Rikard Norling

Rikard Olof Norling (born 4 June 1971) is a Swedish football manager.

Forced to retire early from his professional playing career due to an injury, Rikard Norling started a coaching career at the age of 22.

In 1994, he returned to IK Bele where he took the reins at the senior team, leading them to a top position in the league (Swedish football Division 4) as newcomers.

He then headed to AIK, a club he had supported all his life, to train the youth team in 1996.

In 1998 new AIK 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 then 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.

Norling was appointed as AIK's manager on 11 November 2004 following the club'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.

In his early managerial career, Norling headed IK Bele, Väsby IK and GIF Sundsvall before taking on his first major position as manager for AIK in 2005.

After helping AIK secure promotion back to Allsvenskan in 2005 and finishing as runners-up in the league as newcomers in 2006, he was sacked after conflicts with the club board.

He took a short break before he came back to the coaching scene as he was appointed manager for Assyriska FF.

He put his team in a position to become the first newcomer to snatch the league title in 38 years although AIK finished as runners-up in the end of the 2006 campaign.

Norling remained at AIK until November 2008 when he and manager Charlie Granfelt both were relieved from their posts.

Norling managed Assyriska to a fourth-place position in Superettan in 2010.

In January 2010, he joined Assyriska.

In his first season, he guided the club to a fourth place in Sweden's second tier division Superettan, the club ended five points short of the third place and promotion play-off position.

His second season started well with the club being at the top table after eight matches.

Halfway through the 2011 season he was presented as the new manager for reigning Swedish champions Malmö FF to replace Roland Nilsson.

Norling managed the club for the last time in a Superettan fixture against Ängelholms FF on 29 May 2011 which Assyriska lost 2–1.

On 25 May 2011, Malmö FF presented Norlings as the club's new head coach.

He succeeded Roland Nilsson who left the club to take over FC Copenhagen.

Norling formally joined Malmö FF on 3 June after the players had returned from a brief leave, his first competitive was against his former club AIK at Råsunda on 12 June where Malmö FF lost 2–0 and his first home game was against Kalmar FF on 20 June where Norling saw his team win for the first time with 2–0.

Norling joined the club with ten rounds played in the league and with the club in a fourth-place position.

For his first season at the club Norling managed to guide the team to a fourth place in Allsvenskan.

The club also qualified to the group stage of the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League after being knocked out in the play-off round of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League.

The 2012 season was Norlings first full year season as Malmö FF manager.

At Malmö FF he won the 2013 league title and the club finished in the top during all of Norlings three seasons at the club.

He guided the club to a 3rd place in the league and qualification to the qualifying rounds to the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League.

In May 2016 Norling returned to AIK as manager again.

Norling started his career at IK Bele where he played together with future Celtic star Johan Mjällby during his early teens.

He then switched to IF Brommapojkarna where he was considered a very promising player, he remained at the club until a back injury forced him to retire as a player at the age of 21.

At the age of 22 Norling started his coaching career at IF Brommapojkarna, coaching the youth team.