Martin Sjögren is stepping down as head coach of Norway’s women’s national soccer team after his team’s disastrous performance at the European Championships in England.
The 45-year-old Swede and his assistant Anders Jacobson reached an agreement with the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) to resign early from their posts. The association announced this on Tuesday. The coaching duo took over the selection at the beginning of 2017 and extended their contracts last year until the 2023 World Cup.
At the European Championships in England, Norway fell well short of the high expectations with just one win in three games and the elimination in the first round. The 8-0 (6-0) loss to hosts England was particularly painful. After that, the sometimes fierce criticism in the country was mainly directed against Sjögren.
“We are all disappointed with the performance at the European Championships this summer,” said association president Lise Klaveness. However, the responsibility does not lie with individuals, she emphasized. Your association is already looking for a new team of coaches. Sjögren himself told the newspaper “Verdens Gang” that he had spoken to Klaveness the day after the EURO defeat against Austria, with the two concluding that this was the best way for both sides.