After Lillestrøm fired Uwe Rösler, Nordlie was hired on 16 November. In his first season (2007) at Lillestrøm Nordlie achieved a fourth place in the league, and won the Norwegian Cup, LSK's first major trophy in 18 years. The following 2008 season started off disappointingly for Nordlie and LSK, and after 8 matches, and only 6 points, Nordlie was sacked on 29 May. In August the same year he was hired as a manager for struggling second-tier side Kongsvinger, which he led with success until he was hired by Fredrikstad in August 2009. He had some months at the club who were battling against relegation when he arrived. By the end of the season Fredrikstad were relegated, after being beaten by local rivals Sarpsborg 08 in the play-offs. Nordlie left a few months after the relegation.