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Norway's current coach Egil Olsen, appointed in January in a failed bid to salvage their 2010 World Cup hopes, will stay in the post during the 2012 European Championship qualifiers.

Under Olsen, a popular figure who led Norway to the 1994 and 1998 World Cups and second place in the world rankings, the team's form improved but they missed a place in South Africa.

Norway finished 14 points behind winners the Netherlands in Group Nine and were the only second-placed team in the nine European qualifying sections not to secure a playoff place. You may

like If Norway qualify for Euro 2012 Olsen, 67, has the option to lead the team at the tournament being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine. Otherwise, Solbakken will take over on January 1,

2012. "This is an ideal solution for the Norwegian national side," Norwegian FA chief Sondre Kaafjord said in a statement. "Egil had good results in his comeback as national

coach and his well documented skills in taking Norway to championships need no further elaboration. "Staale (has) had great success at FC Copenhagen and is the man of the future for

Norwegian football." The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. "With an extra two years of experience as coach for what is now the best

club in the Nordics, we are convinced that he is the right man to develop the national team," Kaafjord said. FC Copenhagen sports director Carsten Jensen said in a separate statement he

was proud of Solbakken's appointment, though they would like to keep the 41-year-old for longer. The Danish champions will pick a new coach by mid-2011.