Vestri (men's football)

For the women's team, see Vestri women'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)
Active departments of
ÍF Vestri
Men's football Volleyball Men's basketball
Women's football Bicycle Women's basketball

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 2025, it plays in the Icelandic top-tier Besta 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]

Squad

Current squad

As of 20 August 2025

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  DEN Benjamin Schubert
2 DF  DEN Morten Ohlsen Hansen
3 DF  SWE Anton Kralj
4 MF  NGA Fatai Gbadamosi
5 MF  RSA Cafú Phete
6 DF  ISL Gunnar Jónas Hauksson
7 FW  SRB Vladimir Tufegdžić
8 MF  ISL Ágúst Hlynsson
9 FW  ISL Pétur Bjarnason
10 MF  SWE Diego Montiel
11 MF  ISL Arnór Borg Guðjohnsen (on loan from FH)
12 GK  NED Guy Smit
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 MF  ISL Albert Ingi Jóhannsson
14 MF  ISL Birkir Eydal
15 DF  ISL Guðmundur Arnar Svavarsson
16 MF  SEN Abdourahmane Diagne
19 FW  GHA Emmanuel Duah
22 DF  ISL Elmar Atli Garðarsson (captain)
23 FW  ZIM Silas Songani
28 MF  DEN Jeppe Pedersen
29 MF  SWE Johannes Selvén
32 DF  ISL Eiður Sigurbjörnsson
40 DF  DEN Gustav Kjeldsen
77 DF  SEN Sergine Fall

Out on loan

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
— GK  FIN Matias Niemelä (at Grindavík until 31 December 2025)

Player of the year

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

Top scorers by season

Season Player League Total Goals Domestic League Domestic Cup
2025 Daði Berg Jónsson Besta deild 7 5 2
2024 Andri Rúnar Bjarnason Besta deild 8 8 0
2023 Vladimir Tufegdžić 1. deild 9 9 0
2022 Vladimir Tufegdžić 1. deild 6 4 2
Nicolaj Madsen 1. deild 6 6 0
2021 Pétur Bjarnason 1. deild 14 11 3
2020 Nacho Gil 1. deild 10 10 0
2019 Pétur Bjarnason 2. deild 12 7 5
2018 Pétur Bjarnason 2. deild 17 14 3
2017 Pétur Bjarnason 2. deild 6 6 0
2016 Sólon Breki Leifsson 2. deild 8 8 0
2015 Pape Mamadou Faye 1. deild 5 5 0
2014 Andri Rúnar Bjarnason 1. deild 11 7 4
2013 Ben Everson 1. deild 12 10 2
2012 Pétur Georg Markan 1. deild 8 5 3
2011 Tomi Ameobi 1. deild 12 11 1
2010 Andri Rúnar Bjarnason 2. deild 22 19 3
2009 Andri Rúnar Bjarnason 2. deild 8 8 0
Goran Vujic 2. deild 8 8 0
2008 Andri Rúnar Bjarnason 3. deild 14 14 0
2007 Pétur Geir Svavarsson 3. deild 25 25 0
2006 Óttar Kristinn Bjarnason 3. deild 10 0 0
2005 Þröstur Pétursson 3. deild 4 4 0
2004 Hálfdán Daðason 3. deild 9 9 0
Pétur Georg Markan 3. deild 9 9 0
2003 Pétur Georg Markan 3. deild 10 7 3
2002 Pétur Georg Markan 3. deild 4 4 0
1993 Djordje Tosic 1. deild 5 5 0
Jóhann Þór Ævarsson 1. deild 5 5 0
1992 Jóhann Þór Ævarsson 1. deild 7 6 1
1988 Stefán Tryggvason[16] 3. deild 10 - -

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
Silas Songani (1989-06-28) 28 June 1989 Vestri Forward 2013–2018
Cafu Phete (1994-04-04) 4 April 1994 Vestri Midfielder 2020–present
Eiður Aron Sigurbjörnsson (1990-02-26) 26 February 1990 Njarðvík Defender 2019–present
James Charles Mack (1988-08-10) 10 August 1988 Napier City Rovers Forward 2018–present
Andri Rúnar Bjarnason (1990-12-12) 12 December 1990 Stjarnan Forward 2018–2019
Kundai Benyu (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 CAPS United Midfielder 2017–present
Loïc Cédric Mbang Ondo (1990-10-05) 5 October 1990 Retired Defender 2017–2024
Emil Pálsson (1993-06-10) 10 June 1993 Retired Midfielder 2016
Brentton Muhammad (1990-09-11) 11 September 1990 Retired Goalkeeper 2014–2024
Matthías Vilhjálmsson (1987-01-30) 30 January 1987 Retired Forward 2009–2016
Gilles Mbang Ondo (1985-10-10) 10 October 1985 Retired Forward 2007–2013
Nigel Quashie (1978-07-20) 20 July 1978 Retired Midfielder 2004–2006

Managerial history

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