The wistful romanticism of ÍA, the membership that when dominated Iceland towards the percentages

A little over 30 miles to the north of Reykjavik resides the small port city of Akranes on Iceland’s west coast. Even for Iceland, this isn’t an enormous place. With its buildings gathered on a skinny sliver of a peninsula that extends furtively into the ocean, it’s residence to a mere 8,000 inhabitants.

Like many coastal settlements in Iceland, Akranes is famous for its thriving fishing trade, and its deep, nonetheless harbour is residence to a flotilla of trawlers that combs these teeming waters every summer time. However there’s another excuse that Akranes is a reputation acquainted to many Icelanders, and it has nothing to do with trawlermen.

Those that don’t take to the waves in the hunt for fish favor to take to the soccer area in the hunt for a extra prestigious catch. The city’s resident soccer staff, Íþróttabandalag Akraness, extra generally referred to by their initials ÍA, are one in all Iceland’s most profitable golf equipment. It’s a outstanding feat provided that for a lot of its 75-year existence, the membership has been certain by its rural location and small inhabitants.

The roots of this success had been planted deep within the earth of the twentieth century when in 1951 ÍA grew to become the primary membership outdoors of Reykjavik to safe the Úrvalsdeild karla title – actually, the Males’s Choose Division. For the primary 39 years of the league’s existence, the Reykjavik golf equipment of Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur (KR), Valur, Vikingur and Knattspyrnufélagið Fram had exerted an unshakeable oligopoly over Iceland’s elite soccer division.

However all through the latter half of the century, because the league moved past a single-round to a double-round format, the inhabitants of this small fishing city grew to become famed for his or her excellence on the soccer pitch. Between 1951 and 1990, no membership was as profitable in Iceland as ÍA, and far of this home dominance was attributed to the labours of Ríkharður Jonsson, who acted as long-time player-manager.

Sadly, he handed away in 2017, however These Soccer Occasions was privileged sufficient to talk together with his daughter, Sigrún Ríkharðsdóttir, with assist from his grandson, Ríkharður Árnason. Sigrún has been attending ÍA matches her complete life and is as fervent a Skagamenn supporter as they arrive. “You don’t wish to sit subsequent to me at a sport,” she says drily. “I’m the loudest lady in Iceland on the subject of the soccer!” In the meantime, her son shares his first identify with the legendary determine of his grandfather and is head of social media on the membership. Few, if any, can declare a richer heritage with this distinctive soccer membership.

Their previous and their future are incorrigibly entwined with that of Íþróttabandalag Akraness, and it’s of their previous that this story begins. In 1990, to be exact, whereupon ÍA had suffered relegation for under the second time of their historical past. Although that they had gained the league twice and the Icelandic Cup 4 instances all through the Eighties, by the flip of the last decade the membership had in some way contrived to slide by means of the dreaded trapdoor into the First League.

“You know the way soccer is,” Sigrún Ríkharðsdóttir says with a wry smile when requested to elucidate what went flawed for the then-12-time champions. “Typically you’ve a very good sport. Typically you’ve a nasty sport. However the staff from ’83 and ’84 had been gone, and the following era we had taking on had been younger – very younger, certainly.”

The ÍA staff that suffered the infamy of relegation was closely reliant on a core of younger and painfully inexperienced footballers. A number of of the gamers who featured in each, or virtually each, league sport included left winger Haraldur Ingólfsson (20-years-old), midfielder/left-back Sigursteinn Gíslason (22) and future famous person striker Arnar Gunnlaugsson, who was the staff’s joint top-scorer that season on the mere age of 17.

Admirable although it was to entrust the fortunes of the membership within the arms (and toes) of youth, the end result for ÍA was painful. Enjoying soccer within the second tier for the primary time since 1968, this predicament solely consolidated the view in Reykjavik that Akranes was merely a city of chancers who had punched far above their weight for a lot too lengthy and had been now reaping what they’d sown of their foolhardy makes an attempt to meddle with the would possibly of the capital.

Realising that the membership had been allowed to slowly decay all through the latter half of the Eighties, the board turned to one in all its former stalwarts to invigorate an inexperienced squad in want of agency steering. ÍA legend and all-time look holder, Guðjón Þórðarson, was persuaded to rejoin the membership at which he had discovered fame in his enjoying days.

One of many final relics of the Eighties golden period, since retiring in 1987 he had ventured into teaching and his revolutionary coaching strategies, which positioned an infinite emphasis on health, self-discipline and restoration, had seen digital unknowns KA Akureyri topped champions for the primary time of their historical past by advantage of being fitter, sooner and higher organised than their contemporaries.

He was a person in excessive demand, however with KA missing the funds required to repeat this success in subsequent seasons, the possibility of a reunion with ÍA proved too alluring to disregard. Though it necessitated dropping down a division, he agreed to turn into head coach and started in earnest restoring ÍA to the Úrvalsdeild karla.

The one earlier time ÍA had suffered relegation had resulted in an instantaneous return to the highest flight, whereupon they completed second, earlier than going one higher and profitable the league the next yr in 1970. Accordingly, nice issues had been anticipated of this dynamic facet brimming with youthful vigour, and beneath the strict stewardship of Þórðarson, they had been being moulded right into a formidable outfit.

Serendipity deigned to alight upon ÍA who, regardless of enjoying soccer within the unglamorous atmosphere of Iceland’s second division, managed to draw the providers of three gamers patently too proficient for his or her environment. First, Þórðarson – who was famend for travelling extensively on his scholastic enterprises – noticed the hulking determine of Olafur Adolfsson within the novice leagues of Iceland’s sparse northern marches and introduced him to Akranes. At effectively over six toes tall and broad of shoulder and limb too, Adolfsson struck an uncompromising determine on the coronary heart of the ÍA again line.

Alongside this mountain of a person, Þórðarson put in Luka Kostic, a Yugoslav centre-half who’s, even to at the present time, extensively thought to be the best overseas footballer to have ever performed in Iceland, despite the fact that he was 33 on the time of his arrival. Bringing with him a wealth of experience, he was liable for marshalling these round him.

Boasting an impregnable defence aided by the seize from bitter rivals KR of 20-year-old goalkeeper Kristján Finnbogason, ÍA made predictably quick work of returning to the highest flight. Throughout 18 second division video games in 1991, the membership gained 14, scored 55 objectives and conceded a paltry 12 in reply. Úrvalsdeild karla soccer ensured for the 1992 marketing campaign, hope slunk again into Akranes. With essentially the most revolutionary younger supervisor within the nation presiding over a hungry, well-drilled squad of saplings primed to flourish come spring, there was a sense ÍA may trigger an upset.

Nevertheless, since Skagamenn’s final championship victory in 1984, Fram and Valur had asserted their home dominance. The 2 historically highly effective Reykjavik golf equipment had gained 5 of the earlier seven titles, and on three events occupied first and second locations within the league. Even with ÍA’s return, the title was extensively anticipated to stay within the capital, a minimum of for an additional yr. From the surface, the yellow-clad upstarts from Akranes had been nonetheless too inexperienced to mount a severe title problem so quickly after the turmoil of relegation and had been written off by pundits, supporters and close to sufficient anybody with even a passing curiosity in Icelandic soccer.

Nevertheless, earlier than the season started in 1992, ÍA had been to learn from another fortuitous prevalence, one which might have a significant bearing on their fortunes for years to return, as Þórðarson satisfied former participant Sigurður Jónsson to make the lengthy journey again to his hometown.

Solely 25-years-old on the time, the prodigious midfielder had been compelled to retire prematurely after struggling a again harm whereas enjoying for Arsenal in England’s outdated First Division however was coaxed into enjoying as soon as extra for the membership at which he made his debut aged simply 15. A veritable legend of the game in Iceland, he was the erstwhile youngest debutant in a European sport earlier than being supplanted by a sure Martin Ødegaard some years later.

A lot to the chagrin of the Reykjavik golf equipment – and specifically their fierce rivals KR – ÍA furnished their return to the Úrvalsdeild karla with their thirteenth championship and their first in practically a decade.

It was a momentous achievement, which Ríkharðsdóttir ascribes partially, a minimum of, to endurance. “Most of the boys who had been with us once we fell right down to the First League stayed with us and these younger lads simply bought stronger and higher [under Þórðarson].”

Inclined to set-up in a four-four-two system that harnessed a squad accustomed to gruelling coaching regimens, the ÍA gamers ran more durable and for longer, had been bodily stronger and, as is essential to any staff with ambitions of profitable a league, possessed an indomitable psychological resilience in pursuit of their objectives. That they may play, too, was an additional advantage.

Though it’s not unprecedented for golf equipment to win the title instantly after promotion, particularly within the Nordic international locations the place the historically smaller leagues are considerably famend for producing shock victors, seldom have many groups managed to repeat the feat. Certainly, miraculously, ÍA grew to become the primary membership within the historical past of soccer to not solely win the league following promotion however win it for 5 consecutive seasons.

Simply how may a staff hailing from a city of barely 8,000 individuals, and who had been relegated only a yr earlier, undertake a championship run the likes of which had by no means been witnessed in Iceland in over a century of organised sport? Not simply Iceland, both, however anyplace in your entire world. On the time, no staff had gained 5 championships in a row straight after being promoted. It was an thought born from fiction; a feat actually unbelievable in its design.

Ríkharðsdóttir, nonetheless, believes she has the reply. “It was the identical staff. All of the 5 years. And the supervisor, too. In 1992, 1993, and 1996 we had the identical supervisor [Guðjón Þórðarson].”

This continuity undoubtedly benefited ÍA, however there was one other issue at play, one which, within the lengthy roster of champions not simply in Iceland however throughout the continent of Europe, is certainly distinctive. Although many declare to be ‘close-knit household golf equipment’ nowhere is it extra pertinent than in Akranes, the place, it’s stated, “everybody is expounded someplace”.

Of ÍA’s squad, eight had been sons of former gamers, seven had been brothers, six had been cousins, three had been nephews and, in a testomony to the longevity of this dynasty, one was even a grandson. Ríkharðsdóttir herself, being the daughter of the membership’s most well-known participant, claims a deep affinity inside this Nineteen Nineties classic facet. “In that staff originally of the Nineteen Nineties, I had 4 uncles. In reality, a lot of good native gamers are in the identical households right here,” she explains.

It’s a completely distinctive footballing dynasty; a optimistic myriad of interrelated riches. However clearly, because the outdated adage goes, there’s something within the water in Akranes, for such a small city to repeatedly produce an unbroken line of expertise that teaching alone can’t absolutely engender. Genetics play their half, and Ríkharðsdóttir explains with an air of pleasure the stats behind her city’s unmatched footballing pedigree. “We’ve got had 38 gamers [as of 2021] which have performed professionally overseas. That’s 0.5 p.c of the city’s present inhabitants who’re or had been skilled footballers enjoying world wide.”

Given the small measurement of city, it’s scarcely plausible that this tiny strip of land on Iceland’s west coast has been so prolific in producing such proficient footballers. Thankfully for ÍA within the Nineteen Nineties, they profited from the significantly plentiful classic of 1973, which produced the likes of Arnar Gunnlaugsson, Þórður Guðjónsson and Lárus Orri Sigurðsson, all of whom had been raised and nurtured in Akranes. Although they went on to get pleasure from careers in England’s Premier League, it was their exploits between 1992 and 1996 that earned them acclaim of their city of provenance.

Over the course of 5 years, ÍA stormed to 5 consecutive league titles. After the primary was secured on their return to the Úrvalsdeild karla by a three-point margin, a rivalry that had been placed on pause throughout their relegation reignited. Enmity had been simmering between ÍA and KR within the years previous to 1992, and with the latter enduring a protracted silverware drought, the notion of ÍA returning to the top of Icelandic soccer rekindled this latent wrath.

The 1993 season, subsequently, was billed as a conflict between two everlasting enemies, however, as soon as once more, pundits and observers alike dismissed ÍA’s probabilities of repeating their 1992 success. On the time within the early-90s, KR had been the one membership able to paying their gamers something near what would now be thought to be an expert wage, and as such may appeal to the best gamers to West Reykjavik. Their riches couldn’t cease ÍA romping to a second title in two years, nonetheless.

If something, ÍA had been, to the shock of many, merely waxing in power. In 1992, that they had amassed 40 factors from 12 wins and 4 attracts, however in 1993 they completed prime of the pile with an incredulous 49 factors – a full 9 factors away from nearest challengers FH. Certainly, solely Fram took any factors in any way off Skagamenn that yr. The remainder of the league stumbled of their efforts to maintain up with the early tempo set by Þórðarson’s insatiable facet. On no fewer than seven events, ÍA scored 4 or extra objectives in a single sport, together with a gap day 5-0 demolition of eventual runners-up FH.

Þórður Guðjónsson, of the famed 1973 classic, completed as each membership and league prime scorer with 19 objectives, whereas 22-year-old winger Haraldur Ingólfsson was not far behind with 14. Furthermore, that ÍA may outscore just about anybody was daunting sufficient, however their resolute backline was breached solely 12 instances all season – and 7 of these got here through the two fixtures with Fram.

It was inevitable, then, that ÍA would march to a 3rd title in a row in 1994, however not with out KR making an attempt the whole lot of their energy to make sure in any other case. After that they had completed in a lowly fifth in 1993, having been unceremoniously thumped by ÍA to the tune of 5 objectives over two fixtures, the Reykjavik giants sought to undercut their rivals the one means they knew how: cash. They lured supervisor Guðjón Þórðarson to the KR-völlur and secured the return of goalkeeper Kristján Finnbogason. Little did it matter, although, for Þórðarson had bred a monster even he himself couldn’t slay, regardless of the riches with which he tempered his sword.

KR completed fifth once more, whereas ÍA clinched a hat-trick of championships. Not that the season was with out its struggles. Within the absence of Þórðarson, the board had appointed Hörður Helgason, and although he gained the title, he was extra alike to a custodian than supervisor. In comparison with 1992, when Skagamenn had marched to 16 wins, they faltered to a few 0-0 attracts and three losses in a season which noticed their aim tally plummet from 55 to 35. Mistrusted by the gamers, who allegedly didn’t approve of his outdated teaching strategies, he was dismissed on the finish of the yr and changed with Logi Ólafsson.

Þórðarson, in the meantime, tried to navigate KR again to the summit of the Úrvalsdeild karla in 1994 and maybe would have completed so had Olafsson not reinvigorated ÍA together with his arrival. But once more, the membership got here perilously near that elusive unbeaten marketing campaign, as they registered only a single loss – mockingly, to Þórðarson’s KR facet, who would finally end a really distant second to their bitter rivals. For the fourth season in a row, an ÍA participant completed because the league’s prime scorer; this time, it was one other member of the 1973 classic, Arnar Gunnlaugsson, who accomplished the marketing campaign with 15 objectives to his identify.

In 1996, Þórðarson, whose affair with KR had come to an unsavoury finish, returned to the membership, seeking to safe a fifth consecutive title and his third with ÍA. Astonishingly, KR had been put in because the sturdy favourites for the title, and for as soon as, the bookies had been virtually proper.

For the primary time in 5 years, Iceland witnessed an enthralling title race between two heated enemies, the place over the course of 17 video games, the 2 golf equipment exchanged locations on the prime of the desk earlier than a final-day present down on the Akranesvöllur. KR had emerged victorious within the return fixture, a 1-0 win courtesy of a 68th-minute Ríkharður Daðason aim, however the closing day conflict is a day Sigrún Ríkharðsdóttir remembers fondly, and for a couple of purpose. “In 1996, within the final sport we performed towards KR, and KR wanted only a draw to win the title. However we needed to win. And, oh my god, we did. 4 objectives towards one.”

ÍA, who had been trailing KR for a lot of the marketing campaign, demonstrated the large psychological resolve for which that they had turn into famend, and overhauled the leaders on the ultimate day of the season. Figuring out {that a} draw was all KR required, they tore into their opponents, going 2-0 up by the hour-mark earlier than Ríkharður Daðason pulled one again to arrange a nervy closing twenty minutes. It’s a identify acquainted to many in Akranes, particularly Sigrún Ríkharðsdóttir.

“The scorer for the KR aim was [her son] Rikki’s uncle and namesake! For that one aim he scored that sport, he gained the golden boot.”

Sadly for Sigrún Ríkharðsdóttir, Ríkharður Árnason and the inhabitants of Akranes, the 1996 league and cup double marked the top of a record-breaking cycle. By 1997, the yellow-and-black stranglehold on the Úrvalsdeild karla had slackened, however the relinquishing of their throne was a minimum of a gradual and reluctant course of, for ÍA nonetheless managed to complete second in 1997, then third in 1998 and even reigned as champions once more, albeit briefly, in 2001.

What precipitated the downfall of their monopoly was a convergence of many elements, Ríkharðsdóttir believes. “Our key gamers have gone away, each to play overseas and for different groups in Iceland. For me, it’s extraordinarily tough to observe my boys play for different groups in Iceland.”

This assertion harks again to the notion that soccer in Akranes stays very a lot a familial affair. Those that come by means of the ranks at ÍA are Skagamenn till the top of their days, even when their travels are more and more taking them farther and farther from residence.

“It is usually a query of cash,” Ríkharðsdóttir continues. “The primary factor right this moment is that as a result of we’re not in European competitors, we don’t have sufficient cash. Our gamers favor to go overseas. One among our gamers is in CSKA Moscow [Arnór Sigurðsson] and one in all our boys performs for Norrköping [Oliver Stefánsson].”

Equally, prodigious winger Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson, who has drawn the eye of a bunch of golf equipment throughout the continent, plies his commerce with FC København, whereas Stefán Teitur Þórðarson went to Silkeborg in Denmark and Bjarki Steinn Bjarkason is having fun with Serie A soccer with Venezia.

Sadly for ÍA, when the membership was in its pomp within the early to mid-90s, European qualification was nowhere close to as profitable as it’s right this moment. They made fleeting appearances within the UEFA Champions League preliminary spherical in 1993 and the UEFA Cup first spherical between 1994 and 1997, however with out the large monetary rewards gleaned by the continental voyages of right this moment’s prime groups in Iceland.

As such, it has been an extended 20 years because the membership’s final title in 2001. An Icelandic Cup victory in 2003 and a runners-up medal in 2021 have offered scant solace for the proud individuals of Akranes who develop ever extra stressed with every barren season. This two-decade stretch marks the longest interval of their historical past they’ve gone with out profitable the league, and in that point they’ve been relegated twice, albeit returning to the highest flight on the first time of asking on each events.

There have been no extra five-in-a-row heroics, although, as an more and more globalised world, which has seen Icelandic soccer broadcast to the remainder of Europe for the primary time within the league’s historical past, has led on one hand to a diaspora of Akranes’ younger footballers and on the opposite to an inflow of overseas expertise to the historically highly effective Reykjavik golf equipment.

Silverware will return, the individuals of Akranes imagine; in spite of everything, their city is the quickest rising settlement in all of Iceland, and therein lies a sliver of hope. Amidst the squabbling wealthy boys of Reykjavik, there nonetheless could also be a spot for the wistful romanticism of ÍA. Maybe, in years to return, one other legacy in yellow-and-black will emerge from this westerly stronghold of dynastic riches – born of contemporary blood inside which is carried the blueprint of that unrivalled Nineteen Nineties classic.

By Josh Butler @joshisbutler90

With because of Sígrun Ríkharðsdóttir, Ríkharður Árnason, Bjarki Ármannsson and Mike Morgan.

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The wistful romanticism of ÍA, the membership that when dominated Iceland towards the percentages

The wistful romanticism of ÍA, the membership that when dominated Iceland towards the percentages

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