Norwegian coach Eirik Horneland, newly appointed head of ASSE, is making waves after an astonishing debut in France. In an article published by the Norwegian media VG, Brann's former coach looks back on his first steps in France, his adaptation to a new culture and his vision to revive an emblematic club of French Football. A look back at the promising beginnings of an adventure that could be both complex and exciting.
Despite only a week of work with his team, Horneland has already laid the foundations for his style of play based on intensity and an attacking attitude. His first 3-1 victory against Reims was hailed by the sports daily L'Équipe, which spoke of a “Horneland revolution”. The coach was also named Coach of the Day, an immediate recognition of his impact.
Une immersion totale pour Eirik Horneland
Horneland is currently living at the club's training center, having spent the Christmas holidays in France. For the coach, the priority is clear: work above all else. “ Now I'm alone here, and I'm happy about it. There was work from early in the morning until late in the evening “, he explains.
His immersion began even before his official appointment. During a “vacation” in London, he spent two days in discussions with the club's new Canadian owners, Kilmer Sports Ventures, led by Ivan Gazidis. The former Milan and Arsenal manager was enthusiastic about the project: “Our fans expect us to have engaging teams that play with intensity. I am convinced that Eirik Horneland has the necessary intensity. »
The importance of adaptation
Joining a club with a strong and historic club culture, Horneland quickly understood the importance of communication. “ I am gradually starting to learn a few French words. Football is a universal language: body language, passion and intensity “, he said.
Eirik Horneland supports: “You must first know people well and understand them. You need to understand what motivates them, what holds them back, how they think and try to figure out how to lead them in the best possible way. […] My playing principles? I will be ruthless on this. We have to rely on the mindset we believe in, the style of play we believe in and the way we lead people. I think it's entirely possible to settle in France, then we'll see if it's possible or if I'm completely wrong.”
A different locker room at ASSE
Eirik Horneland quickly understood that the context would be different from what he had known until then: “I have to understand the difference between Norwegian and French culture. There are nuances there, and bigger differences than I thought. It's a more multicultural locker room than at Brann, where there was a very Scandinavian and locally grounded with a Swede and a few Danes here, people come from slightly different starting points, and it's interesting in terms of learning about the people. You have to know where they come from and what kind of. experience, they have in order to lead effectively.
How to adapt? You must first know people well and understand them. You need to understand what motivates them, what holds them back, how they think and try to figure out how to lead them in the best possible way. It's about understanding their mindset, because it doesn't have to be exactly the same as mine.”
A huge task for Horneland
With just 12 goals scored in 15 games before his arrival, the team was the second worst attack in Ligue 1. However, the victory against Reims, accompanied by three goals scored, shows that the potential is there. Horneland wants to be optimistic, but realistic: “It’s step by step. To do one with a football team with reasonable timing offensively and defensively, it takes six months. Then we have to try to win enough football games so that people see that “there is evolution here”. »
The next step will be big: a match against FC Nantes on Sunday at Geoffroy-Guichard. Horneland and his players will have another opportunity to prove that the “revolution” is indeed underway.
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