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FCKalamity: Copenhagen call full-time on legendary coach Solbakken

Christian Wenande
October 10th, 2020


This article is more than 4 years old.

Despite leading FCK to the Europa League quarterfinals recently, the Norwegian icon was let go following a tumultuous 2020

‘Success is temporary. Loyalty is forever’.

That’s one of the mottos popular with FC Copenhagen and its fans.

The words, however, may sound a little hollow to Ståle Solbakken at the moment.

The long-time Norwegian coach was let go by the Danish giants this morning in a move that has stunned the Danish football scene.

It is true that the Lions had been struggling in 2020 and the club’s Europa League exit last week was disappointing.

But based on Solbakken’s past merits – including the historic run in Europe recently – his departure will certainly be a shock to many.

“Ståle is without comparison the most successful manager in the club’s history with an impressive list of results. Everyone who is part of FCK owes Ståle a big thank you for the enormous effort he has made for the club and the results he has created,” said board chairman, Bo Rygaard.

“However, we must also state that the results in 2020 have not been satisfactory, and we are now taking the consequences of that.”

READ ALSO: Bizarre own goal ends FC Copenhagen’s campaign in Europe

A legend bids farewell
As the manager for FCK, Solbakken’s record speaks for itself.

He managed the club over two periods, first from 2006 to 2011 and then against from 2013 until now.

During his tenure, FCK has won eight Superliga titles, four Danish Cups, the now-defunct Royal League and led his team to a host of European group stages – including FCK’s first in Champions League in 2006.

Through 420 Superliga games, the Norwegian managed a 2.07 points-per-game average.

Aside from Solbakken, assistant coach Bård Wiggen has also left the club.

Club icons William Kvist and Hjalte Nørregaard have temporarily taken over the coaching reins, with the latter assuming head coaching duties.


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A survey carried out by Megafon for TV2 has found that 71 percent of parents have handed over children to daycare in spite of them being sick.

Moreover, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted to medicating their kids with paracetamol, such as Panodil, before sending them to school.

The FOLA parents’ organisation is shocked by the findings.

“I think it is absolutely crazy. It simply cannot be that a child goes to school sick and plays with lots of other children. Then we are faced with the fact that they will infect the whole institution,” said FOLA chair Signe Nielsen.

Pill pushers
At the Børnehuset daycare institution in Silkeborg a meeting was called where parents were implored not to bring their sick children to school.

At Børnehuset there are fears that parents prefer to pack their kids off with a pill without informing teachers.

“We occasionally have children who that they have had a pill for breakfast,” said headteacher Susanne Bødker. “You might think that it is a Panodil more than a vitamin pill, if it is a child who has just been sick, for example.”

Parents sick and tired
Parents, when confronted, often cite pressure at work as a reason for not being able to stay at home with their children.

Many declare that they simply cannot take another day off, as they are afraid of being fired.

Allan Randrup Thomsen, a professor of virology at KU, has heavily criticised the parents’ actions, describing the current situation as a “vicious circle”.

“It promotes the spread of viruses, and it adds momentum to a cycle where parents are pressured by high levels of sick-leave. If they then choose to send the children to daycare while they are still recovering, they keep the epidemic going in daycares, and this in turn puts a greater burden on the parents.”