Vestri (men's football)

Vestri
Full nameÍþróttafélagið Vestri
NicknameDjúpmenn
Founded1986 (1986), as Badmintonfélag Ísafjarðar
1988 (1988), as BÍ'88
2006 (2006)
as BÍ/Bolungarvík
2016 (2016)
as Vestri
GroundKerecisvöllurinn, Ísafjörður
Capacity1,596
ManagerDaniel Osafo-Badu
League1. deild karla
2025Besta deild karla, 11th of 12 (relegated)

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] In 2025, the team won the Icelandic Cup after defeating Valur in the Cup final. As of 2026, it plays in the Icelandic second-tier 1. deild karla.

History

The 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]

On 22 August 2025, Vestri defeated Valur in the Icelandic Cup final, 1–0, securing its first ever major trophy. With the win, it secured a berth in a European competition for the first time.[15] Vestri became the first non-top flight Icelandic club to participate in a UEFA club competition, losing 6–0 on aggregate against Qarabağ FK in the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round.

European record

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2026–27 UEFA Europa League 1QR Azerbaijan Qarabağ 0–3 0–3 0–6
UEFA Conference League 2QR Latvia RFS 1–1 1–4 2–5

Squad

Current squad

As of 15 July 2026

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ISL Marvin Darri Steinarsson
2 DF  ISL Gabriel Heidberg Kristjansson
4 MF  NGA Fatai Gbadamosi
6 MF  SEN Ibrahima Baldé
7 MF  SWE Jacob Stensson
8 MF  DEN Imran Mehanovic
9 FW  ISL Pétur Bjarnason
10 FW  ISL Þórður Gunnar Hafþórsson
11 FW  SWE Johannes Selvén
12 MF  RSA Cafú Phete
13 MF  ISL Albert Ingi Jóhannsson
14 MF  ISL Birkir Eydal
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 DF  ISL Guðmundur Arnar Svavarsson
16 MF  SEN Abdourahmane Diagne
17 MF  ISL Gunnar Jónas Hauksson
18 MF  ISL Marinó Steinar Hagbardsson
19 FW  GHA Emmanuel Duah
22 DF  ISL Elmar Atli Garðarsson (captain)
23 FW  ISL Breki Þór Hermannsson (on loan from Akraness)
27 MF  SWE Albin Mörfelt
29 DF  MKD Konstantin Cheshmedjiev
33 GK  ISL Benedikt Johann Snaedal
45 DF  ISL Gudmundur Pall Einarsson
77 MF  SEN Sergine Fall

Player of the year

Year Winner
1988Iceland Guðmundur Gíslason[16]
Year Winner
2006Iceland Sigurgeir Sveinn Gíslason
2007Iceland Pétur Geir Svavarsson
2008Serbia Goran Vujic
2009Iceland Óttar Kristinn Bjarnason
2010Iceland Sigurgeir Sveinn Gíslason
  
Year Winner
2011Iceland Þórður Ingason
2012Iceland Andri Rúnar Bjarnason
2013Iceland Hafsteinn Rúnar Helgason
2014Iceland Matthías Króknes Jóhannsson
2015Gabon Loic Cédric Mbang Ondo
  
Year Winner
2016Iceland Ernir Bjarnason
2017Iceland Daði Freyr Arnarsson
2018Iceland Elmar Atli Garðarsson
2019Croatia Zoran Plazonic
2020Spain Nacho Gil
  
Year Winner
2021Denmark Nicolaj Madsen
2022
2023Denmark Gustav Kjeldsen
2024Iceland Eiður Aron Sigurbjörnsson
2025Nigeria Fatai Gbadamosi

Top scorers by season

Season Player League Total Goals Domestic League Domestic Cup
2025Iceland Daði Berg JónssonBesta deild752
2024Iceland Andri Rúnar Bjarnason880
2023Serbia Vladimir Tufegdžić1. deild99
2022642
Denmark Nicolaj Madsen660
2021Iceland Pétur Bjarnason14113
2020Spain Nacho Gil10100
2019Iceland Pétur Bjarnason2. deild1275
201817143
2017660
2016Iceland Sólon Breki Leifsson88
2015Iceland Pape Mamadou Faye1. deild55
2014Iceland Andri Rúnar Bjarnason1174
2013England Ben Everson12102
2012Iceland Pétur Georg Markan853
2011England Tomi Ameobi12111
2010Iceland Andri Rúnar Bjarnason2. deild22193
2009880
Serbia Goran Vujic88
2008Iceland Andri Rúnar Bjarnason3. deild1414
2007Iceland Pétur Geir Svavarsson2525
2006Iceland Óttar Kristinn Bjarnason100
2005Iceland Þröstur Pétursson44
2004Iceland Hálfdán Daðason99
Iceland Pétur Georg Markan99
20031073
2002440
1993Serbia Djordje Tosic1. deild55
Iceland Jóhann Þór Ævarsson55
1992761
1988Iceland Stefán Tryggvason[16]3. deild10-

Players in bold are currently playing for Vestri.

Former notable players

Players who have played for Vestri (Badmintonfélag Ísafjarðar, BÍ'88 and BÍ/Bolungarvík) and earned international caps at senior level. Correct as of 28 October 2025.

Nat. Player Date of birth Current club Position International career
Senegal Pape Abou Cissé 14 September 1995 Free Agent Defender 2018–2022
Zimbabwe Silas Songani 28 June 1989 Free Agent Forward 2013–2018
South Africa Cafu Phete 4 April 1994 Iceland Vestri Midfielder 2020–present
Iceland Eiður Aron Sigurbjörnsson 26 February 1990 Iceland Njarðvík Defender 2019–present
United States Virgin Islands James Charles Mack 10 August 1988 Retired Forward 2018–present
Iceland Andri Rúnar Bjarnason 12 December 1990 Iceland Stjarnan Forward 2018–2019
Zimbabwe Kundai Benyu 12 December 1997 Zimbabwe CAPS United Midfielder 2017–present
Gabon Loïc Cédric Mbang Ondo 5 October 1990 Retired Defender 2017–2024
Iceland Emil Pálsson 10 June 1993 Midfielder 2016
Antigua and Barbuda Brentton Muhammad 11 September 1990 Goalkeeper 2014–2024
Iceland Matthías Vilhjálmsson 30 January 1987 Forward 2009–2016
Gabon Gilles Mbang Ondo 10 October 1985 2007–2013
Scotland Nigel Quashie 20 July 1978 Midfielder 2004–2006

Managerial history

Dates[6] Name Notes
1986 Iceland Björn Helgason
1987 Iceland Jakob Ólason
1988 Iceland Jóhann Króknes Torfason
1989 Iceland Örnólfur Oddsson Player-manager
1990 Iceland Jóhann Króknes Torfason
1991–1992 Iceland Ámundi Sigmundsson Player-manager
1993 Iceland Helgi Helgason
1994 Iceland Einar Friðþjófsson
1995 Iceland Björn Ingimarsson Fired midway through season
1995 Iceland Örnólfur Oddsson Interim player-manager
1996 Iceland Ómar Torfason Player-manager
2002–2004 Iceland Haukur Benediktsson
2005 Iceland Örnólfur Oddsson
2006–2007 Iceland Jónas Leifur Sigursteinsson
2008 Serbia Slobodan Milišić
2009 Serbia Dragan Kažić
2010 Iceland Alfreð Elías Jóhannsson Player-manager
2011 Iceland Guðjón Þórðarson
2012–2014 Iceland Jörundur Áki Sveinsson
2015 Iceland Jón Hálfdán Pétursson
2016 Iceland Ásgeir Guðmundsson
2017 England Daniel Osafo-Badu Player-manager
2017–2020 Iceland Bjarni Jóhannsson
2020–2021 Iceland Heiðar Birnir Torleifsson Resigned in July 2021
2021 Iceland Jón Þór Hauksson
2022 Iceland Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson
2023–2025 Iceland Davíð Smári Lamude[17] Sacked 29 September 2025
2025 Iceland Jón Þór Hauksson[18] Appointed until the end of the season
2025– England Daniel Osafo-Badu

Honours

References

  1. ↑ "Vestri – Knattspyrnusamband Íslands". www.ksi.is. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  2. ↑ ""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.
  3. ↑ "Ísfirðingar leika í 4. deild undir nafni BÍ". Bæjarins Besta (in Icelandic). 18 May 1988. p. 2. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "Skiptafundur í þrotabúinu á morgun". Vestfirska Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). 26 May 1988. p. 5. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Ísfirðingar spila undir nafninu BÍ 88". Bæjarins Besta (in Icelandic). 25 May 1988. p. 18. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  6. 1 2 Sigurður Pétursson (2017). Knattspyrnusaga Ísfirðinga. Púkamót, félag. ISBN 978-9935-24-189-4.
  7. ↑ "BÍ Bolungarvík tryggði sér sæti í 2. deild". Vísir.is. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
  8. ↑ "BÍ/Bolungarvík komið upp í 1. deild". Vísir.is. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
  9. ↑ "Guðjón þjálfar BÍ/Bolungarvík". Vísir.is. Archived from the original on 2016-09-25. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  10. ↑ "Vestri ræður ríkjum á Vestfjörðum". mbl.is. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  11. ↑ "/ Fréttir / Íþróttafélagið Vestri". Hsv.is. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  12. ↑ "Vestri kemur í stað BÍ/Bolungarvíkur – Knattspyrnusamband Íslands". www.ksi.is. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  13. ↑ Guðmundur Aðalsteinn Ásgeirsson (21 September 2019). "Bjarni Jó: Það verður mikið stuð fyrir vestan". Fótbolti.net (in Icelandic). Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  14. ↑ Jóhann Páll Ástvaldsson (30 September 2023). "Vestri upp í Bestu deild karla". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  15. ↑ Andri Már Eggertsson; Ágúst Orri Arnarson (22 August 2025). "Uppgjörið: Valur - Vestri 0-1 - Vestri bikarmeistari í fyrsta sinn". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  16. 1 2 "BÍ 88 Íslandsmeistari í 4. deild". Bæjarins Besta (in Icelandic). 14 September 1988. p. 11. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  17. ↑ Elvar Geir Magnússon (13 October 2022). "Davíð Smári nýr þjálfari Vestra (Staðfest)". Fótbolti.net (in Icelandic). Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  18. ↑ Sindri Sverrisson (30 September 2025). "Jón Þór ráðinn í björgunaraðgerðir hjá Vestra". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 30 September 2025.
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