COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Harald Nielsen, a Denmark center forward known as "Gold Harald" after scoring six goals at the 1960 Rome Olympics, has died. He was 73.
His wife, Rudi Nielsen, told Danish news agency Ritzau on Wednesday that "my beloved husband died Aug. 11 after a long illness." The Danish Football Federation also confirmed the death. No details of the illness were given.
Nielsen first played for Denmark in 1959 and scored 15 goals in 14 games. Nielsen started his career at Frederikshavn fi, a Danish second-tier amateur team, in 1958 before joining Bologna three years later, where he helped the team win the Serie A title in 1964. He later played for Inter Milan, Napoli and Sampdoria.
After quitting football in 1970, Nielsen started importing high-end Italian leather goods to Denmark. He also was instrumental in introducing professional football to Denmark in the late 1970s.
He is survived by his wife and two children.