Norway manager Stale Solbakken will lead his team against England in the World Cup quarter-final in Miami, but his life nearly ended 25 years ago when he suffered a heart attack and was clinically dead for seven minutes.
Solbakken's Heart Attack and Revival
In March 2001, Solbakken, then 33, collapsed during a training session with Danish club Copenhagen. Club doctor Frank Odgaard performed cardiac massage until an ambulance arrived. Solbakken's heart stopped for seven minutes, and he was pronounced clinically dead. He was revived in the ambulance and spent 26 hours on life support before regaining consciousness.
Doctors discovered a congenital heart defect, and Solbakken received a pacemaker, which he still wears. He retired from playing and became a coach. 'It was a dramatic experience but it was really worse for my family than for me because I didn't feel anything,' Solbakken said.
Impact on Family and Team
Solbakken recalls nothing from the incident, describing it as 'simply as if the lights went out.' He added: 'For those who saw all this, what they went through must have been a trauma. My wife still cannot talk about it, even though so many years have passed. At that moment she was left alone with two children — four and one years old. Anniken was only 23–24, and I was amazed at how she managed to cope with this difficult situation at such a young age.'
His parents flew to Denmark, and his mother began planning his funeral. 'At first they worried whether I would survive. Then — whether my brain would be damaged. Those were the thoughts that tormented my family and team‑mates, who witnessed me collapsing, dying and being brought back to life.'
Further Health Scares
In 2009, during his first stint as Copenhagen manager, Solbakken's heart stopped again, but his pacemaker saved his life. 'I was running across the pitch and suddenly felt my body go weak. What the hell is going on? I thought. And then I was simply knocked to the ground. It was like a real kick up the backside. But after that I was fine.'
On the eve of the 2026 World Cup, Solbakken felt his pacemaker vibrate during an interview. 'My pacemaker suddenly started vibrating. That had not happened since 2009. I had everything checked, now everything is fine and I am calm.' The vibration was caused by interference from a journalist's microphone.
Solbakken's Coaching Career
Despite these health issues, Solbakken has built a successful coaching career, aside from a brief spell at Wolves in 2012. He took over Norway in 2020 and has transformed the team, leading them to their first major tournament in 26 years. Norway's world ranking of 19th is one of the highest in the country's history.
Solbakken no longer worries about his heart condition. 'I live perfectly well with the pacemaker, which kicks in as soon as the heart starts beating incorrectly. I do not feel any pain, I have no consequences except for the scar on my chest where the device is placed. I consider myself to have got off very lightly.'
