Bjarne Berntsen

Bjarne Berntsen (born 21 December 1956) is a Norwegian football coach and former player. He coached from 2005 to 2009, the Norwegian women's national team to the 2005 he was Vice-European Champion.

Career

As a player

Bjarne Berntsen began his football career at the small club Figgjo IL and went in 1977 to the Norwegian 1st Division club Viking FK. He played for Viking FK to 1982 and during this time made ​​33 games for the Norwegian national football team, including the famous match against England in September 1981, which won the team. During his career as a player he was usually to be found at the position of right-back.

As a coach

After his playing career he became a coach of Figgjo, Bryne and Viking. In the years 1986 and 1987 he was Assistentz coach for the Norwegian national football team. Between 1999 and 2004 he was Adm. Director of Viking Fotball ASA. In late summer 2004 he was appointed surprising as head coach for the Norwegian national football team of women. The post he assumed on 1 January 2005.

The first tournament of the women's football team with Berntsen as head coach took place at the European Football Championship Women 2005 in England. Many of the problems suffered by the nomination of the 16 -year-old Isabell Herlovsen, the daughter of former colleagues in the national team in the squad for the European football championship - but they scored two crucial goals that held Norway in the tournament. After a failed group stage Norway played a memorable semi-final against Sweden, which they won by 3-2 after extra time with a goal from Solveig Gulbrandsen. In the final against Germany but the team lost 3-1.

Berntsen led his team to the FIFA Women's World Cup in China in 2007, where they won their group with victories over Canada, Ghana and Australia. In the quarterfinals, played his team against the host nation China, 50,000 spectators. Norway won 1-0, with a goal by Herlovsen. In the semifinals, the team lost 0-3 against Germany and defeated in the 3rd place match 1:4 with the United States. Due to the performance at the 2007 Women's World Cup Norway was qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Apart from Norway and Viking, Berntsen is a big fan of English football and Liverpool.