Red Bulls add Halvorsen to coaching staff

The Scandinavians keep coming to Harrison. On Monday, the New York Red Bulls announced that Norwegian coach Jan Halvor Halvorsen had joined the club as an assistant coach, replacing Goran Aral, who was Hans Backe's assistant in 2010.


ā€œWe are excited to bring a coach of Janā€™s caliber onto our staff,ā€ RBNY GM and sporting director Erik SolĆ©r said in a statement. ā€œHe brings a wealth of experience to the sidelines and his knowledge of the game will be a great asset for the club and our players.ā€


The 45-year-old Halvorsen's coaching rƩsumƩ includes stints as manager of Norwegian Premier League clubs Sogndal and IK Start as well as Swedish side GIF Sundsvall. He was most recently in charge of Norwegian second-division club Notodden FK.


As a player, Halvorsen was a defender who played for a decade in Norway, plus made 74 appearances with German club Hertha BSC and 67 appearances for Danish club AGF Aarhus.