Junker’s mentor becomes Urawa Hegumo’s new right-hand man! Three-time winner of the Norwegian First Division | Football Tribe Japan

On the 8th of this month, Urawa Reds officially announced that they had invited Per Matthias Högmo, former manager of BK Hekken FF in Sweden’s first division, to replace manager Maciej Scorja. It was reported in Norway that “Hegumo will also bring two coaches to Urawa,” one of whom is Morten Kalvenes, who was an assistant coach at FK Bode/Glimt in the Norwegian first division.

Kalvenes, now 53 years old, began his coaching career in 2002 at a club in Norway’s third division, and went on to coach players at several clubs in the country. He has been an assistant coach at FK Bode/Glimt since the 2019 season, working alongside forward Casper Juncker, who is on loan from Urawa to Nagoya Grampus.

On the 11th, Kalvenes responded to an interview with the Norwegian newspaper “Avisa Nordland” and clarified his intention to go to Urawa, saying, “I have accepted the offer to become an assistant coach for the Urawa Reds.” “I’ve been here for five years now. I feel like we need something new. It’s been an adventure to be a part of what we’ve built at FK Bode/Glimt. And now we’re starting a new project in Japan. “The adventure begins,” he said, expressing his feelings.

The Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang reported that Hegumo and Urawa have agreed to a two-year contract. The new commander will communicate in English, just as he did during the Hecken era.

During his time at FK Bode/Glimt, Kalvenes contributed to Norway’s first league title three times. A coach with a track record of winning titles will come to Urawa, just like new coach Hegmo, who won the gold medal as coach of the Norwegian women’s national team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and won the Swedish First Division league title in the 2022 season as coach of Hecken.