Coach of Norway, Hege Riise set to step down from her position, as announced by the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF). She becomes the latest manager to depart following the recent Women’s World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand.
This trend of managerial changes has seen Brazil part ways with Swede Pia Sundhage earlier in the week, and Ireland choose not to renew the contract of coach Vera Pauw, despite her guiding the team to their first major women’s tournament finals.
Since the conclusion of the tournament, 10 out of the 32 participating nations have made changes to their coaching staff. Additionally, players from Spain, the World Cup champions, have declared their refusal to play under coach Jorge Vilda again due to a controversy involving a kiss scandal with their federation chief, Luis Rubiales.
Norway faced an unexpected 1-0 defeat to co-hosts New Zealand in their opening match, and Riise also decided to bench star winger Caroline Graham Hansen in their second group game, which ended in a goalless draw with Switzerland.
Graham Hansen’s outspoken remarks following that match garnered significant attention in Norway. Although she was reinstated for the final group game against the Philippines, which they won, Norway faced a comprehensive defeat to Japan in the Round of 16.
Following a review of Norway’s performance, Riise, who is arguably the country’s most prominent female player and a World Cup winner in 1995, has transitioned into a new role within the NFF, one that focuses on advancing the women’s game.
“Through the evaluation work and in conversations with Hege Riise, we have seen that we have differing views on the role of the national team coach for this team,” NFF president Lise Klaveness – herself a former international – said in a statement.
Once a superpower in the women’s game, Norway now face the prospect of finding a new coach in an ultra-competitive market, and the new Nations League is looming at the end of September.
“The federation board is working to put in place a temporary solution for the autumn games in the Nations League. The solution will be presented as soon as it is ready,” the NFF said in a statement.