Faroe Islands men’s national team coach Lars Olsen will step down from the position at the end of 2019 when his contract expires.
Earlier today, Mr. Olsen announced that he is stepping down after eight years with the team.
He will be in charge of the team in the last four games of the current qualifying campaign.
The Faroes host Romania and Malta in October, before they are away to Norway and Sweden in November.
The minnows are still pointless in Euro 2020 qualifying group F.
“I’m afraid our development this year has not lived up to our expectations,” Olsen said at a news conference today, according to Kringvarp Føroya.
Olsen started his coaching career with Randers in 2003, guiding them to promotion for the Danish Superliga. He led the team to the 2006 Danish Cup trophy, and Olsen was named 2006 Danish Manager of the Year. He then coached Odense BK from 2007 to 2010.
In his active career, Olsen played in the central defense position. He won six Danish championships with Brøndby IF and the 1992 Turkish Cup with Trabzonspor. Olsen played 84 matches and scored four goals for the Denmark national football team from 1986 to 1996, and was named 1988 Danish Player of the Year. He was team captain of the Danish national team in a record 69 matches, and captained the Denmark team that won the 1992 European Championship.
In November 2011, Olsen moved into international football management by taking over the Faroe Islands becoming the third Dane to do so after Allan Simonsen and Henrik Larsen. During his tenure he has led the small nation to a number of notable victories. His first victory was against Gibraltar in a friendly match before two UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying wins against Greece. He also led the team to two FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying wins against Latvia.