Scandinavian football is in mourning following the death of Åge Hareide, the highly respected manager who led national teams from Norway, denmark, and iceland. [[3]] Hareide passed away peacefully at his home at the age of 72 after a recent diagnosis of a brain tumor and a brief illness. His decades-long career saw success both as a player and a manager, leaving a critically important mark on the sport in Northern Europe.
A Brief, Serious IllnessLegendary Manager Åge Hareide Dies at 72
A three-time Scandinavian champion and former manager of the national teams of Norway, Denmark, and Iceland, Åge Hareide has passed away after a short battle with illness.
Longtime Norwegian football manager Åge Hareide has died, his son Bendik confirmed to several Norwegian media outlets, including broadcaster NRK. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family at the age of 72. “He has now played his last game. We are incredibly grateful for all the love we have received during his illness,” Bendik said in a statement. “A legend has left us,” declared Lise Klaveness, President of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF).
Hareide was diagnosed with a brain tumor in July, a revelation he and his son shared in a recent interview with the newspaper “Verdens Gang” just three and a half weeks ago. “It was a shock. Truly. For all of us,” Bendik stated. Following the diagnosis, Åge underwent six weeks of radiation therapy and took chemotherapy medication, but ultimately succumbed to the illness. According to reports, Hareide had recently experienced difficulty speaking and with motor skills. He had hoped to witness the upcoming FIFA World Cup next summer, for which Norway qualified for the first time since 1998, largely thanks to the performance of star striker Erling Haaland.
Hareide is widely regarded as one of the greatest managerial minds in Scandinavian football. He led several prominent clubs, including Brøndby IF, Viking Stavanger, Rosenborg Trondheim, and Malmö FF, to league titles in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden respectively. As a player, Hareide earned 50 caps for his country and spent a season with Manchester City.
He also served as a national team manager on multiple occasions, first for Norway from 2003 to 2008, then for Denmark from late 2015 to 2020, and most recently for Iceland for just over a year and a half – his final managerial post. Hareide repeatedly announced his retirement, only to return to the game he loved. Most recently, he worked as a football expert for NRK.
