Coach Olsen stays with Denmark

football1Denmark coach Morten Olsen has agreed a two-year extension to his contract as the national team coach. The 64-year-old will now stay until 30 June 2016, meaning he will be in charge for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Olsen and his team were bitterly disappointed not to qualify for the play-offs for next year’s World Cup in Brazil. Despite finishing Group B in second place, as the runner-up with the poorest record they were eliminated in the cruelest possible fashion. It was made worse by the fact that they conceded a last-minute equaliser at home to already-qualified Italy in Copenhagen, which if they hadn’t would have meant they made the play-offs.

The veteran coach will view the contract extension as a chance to make up for that disappointment and help his country qualify for the France tournament. During his 13 years in charge of the Danish national team, Denmark have made it to two World Cups and two European Championships.

Olsen said that after finishing top of their group in the previous two qualifying rounds, there are probably many Danes who were annoyed to only finish second and not make the World Cup. He explained that his plan is to put the disappointment behind them and use the experience constructively. He added that he wants to help get Denmark back on track and fulfil the team’s full potential.