Norwegian club Viking FK made history by appointing dual head coaches Morten Jensen and Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim in 2020, a move that helped the team win its first league title in 34 years and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. In the 2024-25 campaign, the duo guided Viking to a 3-3 draw against Bayern Munich in Champions League play.
Viking are not alone in adopting a co-head coach model. Danish side Lyngby installed Andreas Bjelland and Mikkel Jespersen as dual managers in December 2025 after the departure of Morten Karlsen. The pair led Lyngby to promotion back to the Danish Superliga, with USMNT international Neil Pierre and Barcelona loanee Diego Kochen featuring in the squad. English Championship club Lincoln City has also moved toward a dual head coach structure.
Club executives and the coaches themselves describe the arrangement as demanding but effective. Viking CEO Eirik Bjorno noted that the two coaches interview together and make decisions jointly, though it creates extra meetings. Jensen and Aarsheim told the Guardian they discuss disagreements openly with their staff until consensus is reached, and they agree on team selection 99% of the time. At Lyngby, Bjelland and Jespersen divide tactical responsibilities — Bjelland handles defensive phases while Jespersen focuses on attacking play — and emphasize alignment in all communications.
The trend reflects a growing willingness to share leadership at the highest level. If successful, the model could inspire more clubs to experiment with co-head coaching setups.
