Norwegian football coach Åge Hareide has died from a brain tumor at age 72. His family confirms he passed away at home surrounded by loved ones. Hareide, who led Swedish clubs Helsingborg and Malmö FF to league titles, is hailed as a giant in Norwegian football.
Åge Hareide, one of Norwegian football's most prominent figures, died on December 18, 2025, after a period of illness. His son Bendik Hareide told VG and NRK: “Dad passed away in the evening, at home with the family around him. He has now played his last match. We are eternally grateful for all the love we received during his illness.”
Hareide was diagnosed with a brain tumor in the summer of 2025, which he described as a shock in a November interview with VG. The illness impaired his speech and mobility, and he underwent treatment through the autumn. Despite this, he attended Norway's 4–1 victory at San Siro in mid-November, securing their qualification for the 2026 World Cup—an event he hoped to witness fully.
As a player, Hareide earned 50 caps for Norway and played for Manchester City among others. His coaching career spanned from the 1980s to 2024, including stints in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. In Sweden, he guided Helsingborg to the cup in 1998 and league title in 1999, and Malmö FF to the league and supercup in 2014. He amassed eight cup and league titles overall and was named Allsvenskan Coach of the Year in 2014. He also served as national team coach for Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.
Tributes poured in immediately. Norway's coach Ståle Solbakken told VG: “Åge was one of Norwegian football's greatest, both as a player and coach.” Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness described him as “a man who has influenced our sport in so many ways.” SVT expert Magnus Eriksson, who played under Hareide at Malmö FF, called it “an incredible sorrow” and remembered him as “an extremely appreciated person, a good leader, and a great man.” Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre noted: “Norwegian football will miss Hareide's temperament on the bench and his generosity and warmth off it.”
Hareide's death marks the end of an era in Nordic football, where his ambition, humor, and accessibility leave a lasting legacy.
