Åge Hareide was a Norwegian association football player and manager who left a significant mark on Scandinavian sport. He is best known as the only coach to secure domestic league titles in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. His long career included managing the national teams of Norway, Denmark, and Iceland, alongside a distinguished stint playing for Manchester City.
The second Norwegian player to appear in the English top division, Åge Hareide established a career that bridged decades of Scandinavian football history. Serving as both a disciplined defender and a tactically versatile manager, he secured domestic league titles in three different countries, leaving a record as a coach across club and international levels.
Playing Career and English Debut
Born in 1953 in Hareid, Norway, Hareide began his professional path at Hødd and Molde. His career reached a significant milestone on 24 October 1981, when he debuted for Manchester City, becoming only the second Norwegian to feature in the English top flight. He also played for Norwich City. Representing the Norway national team between 1976 and 1986, he earned 50 caps and scored five goals, including a crucial strike against Yugoslavia during the 1983 European Championship qualifiers.
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Hareide remains the only manager to have secured league titles in all three Scandinavian nations. His championship runs began at Helsingborgs IF in 1999, followed by a domestic crown at Brøndby in 2001–02. He achieved a title with Rosenborg in 2003 and later returned to Sweden to win another with Malmö FF in 2014. During his tenure at Malmö, he guided the side to their first two modern-day UEFA Champions League group stage appearances.
International Management Roles
He managed the Norway national team from 2003 until 2008. Later, he took charge of the Denmark national team on 1 March 2016, overseeing their qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Under his guidance, the Danish squad reached the round of 16 in Russia. His period with Denmark included a notable 34-match unbeaten streak in ordinary time. Following a role as Iceland's manager starting in 2023, he announced his retirement from coaching in late 2024.
Recognition and Final Years
Beyond his athletic pursuits, Hareide served as a statutory auditor. His contributions to the sport were marked by several honors, including Kniksen's Honorary Award in 2017 and an appointment as a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 2020. In 2025, it was disclosed that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer. Hareide died on 18 December 2025 in Molde Municipality at age 72, and is buried at Molde Cathedral.
Fast facts
- Born: 1953, Hareid
- Died: 18 December 2025, Molde Municipality
- Citizenship: Norway
- Playing Caps: 50 for Norway
- League Titles: Sweden, Denmark, and Norway
- International Teams Managed: Norway, Denmark, Iceland
- Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog: 2020
Questions readers ask
Which countries did Åge Hareide win league titles in?
He won league titles in Sweden, Denmark, and his native Norway.
When did he retire from coaching?
He announced his retirement from coaching on 26 November 2024.
