Eirik Horneland, new coach of Les Verts.

Horneland's career is closely tied to the port city of Haugesund in western Norway. He began his professional playing career as a defender with Sportsklubben Vard Haugesund, where he spent twelve years. He then moved to Fotballklubben Haugesund, initially on loan, and played there from 2006 until retiring in 2009 at the age of 34. 

Transitioning into coaching, Horneland immediately took on responsibilities at FK Haugesund alongside Jostein Grindhaug, remaining there for nearly five years. He then led Norway's U19 national team for three years before returning to FK Haugesund as head coach in 2016, where he notably coached Ibrahima Wadji. 

In 2019, Horneland became the head coach of Rosenborg BK, a prominent Norwegian club, where he coached former Saint-Étienne player Alexander Søderlund and made his debut in European competitions, including Champions League and Europa League qualifiers. He later joined SK Brann, initially as an assistant, before taking the helm in 2021. Under his leadership, SK Brann achieved promotion to Norway's top division, secured a second-place league finish, and won the Norwegian Cup. His accomplishments earned him the Coach of the Year title in both 2022 and 2023. 

Seeking a new challenge, Horneland departed SK Brann and has now taken charge at AS Saint-Étienne. He is scheduled to lead his first training session on December 29, 2024. In his own words, Horneland expressed, "It is a real honor to join a great club like AS Saint-Étienne, not only for its history and achievements but also for the role it plays in the city and the passion it generates." Club President Ivan Gazidis added, "We are pleased to have Eirik join the project. He is a talented, recognized, and respected coach who will help us build a culture of performance and a defined style of play."