Norway men's national handball team explained

Norway
Badge:	Norwegian Handball Federation logo.svg
Badge Size:	275px
Association:	Norwegian Handball Federation
Coach:	Jonas Wille
Assistant Coach:	Martin Boquist
Captain:	Christian O'Sullivan
Most Caps:	Bjarte Myrhol (263)
Most Goals:	Roger Kjendalen (939)
Pattern B1:	_whitecollar
Leftarm1:	FC3949
Body1:	FC3949
Rightarm1:	FC3949
Shorts1:	273A64
Pattern B2:	_redcollar
Leftarm2:	FFFFFF
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Rightarm2:	FFFFFF
Shorts2:	273A64
Pattern B3:	_whitecollar
Leftarm3:	273A64
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Summer Olympics Apps:	3
Summer Olympics First:	1972
Summer Olympics Best:	6th (2024)
World Cup Apps:	17
World Cup First:	1958
World Cup Best:	2nd (2017, 2019)
Regional Name:	European Championship
Regional Cup Apps:	11
Regional Cup First:	2000
Regional Cup Best:	3rd (2020)

The Norway men's national handball team represents Norway at international handball competitions, and is governed by the Norges Håndballforbund (NHF). As of 2024, Norway has been in 2 finals and won 3 medals.

Honours

Competition				Total
Olympic Games	0	0	0	0
World Championship	0	2	0	2
European Championship	0	0	1	1
Total	0	2	1	3

In 2016, they were honored with a Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Trophy for great sportsmanship.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Competitive record

Olympic Games

Olympic record
Games	Round	Position
1936 Berlin	Did not qualify
Not held from 1948 to 1968
1972 Munich	Match for 9th place	9th of 12	5	3	1	1	90	87
1976 Montreal	Did not qualify
1980 Moscow
1984 Los Angeles
1988 Seoul
1992 Barcelona
1996 Atlanta
2000 Sydney
2004 Athens
2008 Beijing
2012 London
2016 Rio de Janeiro
2020 Tokyo	Quarterfinals	7th of 12	6	3	0	3	161	163
2024 Paris	Quarterfinals	6th of 12	6	3	0	3	167	169
2028 Los Angeles	TBD
2032 Brisbane
Total	3/15	–	17	9	1	7	418	419

World Championship

World Championship record!Year!Round!Position!!!!!!

1938	Did not qualify
1954
1958	Match for 5th place	6	6	3	0	3	118	102
1961	Match for 7th place	7	6	2	0	4	73	85
1964	Preliminary round	11	3	1	0	2	37	47
1967	Preliminary round	13	3	0	0	3	44	58
1970	Preliminary round	13	3	0	0	3	23	28
1974	Did not qualify
1978
1982
1986
1990
1993	Preliminary round	13	3	0	1	2	51	57
1995	Did not qualify
1997	Round of 16	12	6	1	2	3	132	141
1999	Preliminary round	13	6	2	1	3	156	162
2001	Round of 16	14	6	2	1	3	139	155
2003	Did not qualify
2005	Match for 7th place	7	9	6	1	2	258	219
2007	Match for 13th place	13	6	4	0	2	181	137
2009	Match for 9th place	9	9	6	0	3	280	232
2011	Match for 9th place	9	9	5	0	4	259	255
2013	Did not qualify
2015
2017	Final	2	9	7	0	2	274	234
2019	Final	2	10	8	0	2	325	256
2021	Quarterfinals	6	7	5	0	2	219	197
2023	Match for 5th place	6	9	7	0	2	278	233
2025	Qualified
2027	TBD
2029
2031	Qualified
Total	19/32	–	109	59	6	45	2847	2599

European Championship

Year	Round	Position
1994	Did not qualify
1996
1998
2000	Match for 7th place	8	6	1	1	4	133	144
2002	Did not qualify
2004
2006	Main round	11	6	2	0	4	178	177
2008	Match for 5th place	6	7	2	2	1	196	185
2010	Main round	7	6	3	0	3	169	164
2012	Preliminary round	13	3	1	0	2	80	87
2014	Preliminary round	14	3	0	1	2	77	84
2016	Bronze final	4	8	4	1	3	235	232
2018	Main round		7	6	4	0	2	191	172
2020	Bronze final	3	9	8	0	1	273	236
2022	Match for 5th place	5	8	6	0	2	246	211
2024	Main round	9	7	3	1	3	208	196
2026	Qualified
2028	TBD
Total	12/18	–	69	35	6	28	1986	1888

• Colored background indicates that medal was won in the tournament.

• • Red border color indicates that tournament was held on home soil.

Other tournaments

• Gjensidige Cup 2019 – Winner
• Gjensidige Cup 2023 – Winner
• Gjensidige Cup 2024 – Winner

Team

Current squad

The squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.^[5]

Caps and goals as of 7 August 2024.

Head coach: Jonas Wille

Coaching staff

Role	Name
Head coach	Jonas Wille
Assistant coach	Martin Boquist
Goalkeeping coach	Steinar Ege
Resource coach	Zeljko Tomac
Physical trainer	Eirik Haukali
Doctor	Thomas Torgalsen
Physiotherapist	Harald Markussen
Masseur	Geir Stølsvik
Team administrator	Gry Hege Knudsen
Team administrator	Ragnhild Oulie Bruland
Head leader	Ingrid Blindheim
Mentor	Tjolle Ström
Talent coach	Claus Dalgaard-Hansen
Mental coach	Erik Hofseth
Social media	Finn Aagaard

Past squads

1958 World Men's Handball Championship (6th place)

Oddvar Klepperås, Erik Vellan, Finn Arne Johansen, Knut Reese Larsen, Ivar Sandboe, Jonny Hovde, Jon Narvestad, Roy Yssen, Jan Flatla, Rolf Rustad, Kjell Svestad, John Tresse, Agnar Hagen, Odd Nielsen, Hans Lien.Coach:

1961 World Men's Handball Championship (7th place)

Kai Killerud, Knut Strøm, Finn Arne Johansen, Knut Reese Larsen, Kaj Ringlund, Bjørn Erik Sandsten, Svein Sand, Roy Yssen, Kjell Kleven, Rolf Rustad, Kjell Svestad, Arild Gulden, Ingar Engum, Gunnar Bergstrand.Coach:

1964 World Men's Handball Championship (11th place)

Carl Graff-Wang, Knut Strøm, Finn Arne Johansen, Arnulf Bæk, Oddvar Klepperås, Trygve Hegnar, Jan Petter Aas, Per Graver, Jan-Egil Uthberg, Rolf Rustad, Kjell Svestad, Arild Gulden, Erik Schønfeldt.Coach: John Tresse

1967 World Men's Handball Championship (13th place)

Carl Graff-Wang, Arnulf Bæk, Pål Cappelen, Pål Bye, Oddvar Klepperås, Inge K. Hansen, Jon Reinertsen, Per Graver, Jan-Egil Uthberg, Rolf Rustad, Kjell Svestad, Arild Gulden, Erik Schønfeldt, Jon Arne Gunnerud, Rolf Gustav Lundberg, Terje Høilund.Coach: Kjell Kleven

1970 World Men's Handball Championship (13th place)

Carl Graff-Wang, Arnulf Bæk, Pål Cappelen, Pål Bye, Harald Tyrdal, Inge K. Hansen, Jon Reinertsen, Per Graver, Jan-Egil Uthberg, Kai Killerud, Jan Otto Kvalheim, Jan Cato Nabseth, Robert Wagtskjold.Coach: Kjell Kleven

1972 Summer Olympics (9th place)

Carl Graff-Wang, Finn Urdal, Geir Røse, Harald Tyrdal, Arnulf Bæk, Inge K. Hansen, Jan Økseter, Jon Reinertsen, Pål Bye, Pål Cappelen, Per Søderstrøm, Per Axel Ankre, Roger Hverven, Sten Osther, Torstein Hansen, Ulf Magnusson.Coach: Thor Ole Rimejorde

1993 World Men's Handball Championship (13th place)

Svein Erik Bjerkrheim, Gunnar Fosseng, John Petter Sando, Roger Kjendalen, Sjur Bø Tollefsen, Ole Gustav Gjekstad, Rune Erland, Morten Schønfeldt, Øystein Havang, Kjetil Lundeberg, Fredrik Brubakken, Simen Muffetangen, Knut Håland, Morten Haugstvedt, Karl Erik Bøhn.Coach: Gunnar Pettersen

1997 World Men's Handball Championship (12th place)

Frode Scheie, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Stein Olaf Sando, Stig Rasch, Sjur Bø Tollefsen, Preben Vildalen, Kristian Hansen, Marius Riise, Øystein Havang, Frode Hagen, Johnny Jensen, Steinar Ege, Geir Oustorp, Glenn Solberg, Stian Vatne.Coach: Harald Madsen

1999 World Men's Handball Championship (13th place)

Frode Scheie, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Svein-Erik Bjerkrheim, Stig Rasch, Tormod Moldestad, Thomas Pettersen, Stig Penne, Morten Daland, Christian Berge (captain), Frode Hagen, Rune Haugseng, Endre Nordli, Geir Oustorp, Tor Bjørn Andersen, Trond Førde Eriksen.Coach: Christer Magnusson

2000 European Men's Handball Championship (8th place)

Frode Scheie (captain), Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Stig Rasch, Tormod Moldestad, Stein Olaf Sando, Stig Penne, Vidar Gjesdal, Eivind Ellingsen, Christian Berge, Frode Hagen, Preben Vildalen, Gunnar Fosseng, Geir Oustorp, Thomas Pettersen, Sindre Walstad, Johnny Jensen.Coach: Christer Magnusson

2001 World Men's Handball Championship (14th place)

Steinar Ege, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Håvard Tvedten, Kristian Hansen, Tormod Moldestad, Roger Kvannli, Stig Penne, Eivind Ellingsen, Christian Berge, Frode Hagen, Preben Vildalen, Gunnar Fosseng (captain), Trond Førde Eriksen, Rune Skjærvold, Johnny Jensen, Børge Lund.Coach: Christer Magnusson

2005 World Men's Handball Championship (7th place)

Steinar Ege, Glenn Solberg (captain), Håvard Tvedten, Frank Løke, Børge Lund, Frode Hagen, Preben Vildalen, Ole Erevik, Jarle Rykkje, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Kristian Kjelling, Sindre Walstad, André Jørgensen, Johnny Jensen, Marius Riise, Rune Skjærvold.Coach: Gunnar Pettersen

2006 European Men's Handball Championship (11th place)

Steinar Ege (captain), Alexander Buchmann, Christian Berge, Frank Løke, Kjetil Strand, Ole Magnus Ekelund, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund, Håvard Tvedten, Preben Vildalen, Ole Erevik, Jarle Rykkje, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Kristian Kjelling, André Jørgensen, Johnny Jensen, Rune Skjærvold.Coach: Gunnar Pettersen

2007 World Men's Handball Championship (13th place)

Steinar Ege (captain), Alexander Buchmann, Erlend Mamelund, Frank Løke, Kjetil Strand, Jan-Richard Lislerud Hansen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund, Håvard Tvedten, Preben Vildalen, Ole Erevik, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Kristian Kjelling, André Jørgensen, Johnny Jensen, Rune Skjærvold, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Lars Olav Olaussen.Coach: Gunnar Pettersen

2008 European Men's Handball Championship (6th place)

Steinar Ege (captain), Glenn Solberg, Frode Hagen, Frank Løke, Kjetil Strand, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund, Håvard Tvedten, Ole Erevik, Jan Thomas Lauritzen, Kristian Kjelling, André Jørgensen, Johnny Jensen, Thomas Skoglund, Rune Skjærvold.Coach: Gunnar Pettersen

2009 World Men's Handball Championship (9th place)

Steinar Ege (captain), Johnny Jensen, Stian Vatne, Thomas Drange, Frank Løke, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Bjarte Myrhol, Håvard Tvedten, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Christoffer Rambo, Alexander Buchmann, Kristian Kjelling, Svenn Erik Medhus, Vegard Samdahl, Thomas Skoglund, Christian Spanne.Coach: Robert Hedin

2010 European Men's Handball Championship (7th place)

Steinar Ege (captain), Stian Vatne, Frank Løke, Kjetil Strand, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund, Håvard Tvedten, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Christoffer Rambo, Kristian Kjelling, Vegard Samdahl, Thomas Skoglund, Einar Sand Koren, Christian Spanne, Magnus Dahl.Coach: Robert Hedin

2011 World Men's Handball Championship (9th place)

Steinar Ege (captain), Frank Løke, Kjetil Strand, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund, Håvard Tvedten, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Christoffer Rambo, Espen Lie Hansen, Kristian Kjelling, Vegard Samdahl, Thomas Skoglund, Einar Sand Koren, Eivind Tangen.Coach: Robert Hedin

2012 European Men's Handball Championship (13th place)

Kenneth Ryvoll Klev, Vegard Samdahl, Lars Erik Bjørnsen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund (captain), Håvard Tvedten, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Christoffer Rambo, Espen Lie Hansen, Svenn Erik Medhus, Magnus Jøndal, Johnny Jensen, Einar Riegelhuth Koren, Sondre Paulsen, Kent Robin Tønnesen.Coach: Robert Hedin

2014 European Men's Handball Championship (14th place)

Magnus Dahl, Sander Sagosen, Bjarte Myrhol, Børge Lund (captain), Håvard Tvedten, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Christoffer Rambo, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Christian O'Sullivan, Kristian Bjørnsen, André Lindboe, Magnus Gullerud, Kristian Kjelling, Harald Reinkind, Steffen Berg Løkkebø, Espen Lie Hansen.Coach: Robert Hedin

2016 European Men's Handball Championship (4th place)

Sander Sagosen, Thomas Kristensen, Joakim Hykkerud, Bjarte Myrhol (captain), Petter Øverby, Erlend Mamelund, Ole Erevik, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Espen Christensen, Magnus Jøndal, Kristian Bjørnsen, André Lindboe, Magnus Gullerud, Christian O'Sullivan, Harald Reinkind, Espen Lie Hansen.Coach: Christian Berge

2017 World Men's Handball Championship (2nd place)

Sander Sagosen, Joakim Hykkerud, Bjarte Myrhol (captain), Petter Øverby, Ole Erevik, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Espen Christensen, Magnus Jøndal, Kristian Bjørnsen, André Lindboe, Magnus Gullerud, Magnus Abelvik Rød, Christian O'Sullivan, Eivind Tangen, Gøran Johannessen, Torbjørn Bergerud, Espen Lie Hansen.Coach: Christian Berge

2018 European Men's Handball Championship (7th place)

Sander Sagosen, Joakim Hykkerud, Bjarte Myrhol (captain), Henrik Jakobsen, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Espen Christensen, Magnus Jøndal, Kristian Bjørnsen, Magnus Gullerud, Gøran Sørheim, Gøran Johannessen, Christian O'Sullivan, Eivind Tangen, Harald Reinkind, Torbjørn Bergerud, Espen Lie Hansen, Magnus Abelvik Rød, Kristian Sæverås.Coach: Christian Berge

2019 World Men's Handball Championship (2nd place)

Sander Sagosen, Bjarte Myrhol (captain), Henrik Jakobsen, Petter Øverby, Espen Christensen, Magnus Jøndal, Kristian Bjørnsen, Magnus Gullerud, Gøran Johannessen, Christian O'Sullivan, Eivind Tangen, Harald Reinkind, Torbjørn Bergerud, Kevin Gulliksen, Alexander Blonz, Magnus Abelvik Rød, Espen Lie Hansen.Coach: Christian Berge

2020 European Men's Handball Championship (3rd place)

Tom Kåre Nikolaisen, Sander Sagosen, Sander Øverjordet, Petter Øverby, Kristian Sæverås, Espen Christensen, Magnus Jøndal, William Aar, Kristian Bjørnsen (captain), Magnus Gullerud, Gøran Johannessen, Christian O'Sullivan, Eivind Tangen, Harald Reinkind, Torbjørn Bergerud, Kevin Gulliksen, Alexander Blonz, Magnus Abelvik Rød.Coach: Christian Berge

2021 World Men's Handball Championship (6th place)

Sander Sagosen, Sander Øverjordet, Bjarte Myrhol (captain), Henrik Jakobsen, Petter Øverby, Kristian Sæverås, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Espen Christensen, Magnus Jøndal, William Aar, Kristian Bjørnsen, Gøran Johannessen, Christian O'Sullivan, Eivind Tangen, Simen Holand Pettersen, Harald Reinkind, Torbjørn Bergerud, Thomas Solstad, Kevin Gulliksen, Alexander Blonz.Coach: Christian Berge

2020 Summer Olympics (7th place)

Sander Sagosen, Bjarte Myrhol (captain), Magnus Fredriksen, Petter Øverby, Kristian Sæverås, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Magnus Jøndal, Kristian Bjørnsen, Magnus Gullerud, Christian O'Sullivan, Simen Holand Pettersen, Harald Reinkind, Torbjørn Bergerud, Kevin Gulliksen, Magnus Abelvik Rød.Coach: Christian Berge

2022 European Men's Handball Championship (5th place)

Vetle Eck Aga, Sander Sagosen, Sebastian Barthold, Sander Øverjordet, Petter Øverby, Kristian Sæverås, Erik Thorsteinsen Toft, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Sander Heieren, Kristian Bjørnsen, Magnus Gullerud, Christian O'Sullivan (captain), Simen Holand Pettersen, Harald Reinkind, Endre Langaas, Torbjørn Bergerud, Thomas Solstad, Kevin Gulliksen, Alexander Blonz, Christoffer Rambo.Coach: Christian Berge

2023 World Men's Handball Championship (6th place)

Vetle Eck Aga, Sander Sagosen, Sebastian Barthold, Sander Øverjordet, Petter Øverby, Kristian Sæverås, Erik Thorsteinsen Toft, Kristian Bjørnsen, Magnus Gullerud, Gøran Johannessen, Christian O'Sullivan (captain), Harald Reinkind, Tobias Grøndahl, Torbjørn Bergerud, Thomas Solstad, Kevin Gulliksen, Alexander Blonz, Magnus Abelvik Rød.Coach: Jonas Wille

2024 European Men's Handball Championship (9th place)

Vetle Eck Aga, Sander Sagosen, Sebastian Barthold, Sander Øverjordet, Henrik Jakobsen, Petter Øverby, Kristian Sæverås, Erik Thorsteinsen Toft, Kent Robin Tønnesen, Kristian Bjørnsen, Magnus Gullerud, Tobias Grøndahl, Gøran Johannessen, Christian O'Sullivan (captain), Harald Reinkind, Torbjørn Bergerud, Gabriel Setterblom, Simen Lyse, Kevin Gulliksen, Alexander Blonz, Magnus Abelvik Rød.Coach: Jonas Wille

2024 Summer Olympics (6th place)

Vetle Eck Aga, Sander Sagosen, Sebastian Barthold, Petter Øverby, Kristian Sæverås, Kristian Bjørnsen, Magnus Gullerud, Tobias Grøndahl, Christian O'Sullivan (captain), Harald Reinkind, Torbjørn Bergerud, Gabriel Setterblom, Simen Lyse, Alexander Blonz.Coach: Jonas Wille

Coaches

• John Tresse (1961–1965)
• Kjell Kleven (1965–1970)
• Thor Ole Rimejorde (1970–1973)
• Thor Nohr (1973–1977)
• Roar Østerbø (1977–1979)
• Per Otto Furuseth (1979–1985)
• Bertil Andersén (1985–1989)
• Gunnar Pettersen (1989–1994)
• Harald Madsen (1994–1997)
• Ivica Rimanić (1997)
• Christer Magnusson (1998–2001)
• Gunnar Pettersen (2001–2008)
• Robert Hedin (2008–2014)
• Christian Berge (2014–2022)
• Jonas Wille (2022–)

Captains

• Christian Berge (World Championship, 1999)
• Frode Scheie (European Championship, 2000)
• Gunnar Fosseng (World Championship, 2001)
• Glenn Solberg (World Championship, 2005)
• Steinar Ege (European Championship, 2006, 2008, 2010; World Championship, 2007, 2009, 2011)
• Børge Lund (European Championship, 2012, 2014)
• Bjarte Myrhol (European Championship, 2016, 2018; World Championship, 2017, 2019, 2021; Olympic Games 2020)
• Kristian Bjørnsen (European Championship, 2020)
• Christian O'Sullivan (European Championship, 2022, 2024; World Championship, 2023, Olympic Games 2024)

Incomplete

Notable players

Several Norwegian players have seen their individual performance recognized at international tournaments, as a member of the All-Star Team or top scorer.

All-Star Team

• Frank Løke, 2008 European Championship
• Håvard Tvedten, 2011 World Championship
• Sander Sagosen, 2016, 2018 and 2020 European Championship, 2017 and 2019 World Championship
• Kristian Bjørnsen, 2017 World Championship
• Bjarte Myrhol, 2017 and 2019 World Championship
• Magnus Jøndal, 2019 World Championship, 2020 European Championship

Top scorers

• Sander Sagosen, 2020 European Championship (65 goals)

Individual all-time records

Most matches played. Total number of matches played in official competitions only.^[6]

width=150px	Player	Matches	Goals
	263	803
	262	1
	254	557
	246	939
	216	390
	208	809
	204	735
	201	312
	200	288
	198	296
Last updated: 7 August 2024. Source:

Most goals scored. Total number of goals scored in official matches only.

width=150px	Player	Goals	Matches	Aver.
	939	246	3.82
	854	174	4.91
	809	208	3.88
	803	263	3.05
	735	204	3.60
	718	188	3.82
	646	186	3.47
	615	159	3.86
	577	177	3.26
	574	188	3.05
Last updated: 7 August 2024. Source:

External links

• • IHF profile

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fair play awards recognise true olympic champions in sportsmanship. International Olympic Committee. 6 September 2016.
2. Web site: Fikk pris for fair play. Norwegian Handball Federation. no. 6 September 2016.
3. Web site: Olympic Runners Who Helped Each Other After Falling Down Just Won a Major Honor. Time. 29 January 2017.
4. Web site: Only a handful of athletes have won this rare Olympic medal – here are their stories. thisisinsider.com. 29 January 2017.
5. Web site: Her er OL-troppene: - Vi gleder oss!. NHF. 3 July 2024. no.
6. Web site: Statistics. Norwegian Handball Federation. no.