– We immediately agreed with Martin to follow the intentions contained in the final deal with severance pay, subject to full payment until August next year, Lise Klaveness told NRK.

IN Press conference from the NFF about the resignation of the Norwegian coaching duo, it seems that Klaveness discussed the failed European Championship with Sjögren and Jacobson even before they signed a contract extension until after the 2023 World Cup.

In short, a failed European Championship meant the end of their time as national team coaches. However, the two coaches are now receiving full salaries outside the contract period.

– I didn’t say the number or size, but they get the salary they should receive in August next year, Klaveness insisted.

For the Football Association, there is no escape from the final agreement they have made.

– You cannot enter into a binding parachute agreement in advance with anyone other than the company’s top managers. “It was the intention, the conversation we had that if we got into that situation then that could be our judgment,” Klaveness said.

– Unexpected

The Swede has been head coach of the Norwegian women’s national team since 2017, but after being knocked out of the European Championship in England, that was the end for the 45-year-old. He had to endure a lot of criticism after a painful 0-8 loss to England, before a 0-1 loss to Austria when only victory was good enough.

– It was quite natural after this championship. The result is not what we expected and aspired to. So nothing unexpected. Natural fate, Sjögren told NRK.

Sjögren and Jacobson took charge of the national team in January 2017 and last year extended their agreement until the 2023 World Cup.

During its first championship at the European Championships in the Netherlands in 2017, Norway were eliminated from the group stage after three defeats and zero goals. Two years later, he led Norway to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in France 2019.

– On behalf of this group of players, I would like to thank Martin and Anders for the time we had together. After a difficult start at the 2017 European Championship, we have worked hard together to build a good union, and we have succeeded. Despite the downturn in the European Championships this summer, we brought back many good memories. We wish Martin and Anders all the best in the future, said Captain Maren Mjelde in a press release.

Sjögren has determined his future destiny as national team manager at the Norwegian Football Association, and it is now clear that Sjögren is done.

– It can’t be helped

Sjögren said he had a good dialogue with President Klaveness.

– I’ve had good conversations with NFF and Lise, and found that this is the best solution. I hope it goes well for Norway in the future. There’s a lot of competence and good players there, so it will go well with Norway – I’m sure.

Sjögren’s resignation did not come as a surprise to NRK experts.

– It’s inevitable. “It’s very unlikely to continue with a weak result,” said Carl-Erik Torp.

– This is a natural consequence of two bad championships. It’s hard to rebuild trust. He has missed two group games, where he has to take Norway further in terms of player material, said Elise Thorsnes.

Coach hunt

Ada Hegerberg fell silent when NRK was asked about his assessment of the national team manager’s performance at the European Championships last week:

– Now is not the time or moment to go into detail there. “Now this is an extreme disappointment, and I have nothing more to say, I have to be completely honest,” he replied.

– As long as Martin is the coach, I trust him, replied Caroline Graham Hansen.

The Norwegian Football Association has now stated that they are in the process of recruiting a new coaching team.

Already at the beginning of September, Norway will face Belgium and Albania in the decisive World Cup qualifiers.