As news learned on Thursday evening, Hareide will be the new national team manager for Iceland. On Friday, it was confirmed by the Icelandic Football Association. The 69-year-old is thus ready for his third national team after leading Norway and Denmark – and his fourth comeback as a coach. Hareide tells news that he did not hesitate when Iceland made contact. There was too much that enticed him: The project, the national team, the players, everyday life as national team manager versus club coach. And not least his own motivation. – When Iceland called, it was immediately appealing to me. I lost the EC because of the pandemic, and it has been there like a cloud over me the whole time. That I lost it at the end of my coaching career, says Hareide. SUCCESS: Hareide became a popular man in Denmark after a number of good results. Photo: DAVID KLEIN / Reuters – Thought a lot about He came close to qualifying Norway for the European Championship in 2008. When he managed it with Denmark 12 years later, the play-offs were postponed by a year and out of the contract period. Hareide emphasizes that no one can do anything to prevent a pandemic. – All people are affected by it. There were deaths, illness and lost jobs. Anything is much worse than a playoff. But for me, who has had the opportunity to be involved in everything as a coach, I was somewhat robbed of an EC with Denmark. I have thought about that a lot in retrospect. After all, football is very emotional. You go from the highest mountain peak to the deepest valley, that has been a bit of the driving force, says Hareide. Now he hopes to revive Iceland, which has had a few lean years after the success of the European Championship in 2016 and the World Cup in 2018. The Icelanders are down to 64th place in the Fifa ranking. THE HIGHLIGHT: The Iceland players became known worldwide for their celebration together with the supporters. It involved tactful clapping and shouting. Here from one of their most famous results: The victory over England during the European Championship in 2016. Photo: BERTRAND LANGLOIS / AFP The island nation has opened the European Championship qualification with a loss to Bosnia and a 7-0 victory over Liechtenstein. Initially, Hareide will lead Iceland in the remaining eight EC qualifying matches. – For my part, it (the length of the contract) depends on success. Then it will automatically be a little longer. If it’s the EC, so be it. If 3rd place, then there will be a playoff at least until March, says Hareide. – Was the WC on the table? – There were many things on the table, but I know how the industry works. If there is progress and things look good, then it is open to discuss that, too. – Strange A possible playoff could be extra special for Hareide. If neither Iceland nor Norway qualify directly, the probability is quite high that Iceland and Norway can meet on the back road through the Nations League playoff. Both Iceland and Norway were group runners-up at level B. As the situation is right now, Norway and Iceland could quickly end up in the same group with the semi-finals and eventual final. – Of course I have thought about that. It will be a strange feeling. It gets a little weird. After all, you have experienced meeting clubs that you have played for and trained with before. I have experienced that many times. But you are a coach where you are. Then it is the job that counts. You have to be professional and shut out everything else, says Hareide. NEW ROLE: Here, Åge Hareide is present in Spain as an expert for news during the national team meeting in March. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Slovakia, Luxembourg and big favorite Portugal are also in Iceland’s group. Hareide gets a tough start to his Iceland career with home games against Slovakia and Portugal in June. However, Hareide sees great potential in Iceland. He brings out a good mix of experienced and new, hungry players after a generational change. Iceland’s U19 team is, like Norway’s, qualified for the EC. – Then there will be a mix of experienced and young players who will settle in. It is an exciting starting point for building something new. And I know the Icelandic mentality, it is extremely good. The players I have had have been exemplary with a good attitude. It is a small nation with a very big heart for Iceland. Both players and fans. It has come to light many times, says Hareide.
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