Arne Larsen Økland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Arne Larsen Økland (born May 31, 1954) is a former Norwegian football player and coach.

Økland was a striker, and he is regarded as one of the best Norwegian players of his generation. He played 54 internationals for the Norwegian national team, including the wins against England in 1981, reigning world champions Italy in 1985 (where Økland scored the winning goal) and future world champions Argentina in 1986. Overall, Økland scored 13 goals at the international level.

At club level, Økland began his career at Vard Haugesund in the early 1970s. When the club played their sole season in the Norwegian top division in 1976, Økland scored 11 goals, and made his international debut the same year. Despite Økland's efforts, Vard were relegated at the end of the season, and he then transferred to Bryne, whom he helped gain a second-place finish in 1980. Later the same year, he was signed by West German side Bayer Leverkusen.

Økland enjoyed a successful three-year spell at Leverkusen. Just a few months into his stay at the club, he scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win against Bayern Munich. Økland was in fact credited with a fourth goal late in the game as the ball went through a hole in the side netting, but Økland famously told the referee that it wasn't a goal. In his three years at Leverkusen, Økland played 101 Bundesliga matches and scored 43 goals. In 1983, Økland moved to the French team Racing Club de Paris, where he spent two seasons before returning to Bryne.

In his second spell at Bryne, Økland helped the club win the only major trophy in their history; the 1987 Norwegian Cup. After this victory, Økland hung up his boots. He was later an assistant coach for the Norwegian national team and head coach at Viking. Today, Økland is CEO of Dolly Dimples, a leading Norwegian pizza chain.

Sporting positions
Preceded by Benny Lennartsson	Viking manager 1992	Succeeded by Bjarne Berntsen