"Dad fell asleep last night, at home with his family around him. Now he has played his last match. We are eternally grateful for all the love we have received during the time he was sick," writes his son Bendik Hareide to the newspaper VG.
In November, it was announced that Åge Hareide had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. The cancer was diagnosed in the summer.
“A shock”
It was a shock, said Hareide in an interview with VG on November 24.
"Football Norway will miss Hareide's temperament on the bench and his generosity and warmth off it," said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in a statement to news agency NTB.
In Sweden, the Norwegian had successful spells at both Helsingborg (Swedish Championship gold in 1999) and Malmö FF (Swedish Championship gold in 2014). He led MFF to two consecutive group stages in the Champions League (2014, 2015).
"We had a fantastic time together. We clicked on all levels. Åge was a fantastic leader, but above all a fantastic person," says former Malmö FF player Markus Rosenberg to Expressen .
Hareide has been the national team captain for Norway, Denmark and Iceland.
"A giant in Norwegian football has passed away. A man who in so many ways has influenced our sport and meant so much to so many people," says Lise Klaveness, chairwoman of the Norwegian Football Association.
Played in England
As a player, he was a tough centre-back with 50 caps for Norway between 1976 and 1986. In England, he played for both Manchester City and Norwich. In Norway, he represented Hødd and Molde.
Hareide led Denmark to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and also took the country to the European Championship finals, but due to the corona pandemic, that championship was moved to 2021. By then, Hareide's contract as Danish national team captain had expired.
He also coached Rosenborg and Brøndby to the league title in Norway and Denmark respectively.
Åge Hareide was 72 years old.
