Hamrén played in local team Ljusdals IF before starting his coaching career. An injury ended his playing career.
Coaching career
Hamrén coached Norwegian team Rosenborg BK to league championship in his first full season with the club. His previous job was as manager of the Danish Superliga side Aalborg BK, where he guided the team to a 5th-place finish in the 2005–06 season, a 3rd place in the 2006–07 season, and to the championship in the 2007–08 season.
Following heavy speculation in Swedish and Norwegian media, it was confirmed on 4 November 2009 that Hamrén would assume part-time responsibility of the Sweden men' national football team while also managing Rosenborg. This happened until Rosenborg relieved him from his contract on 1 September 2010.[1] From that point, Hamrén would assume full-time responsibilities for the Swedish team.[1][2] After heavy discussions with RBK (Erik Hoftun, Terje Svendsen, Nils Skutle, Lars Aune), Hamren eventually was confirmed as manager for the Sweden national team.
On 15 September 2022 he returned to AaB in the Danish Superliga, when Lars Friis was sacked.[7] On 20 March 2023, Hamrén was sacked after a poor run of results with AaB in last place in the Superliga.[8]
Personal life
Erik Hamrén was raised primarily in Ljusdal as the son of Pelle, a train dispatcher, and his wife Kerstin. He is married and has two daughters.