Arne Sandstø

Arne Sandstø
Personal information
Date of birth (1966-10-21) 21 October 1966
Place of birth Bergen, Norway
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Värnamo (manager)
Youth career
–1983 Norna-Salhus
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984 Norna-Salhus
1985 Brann 6 (0)
1986 Norna-Salhus
1987 Varegg
1988 Bergen Nord
1989 Hertha BSC II
1989–1994 Tennis Borussia Berlin
1994–1996 Lillestrøm 62 (19)
1997–1999 Odd 67 (13)
Managerial career
1999–2007 Odd
2008 Start
2009 Notodden
2009–2011 Løv-Ham
2011–2013 Sandefjord
2016–2023 Jerv
2023–2024 Midtjylland (first team coach)
2025– Värnamo
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Arne Sandstø (born 21 October 1966) is a Norwegian football manager and former player who is the head coach at Värnamo. Starting his career as a striker, he failed to break through at his hometown's largest club SK Brann, but reached professional football in West Germany's Tennis Borussia Berlin via a number of smaller clubs. Returning to Norway, he played on the highest tier for Lillestrøm and Odd, starting his managerial career in the latter club. He notably worked eight years in Odd followed by seven years in FK Jerv.

Playing career

He hails from Mjølkeråen in Åsane.[1] He played for IL Norna-Salhus and was picked up by first-tier team SK Brann ahead of the 1985 season.[2] Among others, he scored in a preseason match against Fyllingen,[3] and started against Moss in the league.[4]

In 1986, he was back at Norna-Salhus.[5][6] By the summer of 1986, he was the top goalscorer of the local Fourth Division groups.[7] Though he was eventually overtaken in the top goalscorer table, Sandstø kept the likes of Mons Ivar Mjelde behind him.[8][9] Sandstø was placed on the watchlist of Varegg and Åsane,[10] as well as first-tier team Bryne FK.[11]

After spending the 1987 season in Varegg, Sandstø returned to Norna-Salhus, who had demerged its football team to form an independent club Bergen Nord FK.[12] He travelled to West Berlin in late 1988 to go on trial with Hertha BSC.[13] He was first assigned to Hertha BSC II, becoming cleared for his debut in March 1989.[14] Sandstø was hoping to make his way into the first team in "two–three months".[1]

He was deemed surplus at Hertha, and changed to Tennis Borussia Berlin in the Amateur-Oberliga Berlin in 1989.[15] He spent parts of his first year on the sidelines due to injury, but was a reliable goalscorer.[16]

During the 1990–91 winter break and 1991 summer break, Sandstø garnered interest in Fana, Fyllingen,[17] and Brann.[18] In 1991–92, interest became stronger from Brann, Lillestrøm, Lyn[19][20][21] and Vålerengen.[22] He rejected all offers, as his most lucrative option turned out to be a new contract with TeBe Berlin.[23] It was described as a "Norwegian executive's wage".[24]

Eventually, TeBe Berlin reached the 2. Bundesliga from the 1992–93 NOFV-Oberliga, as the playoff winners, Union Berlin, was unable to meet the 2. Bundesliga requirements. At the time, Sandstø was said to be TeBe Berlin's longest-serving player.[25][26] Sandstø made seven appearances in Germany's 1993–94 2. Bundesliga.[27]

In January 1994, Sandstø trained with SK Brann, but was eventually not signed by the Bergen club.[28][29] Instead, he signed for Lillestrøm SK, joining them on a free transfer in July 1994.[30]

Managerial career

Under Sandstø's leadership Odd Grenland performed consistently in the top flight until the club was relegated in 2007. Sandstø also led Odd to their first Norwegian cup victory in 69 years, in 2000.

Since 2008, Sandstø has been the head coach of clubs at the second level of Norwegian football. In 2008, he led IK Start to promotion. In 2010, he led Løv-Ham, who were struggling financially, to a surprising spot in the play-offs. In both 2011 and 2012, he led Sandefjord Fotball to third place and narrowly missed promotion. In 2016, he led FK Jerv to a third place and a spot in the play-offs, which is the club's best league performance in history.

In July 2023, Sandstø joined Danish club FC Midtjylland in a role as "first team coach".[31] He was sacked in December 2024, as the club "strives for more" to "reach the next level".[32] The next year he was picked up by Swedish club IFK Värnamo, who needed a new manager following a weak start to the 2025 Allsvenskan.[33] After 14 games of the Allsvenskan season, Värnamo had still not won a single one.[34]

References

  1. ^ a b "Arne Sandstø proff i Vest-Tyskland". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). 18 November 1988. p. 23.
  2. ^ "Napp i nord for Endre". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 23 November 1984. p. 9.
  3. ^ "Ulykkes-fuglen". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 22 March 1985. p. 9.
  4. ^ "Tre 'nye' mot Moss". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 1 June 1985. p. 11.
  5. ^ "Brann-spelarar aktuelle for Norna-Salhus". Nordhordland (in Norwegian Nynorsk). 9 November 1985. p. 8.
  6. ^ "Norna/Salhus siktar mot 3. divisjon". Nordhordland (in Norwegian). 28 December 1985. p. 13.
  7. ^ "– Denne tar jeg". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 16 August 1986. p. 10.
  8. ^ "Harde toppskårar-duellar i fotballen". Nordhordland (in Norwegian Nynorsk). 23 August 1986. p. 10.
  9. ^ "Midttveit topper i 4". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 12 September 1986. p. 15.
  10. ^ "'Kvernbit-trioen' mest på farten i lokalfotballen". Nordhordland (in Norwegian Nynorsk). 18 October 1986. p. 10.
  11. ^ "Norna duo til Bryne?". Åsaneposten. 18 October 1986.
  12. ^ "Arne Sandstø til Bergen Nord". Åsaneposten. 16 December 1987.
  13. ^ "Proffkarriere i sikte". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 1 November 1988. p. 15.
  14. ^ "Fortsatt langt frem...". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 11 March 1989. p. 13.
  15. ^ "'Sehr gut, Arne Sandstø'". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 30 August 1989. p. 17.
  16. ^ "Bergens eneste proff". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 24 November 1990. pp. 16–17.
  17. ^ "Fana og Fyllingen vil ha Arne hjem". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 7 December 1990. p. 15.
  18. ^ "Kort om sport". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). 3 May 1991. p. 44.
  19. ^ "Opprykk eller Brann". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). 13 November 1991. p. 18.
  20. ^ "Lyn vil ha Sandstø". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). 20 November 1991. p. 19.
  21. ^ "Ukjent proff vender hjem". VG (in Norwegian). 30 November 1991. p. 46.
  22. ^ "Kort om sport". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). 22 November 1991. p. 20.
  23. ^ "Årslønn: 600 000". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). 12 March 1992. p. 17.
  24. ^ "'Ich bin ein Berliner'". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). 24 October 1992. p. 28.
  25. ^ "Endelig en bergenser". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). 27 July 1993. p. 13.
  26. ^ "Proffsuksess for Arne Sandstø". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). 27 July 1993. p. 12.
  27. ^ "Sandstö, Arne". Kicker (in German). Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  28. ^ "Arne sliter". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). 6 January 1994. p. 14.
  29. ^ "Dropper Sandstø". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). 10 January 1994. p. 17.
  30. ^ "Sandstø undertegner i dag". Romerikes Blad (in Norwegian). 27 June 1994. p. 14.
  31. ^ Arne Sandstø er ny first team coach, fcm.dk, 11 July 2023 (in Danish)
  32. ^ "Ferdig i Midtjylland" (in Norwegian). NRK. 14 December 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Sandstø tar over nedrykkstruet svensk eliteserieklubb". Fædrelandsvennen (in Norwegian). NTB. 12 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  34. ^ Fält, Jonathan A. (6 July 2025). "IFK Värnamos elände fortsätter: "Vi förtjänar mer"". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 July 2025.
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