufoss. Lawler also coached Bodo based Grand.
Brian Deane had a season spell in charge of Sarpsborg. Deane took with him Ian Burchnall as his assistant. He had this job from 2012 to 2014, and so far his only spell in league club coaching. The first goalscorer in Premier League has since worked in football at other levels.
Another recent recruit is Mark Dempsey. Mark came to Norway to assist Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Molde. He has also had assistant roles at Haugesund and Man Utd. His head coach roles in Norway are with clubs such as Start Kristiansand, Haugesund, Molde and Kongsvinger. He coached in Norway from 2010 to 2018.
Another football profile with special influence is Mick Speight. The former Sheffield United and England B midfielder has been living and coaching in Norway since 1985. Speight has been at a number of different clubs. He has been up and down the leagues. Been in charge of Moss, Sunndal, Sogndal, Flekkefjord and Sprint Jeloy.
Danny McLennan is also one to mention. A man with a special coaching journey. He was mostly based in Africa, but also had short periods in other regions of the world. A short spell in charge of Kongsvinger. He is said to have greatly influenced the club’s development. This influence was significant in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Even Pellerud was one of the players on his team. Later, Pellerud became a coaching phenomenon in the women’s game.
Ian Crawford and Alan Brown are two familier names from English football that made their mark in Norway. Both had spells at Ham-Kam (Hamar Kameratene). Brown was in charge for two years, 1973 to 1974. Crawford had a four year stay, 1979 to 1983.
Colin Bell is a famous name in women football. The former Leicester recruit had his best years in football with German club Mainz. He was in charge of Norwegian club Avaldsnes women team from 2015 to 2016. Northern Ireland international, Tommy Casey, with a past at Leeds and Newcastle, was the head coach of Harstad, from 1977 to 1978.
Brian Green had spells in Norwegian football with Start, Egersund and Bryne. He was a coach in Norwegian football for eleven years, from 1980 to 1991. Berwick and Alloa attacker Willie Irvine had a short stint as head coach of Lillesand. Kevin Nicol is the current head coach of Mjondalen. Nicol has a past from Scottish football, playing for clubs such as Hibs, Raith Rovers and Peterhead.
Scottish international Billy McKinlay was in charge of Stabæk from 2015 to 2016. McKinlay has a past from playing at Leicester, Blackburn and Dundee United. Maurice Ross, used to be the head coach of Sola and Egersund. The was from 2013 to 2015. The former Rangers, Millwall and Wolves defender is currently back in Britian being the assistant manager at Fleetwood Town.
Barry Salvage, Bryan King and Ramon Hunt are other names to look up. Salvage was at Åkra, Kopervik and Haugar from 1979 to 1983 . Former Coventry and Millwall goalkeeper, King coached Jerv, Harstad, Tynset and Kongsberg. This was from 1978 to 1988.
Fredrikstad who had a leading role in Norwegian football in the 50’s and 60’s did hire Brits. Tony Knapp, Frank Soo, and Bert Tann were among the Brits. They have been in charge of this football club.
Bobby Gould had his first stint in management in Norway. He joined Aalesund in 1978. He later became a manager at Coventry, Bristol Rovers and Wimbledon. Also the manager of Wales from 1995 to 1999.
The Norway national team used to recruit Brits in their first years running. James Hayes led Norway in the 2012 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. The former Man Utd player later had manager obligations at Preston and Atletico Madrid. William Kelly, James McPherson, and John Wyllie are among the other coaches for Norway. Thomas Morris Mitchel, Frank Soo, Ron Lewin and George Curtis also served as head coaches in the past.
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