ˈæftɚ lˈiːdɪŋ bɹˈæn tə ðə fˈaɪnəlz ʌvðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn noːɹwˈiːdʒən kˈʌp, wˌɛɹ ðeɪ lˈɔst tˈuː zˈiəɹoʊ ɐɡˈɛnst ɹˈoʊzənbˌoːɹɡ, hiː ɹᵻsˈiːvd ɐ wˈʌnjˈɪɹ lˈiːv ʌv ˈæbsəns tə wˈɜːk fˈʊltˈaɪm æz ɐsˈɪstənt kˈoʊtʃ ʌvðə nˈæʃənəl tˈiːm dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðɛɹ pɹˌɛpɚɹˈeɪʃənz fɚðə jˈuːfə jˈʊɹɹoʊ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈʊtbɔːl tʃˈæmpiənʃˌɪp.
After leading Brann to the finals of the 1999 Norwegian Cup, where they lost 2–0 against Rosenborg, he received a one-year leave of absence to work full-time as assistant coach of the national team during their preparations for the UEFA Euro 2000 football championship.