Egil Kjell Drøsdal (EN)

Egil Drøsdal (1941–2006) was a central figure in the history of IK Start, especially as a coach and developer of young football talents. He began his own football career as a youth midfielder at Start, playing alongside the likes of Leif Strømme. Unfortunately, his playing career was cut short when he broke his leg—a serious injury that ended any further ambitions on the pitch.

But it was off the field that Egil truly made his mark. In the early 1960s, he took on the role of kit manager at Start, and a few years later, he turned his focus to the club’s junior department. Around the mid-60s, he began the work of building what would become one of Norway’s best youth development programs.

Egil was an ambitious and professionally dedicated coach. He pursued coaching education and drew inspiration from football environments in Aalborg, Denmark, and Letchworth, England. His focus on structure, training, and development quickly bore fruit. As both coach and head of the youth department, he led Start to major triumphs—highlighted by a junior Norwegian Championship (NM) gold in 1974 and the Rolf Hofmo Trophy for being the best club at Norway Cup in 1975, 1977, and 1978.

Several players from this junior team later established themselves on Start’s senior squad, including Helge Torjussen, Audun Myhre, and Helge Haugen. Others such as Morten Halvorsen, Kai Hæstad, Kjell Ove Bjørke, and Helge Vidar Johanson also earned senior appearances before moving on to other clubs.

Egil was an innovative coach, ahead of his time. He emphasized individual development, gathered information on opponents—rare in the 1970s—and placed great importance on both training culture and team environment. His philosophy of attacking football, combined with solid defensive organization, left a clear imprint on the teams he led.

He also cared deeply about players’ lives off the pitch. With the motto “A healthy mind in a healthy body,” he sought to influence the lifestyles of young players—not always popular among teenagers, but reflective of his holistic approach to development.

After his time at Start, Egil coached several senior teams, including Lyngdal, IK Våg, and Randesund. He was critical of certain aspects of the culture in Start’s senior team toward the end of the 1970s, disliking what he saw as excessive partying and a lack of seriousness among some high-profile players.

Egil Drøsdal left a powerful and lasting legacy in Southern Norway’s football scene—primarily through his work with youth and his uncompromising dedication to quality, discipline, and development.