Norwegian club Viking FK has become a prominent example of the dual head coach model, with Morten Jensen and Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim leading the team to a historic 3-3 draw against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.
The pair were appointed together in 2020 after suggesting the arrangement during interviews. Club CEO Eirik Bjorno recalled that the two assistant coaches arrived for interviews together and proposed sharing the role. The club accepted, and the duo guided Viking to its first Norwegian league title in 34 years, earning a Champions League berth.
Similar structures have emerged elsewhere. In Denmark, Lyngby installed Andreas Bjelland and Mikkel Jespersen as co-head coaches after parting ways with manager Morten Karlsen in December 2025. Their leadership secured promotion back to the Danish Superliga, with USMNT international Neil Pierre and Barcelona loanee Diego Kochen featuring in the squad.
Both coaching pairs emphasize clear role division and constant alignment. At Lyngby, Jespersen focuses on defensive organization while Bjelland oversees attacking play. At Viking, Jensen and Aarsheim resolve any disagreements internally before presenting a united front to players, with Jensen noting they agree on team selection 99% of the time.
The model has also been adopted by Lincoln City in the English Championship, suggesting a growing trend. Viking's success at the highest European level may encourage more clubs to explore shared head coaching responsibilities.
Viking's next Champions League fixture is against Sabah FK on Wednesday, November 4 at 3 p.m. ET at Lyse Arena in Stavanger, Norway. The match will be streamed on Paramount+, with Viking favored at -240 odds.
