The legendary Marit Brejvik made the decision to retire from the Norwegian women’s handball team in 2009 after a remarkable 15-year career, leading to Torir Hergeirson stepping into her shoes.

Despite the fact that the Icelander had spent eight years on Norway’s professional team since his student days, many were uncertain whether Hergeirsson would achieve even a fraction of Brevik’s success, who departed with Olympic and world gold medals along with four European titles.

Fast forward 15 years, and Hergeirson secured Norway’s 17th gold medal from the top three competitions at the 2024 EHF Euro 11 final, triumphing over Denmark. He concluded an incredible chapter as the coach of the world’s elite national team, outshining his predecessor with six European, three world, and two Olympic golds displayed around his neck.

– I am immensely grateful to have been part of your journey – you were everything to me and you contributed significantly to my career – said the iconic Nora Merk, who observed the recently completed championship as an expert consultant on Norwegian state television due to her pregnancy.

The fact that Norway managed to convincingly win the European Championship without key players like Nora and Stine Oftedal (who retired after the Games in Paris) truly highlights Hergeirson’s remarkable coaching. Many handball players have come and gone, yet Norway has consistently remained a well-oiled machine.

Additionally, he supported the legendary 45-year-old goalkeeper Katrin Lunde in her decision to leave the national team during the EHF Euros to spend time with her nine-year-old daughter back in her homeland.

– We have many mothers in the team, and that is crucial. Providing them with the opportunity to build families and have children is essential, as they contribute so much when given that chance – the Icelandic tactician elaborated.

Hergeirson will be fondly remembered in Montenegro for two unforgettable finals in 2012 – the Olympic final in London, where he celebrated with his sisters Bonaventura, and the European final in Belgrade, where the “lionesses” made history with their victory. Notably, this great coach lost only one of the seven European finals he participated in, which was against Montenegro in 2012, coached by Dragan Adžić.

The chapter with Norway has concluded; does this mark the end of his coaching career?

– At this moment, I’m certain that I won’t be involved in handball for a year, and after that, we will see – it will likely be something entirely different from everything I have done so far – Hergeirson shared on his departure.

Taking his place on the Norwegian bench from the start of 2025 will be Ole Gustav Gjekstad, another esteemed coach known for leading Larvik to European championship success in 2011 and winning the Champions League thrice with Vipers between 2021 and 2023. It appears to herald another 15 years of success for Norway…

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