The Vestri men's football team, commonly known as Vestri, is the men's football department of the Íþróttafélagið Vestri multi-sport club and is based in Ísafjarðarbær, Iceland.[1] As of 2024, it plays in the Icelandic top-tier Besta deild karla.
Full name | Íþróttafélagið Vestri | ||
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Nickname(s) | Djúpmenn | ||
Founded | 1986 1988 , as BÍ'88 2006 as BÍ/Bolungarvík 2016 as Vestri | , as Badmintonfélag Ísafjarðar||
Ground | Torfnesvöllur, Ísafjörður | ||
Capacity | 1,596 | ||
Manager | Davíð Smári Lamude | ||
League | Besta deild karla | ||
2024 | Besta deild karla, 10th of 12 | ||
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History
editThe club was founded in 1986 as the football department of Badmintonfélag Ísafjarðar, or BÍ for short.[2] It first participated in the Icelandic tier-4 league, then known as 4. deild karla, that same year and their first coach was former Icelandic international player Björn Helgason. In 1988, Ísafjörður biggest club, Íþróttabandalag Ísafjarðar (ÍBÍ), folded after years of financial difficulties and most of their players moved over to BÍ who took over as the town's major football club.[3][4] The club took up the name BÍ'88 to mark the new beginning and Jóhann Króknes Torfason was hired as the head coach.[5] They won their group in 4. deild convincingly, scoring 46 goals while conceding only 3, with their biggest win being an 18–0 victory over Höfrungur. In the 4. deild playoff they came out on top and achieved promotion to 3. deild karla where they played the next three years. In 1991 the team achieved promotion to 2. deild karla after finishing as runner-up's in 3. deild. They played there for two years before being relegated back to 3. deild. After the 1996 season, the club withdrew from play due to financial difficulties.
From 2006 to 2016 the team fielded a joint team with Ungmennafélag Bolungarvíkur, called BÍ/Bolungarvík.[6] In 2008 the team was promoted to 2. deild karla[7] and in 2010 to 1. deild karla.[8] In October 2010 the team hired Guðjón Þórðarson as their manager.[9] In 2016 the club merged into Íþróttafélagið Vestri along with Skellur (Volleyball), Sundfélagið Vestri (Swim) and KFÍ (Basketball).[10][11][12]
On 21 September 2019, Vestri won a 7–0 victory against Tindastóll in the last game of the season and secured a promotion to the second-tier 1. deild karla.[13]
On 30 September 2023, Vestri defeated Afturelding in the 1. deild karla promotion playoff final to secure a berth in the top-tier Besta deild karla for the first time in its history.[14]
Squad
editCurrent squad
edit- As of 4 September 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Player of the year
editYear | Winner |
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1988 | Guðmundur Gíslason[15] |
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Top scorers by season
editPlayers in bold are currently playing for Vestri.
Former notable players
editPlayers who have played for Vestri (Badmintonfélag Ísafjarðar, BÍ'88 and BÍ/Bolungarvík) and earned international caps at senior level. Correct as of 1 May 2021.
Nat. | Player | Date of birth | Current club | Position | International career |
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James Charles Mack | 10 August 1988 | Albion W. Eagles | Forward | 2018–present | |
Andri Rúnar Bjarnason | 12 December 1990 | Esbjerg fB | Forward | 2018–present | |
Kundai Benyu | 12 December 1997 | Vestri | Midfielder | 2017–present | |
Loïc Cédric Mbang Ondo | 5 October 1990 | Kórdrengir | Defender | 2017–present | |
Emil Pálsson | 10 June 1993 | Sarpsborg 08 | Midfielder | 2016–present | |
Brentton Muhammad | 11 September 1990 | Vestri | Goalkeeper | 2014–present | |
Matthías Vilhjálmsson | 30 January 1987 | FH | Forward | 2009–2016 | |
Gilles Mbang Ondo | 10 October 1985 | retired | Forward | 2007–2013 | |
Nigel Quashie | 20 July 1978 | retired | Midfielder | 2004–06 |
Managerial history
editDates[6] | Name | Notes |
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1986 | Björn Helgason | |
1987 | Jakob Ólason | |
1988 | Jóhann Króknes Torfason | |
1989 | Örnólfur Oddsson | Player-manager |
1990 | Jóhann Króknes Torfason | |
1991–1992 | Ámundi Sigmundsson | Player-manager |
1993 | Helgi Helgason | |
1994 | Einar Friðþjófsson | |
1995 | Björn Ingimarsson | Fired midway through season |
1995 | Örnólfur Oddsson | Interim player-manager |
1996 | Ómar Torfason | Player-manager |
2002–2004 | Haukur Benediktsson | Player-manager |
2005 | Örnólfur Oddsson | |
2006–2007 | Jónas Leifur Sigursteinsson | |
2008 | Slobodan Milišić | |
2009 | Dragan Kažić | |
2010 | Alfreð Elías Jóhannsson | Player-manager |
2011 | Guðjón Þórðarson | |
2012–2014 | Jörundur Áki Sveinsson | |
2015 | Jón Hálfdán Pétursson | |
2016 | Ásgeir Guðmundsson | |
2017 | Daniel Osafo-Badu | Player-manager |
2017–2020 | Bjarni Jóhannsson | |
2020–2021 | Heiðar Birnir Torleifsson | |
2021 | Jón Þór Hauksson | |
2022 | Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson | |
2023– | Davíð Smári Lamude[16] |
Honours
edit- 3. deild karla
- Winners (1): 1988
- Runner-up (1): 2008
- 2. deild karla
References
edit- ^ "Vestri – Knattspyrnusamband Íslands". www.ksi.is. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
- ^ ""Gömlu mennirnir í B.Í. velgja þeim yngri undur uggum í 4. deildinni". Bæjarins Besta (in Icelandic). 1 July 1986. p. 7. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Ísfirðingar leika í 4. deild undir nafni BÍ". Bæjarins Besta (in Icelandic). 18 May 1988. p. 2. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Skiptafundur í þrotabúinu á morgun". Vestfirska Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). 26 May 1988. p. 5. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Ísfirðingar spila undir nafninu BÍ 88". Bæjarins Besta (in Icelandic). 25 May 1988. p. 18. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ a b Sigurður Pétursson (2017). Knattspyrnusaga Ísfirðinga. Púkamót, félag. ISBN 978-9935-24-189-4.
- ^ "BÍ Bolungarvík tryggði sér sæti í 2. deild". Vísir.is. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
- ^ "BÍ/Bolungarvík komið upp í 1. deild". Vísir.is. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
- ^ "Guðjón þjálfar BÍ/Bolungarvík". Vísir.is.
- ^ "Vestri ræður ríkjum á Vestfjörðum". mbl.is. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
- ^ "/ Fréttir / Íþróttafélagið Vestri". Hsv.is. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
- ^ "Vestri kemur í stað BÍ/Bolungarvíkur – Knattspyrnusamband Íslands". www.ksi.is. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
- ^ Guðmundur Aðalsteinn Ásgeirsson (21 September 2019). "Bjarni Jó: Það verður mikið stuð fyrir vestan". Fótbolti.net (in Icelandic). Retrieved 22 September 2019.
- ^ Jóhann Páll Ástvaldsson (30 September 2023). "Vestri upp í Bestu deild karla". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ a b "BÍ 88 Íslandsmeistari í 4. deild". Bæjarins Besta (in Icelandic). 14 September 1988. p. 11. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ Elvar Geir Magnússon (13 October 2022). "Davíð Smári nýr þjálfari Vestra (Staðfest)". Fótbolti.net (in Icelandic). Retrieved 20 May 2023.