What explains the success of Icelandic football Cupfinalseminar 2015 Siggi Eyjolfsson

The Icelandic way of developing players– Siggi Eyjolfsson

What explains the unbelievable

success of Icelandic football?

The Icelandic way vs the Norwegian way of developing players

Siggi Eyjolfsson

Technical director/coach education director

Football Association of Iceland, 2002-2014

Assistant coach and head of fitness at Lillestrøm SK


Facts and figures

• Population of Iceland:

329.100

• Registered players:

20.715 (6,3%)

– Males: 14.181 (68.5%)

– Females: 6.534 (31.5%)

• Population of Norway:

5.109.056

• Registered players:

375.313 (7.3%)

– Males: 264.188 (70.4%)

– Females: 111.125 (29.6%)


Population statistics...

Norway 5.140.000

Akershus 585.000

Iceland 329.100

Bergen 272.000


The men´s A-national team

• 31st in FIFA rankings

• Highest of the Nordic countries

• Qualified for EURO 2016

• Reached playoff for the last World

Cup

• Best team in the history of Iceland

• Iceland-Netherlands 2-0

• Netherlands-Iceland 0-1

• Iceland-Czech Republic 2-1

• Iceland-Turkey 3-0


The women´s A-national team

• 19th in FIFA rankings

• Qualified for EURO 2009

• Silver medalist Algarve Cup 2011

• Quarterfinals EURO 2013


Iceland´s history in FIFA rankings


History of FIFA rankings

Norway Iceland


Icelandic professionals abroad


• Belgium Lokeren 1993 Sverrir Ingi Ingason

• Belgium SV Zulte Waregem 1983 Ólafur Ingi Skúlason

• Canada Edmonton 1984 Óskar Örn Hauksson

• China Jiangsu Guoxin-Sainty Sölvi Geir Ottesen Jónsson

• China Jiangsu Guoxin-Sainty Vidar Örn Kjartansson

• Denmark AGF 1981 Helgi Valur Daníelsson

• Denmark Bröndby 1993 Hólmbert Aron Fridjónsson

• Denmark FC Köbenhavn 1991 Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson

• Denmark FC Köbenhavn 1995 Kristján Flóki Finnbogason

• Denmark FC Köbenhavn 1988 Rúrik Gíslason

• Denmark FC Mydtjylland 1985 Eyjólfur Hédinsson

• Denmark Horsens 1986 Kjartan Henry Finnbogason

• Denmark Nordsjælland 1995 Adam Örn Arnarson

• Denmark Nordsjælland 1986 Gudjón Baldvinsson

• Denmark Nordsjælland 1992 Gudmundur Thórarinsson

• Denmark Nordsjælland 1995 Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson

• Denmark OB 1986 Ari Freyr Skúlason

• Denmark OB 1986 Hallgrímur Jónasson

• Denmark Randers FC 1987 Theodór Elmar Bjarnason

• Denmark Randers FC 1989 Ögmundur Kristinsson

• Denmark SönderjyskE 1985 Baldur Sigurðsson

• Denmark Vestsjælland 1988 Eggert Gunnthór Jónsson

• Denmark Vestsjælland 1995 Frederik August Albrecht

Schram

• England Bolton Wanderers 1978 Eidur Smári Gudjohnsen

• England Brighton & Hove Albion Emil Ásmundsson

• England Charlton Athletic 1990 Jóhann Berg Gudmundsson

• England Rotherham 1982 Kári Árnason

• England Cardiff City 1989 Aron Einar Gunnarsson

• England Swansea 1989 Gylfi Thór Sigurdsson

• Germany Preussen Munster 1993 Emil Atlason

• Germany SSV Jahn Regensburg Hannes Thorsteinn Sigurdsson

• Holland Ajax 1990 Kolbeinn Sigthórsson

• Holland AZ Alkmaar 1990 Aron Jóhannsson

• Holland NEC Nijmegen 1993 Kristján Gauti Emilsson

• Holland PSV 1995 Hjörtur Hermannsson

• Italy Cesena 1993 Hördur Björgvin Magnússon

• Italy Pescara 1988 Birkir Bjarnason

• Italy Verona 1984 Emil Hallfredsson

• Norway Aalesund 1994 Aron Elís Þrándarson

• Norway Aalesund 1995 Daníel Leó Grétarsson

• Norway Florö 1990 Hlynur Atli Magnússon

• Norway Lilleström 1994 Árni Vilhjálmsson

• Norway Lilleström 1991 Finnur Orri Margeirsson

• Norway Rosenborg 1990 Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson

• Norway Sandnes Ulf 1984 Hannes Thór Halldórsson

• Norway Start 1989 Gudmundur Kristjánsson

• Norway Start 1989 Ingvar Jónsson

• Norway Start 1987 Matthías Vilhjálmsson

• Norway Vålerenga 1995 Elías Már Ómarsson

• Norway Viking FK 1990 Björn Daníel Sverrisson

• Norway Viking FK 1981 Indridi Sigurdsson

• Norway Viking FK 1992 Jón Dadi Bödvarsson

• Norway Viking FK 1985 Steinthór Freyr Thorsteinsson

• Philippines Global 1979 Ray Anthony Jónsson

• Russia FC Krasnodar 1987 Ragnar Sigurdsson

• Russia Torpedo Moscow 1988 Arnór Smárason

• Spain Real Sociedad 1989 Alfred Finnbogason

• Sweden AIK 1991 Haukur Heiðar Hauksson

• Sweden Brage 1987 Heiðar Geir Júlíusson

• Sweden GAIS 1993 Arnar Bragi Bergsson

• Sweden GIF Sundsvall 1989 Jón Guðni Fjóluson

• Sweden GIF Sundsvall 1990 Rúnar Már Sigurjónsson

• Sweden Häcken 1982 Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson

• Sweden Hammarby 1984 Birkir Már Sævarsson

• Sweden Helsingborg 1991 Gudlaugur Victor Pálsson

• Sweden IFK Göteborg 1980 Hjálmar Jónsson

• Sweden Norrköping 1993 Arnór Ingvi Traustason

• Sweden Örebro 1990 Eiður Aron Sigurbjörnsson

• Sweden Örebro 1988 Hjörtur Logi Valgardsson

• Sweden Östersund 1989 Haraldur Björnsson

• USA Columbus Crew 1990 Kristinn Steindórsson


• Denmark AB Gladsaxe 1998 Dagur Austmann Hilmarsson

• Denmark Esbjerg 1996 Sindri Pálmason

• Denmark FC Köbenhavn 1998 Máni Austmann Hilmarsson

• Denmark Midtjylland 1998 Mikael Neville Anderson

• England Brighton&Hove Albion 1997 Ragnar Már Lárusson

• England Fulham 1998 Jón Dagur Þorteinsson

• England Reading 1998 Axel Óskar Andrésson

• England Reading 1996 Samúel Kári Fridjónsson

• England Reading 1997 Sindri Scheving

• England Reading 1996 Tómas Ingi Urbancic

• Holland Ajax 1997 Óttar Magnús Karlsson

• Holland AZ Alkmaar 1996 Alexander Helgi Sigurdarson

• Holland AZ Alkmaar 1997 Viktor Karl Einarsson

• Holland AZ Alkmaar 1999 Jónatan Ingi Jónsson

• Holland Groningen 1999 Kolbeinn Finnsson

• Holland PSV 1997 Albert Gudmundsson

• Holland Heerenveen 1998 Júlíus Magnússon

• Norway Stabæk 1996 Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson

• Sweden AIK 1997 Pétur Steinn Þorsteinsson

• Sweden Malmö 1998 Aron Már Brynjarsson

20 young players abroad

born 1996 or later...


13 Icelanders in Tippeligaen 2015• Aron Elís Þrándarson Aalesund

• Daníel Leó Grétarsson Aalesund

• Árni Vilhjálmsson LSK

• Finnur Margeirsson LSK

• Hólmar Eyjólfsson Rosenborg

• Matthías Vilhjálmsson Rosenborg

• Guðmundur Kristjánsson Start

• Ingvar Jónsson Start

• Elías Már Ómarsson Vålerenga

• Björn D. Sverrisson Viking

• Indriði Sigurðsson Viking

• Jón Daði Böðvarsson Viking

• Steinþór Thorsteinsson Viking


Regular qualifications for UEFA final tournaments

2007-20162007 Men´s U-17 national team

2009 Women´s A-national team

2009 Women´s U-19 national team

2011 Men´s U-21 national team

2011 Women´s U-17 national team

2012 Men´s U-17 national team

2013 Women´s A-national team

2016 Men´s A-national team

8 final tournaments since 2007


What is the Icelandic secret

behind developing players?


• All these players have been developed at IBV in

Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland

• Population 4.200 people.


Players who have come straight from ÍA Akranes and

turned professional abroad (30 players in 30 years)

1976 Matthias Hallgrimsson, Halmia

1977 Teitur Thordarson, Jönköbing

1978 Karl Thordarson, La Louviere

1978 Petur Petursson, Feyenoord

1980 Sveinbjorn Hakonarson, Grimsas

1984 Sigurdur Jonsson, Sheffield Wednesday

1985 Bjarni Sigurðsson, Brann,

1985 Gudbjorn Tryggvason Start

1988 Olafur Thordarson, Brann

1990 Adalsteinn Viglundsson B1909

1992 Arnar Gunnlaugsson Feyenoord

1992 Bjarki Gunnlaugsson Feyenoord

1993 Þórður Guðjónsson Bochum

1995 Arnar Gunnlaugsson, Sochaux

1996 Bjarki Gunnlaugsson, Mannheim,

Population of Akranes, 6.700 people.

1996 Stefan Thor Thordarson, Öster

1996 Haraldur Ingolfsson, Aberdeen

1997 Bjarni Gudjonsson, Newcastle

1997 Arnar Gunnlaugsson, Bolton,

1997 Haraldur Ingolfsson, Elfsborg

1998 Gunnlaugur Jonsson, Örebro

1998 Johannes Karl Gudjonsson, Genk

1998 Steinar Adolfsson, Kongsvinger

1998 Thordur Thordarson, Norrköping

1999 Siggi Eyjolfsson, Walsall,

1999 Stefán Thor Thordarson, Ürdingen

2000 Johannes Hardarson, Groningen

2004 Julian Johnson, B68,

2004 Arnor Smarason, Heereenveen

2005 Gretar Rafn Steinsson, Young Boys

2005 Stefán Thor Thordarson, Norrköping

2009 Björn Bergmann Sigurdarson, Lillestrøm


England Gylfi Sigurdsson – SwanseaViktor Illugason – Reading Johann Gudmundsson – Charlton

Spain Alfred Finnbogason – Real Sociedad

Holland Alexander Helgason – AZ AlkmaarViktor Karl Einarsson – AZ Alkmaar

DenmarkAdam Orn Adamsson – Nordsjælland

BelgiumSverrir Ingi Ingason – LokerenGunnlaugur Birgisson – Club Brugge

Greece Elfar Helgason – AEK Athens

Sweden Kristinn Jonsson – BrommapojkarnaGudmann Thorisson – Mjallby

Norway Steinthor Freyr Thorsteinsson – Ulf SandnesArnor Adalsteinsson – HonefossGudmundur Kristjansson – Start Finnur Orri Margeirsson – Lilleström Árni Vilhjálmsson – Lilleström

Denmark Oliver Sigurjonsson – AGF

USAKristinn Steindorsson – Columbus Crew

19 players from Breiðablik´s youth system went to European

professional clubs 2007 - 2015


The Icelandic way

in player development...• No volunteer or parent

coaches

• All coaches get paid

• Qualified coaches working

with kids from day 1, focus on

teaching technical skills

• 90% of the coaches have

coach education

• All clubs have ability based

grouping in training and in

matches (differentiering)

• We develop all players, not

just the best ones

• Our best players move up

(hospitering)

• Encourage extra training

• Best girls can train with boys

• Local town authorities

construct the football

facilities, clubs run them

• The Icelandic work hard

mentality


Ability based grouping

• Players train and play

together against teams of

similar ability

• Big wins and big losses are

less frequent

• Grouping should be

evaluated regularly and

players moved up or down a

group

• Coaches should focus on

developing all the players, not

just the best ones

• It is okay occasionaly to put

friends together in groups but

ability based grouping is the

norm

• Parents need to be educated

on the system

• Ability based grouping then

meets all the same criterias

as mixed grouping but is

much more effective way to

develop players


Why children participate

in sports (Gould&Petlichkoff 1988)

Mixed grouping Ability based grouping

To improve skills

To have fun

To be with friends

To experience excitement

and thrill

To experience success

To get fit


Other important factors

Mixed grouping Ability based grouping

Decreases dropout

Gives players a better

opportunity to become elite

players later on

Decreases chances of

matches being won or lost by

a huge margin

Enables players to experience

sufficient challenge in practice

Pushes you to become a

better player

Better for player

development?


Of all the active head coaches

in Iceland• 67.1% have completed

the UEFA B coaching

licence or more

• 28.3% have completed

the UEFA A coaching

licence or more

• 89.8% have completed at

least one weekend

course, the 1st part of the

UEFA B coaching licence


Winter facilities in Iceland

In January 2002:

• 1 football hall

• 5 football turf pitches

• 7 mini pitches

Today:

• 7 full size football halls

• 12 smaller football halls/turfs

• 23 football turf pitches

• 136 mini pitches

In January 2002:

• 1 per 20.716 players



Today:



• 1 per 901 players

• 1 per 152 players


12 football halls...

• Used by all age groups, male and female.

• Helps develop better players and better coaches.

• Huge impact! Finally Iceland can play football 12 months a year


A case study Grindavík´s

football facilities• Grindavík – 1st division club

in Iceland

• Total population of Grindavík:

2.697

• Stadium seating capacity:

1.750

• They also have a 60x80m

football hall.


Start young and train a lot

• 4-6 year olds = 1-2x per week




• Adults = 5-8 times per week

Additional training:

• We have educated physical education teachers teaching sports

at school 2x per week (age 6-19)

• All children must learn how to swim 1x per week (age 6-17)


Breiðablik trainings per week and fees

Age-group Winter Summer Fee

Senior 5 5

17-19 4 5 590 EUR

15-16 4 4 590 EUR

13-14 4 4 475 EUR

11-12 3 4 475 EUR

9-10 3 4 360 EUR

7-8 3 4 360 EUR

3-6 1 2 360 EUR

The local council offers vouchers of 215 EURof this amount over the age of 6.

Additional discounts are offered for volunteering. Most is spent on coaches wages.


KSÍ Technical skills school

Extra training to develop technical skills

• DVD given to all kids training

football up to 16 years of age.

• 20.000 copies.

• 100+ exercises and

interviews with senior national

team players.

• Divided into categories:

dribbling, receiving, heading,

passes, shooting, feints,

finishing skills, juggling skills.


Our best players

• Typically started training at age 4-6

• Played matches regularly above their agegroup

• Did a lot of additional training with the ball on their own

• Tried 1 – 2 other sports, basketball, team handball and track and

field being the most popular, but always in addition to football

• Dropped out of all sports except football between age 12 – 16.


The mentality of Icelandic players

1 2 3


The research of Angela Duckworth

• High school students with grit were more likely to graduate from

high school

• Cadets with grit were less likely to drop out from military training

• Kids with grit advanced furthest in competition in a national

spelling competition

• Grit predicted which rookie teachers would stick with teaching

and who would be most effective in improving learning outcomes

for students

• Salesmen with grit were more likely to keep their jobs and earn

more money

• Kids at school that have grit are less likely to drop out


Grit – Research of Angela Duckworth

Key to develop elite football players?

• „Grit is passion and perseverance for very long

term goals“

• „Grit is stamina, sticking with your future and

working really hard for years to make that future

a reality“

Think about this in football terms!


Icelandic research:

Mental skills and success in football(Haukur Ingi Guðnason, 2006)

• 116 Icelandic football players

– Ex youth national team players vs those who also

had A-national team matches?

– Professionals abroad vs non professionals

• Do the more successful players have better

mental skills?

(Tool used: OMSAT self assessment questionnaire, 48 questions).


• The research showed that the A-national team

players and professional players abroad scored

significantly better on most of the mental skills,

better than the other groups who were less

successful in their football careers.

• The biggest difference between the groups was

found on questions on commitment.


Example of the statements the successful

Icelandic players scored high on

• Football is my whole life

• I push hard even if it hurts

• I am willing to sacrifice most other things to excel in football

• I am determined to never let up or give up in football

• I don´t need someone to push me to practice and play hard

• I give 100% effort in practicing and performing whether ahead or

behind

• I feel more committed to improvement in my football than to

anything else in my life


Henning Berg former head coach

at Lyn and Lillestrøm

"The mental attitude is the first thing you notice in Icelandic players. They are always giving their best effort, they work hard in training and they are mentally strong. They handle the pressure and act as true professionals"

(Morgunbladid, Nov 5th 2007)


Teitur Thordarson, former head coach

KR, Lyn, Brann, Lilleström, Estonia...

"It is the dream of every Icelandic football player to become a professional player abroad, and the dream carries them on. The Icelandic boys have a different attitude from the boys abroad. They are willing to work harder to succeed"

(Frettabladid, Nov, 5th 2006)


Mentality? - Icelandic professional players

who have been captains at their clubs• Arnar Thor Vidarssson, Lokeren, Belgium

• Eidur Gudjohnsen, Chelsea, England

• Asgeir Sigurvinsson, VFB Stuttgart, Germany

• Gudni Bergsson, Bolton, England

• Hermann Hreidarsson, Charlton, England

• Ivar Ingimarsson, Reading, England

• Runar Kristinsson, Lokeren, Belgium

• Eyjolfur Sverrisson, Hertha Berlin, Germany

• Janus Gudlaugsson, F.C. Köln, Germany

• Sigurdur Gretarsson, Grasshoppers, Switzerland

• Petur Marteinsson Hammarby, Sweden

• Larus Orri Sigurdsson, Stoke City, England

• Haraldur Gudmundsson, Aalesund, Norway

• Stefan Gislason, Lyn, Norway and Bröndby, Denmark

• Gudmundur Kristjansson, Start

• Indridi Sigurdsson, Viking


Researcher of success

in many fields...„The kind of commitment I find among the best

performers across virtually every field is a

single-minded passion for what they do, an

unwavering desire for excellence in the way they

think and the way they work”

Jim Collins


What does it take to become successful in sports?

Research on Icelandic top athletes in 2006, (Vidar Halldorsson and Oskar Bjarni Oskarsson)

The Icelandic top

athletes were asked:

”What are the most

important qualities

needed for top class

athletes?"

The results were:

• Mentality/mindset

• Commitment

• Self-confidence

• Self-discipline

Do we teach our players these skills?


Gylfi Sigurdsson


Sources: The Football Associations and Nordic Statistical

Yearbook 2014 (population jan 1st 2014)

Country: Denmark Finland Norway Sweden Iceland

Total

population

5.627.325 5.451.270 5.109.056 9.644.864 325.671

Number of

players

registered

351.935 127.145 375.313 454.811 20.715

World

population

ranking

111 113 116 89 175

FIFA

ranking

35 56 46 45 31


The Icelandic way

in player development...• No volunteer or parent

coaches

• All coaches get paid

• Qualified coaches working

with kids from day 1, focus on

teaching technical skills

• 90% of the coaches have

coach education

• All clubs have ability based

grouping in training and in

matches (differentiering)

• We develop all players, not

just the best ones

• Our best players move up

(hospitering)

• Encourage extra training

• Best girls can train with boys

• Local town authorities

construct the football

facilities, clubs run them

• The Icelandic work hard

mentality


Siggi Eyjolfsson

[email protected]

• Technical director/coach education director at the Icelandic Football Association, 2002-2014

• Assistant coach Lillestrom, Norway

• Women´s national team head coach of Iceland 2007-2013

• UEFA Pro licence coach from the English F.A.

• B.Sc. Exercise and Sport Science

• M.Sc. Exercise and Sport Psychology

• Linked in: Siggi Eyjolfsson

• Blog: www.siggiraggi.is

• Tel: 0047-406-75-272

What explains the success of Icelandic football Cupfinalseminar 2015 Siggi Eyjolfsson

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