Valur
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| Full name | Knattspyrnufélagið Valur | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Valsarar | ||
| Founded | 11 May 1911 | ||
| Ground |
Hlíðarendi Reykjavík Iceland | ||
| Capacity | 1,524 | ||
| Club Chairman | Björn Zoëga | ||
| Manager | Ólafur Jóhannesson | ||
| League | Úrvalsdeild | ||
| 2015 | 5th | ||
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Knattspyrnufélagið Valur is an Icelandic athletic club based in Reykjavík, Iceland. The club is situated close to the city centre, in the east side of town, on the former farmland of Hlíðarendi. The club was originally formed as part of the local YMCA to play association football, but later incorporated handball and basketball. The club has won multiple national and cup titles amongst both men and women in the three biggest local ball sports: football, handball and basketball.[1] Valur's handball section reached the EHF Champions League final in 1980. It has won the Icelandic league 22 times, more than any other N1 deildin team.
History
The club was founded on 11 May 1911, as a subdivision of KFUM, the Icelandic YMCA. Later that year its name changed to Valur, which is an Icelandic word for gyrfalcon. In 1930 the club won its first national title, and it has been amongst the best football teams in the country ever since. In 1939 Valur bought the farmland of Hlíðarendi which retains its name even today, where they now have a football field and an indoor arena.
Originally Valur played only football, but around 1940 the club got involved in more sports, starting with men's handball. They won their first national handball title in 1940, and reached the final of the EHF Champions League in 1980. In the post-war era (1948), a women's handball division was started at Valur, and in the 1970s a women's football division was added. In 1970, Körfuknattleiksfélag Reykjavíkur (Reykjavík Basketball Club, KFR) joined Valur and became their basketball division.[1]
Stadia
The grounds at Hlíðarendi were completely renovated in the years between 2004 and 2007 and Valur currently play their home games at Vodafonevöllurinn ("The Vodafone Field"), and the handball games in the new Vodafonehöllin ("The Vodafone Hall"), the first section of the new grounds to be utilised. The new football pitch was used for the first time in the 2008 season.
In June 2007 the club signed a 5-year sponsorship deal with Vodafone.[2]
Club honours
- Men's football
- Icelandic Cups: 11
- 2005, 2008, 2016
- Women's football
- 1978, 1986, 1988, 1989, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Cup Champions: 13
- 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Men's handball
- 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2007
- Cup Champions: 9
- 1974, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016
- Icelandic Super Cup: 1
- 2009
- Final 1980
- Women's handball
- 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1983, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014
- Cup Champions: 6
- 1988, 1993, 2000, 2012, 2013, 2014
- Men's basketball
- National Champions: 2[6]
- 1980, 1983
- Cup Champions: 3
- 1980, 1981, 1983
Players
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaches
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References
- 1 2 "Saga – Knattspyrnufélagið Valur" (in Icelandic). valur.is. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ↑ "Valsmenn kynna ný íþróttamannvirki" (in Icelandic). ruv.is. Retrieved 2009-10-04.
- 1 2 "Knattspyrnudeild – Titlar" (in Icelandic). valur.is. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- 1 2 "Handknattleiksdeild – Titlar" (in Icelandic). valur.is. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- 1 2 "HSÍ meistaraskrár" (in Icelandic). Handball Association of Iceland. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ↑ "Körfuknattleiksdeild – Titlar" (in Icelandic). valur.is. Retrieved 11 June 2015.