Rikard Norling
Encyclopedia
Rikard Norling is a Swedish
football manager
and the current manager of Malmö FF
in Allsvenskan
.
Forced to retire early from his professional playing career due to an injury Norling started a coaching career at the age of 22. In his early managerial career Norling headed IK Bele
, Väsby IK
and GIF Sundsvall
before taking on his first major position as manager for AIK
in 2005. After helping AIK secure promotion back to Allsvenskan
the same year and finishing as runners-up in the league as newcomers in 2006 he was sacked after conflicts with the club board. After taking a short break he came back to the coaching scene as he was appointed manager for Assyriska
. Norling managed Assyriska to a fourth place position in Superettan
in 2010. Halfway through the 2011 season he was presented as the new manager for reigning Swedish champions Malmö FF to replace Roland Nilsson
who left the club for FC Copenhagen.
where he played together with future Celtic
star Johan Mjällby
during his early teens. He then switched to Brommapojkarna where he was considered a very promising player, he remained at the club until a back injury forced him to retire as a player at the age of 21.
, coaching the youth team. In 1994 he returned to IK Bele
where he took the reins at the senior team, leading them to a top position in the league (Swedish football Division 4
) as newcomers. He then headed to AIK
, a club he had supported all his life, to train the youth team in 1996. In 1998 new AIK manager Stuart Baxter
appointed Norling his assistant. Together they witnessed the first league title for AIK
in six years in 1998. The following year AIK
reached the UEFA Champions League
group stage. Norling also saw the pinnacle of his coaching career. With Baxter suspended after verbally abusing the fourth official during the first round group match against FC Barcelona
, Norling saw himself at the helm when AIK
played Arsenal at Wembley Stadium. No other Swedish club team has ever played there before or since, and thus Norling is the only person to have managed a Swedish club side at the stadium. Norling remained as Baxter's assistant during the 2000 campaign, but the returned to the position of youth team manager the following year when Baxter resigned. In 2002 he took charge of third division side Väsby
. He led the team to two straight league wins, but failed twice in the promotion play-offs. In 2004 he was appointed joint manager of Allsvenskan side GIF Sundsvall
whom he led to their second best position ever, finishing seventh.
manager on 11 November 2004 following the club's relegation from the top level in Swedish football, the Allsvenskan
, the same year. He led the team to a quick promotion by winning the second level, the Superettan
, in style clinching the berth with three games still to play. He put his team in a position to become the first newcomer to snatch the league title in 38 years although AIK finished as runners-up in the end of the 2006 campaign. Norling remained at AIK until November 2008 when he and manager Charlie Granfelt both were relieved from their posts.
, the club ended five points short of the third place and promotion play-off position. His second season started well with the club being at the top table after eight matches. Norling managed the club for the last time in a Superettan
fixture against Ängelholms FF
on 29 May 2011 at Ängelholms IP
which Assyriska lost 2–1.
presented Norlings as the club's new head coach. He succeeded Roland Nilsson
who left the club to take over FC Copenhagen. Norling formally joined Malmö FF on 3 June after the players had returned from a brief leave, his first competitive was against his former club AIK
at Råsunda
on 12 June where Malmö FF lost 2–0 and his first home game was against Kalmar FF
on 20 June where Norling saw his team win for the first time with 2–0. Norling joined the club with ten rounds played in the league and with the club in a fourth place position. For his first season at the club Norling managed to guide the team to a fourth place in Allsvenskan
. The club also qualified to the group stage of the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League
after being knocked out in the play-off round of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League
.
1 Only competitive matches are counted.
head coach he commented that the family would move to Malmö
as soon as possible and that he had told his wife that "If I succeed here, our youngest son will grow up speaking Scanian", this was notable since Norling himself has a distinctive Stockholmska
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
football manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
and the current manager of Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
in Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
.
Forced to retire early from his professional playing career due to an injury Norling started a coaching career at the age of 22. In his early managerial career Norling headed IK Bele
Bele Barkarby FF
Bele Barkarby FF is a Swedish football club located in Järfälla Municipality in Stockholm County.-Background:Bele Barkarby Idrottsförening is a sports club based in Järfälla that provides for the sports of football, bandy, table-tennis, ice hockey and gymnastics. The club was formed on the 1st...
, Väsby IK
FC Väsby United
FC Väsby United is a Swedish football club located in Upplands Väsby in Stockholm County.-Background:Football Club Väsby United was formed in 2005 when the two Stockholm clubs FC Café Opera United and Väsby IK merged. The new club replaced FC Café Opera United in the Superettan making it the...
and GIF Sundsvall
GIF Sundsvall
GIF Sundsvall is a Swedish football club located in the city of Sundsvall. The club, formed on 25 August 1903, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. The club is affiliated to Medelpads Fotbollförbund.- History :...
before taking on his first major position as manager for AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
in 2005. After helping AIK secure promotion back to Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
the same year and finishing as runners-up in the league as newcomers in 2006 he was sacked after conflicts with the club board. After taking a short break he came back to the coaching scene as he was appointed manager for Assyriska
Assyriska Föreningen
Assyriska Föreningen is a Swedish football club based in Södertälje. The club, formed in 1974 by Assyrian immigrants, has advanced through the league system and is currently playing in the second highest Swedish league, Superettan. They played in the highest Swedish football league Allsvenskan in...
. Norling managed Assyriska to a fourth place position in Superettan
Superettan
Superettan is the second highest league in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 16 Swedish football teams. It was created in 2000. Before that, the second level league in Sweden had been Division 1....
in 2010. Halfway through the 2011 season he was presented as the new manager for reigning Swedish champions Malmö FF to replace Roland Nilsson
Roland Nilsson
Roland Nilsson is a Swedish football manager and the current manager of FC Copenhagen. As a player, Nilsson played 116 games for Sweden, making him second only to Thomas Ravelli in international appearances for Sweden...
who left the club for FC Copenhagen.
Playing career
Norling started his career at IK BeleBele Barkarby FF
Bele Barkarby FF is a Swedish football club located in Järfälla Municipality in Stockholm County.-Background:Bele Barkarby Idrottsförening is a sports club based in Järfälla that provides for the sports of football, bandy, table-tennis, ice hockey and gymnastics. The club was formed on the 1st...
where he played together with future Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
star Johan Mjällby
Johan Mjällby
Johan Mjällby is a Swedish former footballer. He made his debut for the national team in 1997, and played 49 matches and scored 4 goals as a defender or midfielder. Mjällby was the team captain during the 2002 World Cup. He also took part in Euro 2000 and Euro 2004...
during his early teens. He then switched to Brommapojkarna where he was considered a very promising player, he remained at the club until a back injury forced him to retire as a player at the age of 21.
Early career
At the age of 22 Norling started his coaching career at IF BrommapojkarnaIF Brommapojkarna
IF Brommapojkarna, also called BP, is a Swedish football club located in the borough of Bromma, in the western parts of Stockholm municipality. Brommapojkarna is the largest football club in Europe in terms of the number of active teams of all ages - in 2007 there were 247 teams and 3,000 players....
, coaching the youth team. In 1994 he returned to IK Bele
Bele Barkarby FF
Bele Barkarby FF is a Swedish football club located in Järfälla Municipality in Stockholm County.-Background:Bele Barkarby Idrottsförening is a sports club based in Järfälla that provides for the sports of football, bandy, table-tennis, ice hockey and gymnastics. The club was formed on the 1st...
where he took the reins at the senior team, leading them to a top position in the league (Swedish football Division 4
Swedish football Division 4
Division 4 is the sixth level in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 39 sections with 8 to 12 football teams in each.- The competition :There are 39 groups of 8 to 12 teams each representing a local geographical area...
) as newcomers. He then headed to AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
, a club he had supported all his life, to train the youth team in 1996. In 1998 new AIK manager Stuart Baxter
Stuart Baxter
Stuart Baxter is a Scottish football manager and former player. During his years as a professional player he played for a number of clubs in England, Scotland, Australia, Sweden and in the United States...
appointed Norling his assistant. Together they witnessed the first league title for AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
in six years in 1998. The following year AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
reached the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group stage. Norling also saw the pinnacle of his coaching career. With Baxter suspended after verbally abusing the fourth official during the first round group match against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Norling saw himself at the helm when AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
played Arsenal at Wembley Stadium. No other Swedish club team has ever played there before or since, and thus Norling is the only person to have managed a Swedish club side at the stadium. Norling remained as Baxter's assistant during the 2000 campaign, but the returned to the position of youth team manager the following year when Baxter resigned. In 2002 he took charge of third division side Väsby
FC Väsby United
FC Väsby United is a Swedish football club located in Upplands Väsby in Stockholm County.-Background:Football Club Väsby United was formed in 2005 when the two Stockholm clubs FC Café Opera United and Väsby IK merged. The new club replaced FC Café Opera United in the Superettan making it the...
. He led the team to two straight league wins, but failed twice in the promotion play-offs. In 2004 he was appointed joint manager of Allsvenskan side GIF Sundsvall
GIF Sundsvall
GIF Sundsvall is a Swedish football club located in the city of Sundsvall. The club, formed on 25 August 1903, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. The club is affiliated to Medelpads Fotbollförbund.- History :...
whom he led to their second best position ever, finishing seventh.
AIK
Norling was appointed as AIK'sAIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
manager on 11 November 2004 following the club's relegation from the top level in Swedish football, the Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
, the same year. He led the team to a quick promotion by winning the second level, the Superettan
Superettan
Superettan is the second highest league in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 16 Swedish football teams. It was created in 2000. Before that, the second level league in Sweden had been Division 1....
, in style clinching the berth with three games still to play. He put his team in a position to become the first newcomer to snatch the league title in 38 years although AIK finished as runners-up in the end of the 2006 campaign. Norling remained at AIK until November 2008 when he and manager Charlie Granfelt both were relieved from their posts.
Assyriska
In January 2010, he joined Assyriska. In his first season he guided the club to a fourth place in Swedens second tier division SuperettanSuperettan
Superettan is the second highest league in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 16 Swedish football teams. It was created in 2000. Before that, the second level league in Sweden had been Division 1....
, the club ended five points short of the third place and promotion play-off position. His second season started well with the club being at the top table after eight matches. Norling managed the club for the last time in a Superettan
Superettan
Superettan is the second highest league in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 16 Swedish football teams. It was created in 2000. Before that, the second level league in Sweden had been Division 1....
fixture against Ängelholms FF
Ängelholms FF
Ängelholms FF is a football club based in Ängelholm, Sweden. The club is affiliated to Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Ängelholms IP. The club was formed in 1976 as a merger between Ängelholms IF and Skörpinge GIF...
on 29 May 2011 at Ängelholms IP
Ängelholms IP
Ängelholms IP, sometimes also referred to as Änglavallen, is a football stadium in Ängelholm, and the home arena for Ängelholms FF.Ängelholms IP has a total capacity of 5,000 spectators....
which Assyriska lost 2–1.
Malmö FF
On 25 May 2011 Malmö FFMalmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
presented Norlings as the club's new head coach. He succeeded Roland Nilsson
Roland Nilsson
Roland Nilsson is a Swedish football manager and the current manager of FC Copenhagen. As a player, Nilsson played 116 games for Sweden, making him second only to Thomas Ravelli in international appearances for Sweden...
who left the club to take over FC Copenhagen. Norling formally joined Malmö FF on 3 June after the players had returned from a brief leave, his first competitive was against his former club AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
at Råsunda
Råsunda Stadium
Råsunda Fotbollstadion, also Råsundastadion, Råsunda Stadium or just Råsunda, is a Swedish national football stadium. It is located in Solna Municipality in Metropolitan Stockholm and named after Råsunda, a zone of Solna.-History:...
on 12 June where Malmö FF lost 2–0 and his first home game was against Kalmar FF
Kalmar FF
Kalmar FF is a Swedish football club located in Kalmar. Formed 10 January 1910, the club has won three national cup titles and 1 league title. Kalmar FF currently play in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan....
on 20 June where Norling saw his team win for the first time with 2–0. Norling joined the club with ten rounds played in the league and with the club in a fourth place position. For his first season at the club Norling managed to guide the team to a fourth place in Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
. The club also qualified to the group stage of the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League
2011–12 UEFA Europa League
The 2011–12 UEFA Europa League is the third season of the competition since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup. It began on 30 June 2011 with the first legs of the first qualifying round, and will end on 9 May 2012 with the final to be held at Stadionul Național in Bucharest, Romania...
after being knocked out in the play-off round of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League
2011–12 UEFA Champions League
The 2011–12 UEFA Champions League is the 57th season of the European Cup, Europe's premier football tournament, and the 20th season in its current Champions League format. The final venue will be the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany...
.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G1 | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Väsby IK FC Väsby United FC Väsby United is a Swedish football club located in Upplands Väsby in Stockholm County.-Background:Football Club Väsby United was formed in 2005 when the two Stockholm clubs FC Café Opera United and Väsby IK merged. The new club replaced FC Café Opera United in the Superettan making it the... |
 |
1 January 2002 | 16 November 2003 |
|||||
| GIF Sundsvall GIF Sundsvall GIF Sundsvall is a Swedish football club located in the city of Sundsvall. The club, formed on 25 August 1903, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. The club is affiliated to Medelpads Fotbollförbund.- History :... |
|
16 November 2003 | 11 November 2004 |
|||||
| AIK AIK Fotboll AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre... |
|
11 November 2004 | 10 November 2008 |
|||||
| Assyriska Assyriska Föreningen Assyriska Föreningen is a Swedish football club based in Södertälje. The club, formed in 1974 by Assyrian immigrants, has advanced through the league system and is currently playing in the second highest Swedish league, Superettan. They played in the highest Swedish football league Allsvenskan in... |
|
1 January 2010 | 29 May 2011 |
|||||
| Malmö FF Malmö FF Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white... |
|
3 June 2011 | Present |
|||||
| Total |
||||||||
1 Only competitive matches are counted.
Personal life
Norling is married and a father of four. After being presented as the new Malmö FFMalmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
head coach he commented that the family would move to Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
as soon as possible and that he had told his wife that "If I succeed here, our youngest son will grow up speaking Scanian", this was notable since Norling himself has a distinctive Stockholmska
Stockholmska
Stockholmska is a group of dialects spoken in Stockholm. An exact definition encompassing its peculiarities is hard to find, as a cosmopolitan culture and early adoption infers a great variety of international influences that are then spread to the rest of Sweden...
.