Some have already gotten used to Norway’s new normal. Take last month’s Champions League clash between Manchester City and RB Leipzig, when Erling Haaland scored five goals and broke another European record.
The verdict of Norwegian manager Stale Solbakken? “I’ve seen it before,” he joked Mail sports the next day. Another senior figure in Norwegian football was equally baffled: a typical Tuesday, they laughed.
Now another Wednesday just awaits as Arsenal – led by Martin Odegaard – visit Haaland’s Manchester City in the biggest game of this Premier League season. The Golden Shoe is already safe in Norwegian hands.
The Premier League trophy could be soon too. Not bad for a nation of 5.5 million people, where Odegaard and Haaland led a revolution. Just over a decade ago, after years of struggle, Norway renewed its football culture.
The country’s domestic league is now outperforming its Scandinavian rivals, Norway is sending more players to Europe’s top clubs and under Solbakken, Odegaard (captain) and Haaland (vice-captain) are leading their push for Euro 2024 – a long-held goal after two and a half half a decade in the international wilderness.
Erling Haaland (pictured) scoring five in a Champions League match is the new normal in Norway
Haaland’s Manchester City and Martin Odegaard’s (No. 8) Arsenal face each other in the most important game of the entire domestic season on Wednesday night
The superstar duo are leading a football revolution in the country of just 5.5 million
Last June, after Haaland’s double secured Norway’s first victory in Sweden since 1977, Odegaard put on ‘The Haaland Song’ in the dressing room and Solbakken’s side serenaded their match winner. “I’ve never seen that before,” says one observer. “You don’t do that if you don’t like him very much.” This success trickles down.
“Children at school are now running around with Norwegian names on their shirts,” said Leif Overland, the director of the Norwegian Professional Football Association. “They didn’t do that before.” Overland was there when Odegaard made his competitive debut at the age of 15.
He also recalls the bow from Haaland’s Eliteserien, as the 17-year-old scored four for Molde. By that time, Norway was already in the midst of change.
Norsk Toppfotball – an ‘interest group’ for teams in Norway’s top two leagues – had helped change the country’s football foundations. The spark? “We were so bad,” says Overland.
Inspiration came from all over Europe. “We looked a lot at Portugal, Belgium, Croatia, Switzerland, Denmark,” explains Kenneth Wilsgaard from the Norwegian Center of Football Excellence.
Three main adjustments were made: more money was spent on the development of young players and youth coaches; Academies were built and a national youth series was established; Loan rules were changed to maximize playing time for young players.
“We tried to turn the ship around, but it takes time,” says Wilsgaard. Norway has not managed to reach a major tournament since 2000. No team has qualified for the Champions League since 2007. Unfortunately? “That decline continued until 2017,” when Norway dropped to an “all-time low.”
Now, however, the signs are encouraging. Norway’s national team is not expected to reap the full benefits until around 2028. But in recent years, the number of Norwegian players in Europe’s top five leagues has grown.
Norway hopes their two-star men can lead the Scandinavian nation to a major tournament
The Premier League trophy may be in Norwegian hands if the Gunners beat City on Wednesday
This also applies to the income from the sale of players abroad. Both Haaland and Odegaard spent time in this new system, but there is an acceptance that their success is ‘unique’ – also the result of exceptional talent, mindset and support networks.
“We’ve laid a foundation where young children can grow and develop in a good way,” says Wilsgaard, “and they’re getting inspiration from Norwegian idols on a level we’ve never had before.”
Solbakken’s pool of technically gifted players has grown, but he fears the country has ‘slept’ with the need to produce more defenders, and that Haaland is masking a lack of powerful No 9s.
He leans on his two superstars – both drive standards by leading by example; Haaland leads with ‘one percent fear’. He also builds his team around them.
Stealing ideas from City and Arsenal, adjusting the positioning and players around Odegaard and Haaland to emulate the central role they play for their clubs. In crucial matches like on Wednesday night.