Breiðablik men's football

Breiðablik
Full name	Breiðablik
Nickname(s)	Blikar
Founded	12 February 1950
Ground	Kópavogsvöllur,; Kópavogur, Iceland
Capacity	3,009 (1,709 seated)
Chairman	Flosi Eiríksson
Manager	Halldór Árnason
League	Besta deild karla
2024	Besta deild karla, 1st of 12 (champions)
Website	https://breidablik.is/knattspyrna/

The Breiðablik men's football team is the men's football department of the Breiðablik multi-sport club. It currently plays in the Besta deild karla, the top-tier men's football league in Iceland; they finished 1st in 2022. The team is based in Kópavogur, a large town situated a short distance south of the capital of Reykjavík. Breiðablik is the first Icelandic football club to play in the group stage of a major UEFA-organized European competition, more specifically in the 2023–24 season of UEFA Europa Conference League.

History

Breiðablik's first competitive match was played on 12 June 1957, a 1–0 loss against Þróttur Reykjavík.^[5] After several years in the lower leagues, Breiðablik competed in the country's top division, the Úrvalsdeild karla (Úrvalsdeild), for the first time in 1971. From 1971 to 2005, Breiðablik would bounce between the two top leagues in Iceland (Úrvalsdeild and second-tier 1. deild karla), being promoted and relegated on a regular basis.

Since being promoted into the 2006 Úrvalsdeild, Breiðablik men's team has established itself as a powerhouse in Iceland, challenging regularly on all fronts. As of completion of the COVID-19 shortened 2020 Úrvalsdeild, Breiðablik has earned a place in their 17th consecutive season in the Úrvalsdeild.

The team's first major trophy came with a win in the 2009 Icelandic Cup, followed by the team's first Úrvalsdeild champions title in 2010. Their 2009 Icelandic Cup win qualified them for their first ever European competition, entering the second qualifying round of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League, facing Scottish Premier League side Motherwell. They lost the first leg 1–0 in Scotland, and lost by the same score in the return leg, for a loss of 0–2 on aggregate. Their 2010 Úrvalsdeild title took Breiðablik to their second consecutive European competition, entering the second qualifying round of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League, facing Norwegian Tippeligaen champion Rosenborg, losing 2–5 on aggregate. Breiðablik won its first match in a European competition in the first qualifying round of the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League, with a 4–0 win in the first leg against Andorran Copa Constitució winner FC Santa Coloma, en route to their first aggregate win (4–0) of a round in a European competition.

With one of the largest youth facilities in Iceland, Breiðablik is almost entirely built on home-grown talent. In the early 2000s, Iceland national football team internationals who came through the Breiðablik youth ranks included: Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson (first senior national team cap in 2008); Guðmundur Kristjánsson (2009); Alfreð Finnbogason and Gylfi Sigurðsson (both in 2010).

Players

Current squad

As of 15 September 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	ISL	Anton Ari Einarsson
2	DF	DEN	Daniel Obbekjær
3	MF	ISL	Oliver Sigurjónsson
4	DF	ISL	Damir Muminovic
5	DF	ISL	Arnór Sveinn Aðalsteinsson
6	MF	ISL	Alexander Helgi Sigurðarson
7	MF	ISL	Höskuldur Gunnlaugsson (captain)
8	MF	ISL	Viktor Karl Einarsson
9	MF	FRO	Patrik Johannesen
10	MF	ISL	Kristinn Steindórsson
11	MF	ISL	Aron Bjarnason


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
12	GK	ISL	Brynjar Atli Bragason
18	DF	ISL	Davíð Ingvarsson
19	DF	ISL	Kristinn Jónsson
20	FW	NOR	Benjamin Stokke
21	DF	ISL	Viktor Örn Margeirsson
22	FW	ISL	Ísak Þorvaldsson (on loan from Rosenborg)
23	FW	ISL	Kristófer Kristinsson
24	MF	ISL	Arnór Gauti Jónsson
25	MF	ISL	Tumi Fannar Gunnarsson
28	MF	ISL	Atli Thor Gunnarsson
30	MF	ISL	Andri Rafn Yeoman

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	DF	ISL	Ásgeir Helgi Orrason (at Keflavík until 1 January 2025)
—	MF	ISL	Viktor Andri Pétursson (at Kópavogur until 1 January 2025)


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	ISL	Tómas Orri Róbertsson (at Grótta until 1 January 2025)
16	FW	ISL	Dagur Fjeldsted (at HK until 1 January 2025)

Player records

As of match played 9 February 2023 and according to official supporters site. Players in bold are still currently playing for Breiðablik.

All-time appearances for Breiðablik

#	Name	Career	Appearances	Goals
1	Andri Rafn Yeoman	2009–present	405	22
2	Olgeir Sigurgeirsson	2003–15	321	39
3	Damir Muminovic	2014–present	308	13
4	Elfar Freyr Helgason	2008–2022	302	11
5	Arnar Grétarsson*	1988–09	289	61
6	Hákon Sverrisson	1990–04	270	9
7	Þór Hreiðarsson	1967–81	266	76
8	Finnur Orri Margeirsson	2008–2021***	262	7
9	Árni Kristinn Gunnarsson	1998–10	255	19
10	Arnór Sveinn Aðalsteinsson**	2003–present	254	18
11	Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson	2013–20	253	0

*Arnar Grétarsson played over two periods: 1988–96 and 2006–10
**Arnór Sveinn Aðalsteinsson played over three periods: 2003–11, 2014–2016 and 2023 -
***Finnur Orri Margeirsson played over two periods: 2008–14 and 2021

Most goals scored for Breiðablik

#	Name	Career	Appearances	Goals
1	Guðmundur Þórðarson	1965–74	173	92
2	Jón Þórir Jónsson*	1985–99	201	85
3	Þór Hreiðarsson	1967–81	271	61
4	Sigurður Grétarsson**	1979–00	159	71
5	Jón Ingi Ragnarsson	1958–69	139	70
6	Kjartan Einarsson	1996–04	166	59
7	Arnar Grétarsson***	1988–09	289	61
8	Ívar Sigurjónsson	1996–03	168	59
9	Árni Vilhjálmsson	2011–14	121	54
10	Ólafur Friðriksson	1971–79	156	54

*Jón Þórir Jónsson played over two periods: 1985–94 and 1998–99
**Sigurður Grétarsson played over two periods: 1979–83 and 1998–00
***Arnar Grétarsson played over two periods: 1988–96 and 2006–10

Notable players

Players from the Breiðablik youth academy who have earned international caps at senior level. Correct as of 1 April 2023.

Player	Date of birth	Current club	Position	International career
Einar Þórhallsson	(1952-07-01) 1 July 1952 (age 72)	retired	Defender	1976
Hinrik Þórhallsson	(1954-02-02) 2 February 1954 (age 70)	retired	Winger	1976–80
Sigurður Grétarsson	(1962-05-02) 2 May 1962 (age 62)	retired	Forward	1980–92
Ólafur Björnsson	(1958-10-07) 7 October 1958 (age 66)	retired	Defender	1981–84
Sigurjón Kristjánsson	(1962-04-05) 5 April 1962 (age 62)	retired	Forward	1982
Trausti Ómarsson	(1962-11-04) 4 November 1962 (age 62)	retired	Midfielder	1982
Ómar Rafnsson	(1962-06-23) 23 June 1962 (age 62)	retired	Midfielder	1982–83
Arnar Grétarsson	(1972-02-20) 20 February 1972 (age 52)	retired	Midfielder	1991–04
Kristófer Sigurgeirsson	(1972-01-19) 19 January 1972 (age 52)	retired	Midfielder	1994
Þórhalldur Hinriksson	(1976-09-10) 10 September 1976 (age 48)	retired	Midfielder	2000–01
Kjartan Antonsson	(1976-09-30) 30 September 1976 (age 48)	retired	Defender	2001
Marel Jóhann Baldvinsson	(1980-12-18) 18 December 1980 (age 43)	retired	Forward	2001–08
Guðmann Þórisson	(1987-01-30) 30 January 1987 (age 37)	retired	Defender	2008
Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson	(1990-10-27) 27 October 1990 (age 34)	Burnley	Winger	2008–present
Arnór Sveinn Aðalsteinsson	(1986-01-26) 26 January 1986 (age 38)	Breiðablik	Fullback	2009–12
Steinþór Freyr Þorsteinsson	(1985-07-29) 29 July 1985 (age 39)	Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar	Midfielder	2009–14
Guðmundur Kristjánsson	(1989-03-01) 1 March 1989 (age 35)	Stjarnan	Midfielder	2009–14
Kristinn Jónsson	(1990-08-04) 4 August 1990 (age 34)	Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur	Wingback	2009–17
Gunnar Örn Jónsson	(1985-04-30) 30 April 1985 (age 39)	retired	Midfielder	2010
Alfreð Finnbogason	(1989-02-01) 1 February 1989 (age 35)	Lyngby Boldklub	Forward	2010–present
Gylfi Sigurðsson	(1989-09-08) 8 September 1989 (age 35)	Free agent	Midfielder	2010–present
Elfar Freyr Helgason	(1989-07-27) 27 July 1989 (age 35)	Valur	Defender	2011
Aron Jóhannsson	(1990-11-10) 10 November 1990 (age 33)	Valur	Forward	2013–2015
Oliver Sigurjónsson	(1995-03-03) 3 March 1995 (age 29)	Breiðablik	Midfielder	2014–present
Sverrir Ingi Ingason	(1993-08-05) 5 August 1993 (age 31)	PAOK FC	Defender	2014–present
Árni Vilhjálmsson	(1994-05-09) 9 May 1994 (age 30)	FK Žalgiris	Forward	2017–present
Adam Örn Arnarson	(1995-08-27) 27 August 1995 (age 29)	Leiknir	Defender	2017
Alfons Sampsted	(1998-04-06) 6 April 1998 (age 26)	FC Twente	Defender	2019–present
Höskuldur Gunnlaugsson	(1994-09-26) 26 September 1994 (age 30)	Breiðablik	Forward	2019–present
Willum Þór Willumsson	(1998-10-23) 23 October 1998 (age 26)	Go Ahead Eagles	Midfielder	2019–present
Davíð Kristján Ólafsson	(1995-05-15) 15 May 1995 (age 29)	Kalmar FF	Defender	2019–present
Elías Rafn Ólafsson	(2000-03-11) 11 March 2000 (age 24)	FC Midtjylland	Goalkeeper	2021–present
Andri Fannar Baldursson	(2002-01-10) 10 January 2002 (age 22)	NEC Nijmegen	Midfielder	2021–present
Patrik Sigurður Gunnarsson	(2000-11-15) 15 November 2000 (age 23)	Viking FK	Goalkeeper	2021–present
Gísli Eyjólfsson	(1994-05-31) 31 May 1994 (age 30)	Breiðablik	Midfielder	2021–present
Kolbeinn Þórðarson	(2000-03-12) 12 March 2000 (age 24)	IFK Göteborg	Midfielder	2021–present
Viktor Karl Einarsson	(1997-01-30) 30 January 1997 (age 27)	Breiðablik	Midfielder	2022–present

Honours

League

Besta deild karla (First Division)

Champions (3): 2010, 2022, 2024
Runners-up (4): 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021

1. deild karla (Second Division)

Champions (6): 1970, 1975, 1979, 1993, 1998, 2005

Cups

Icelandic Cup

Champions (1): 2009.
Runners-up (2): 1971, 2018

Icelandic League Cup

Champions (2): 2013, 2015, 2024
Runners-up (4): 1996, 2009, 2010, 2014.

Icelandic Super Cup

Champions (1): 2023.
Runners-up (3): 2010, 2011, 2022.

Club records

Record League victory: 13–0 v HK, 1. deild karla 1999
Record League defeat: 1–10 v ÍA, Úrvalsdeild 1973

European record

Season	Competition	Round	Opponents	Home	Away	Agg
2010–11	UEFA Europa League	Second qualifying round	Motherwell	0–1	0–1	0–2
2011–12	UEFA Champions League	Second qualifying round	Rosenborg	2–0	0–5	2–5
2013–14	UEFA Europa League	First qualifying round	FC Santa Coloma	4–0	0–0	4–0
		Second qualifying round	Sturm Graz	0–0	1–0	1–0
		Third qualifying round	Aktobe	1–0	0–1	1–1 (1–2 p)
2016–17	UEFA Europa League	First qualifying round	Jelgava	2–3	2–2	4–5
2019–20	UEFA Europa League	First qualifying round	Vaduz	0–0	1–2	1–2
2020–21	UEFA Europa League	First qualifying round	Rosenborg	2–4
2021–22	UEFA Europa Conference League	First qualifying round	Racing Luxembourg	3–2	2–0	5–2
		Second qualifying round	Austria Wien	2–1	1–1	3–2
		Third qualifying round	Aberdeen	2–3	1–2	3–5
2022–23	UEFA Europa Conference League	First qualifying round	UE Santa Coloma	4–1	1–0	5–1
		Second qualifying round	Budućnost Podgorica	2–0	1–2	3–2
		Third qualifying round	İstanbul Başakşehir	1–3	0–3	1–6
2023–24	UEFA Champions League	Preliminary round	Tre Penne	7–1
		Preliminary round	Budućnost Podgorica	5–0
		First qualifying round	Shamrock Rovers	2–1	1–0	3–1
		Second qualifying round	Copenhagen	0–2	3–6	3−8
	UEFA Europa League	Third qualifying round	Zrinjski Mostar	1–0	2–6	3−6
	UEFA Europa Conference League	Play-off round	Struga	1–0	1–0	2–0
		Group B	Gent	2–3	0–5	4th
			Maccabi Tel Aviv	1–2	2–3
			Zorya Luhansk	0–1	0–4
2024–25	UEFA Conference League	First qualifying round	Tikvesh	3–1	2–3	5–4
2024–25	UEFA Conference League	Second qualifying round	Drita	1–2	0–1	1–3
2025–26	UEFA Champions League	First qualifying round

Club ranking

Correct as of 23 March 2021.^[6] The table shows the position of Breiðablik (highlighted), based on their UEFA coefficient club ranking, and the four foreign teams which are closest to Breiðablik's position (two clubs with the higher coefficient and two with the lower coefficient).

Rank 2020	Rank 2019	Mvmt.	Club	Coeff.
351	403	+52	Floriana FC	2.250
352	396	+44	FK Zeta	2.250
353	398	+45	Breiðablik	2.250
354	343	-9	HB Tórshávn	2.250
355	350	+5	St Joseph's F.C.	2.250

Domestic results

Below is a table with Breiðablik's domestic results since the club's first season in the football league in 1957.

Domestic Results since 1957
Domestic league	League result	Qualification to	Icelandic Cup season	Cup result
1957 2. deild (South)	6th	–	–	–
1958	Did not enter	–	–	–
1959	Did not enter	–	–	–
1960 2. deild (B)	4th	–	1960	First round
1961 2. deild (A)	3rd	–	1961	Second round
1962 2. deild	4th	–	1962	Third round
1963 2. deild (A)	2nd	–	1963	First round
1964 2. deild (South)	2nd	–	1964	Third round
1965 2. deild (B)	3rd	–	1965	Second round
1966 2. deild (B)	2nd	–	1966	First round
1967 2. deild (B)	3rd	–	1967	First round
1968 2. deild (B)	2nd	–	1968	Second round
1969 2. deild (B)	2nd	–	1969	First round
1970 2. deild	1st	Úrvalsdeild (promotion)	1970	Quarter finals
1971 Úrvalsdeild	6th	–	1971	Final - runners up
1972 Úrvalsdeild	6th	–	1972	Round of 16
1973 Úrvalsdeild	8th	1. deild (relegation)	1973	Round of 16
1974 1. deild	?	–	1974	Round of 16
1975 1. deild	1st	Úrvalsdeild (promotion)	1975	Second round
1976 Úrvalsdeild	5th	–	1976	?
1977 Úrvalsdeild	6th	–	1977	?
1978 Úrvalsdeild	10th	1. deild (relegation)	1978	?
1979 1. deild	1st	Úrvalsdeild (promotion)	1979	?
1980 Úrvalsdeild	5th	–	1980	?
1981 Úrvalsdeild	4th	–	1981	?
1982 Úrvalsdeild	7th	–	1982	?
1983 Úrvalsdeild	3rd	–	1983	?
1984 Úrvalsdeild	9th	1. deild (relegation)	1984	?
1985 1. deild	2nd	Úrvalsdeild (promotion)	1985	?
1986 Úrvalsdeild	9th	1. deild (relegation)	1986	?
1987 1. deild	3rd	–	1987	?
1988 1. deild	7th	–	1988	?
1989 1. deild	5th	–	1989	round of 32
1990 1. deild	2nd	Úrvalsdeild (promotion)	1990	quarter-final
1991 Úrvalsdeild	5th	–	1991	quarter-final
1992 Úrvalsdeild	9th	1. deild (relegation)	1992	round of 16
1993 1. deild	1st	Úrvalsdeild (promotion)	1993	round of 16
1994 Úrvalsdeild	7th	–	1994	quarter-final
1995 Úrvalsdeild	8th	–	1995	round of 32
1996 Úrvalsdeild	10th	1. deild (relegation)	1996	round of 16
1997 1. deild	4th	–	1997	quarter-final
1998 1. deild	1st	Úrvalsdeild (promotion)	1998	semi-final
1999 Úrvalsdeild	5th	–	1999	semi-final
2000 Úrvalsdeild	7th	–	2000	quarter-final
2001 Úrvalsdeild	10th	1. deild (relegation)	2001	round of 16
2002 1. deild	7th	–	2002	quarter-final
2003 1. deild	7th	–	2003	round of 32
2004 1. deild	4th	–	2004	round of 32
2005 1. deild	1st	Úrvalsdeild (promotion)	2005	round of 16
2006 Úrvalsdeild	5th	–	2006	round of 16
2007 Úrvalsdeild	5th	–	2007	semi-final
2008 Úrvalsdeild	5th	–	2008	semi-final
2009 Úrvalsdeild	5th	Europa League (Q2)	2009	winners
2010 Úrvalsdeild	1st	Champions League (Q2)	2010	third round
2011 Úrvalsdeild	6th	–	2011	fourth round
2012 Úrvalsdeild	2nd	Europa League (Q1)	2012	semi-final
2013 Úrvalsdeild	4th	–	2013	semi-final
2014 Úrvalsdeild	7th	–	2014	quarter-final
2015 Úrvalsdeild	2nd	Europa League (Q1)	2015	fourth round
2016 Úrvalsdeild	6th	–	2016	quarter-final
2017 Úrvalsdeild	6th	–	2017	third round
2018 Úrvalsdeild	2nd	Europa League (Q1)	2018	final
2019 Úrvalsdeild	2nd	Europa League (Q1)	2019	semi-final
2020 Úrvalsdeild	4th	E. Conference League (Q1)	2020	Quarter-final
2021 Úrvalsdeild	2nd	E. Conference League (Q1)	2021	Round of 16
2022 Úrvalsdeild	1st	Champions League (PR)	2022	Semi-final
2023 Úrvalsdeild	4th	E. Conference League (Q1)	2023	Semi-final

References

^ "Lög og reglur félagsins". Archived from the original on 2017-06-26. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
^ "Blikar.is English page". Archived from the original on 2023-09-10. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
^ "Kópavogsvöllur". Archived from the original on 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
^ "Stjórn knattspyrnudeildar". Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
^ "Þjóðviljinn". Timarit.is. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
^ "UEFA Club Coefficients 2012–2013". UEFA. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2021.

External links

(in Icelandic) Official website
(in English) Supporters website

[1] "Lög og reglur félagsins". Archived from the original on 2017-06-26. Retrieved 2017-10-01.

[2] "Blikar.is English page". Archived from the original on 2023-09-10. Retrieved 2023-07-01.

[3] "Kópavogsvöllur". Archived from the original on 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2017-10-01.

[4] "Stjórn knattspyrnudeildar". Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. Retrieved 2017-10-01.

[firstgame-5] "Þjóðviljinn". Timarit.is. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2013.

[trank-6] "UEFA Club Coefficients 2012–2013". UEFA. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2021.

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