Laura Kaminski wins Norwegian league and cup with SK Brann after taking the job in January

When English manager Laura Kaminski was approached in January to become head coach of Norwegian club SK Brann, she accepted and, 10 months later, celebrated a Norwegian league and cup double after her debut season. She is competing for a place in the Europa Cup quarter-finals next Wednesday.

Kaminski, 38, moved from London to Bergen to take the Brann job and said the change has been positive despite personal sacrifices. She had spent a year and a half at Crystal Palace, where she guided the club to the WSL 2 title in 2024, and was sacked in February 2025 after a difficult WSL campaign. Reflecting on her time in Bergen, she told BBC Sport: "My time in the city [of Bergen] has been brilliant." She added that fans had made the experience memorable: "I can't go to the supermarket at the minute because so many people are stopping me to wish me congratulations, which is so nice."

Kaminski described the year as "hectic" as she adapted to a new country and routine, and she highlighted the travel demands of the role. "I counted that I have taken 65 flights in 11 months - so it's been exhausting, but what an experience!" she said. She also noted extreme contrasts in conditions, saying: "To go all the way up to the Arctic Circle and play away [games] in freezing cold conditions with horizontal snow, to beautiful days in Bergen."

She contrasted the expectations and resources at Brann with those at Palace, describing the clubs as "totally different." "I'm at a club that expects to win the Toppserien [the Norwegian top-flight] as they believe they have invested the most," Kaminski said. She reflected on the challenge of managing in different environments and on the comparative competitiveness she faced in the WSL, noting that "The WSL is dominated by the favourites in the pack so it wasn't always the expectation to get three points against big teams [at Palace]."

Kaminski credited the Norwegian playing style with broadening her coaching approach and offering new tactical lessons. "Norwegian teams are almost guaranteed to concede every game because they play such attacking football with no fear, and a relentlessness to press," she said. She added that initial tactical displays alarmed her but that adapting to confront those approaches has been valuable: "When I watched the tactical displays when I first came in, I was a little bit alarmed at what people were doing."

The England youth and club coaching background Kaminski brought to Brann includes more than 15 years as an assistant manager across WSL2 and WSL and a coaching role with England's under-19s. After adding European experience in Norway she said she felt professionally stronger and was seeking further opportunities: "I'd like to think I've got a well-rounded skillset to be able to manage at the top level. Right now, my focus is on Brann and a new chapter," she told BBC Sport. She said European exposure was a key reason for the move: "There's only two levels in England that are professional. I definitely wanted to get European exposure, which I was never going to get in England."

Kaminski has urged other English female coaches to consider working abroad and raised concerns about opportunities at home, citing recent trends in coaching numbers. A study from UK Coaching in October showed a 6% decline in the overall number of female coaches, and the article notes there are currently three English female coaches in the WSL — Jo Potter at Crystal Palace, Amy Merricks at Birmingham City and Karen Hills at Charlton Athletic — all of whom came up with promoted clubs this summer. Kaminski explained her decision to leave England: "I ended up leaving the country to go and get what I thought I deserved and had earned the right to work in, in terms of the level." She added: "There's more than one female out there that's capable [of working in men's football]. I don't think it's out of reach. I would always, certainly, be open to it." Kaminski also said: "I think the foundations are there for females to take the plunge but is the world of football ready? I'm unsure."

Kaminski has said her immediate priority remains Brann as the club chases further progress in Europe, declaring: "Right now, my focus is on Brann and a new chapter." The team will seek to reach the Europa Cup quarter-finals in the tie scheduled for next Wednesday.