How Norway’s manager once ‘died’ for seven minutes before incredibly coming back to life

From Clinical Death to World Cup Quarter-Final: Stale Solbakken's Remarkable Journey

How Norway s manager once died - Norway's head coach Stale Solbakken is preparing for what could be a monumental upset when his team faces England tonight in Miami. The two nations will clash in a World Cup quarter-final that promises to be one of the tournament's most compelling matchups. Under Solbakken's guidance, the Scandinavian side has evolved into a formidable force on the international stage.

A Manager Transformed by Adversity

Since returning to manage Norway in 2020, Solbakken has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for his country. The squad now boasts world-class talents such as Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, players who have elevated the team's capabilities significantly. This World Cup represents Norway's first appearance in a major international tournament in 26 years, while their current position of 19th in the world rankings stands as one of the highest achievements in the nation's football history.

Yet the path to this moment was anything but straightforward for Solbakken himself. The manager's life nearly ended on a fateful day in March 2001, an event that could have altered the course of Norwegian football entirely.

The Day the Lights Went Out

At just 33 years old, Solbakken was midway through his playing career and had recently joined Danish powerhouse Copenhagen. He had already represented Norway at both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, establishing himself as a reliable midfielder. During a routine training session, Solbakken suffered a sudden heart attack that would leave everyone present in shock.

Club physician Frank Odgaard immediately rushed to his side and began administering cardiac massage. The Copenhagen squad watched helplessly as their teammate fought for survival until an ambulance arrived at the training ground. By then, Solbakken's heart had stopped for seven minutes, and he was pronounced clinically dead.

Against all odds, medical personnel managed to revive Solbakken inside the ambulance. He was subsequently transferred to a hospital where he remained on life support for 26 hours before gradually regaining consciousness. Medical investigations later revealed that Solbakken had been born with a congenital heart defect, the underlying cause of his dramatic collapse.

Life After Death

Following his recovery, Solbakken was fitted with a pacemaker—a device he continues to wear today. The medical emergency naturally prompted his retirement from professional football, though the emotional aftermath proved even more challenging than the physical one.

It was a dramatic experience but it was really worse for my family than for me because I didn't feel anything.

Solbakken has no memory of the events surrounding March 13, 2001. He describes the experience as though the lights simply went out. The trauma, however, was profound for those who witnessed it, particularly his wife Anniken.

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 the time of the incident, Anniken was only 23 or 24 years old and had been left alone with two young children—four and one years old respectively. Solbakken expressed amazement at how she managed such a difficult situation at such a young age. His parents flew to Denmark immediately, and he later learned that his mother began planning his funeral while still on the airplane.

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.

Continued Challenges and Success

After retiring from playing, Solbakken transitioned into coaching. However, his health battles were not over. During his first tenure as Copenhagen manager in 2009, his heart stopped once again. This time, the pacemaker implanted eight years earlier saved his life. He was running across the pitch when he suddenly felt his body weaken and collapsed to the ground.

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.

Even more recently, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup, Solbakken experienced another scare during an interview when his pacemaker began vibrating unexpectedly. This had not occurred since 2009. Medical checks confirmed everything was fine—it turned out that one of the journalists' microphones had inadvertently interfered with the device.

Despite these recurring concerns, Solbakken no longer views his heart condition as a significant obstacle. He has built a successful coaching career, with only a brief stint at Wolves in 2012 interrupting his progress.

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.

As Norway prepares to face England in Miami, Solbakken stands as a testament to resilience—both on and off the pitch. His journey from clinical death to leading his country in a World Cup quarter-final remains one of football's most extraordinary stories.