Icelandic Football: Top 10 Best, Upcoming Icelandic Talents

In recent years there has been much development in Icelandic football and therefore many youngsters have had opportunities to prove their worth in the professional game.

Here is our top ten selection of the hottest prospects emerging from Iceland. Be sure to watch these players in coming future as they are tipped for success.

Hörður Björgvin Magnússon

Date of birth: February 11th, 1993

Position: Centre Back / Left Back

Current club: Juventus FC

Former clubs: Fram Reykjavík

About: It sure might be easy to pick the hottest prospect when you play for a team full of champions, but fighting your way into the first team squad full of world-class players as a 19 year old might possibly be one of the hardest tasks possible. He is born in Reykjavík and played for Premier League club Fram till he was 17 years old.

He signed for Juventus on loan in January 2011 and made the move later permanent this year, signing a four-and-half year contract after performing well for the youth and reserve team. He went with the first team squad to Dubai in training camp in December last year and has been called up for the first team for coming season.

He will have enough to do at the Italian club, fighting for a place in the team. He went on many trials before his move to Juventus, most recognized, Everton, Sunderland and previously Juventus, before joining. Be sure to watch this players in coming years, who is currently playing for the U21 National team.

Hörður is a dead-ball specialist, like his teammate Andrea Pirlo, but the Icelandic defender is keen to learn from the Italian midfielder who played in the European Championship Finals with Italy this summer in Poland and Ukraine.

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Hjörtur Hermannsson

Date of birth: February 8th, 1995

Position: Centre Back

Club: PSV Eindhoven

Former clubs: Fylkir

About: Hjörtur is a 17 year old defender born and raised in capital of Iceland, Reykjavík. He is one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the country and has been tipped for a bright future, having already captained the national U17 and U19 year old team, leading them to the U17 team to a European Championship Finals in Slovenia in may this year.

UEFA.com wrote a article about the young defender, saying he’s a player to follow in the near future. He had an outstanding tournament with the Icelandic team, getting once on the mark in three group games. After earning a starting spot in top-flight club Fylkir in 2011, he also went on a trial at numerous clubs such as AC Milan, Reading and PSV Eindhoven.

The Dutch outfit signed Hermannsson this year from Fylkir this summer and is expected to be chosen in the U21 national team in coming months. His brother, Björn Orri, was also a professional himself, playing for youth-teams at Ipswich Town before suffering injuries. It will be interesting to follow Hjörtur in the coming future, but this won’t be the last words written about him, that’s for sure.

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Ingólfur Sigurðsson

Date of birth: February 12th, 1993

Position: Attacking Midfielder / Winger

Club: Lyngby

Former clubs: Valur, KR Reykjavik and Heerenveen.

About: Ingólfur Sigurðsson is certainly one of the most talented players that Iceland has ever seen. He is a attacking midfielder and winger with amazing technique and with speed that adds perfection to his game. When Sigurðsson was 14 year old he agreed a move to Dutch club Heerenveen and did brilliantly, but decided to come back home to Iceland a year later.

He came back and trained with Valur, but decided later on to join KR. He did well there and created a name for himself before going back to the Netherlands for a second spell with Heerenveen. Again he lasted for a year as he was not feeling the rythm at the club and joined KR again.

After alot of speculations he ended up joining his former club Valur in 2011. He spent most of his time warming the bench the summer of 2011, but decided to go back to professional football after the season, joining Danish team Lyngby. He is still tipped to be a star, as he is only 19 years old. He has already gone on trial at clubs like Arsenal, Reading and Glasgow Celtic, but he rejected a trial from Manchester United, stating he was a massive Liverpool FC fan.

Jón Daði Böðvarsson

Date of birth: May 25th, 1992

Position: Attacking Midfielder / Winger

Club: Selfoss

Former clubs: AGF

About: Here we have a quality player that still plays in Iceland. He currently plays with Pepsi League side Selfoss, who just got promoted last season. Jón is one of the finest players in the squad, being already a key player at the age 20. He went on loan at AGF in Denmark last year. He plays as attacking midfielder or winger.

He has been playing well last couple of years for Selfoss and it is only a matter of time before the player will be bought. Number of clubs are interested in the player, such as clubs from Denmark, Norway and Sweden. He is already a part of the U21 national team and has fantastic skills on the ball.

Gunnar Þorsteinsson

Date of birth: February 1st, 1994

Position: Central Midfielder

Club: Ipswich Town

Former clubs: Grindavík and ÍBV

About: Gunnar made a name for himself last year when joining Ipswich Town from Pepsi League team, Grindavík. He had played a few games for Grindavík’s first team side before making four year deal with Ipswich. He had previously had trials for Reading FC, but he was committed to Ipswich Town, as it was hard for him to deny his favourite club in England.

His father, Þorsteinn Gunnarsson, former sports journalist and chairman of Grindavík football club, is also a Ipswich supporter, making the choice quite easy for Þorsteinsson. He as been tipped for greatness at the Championship club, as Paul Jewell, Ipswich boss praised the player for his work-rate. He is expected to perform for the youth and reserve side next season and who knows if he will be called up to the first team.

Sverrir Ingi Ingason

Date of birth: August 5th, 1993

Position: Centre Back

Club: Breiðablik

About: Sverrir got himself into the spotlight just this summer for fantastic performances with Breiðablik in the Pepsi League. For last couple of years Ingason has been developing his game to a new level and it has finally paid off as he is believed to be one the top players in the league this summer.

He is expected to get some trials outside Iceland after this season. He is also expected to be picked in the next U21 national team squad, being overlooked by coach Eyjólfur Sverrisson last time as the team lost to Azerbaijan at home and later to Norway in Oslo. Be sure to watch this one in coming years, remember the name.

Emil Pálsson

Date of birth: June 10th, 1993

Position: Attacking Midfielder / Winger

Club: FH

Former clubs: BÍ/Bolungarvík

About: This one is in no way related to New York Red Bulls midfielder, Guðlaugur Victor Pálsson. Emil Pálsson began his first team career quite early. Growing up in Ísafjörður and was already seen as a massive prospect, which he turned out to be. He played his first ever game for BÍ/Bolungarvík in 2008, only 15 years old.

Two years later he was named the captain of the team, only 17 years of age. After that same season in 2010 he was bought by the top-flight club FH as he mastered his skills with the youth team, being also part of the first team squad. He has had notable performances in the league thus far and is widely regarded as a future star.

Arnór Ingvi Traustason

Date of birth: April 3oth, 1993

Position: Midfielder Centre

Club: Keflavík

About: Another one from Pepsi League. Expect him to join another Scandinavian club in a year or so. He has been great for Pepsi League side, Keflavík. Arnor, 19 years of age, has been performing well in the midfield area creating great chances for his teammates as well scoring goals.

He was called up by Eyjólfur Sverrisson couple of months ago to play for the U21 national team, but didn’t get his debut. If he keeps performing like he has been doing recently, expect him in Allsvenskan or Tippeligaen.

Arnar Bragi Bergsson

Date of birth: April 30th, 1993

Position: Midfielder Centre

Club: IFK Göteborg

Former clubs: Västra Frölunda IF

About: One player Icelandic people do not know much of. He has played in Sweden his whole life, being almost a Swede, but his talent has not gone unnoticed. He started out at Västra Frölunda IF, located in Göteborg, before joining IFK Göteborg in Allsvenskan after a successful spell at Frölunda.

He has been moving up the youth ranks, previously being the captain of the U19 year old squad and having games to his name for the reserve team. It is only a matter of time before he gets the call for the first team. He has already represented Icelandic national youth teams a number of times. So get to know Bragi, he is Iceswelandic. Future star in Sweden for sure.

Oliver Sigurjónsson

Date of birth: March 3rd, 1995

Position: Deep Lying Midfielder

Club: AGF

Former clubs: Breiðablik

About: One of Breiðablik youth products. The team has been creating fantastic players through the years, and Oliver is set to be one of them. Enjoyed a lot of success through the youth ranks at Breiðablik before joining AGF in Denmark last year. Has been improving since then and has already trained a few times with the first team squad.

He had an outstanding tournament with the U17 national team in may as the team competed in the European Championship. France was leading the match, but two great assists got the equalizer for Iceland. One from a free-kick and the other from a corner-kick. He has already had trials at AC Milan, AGF and West Ham United. Other teams interested were Reading FC and Lazio. Let’s not go ahead of ourselves, but much like the Italian, Andrea Pirlo at Juventus.