Norwegian Football Coach Stale Solbakken Recounts Near-Death Experience and Historic World Cup Victory

KATHMANDU. 'My mother was preparing for my funeral,' these are the words of Norwegian national football team coach Stale Solbakken.

58-year-old Solbakken's team achieved a surprising result in the World Cup football played in America on Sunday, defeating five-time World Cup winner Brazil.

Solbakken met his family after the match. The reason for this was also special. Almost 25 years ago, on March 13, 2001, his heart stopped beating for seven minutes. He was even in a 'coma' (unconscious) state for 26 hours.

Speaking to the Italian newspaper 'La Gazzetta dello Sport', Solbakken said, 'My mother did not know about my condition when she came to me. On the way, she was thinking about how to perform my last rites.'

But Solbakken conquered death. Not only that, he went on to lead Norway's most talented football generation. His team includes players like Martin Odegaard, Alexander Sorloth, and Erling Haaland.

After defeating Brazil, Solbakken said, 'This is the most important day in Norway's football history.' The beginning of his extraordinary story also starts with a memorable victory linked to Brazil.

In the 1990s, Solbakken was a midfielder for Norway. At that time, with players like Tore Andre Flo and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Norway qualified for two consecutive World Cups (1994 and 1998).

In the 1998 World Cup, Solbakken was part of the team that defeated then-world champion Brazil 2-1 in the final match of the group stage. Because of that victory, Norway reached the pre-quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time. Although they were later defeated by Italy. At that time, it was considered the biggest achievement in Norway's football history.

In 2000, at the age of 33, Solbakken joined the Danish club FC Copenhagen. On March 13, 2001, during a training session, he suffered a heart attack. He collapsed on the field.

Team doctor Frank Odemard immediately started first aid. An ambulance was called. Solbakken's heart stopped beating for seven minutes. He was declared 'medically' dead. As he was being taken to the hospital, his heart started beating. He then remained in a coma for 26 hours.

Later, Solbakken said in a podcast, 'I saw a blue light then, then a tunnel. At that time, I felt like I would be there for a while.' Solbakken's mother was coming from Norway to Copenhagen at that time. On the way, she thought about how to perform her son's last rites if he died. Not only that, she also imagined what the coming days of his life would be like if he survived but his brain did not function.

After a health check-up, Solbakken was found to have a congenital heart problem. Doctors advised him to quit professional football. A pacemaker was implanted in his body, and his career as a player ended at the age of 33.

From Player to Coach

After that, Solbakken started coaching. So far, he has served as a coach in Denmark, England, and Germany. He achieved great success as a coach at FC Copenhagen.

In December 2020, he became the coach of the Norwegian national football team. At that time, young talents like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard were growing up. However, his team could not qualify for the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 European Championship. But the Norwegian Football Federation maintained its faith in Solbakken.

In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, his team competed with Italy and many other strong teams. Norway secured its place in the World Cup by winning all (8) matches in the group stage.

Norway has also continued its spectacular performance in the World Cup. After securing second place in the group stage, Norway reached the knockout stage. Norway has secured its place in the quarterfinals by defeating Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout stage.

In a video released by the Norwegian Football Federation, coach Solbakken said, 'These players have changed not just the history of Norwegian football, but the history of the entire country.'

At one time, Solbakken had said, 'When I survived that day, now I can face any challenge.' This statement of his is proving true today in both his life and his football journey.