Uncertainty could be brewing around Iceland’s men’s national handball team, as both head coach Snorri Steinn Guðjónsson and assistant Arnór Atlason are reportedly drawing attention from abroad while negotiations with the federation continue.
According to reports from Visir.is, interest from international clubs and national teams has emerged for both Snorri Steinn Guðjónsson and his assistant Arnór Atlason. Their current contracts with the Icelandic Handball Federation (HSÍ) are nearing expiration, raising questions about the long-term continuity of Iceland’s coaching setup.
Despite the growing external interest, discussions over extending their agreements with HSÍ are ongoing, and progressing positively. Their agent, Arnar Freyr Theodórsson, confirmed that talks are moving in the right direction, even if financial constraints and a heavy workload within the federation have slowed the process somewhat.
Improving over the past few years
Under the leadership of Snorri Steinn and Arnór, Iceland have shown steady improvement at major tournaments. Most recently, they secured a fourth-place finish at the European Championship earlier this year, narrowly missing out on a bronze medal after a defeat to Croatia.
However, their success has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this month, reports suggested that Denmark’s national team coach Nicolaj Jacobsen is interested in bringing Arnór Atlason into his setup as an assistant. The interest, though, extends beyond just Arnór, with both coaches reportedly on the radar of multiple international suitors, at both club and national team level.
Arnór is already balancing his national team duties with a role as head coach of Danish top-flight side TTH Holstebro, further underlining his growing reputation in European handball.
Still, the priority for both coaches appears to remain with Iceland. There is a shared sense, within both the coaching staff and the squad, that the team is building towards something significant. National team player Janus Daði Smárason recently echoed that sentiment, highlighting the ambition and belief within the group as they continue their upward trajectory.