Åge Hareide dies aged 72

Former Norway and Denmark manager Åge Hareide has died at 72, his family and the Norwegian Football Federation announced. He had revealed a diagnosis of brain cancer the previous month.

A central figure in Scandinavian football, Hareide made 50 appearances for Norway as a defender between 1976 and 1986 and played for clubs including Molde, Manchester City and Norwich City. After retiring he built a long managerial career marked by domestic trophies and national-team work across the Nordic region.

Hareide managed Norway’s national team from 2003 to 2008, bringing greater stability and professional standards. He enjoyed club success with Rosenborg in Norway, Malmö and Helsingborgs in Sweden, and Brøndby in Denmark, collecting titles and enhancing the reputation of each side. His spell as Denmark’s manager from 2016 to 2020 culminated in qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where his team reached the last 16. His final assignment was as Iceland coach before retiring in November.

Colleagues and former players praised Hareide for tactical discipline, calm leadership and an emphasis on collective organisation. He was widely viewed as a mentor who helped develop coaching practices and professional culture across clubs and national setups. The Norwegian Football Federation highlighted his broader contributions to the game, including raising coaching standards and promoting fair play.

Tributes poured in from clubs, national federations and figures across Scandinavia and Europe, many recalling his combination of authority and humility, his capacity to steady teams under pressure and his attention to detail. Former players and assistants noted his ability to adapt to different football cultures and to get the best from limited resources.

Hareide’s career spanned decades and roles, from top-flight defender to experienced manager, and left a lasting imprint on Nordic football. His passing is being mourned as the loss of one of the region’s most respected coaches, remembered not only for trophies and qualifications but for shaping a generation of players and coaches through steady leadership and a commitment to professionalism.