Rikard Norling

Infobox Football biography
playername = Rikard Norling


fullname = Rikard Olof Norling
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1971|6|4
cityofbirth = Stockholm
countryofbirth = Sweden
currentclub = AIK (manager)
position = Midfielder (retired)
years = 0000–1986
1987–1991
clubs = IK Bele
IF Brommapojkarna
caps(goals) =
manageryears = 1994–1995
2002–2003
2004
2005–
managerclubs = IK Bele
Väsby IK
GIF Sundsvall
AIK

Rikard Norling, born June 4 1971 in Stockholm, Sweden, is the current manager of AIK, [cite web |url=http://www.aik.se/fotboll/aikindex.html?/fotboll/2006/herrar/laget/2006_00rino.html |title=Rikard Norling |work=AIK Fotboll |accessdate=2008-08-29 ] which is short for Allmänna Idrottsklubben. He was appointed to this position on November 11 2004 following AIK'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 has during the current season put his team in a position to become the first newcomer to snatch the league title in 38 years.

Norling was a player at IK Bele together with Celtic star Johan Mjällby during his early teens. He then switched to Brommapojkarna where he was considered a very promising player, and he remained at Brommapojkarna until a back injury forced him to retire as a player at the age of 21. He then returned to Bele where he took the reins at the senior team, leading them to a top position in the league (Swedish fourth division) after the team had just been promoted.

Norling then headed to AIK, a club he had supported all his life, to train the youth team in 1996. In 1998 new 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 IK. 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. After the 2004, he signed for AIK where he has remained.

References