Quick Facts
Biography
Hallvar Thoresen (born 12 April 1957) is a former Norwegian footballer. The son of former Norwegian international Gunnar Thoresen, Hallvar Thoresen was central in 1980s Norwegian football.
Career
Club
Thoresen started his career in Larvik Turn, but travelled abroad at the age of seventeen, and soon became a regular at FC Twente in the Netherlands. They won the Dutch Cup in 1977, and Thoresen was bought by giants PSV Eindhoven, where he formed a dynamic tandem with Jurrie Koolhof in the 1980s. Helping capturing three league titles, Thoresen was a key player for seven years, serving as captain from 1983–1986, until he returned to Norway and played for Frigg in the lower divisions. Troubled by an injury, he was forced to retire from his playing career shortly thereafter.
International
He played 50 matches for the Norway national football team, and scored 9 goals, one of which secured the historic victory over England in 1981. Thoresen is among the six Norwegian internationals who have never played in the Norwegian Premier League.
Managerial
He did assume the coaching position at Frigg, later moving on to coach larger clubs like Brann, Strømsgodset, Hønefoss, Skeid, and Lillestrøm (assistant). He is currently in charge of the Norway U21. Odd Grenland announced on 30 October 2006 that Thoresen had agreed to take over as the clubs Director of Football, although it is not yet known when he will leave his post with the Norway U21 team.
Thoresen played Norwegian football player and Allied POW Gunnar Hilsson in the 1981 film Escape to Victory. He is also a supporter of Arsenal, to the point where he opened a pub Oslo, Norway called Highbury.
- Escape to Victory (1981) - Gunnar Hilsson - The Players: Norway