1998 FIFA World Cup and as assistant coach Hansen was part of Norway's victory over Brazil in the group play. The team lost against Italy in round of 16. He thereafter worked two years from 1998 to 2000 coaching the U21 as well as working with developing player skills for RBK. He also led player development nationally in Norway for several years, traveling much around the country. In 2005, he again worked as coach for Rosenborg, in the spring as consultant for Per Joar Hansen og Rune Skarsfjord and in the autumn as assistant coach to Per-Mathias Høgmo. The club was struggling in the serie that season, but managed to avoid demotion. As a person and coach, he was described by players and co-workers aa calm, patient, sensible and good with people. Coach and football expert Lars Tjærnås described Hansen as his best mentor. Death and legacy In 2017, he was ranked as Norway's 25th most important male soccer coach through all times by Knut Espen Svegaarden in Verdens Gang. Hansen went through heart surgery in 1997 after a heart attack. He was diagnosed with cancer for the first time in 2002. He died on 25 April 2018 at the age of 79. Rosenborg players will play with black armbands in his honour in the match against Lillestrøm on 26 April 2018. References External links RBKweb: Bjørn Hansen 1939 births 2018 deaths Norwegian footballers Norwegian football managers Footballers from Trondheim Rosenborg BK managers Association football midfielders