Kjetil Rekdal’s Aalesund secured a stunning victory over his son-in-law Kristoffer Haugen’s Viking in the Cup Quarter-final on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, adding a personal dimension to the Norwegian cup competition.
The match, which ended 2-1 in favor of Aalesund, came after a challenging period for the Rekdal family, marked by a serious health scare for the Aalesund manager.
“It was very, very painful,” Sofie Rekdal, Kjetil’s daughter, told TV 2.
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A Difficult Period
The summer of 2025 saw Rekdal preparing to move in with Kristoffer Haugen in Kleppe, following Haugen’s return to Viking. However, just weeks after settling into their new home, Kjetil Rekdal received a cancer diagnosis.
Fortunately, Rekdal recovered quickly, receiving a welcome “Christmas gift” of a clean bill of health. He then celebrated leading Aalesund to promotion, acknowledging the emotional toll the experience had taken.
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“Of course, it’s been a strain on the family, especially for Sofie,” Kristoffer Haugen said to TV 2. “Luckily, things are going well now and we’re glad.”
Rekdal publicly announced his recovery on January 12th, but admitted to TV 2 in March that the illness had left a lasting impact.
“I’m not the same,” he stated. “I have no problem admitting that.”
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Family Support at the Match
In Wednesday’s cup tie, Rekdal’s Aalesund defeated Haugen’s Viking, a result Sofie Rekdal admitted she quietly cheered for. She and her daughter showed their support by wearing Viking colors, complete with orange hair ties.
“It’s so wonderful. It’s a feeling I can’t quite describe,” she said, expressing her joy at seeing her father back where he belongs.
Aalesund has had a sluggish start to the season, with one point from their first two matches, even as Viking bounced back from a league-opening loss to HamKam with a dominant 4-1 win over Molde.
Viking will have a chance for revenge on Sunday, July 26th, when they face Aalesund at Color Line stadion.
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