The Icelandic league is approaching the start of the season, and with the help of expert Styrmir Sigurðsson we take a closer look at the Men’s league. Who will win the league? Which player will stand out?
Styrmir Sigurðsson is a 38 year old long retired handball player. He has been covering handball as part of the Handkastið the podcast for the last 5-6 years where they record 2 shows each week about the domestic and foreign league where we have Icelandic players.
Which team will win the league this season and why?
– It will be very difficult to predict the winner this year since the best teams over the last season have lost key players abroad this summer. My guess at this time would be Haukar or Valur. Haukar have a new experienced coach with a good group of young players which have been playing with the U21 Icelandic team this summer. Valur has been at the top for the last few years, their squad has been getting older but this year they won’t be participating in the European league so they’ll have fewer games and travels which I think will benefit the older players in the squad.
Which player will stand out?
– Again I will have to go for two options here. First it is Baldur Fritz Bjarnason from ÍR. Turned 18 years old this year but was the highest scoring player in the league last year on his first year in the league with newly promoted ÍR. Went to Magdeburg this summer to practice with them and I expect this to be the last year in the Icelandic league. The second player is Dagur Árni Heimisson. Been one of the best players for U19 national team the last two summers but has been lacking that in the league. Recently joined Valur from his childhood team of KA Akureyri and I think that move will do him good following in his father’s footstep.
Which player will have his big breakthrough?
– Gunnar Róbertsson a 17-year-old player at Valur. Gunnar and his U17 national team won the Youth Olympics this summer where Gunnar was the top scorer of the tournament with 8.6 goals per game. One of the most promising players we have had in Iceland for many years so I’m hoping he will take the next step with his club this season.
Which player, team or event will be the most disappointing?
– I think FH Hafnarfjordur will be the biggest disappointment this year. FH won the Icelandic Championship 2 years again with Aron Palmarsson as their key player. The won the league title last year even though Aron went to Veszprem mid-season. After last season FH have lost may key players to retirement among players going to play abroad. They have a very young and interesting group which will go great things over the next years but I expect that this season could be a hurtful transition for this young team.
What are you looking forward to the most?
– The Icelandic league is a development league. We lost 5-7 of our best players aboard this summer so it would be easy to say that the league will have less strength this season. I however look at this as an opportunity for the next generation of players to take their big step into professional handball. Baldur, Dagur, Gunnar and many others, this is your time to shine!