Hareide steps down at Brøndby

Åge Hareide has resigned as coach of Brøndby IF, the Danish league leaders, following the club's disappointing recent run of form.

København charge
Brøndby held what looked an unassailable ten-point lead over FC København when the Superligaen resumed after the winter break, but that advantage has been reduced to two points after the club registered just five points from their last four matches.

Championship charge
Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by FC Midtjylland was the final straw for Hareide, who said the players "need a taste of something completely different" to get their championship charge back on track. "I've had a good time at Brøndby, but I think the best thing I can do for the club and the players is to leave the responsibility to another man," added Hareide. "Perhaps with another man in charge we can still win the title in May."

'Terrific job'
Club Secretary Per Bjerregaard said of the departing coach: "Åge has done a terrific job for us and I can only have respect for a person who puts the club's interests in front of his own. That shows character but it also leaves us in an extremely difficult position with only six matches left."

Impressive career
Hareide began his coaching career with Molde FK in Norway. He earned a reputation as one of the most promising coaches in Scandinavia when guiding the club into the Tippeligaen and establishing them as one of the leading sides in Norway. His reputation was enhanced when he led Helsingborgs IF to the Swedish title in 1999 before switching to Brøndby that summer.

Champions League spot
Lars Olsen, Hareide's assistant, and trainer Tom Köhlert have been charged with coaching the side for the remaining six matches of the season. If Brøndby manage to fend off the challenge of København they will secure a place in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League.