Icelandic Football, the development of Icelandic players and coach
Transcription
Icelandic Football, the development of Icelandic players and coach
Icelandic Football, the development of Icelandic players and coach education in Iceland Siggi Eyjolfsson Technical director at the The Football Association of Iceland Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Icelandic football - facts and figures • Population of Iceland: 319.368 • Registered players: 19.220 (6,01%) • Number of clubs: 90 • Number of teams: 816 • Number of coaches: 575 • Number of professional players playing abroad: 66 • Semi-professional premier league Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Icelandic premier league 2010 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. ÍBV Breidablik FH KR Fram Valur Stjarnan Keflavík Grindavík Fylkir Selfoss Haukar Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Sam Allardyce quote "When you consider the fact that the population of Iceland is similar to the population of Bolton, it becomes astonishing how many good footballers come from Iceland. Icelandic players are playing all across Europe." Morgunbladid, May 8th, 2003 Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Male statistics Sources: The Football Associations and Nordic Statistical Yearbook 2009 (population jan 1st 2009) Country: Denmark Finland Norway Sweden Iceland Faroe Islands Total population 5.511.451 5.326.314 4.799.252 9.256.347 319.368 48.778 # of men at 1.024.687 age 5-34 987.067 945.115 1.729.164 71.531 10.488 # of men players registered 90.218 257.415 365.226 13.087 2.290 9.1% 27.2% 21.1% 18.3% 21.8% 249.938 % of all 24.4% men age 534 playing football Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Female statistics Sources: The Football Associations and Nordic Statistical Yearbook 2009 (population jan 1st 2009) Country: Denmark Finland Norway Sweden Iceland Faroe Islands Total population 5.511.451 5.326.314 4.799.252 9.256.347 319.368 48.778 # of women at age 5-34 991.291 942.201 905.016 1.646.125 67.449 9.178 # of women players registered 63.736 25.050 106.418 166.319 6.133 950 % of all women age 5-34 playing football 6.4% 2.7% 11.8% 10.1% 9.1% 10.4% Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Teitur Thordarson, ex head coach KR, Lyn, Brann, Lilleström, Estonia... "What surprised me the most when I came to Iceland was how many young players you have with great potential. The country is crowded with them and it can´t be explained except through the tremendous interest the nation has for football." (Frettabladid, Nov, 5th 2006) Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Teitur Thordarson continued... "It does not matter how many people live in Iceland, you don´t need a nation of 20 million people to make good football players. Iceland has developed surprisingly many good players in the past and it has drawn attention" (Frettabladid, Nov, 5th 2006) Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Teitur Thordarson quote "It is the dream of every Icelandic football player to become a professional player abroad, and the dream carries them on. The Icelandic boys have a different attitude from the boys abroad. They are willing to work harder to succeed" (Frettabladid, Nov, 5th 2006) Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Henning Berg, Head coach, Lyn Football Club, Norwegian Premier League "The mental attitude is the first thing you notice in Icelandic players. They are always giving their best effort, they work hard in training and they are mentally strong. They handle the pressure and act as true professionals" (Morgunbladid, Nov 5th 2007) Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Henning Berg, Head coach, Lyn Football Club, Norwegian Premier League "Icelandic players are interesting because they are good players. They have had good basic training and are willing to work hard to succeed. The mental attitude is what makes them interesting" (Morgunbladid, Nov 5th 2007) Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Steve Coppell - Manager of Reading F.C. on his Icelandic player Brynjar Gunnarsson... “The most important people at this club aren’t the players who play regularly, but those who are waiting for their chance and remain 100% supportive, ready for action whenever called upon. Brynjar Gunnarsson, showed at Stamford Bridge how important the right mentality is. He played a full and important part in our performance, and because of his dedication to his craft, he was ready to play and didn’t need any significant time to get up to speed. He typifies professionalism at our club.” Steve Coppell – RFC Matchday Programme – v West Ham 01/01/07 Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson What is so special about Iceland? • Long pre-season (7 months) • Short football season (May 10th - September 30th). • The Icelandic professional players playing today grew up in poor football conditions/facilities. • We have players that are willing to train very hard without much financial gain • High level of coach education Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Our professional players playing abroad: • Who are they and where are they playing? Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Icelanders who are playing professionally in Denmark • • • • Arnor Smarason, Esbjerg Stefan Gislason, Bröndby Rurik Gislason, OB Sölvi Geir Ottesen, FC Köbenhavn • Aron Johannsson, AGF Århus • Arnar Darri Petursson, SönderjyskE • Olafur Ingi Skulason, SönderjyskE Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Icelandic professionals in England Eidur Gudjohnsen, Stoke Hermann Hreidarsson, Portsmouth Heidar Helguson, QPR Ivar Ingimarsson, Reading Brynjar Gunnarsson, Reading Kari Arnason, Plymouth Johannes Gudjonsson, Huddersfield Aron Einar Gunnarsson, Coventry Gretar Rafn Steinsson, Bolton Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson, West Ham Gudlaugur V. Palsson, Liverpool Armann Smari Bjornsson, Hartlepool Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson In Belgium • Bjarni Thor Vidarsson, Mechelen • Arnar Thor Vidarsson, Cercle Brugge Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson In Norway Arni Gautur Arason, Odd Grenland Indridi Sigurdsson, Viking Birkir Bjarnason, Viking Kristjan Orn Sigurdsson, Hönefoss Gardar Johannsson, Strömsgodset Palmi Rafn Palmason, Stabæk Bjarni Olafur Eiriksson, Stabæk Veigar Pall Gunnarsson, Stabæk Gylfi Einarsson, Brann Birkir Mar Sævarsson, Brann Stefan Logi Magnusson, Lilleström Björn Bergmann Sigurdarson, Lilleström Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson, Frederiksstad Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson In Sweden Jonas Gudni Sævarsson, Halmstad Theodór Elmar Bjarnason, IFK Göteborg Ragnar Sigurdsson, IFK Göteborg Hjalmar Jonsson, IFK Göteborg Helgi Valur Daníelsson, AIK Eyjolfur Hedinsson, GAIS Gudjon Baldvinsson, GAIS Gudmundur Reynir Gunnarssom GAIS Hallgrimur Jonasson, GAIS Gunnar Thor Gunnarsson, Norrköping Ari Freyr Skulason, GIF Sundsvall Hannes Sigurdsson, GIF Sundsvall David Thor Vidarsson, Öster Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson In Netherlands Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, AZ Alkmaar Johann Berg Gudmundsson, AZ Alkmaar Bjorn Jonsson, Heerenveen (youth) Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson In Scotland Eggert Jonsson, Hearts Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson In Germany • Gylfi Thor Sigurdsson, Hoffenheim Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson In Italy • Emil Hallfredsson, Hellas Verona Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson The characteristics of the typical Icelandic professional player • • • • • • Works hard Listens to the coach Adjusts well Learns the language Has leadership qualities In surprisingly many cases he becomes the captain of his club Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Icelandic professional players who have been captains at their clubs Arnar Thor Vidarssson, Lokeren, Belgium Eidur Gudjohnsen, Chelsea, England Asgeir Sigurvinsson, VFB Stuttgart, Germany Gudni Bergsson, Bolton, England Hermann Hreidarsson, Charlton, England Ivar Ingimarsson, Reading, England Runar Kristinsson, Lokeren, Belgium Eyjolfur Sverrisson, Hertha Berlin, Germany Janus Gudlaugsson, F.C. Köln, Germany Sigurdur Gretarsson, Grasshoppers, Switzerland Petur Marteinsson, Hammarby, Sweden Larus Orri Sigurdsson, Stoke City, England Haraldur Gudmundsson, Aalesund, Norway Stefan Gislason, Lyn, Norway and Bröndby, Denmark Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson A few possible reasons why Iceland produces so many professional players... • Icelandic players cost less in many cases • Solid athletic background from young age • The nation as a whole works very hard • Football is the number 1 sport in Iceland. Football culture. • Qualified, paid football coaches, coach the kids from age 5-6 and up. Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson • The level of coach education is very high • A great number of our coaches at all age groups are physical education teachers with football background • Open door policy at all clubs for all age groups except the first team • Everybody can play for their favourite team! Number of training sessions for the typical Icelandic player • 6-10 year olds = 2-3x per week • 10-14 year olds = 3-4x per week • 14-18 year olds = 4-6x per week • Adults = 5-8 times per week Additional training: • We have educated physical education teachers teaching sports at school 2x per week (age 6-19) • All children must learn how to swim 1x per week (age 6-17) Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Home fan support for the Icelandic women´s national team: Qualifiers for World Cup 2007: • Iceland-Belarus 739 • Iceland-Portugal 1.429 • Iceland-Czech Republic 1.423 • Iceland-Sweden 675 Total: 4.266 fans Average 1.067 fans/game Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Qualifiers for EURO 2009: • Iceland-France 1.667 • Iceland-Serbia 5.976 • Iceland-Slovenia 3.922 • Iceland-Greece 5.323 • Iceland-Rep.of Ireland 4.729 Total: 21.617 fans Average: 4.323 fans/game Milestones in women´s football • A-national team participated in EURO 2009 in Finland • U-19 national team participated in the EURO 2009 in Belarus • TV rights were sold for the first time in 2009 for the women´s top league and the women´s national team Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson An interesting point! • "All the best players from Iceland through the years have come through the clubs in the countryside" Ásgeir Sigurvinsson, Iceland´s A-national team head coach, radio interview, Iceland, 2005 Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson A case study - ÍA Akranes Football Club Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson A case study - ÍA Akranes Football Club • Akranes is a small town with population of 6.609. • 1.573 men are football age (5-34) • Have competed in the premier league for 59 years out of the last 63. • 18 times Icelandic champions • 9 times Cup winners Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Players who have come straight from ÍA Akranes and turned professional abroad (31 players in 33 years) 1976 Matthias Hallgrimsson, Halmia 1977 Teitur Thordarson, Jönköbing 1978 Karl Thordarson, La Louviere 1978 Petur Petursson, Feyenoord 1980 Sveinbjorn Hakonarson, Grimsas 1984 Sigurdur Jonsson, Sheffield Wednesday 1985 Bjarni Sigurðsson, Brann, 1985 Gudbjorn Tryggvason Start 1988 Olafur Thordarson, Brann 1990 Adalsteinn Viglundsson B1909 1992 Arnar Gunnlaugsson Feyenoord 1992 Bjarki Gunnlaugsson Feyenoord 1993 Þórður Guðjónsson Bochum 1995 Arnar Gunnlaugsson, Sochaux 1996 Bjarki Gunnlaugsson, Mannheim, Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson 1996 Stefan Thor Thordarson, Öster 1996 Haraldur Ingolfsson, Aberdeen 1997 Bjarni Gudjonsson, Newcastle 1997 Arnar Gunnlaugsson, Bolton, 1997 Haraldur Ingolfsson, Elfsborg 1998 Gunnlaugur Jonsson, Örebro 1998 Johannes Karl Gudjonsson, Genk 1998 Steinar Adolfsson, Kongsvinger 1998 Thordur Thordarson, Norrköping 1999 Siggi Eyjolfsson, Walsall, 1999 Stefán Thor Thordarson, Ürdingen 2000 Johannes Hardarson, Groningen 2004 Julian Johnson, B68, 2005 Gretar Rafn Steinsson, Young Boys 2005 Stefán Thor Thordarson, Norrköping 2009 Björn Bergmann, Lilleström, ÍA Akranes • No club has produced more leading goalscorers in the Icelandic premier league (26 times) • Typically 90-95% of ÍA´s squad are players born and raised in Akranes • The club also typically has one of the best youth teams (16-18 year olds) Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson • In 1993 Icelandic champion ÍA Akranes beat Dutch champions Feyenoord in Iceland 1-0. • ÍA Akranes had 8 homegrown players in the starting lineup. • 6 of them went on to play professionally. How is this possible for such a small town? • • • • • Football tradition, football culture Great work ethic Support for football from local authorities Hardly any room for other sports Young players have always been given a chance to play for the first team • Professional players from the town become role models and the cycle continues • Like father like son... Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson ÍA Akranes training ground Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson ÍA Akranes- Full size indoor football hall Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson ÍA Akranes - football stadium Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson A case study Grindavík´s football facilities • Grindavík - Premier league team in Iceland. • Total population in the town of Grindavík: 2.850 • Stadium seating capacity: 1.750 • They also have a 60x80m indoor football field (artificial grass). Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson To create good players you need good coaches To create good coaches you need good coach education So what is the status of our coach education? Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Coach education in Iceland 2006 The study • B.S. thesis in exercise and sport science from Kennaraháskóli Íslands – Íþróttafræðisetur, Laugarvatn, Iceland (Sports University). • Authors: Jon Thorsteinsson and Rikhard Snorrason. • How did they do it?... • Every single coach was included. We wanted 100% accurate results. Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Coach education in Iceland 2006 The results • There were 575 football coaches coaching in Iceland for the 2006-2007 season • These 575 coaches were coaching at 90 clubs and were in charge of 816 teams. • 83.5% of the coaches were males, 16.5% females. Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Coach education in Iceland 2006 The results • 41.4% of the coaches had the UEFA B coaching licence or more coach education than that! • 17% of the coaches had the UEFA A coaching licence or more coach education than that. • 20.1% of the coaches had no coach education at all - however... • We now have personal information in our database for every single coach who was coaching in Iceland in 2006-2007. • That means: Full name, identification number, full address, name of club, what age group he/she was coaching, E-mail address, and mobile number (GSM). Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Practical implications • We can now send e-mails to every active coach in Iceland. Very useful for coaching courses and other information we need to get to them. • We now have statistical information on the coaching profession, e.g. how many, how old, male/female ratio, level of education at all levels and age groups etc. Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Practical implications • Our old coach education requirements were largely fulfilled. It was time to set new requirements for coach education. Enables us to set new goals... • Will we get 50% of our coaches with the UEFA B licence? • Is it possible to have every single coach in Iceland complete the UEFA B licence? Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson How do we produce players...? Here are some important steps we have taken in improving Iceland´s player development... Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Coach education: Number of coaches attending our coach education courses 2000-2009 700 600 500 400 KSÍ I - VII courses 300 All KSÍ courses 200 100 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson We have made coach education mandatory • We have made coach education mandatory in the top two leagues for all coaches who are coaching men´s teams (club licencing). • We recommend the same coach education requirements for coaches in the women´s game. Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Our current professionals grew up in poor football conditions... January 2000: • A total of only 5 artificial grass pitches existed, no football hall, and 6-7 mini pitches in the whole country. January 2002: • Still only 5 artificial grass pitches, 1 football hall and 7-8 mini pitches in the whole country. Today: • We have 17 artificial grass pitches, 7 football halls and 130 mini pitches. We also have 1 half size football hall, and a few half size football halls are planned to be built! Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Facilities: Much better facilities for playing football! • 6 full size indoor football fields built since the year 2002. • The facilities are used by all age groups. Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Facilities: 17 astroturf pitches all around Iceland Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Facilities: 111 mini-pitches built all around Iceland, since 2004 Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Built on schoolgrounds to promote interest Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson How we are working on player development... • Clubs have recently started to focus more on developing their talented players • Establishment of Football Academies - links with schools • We have prolonged the football season by playing the league cup inside the football halls. • Clubs have started to employ head coaches and goalkeeper coaches Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson We have + and • We have better educated coaches • We offer more coaching courses than ever before • We have much better facilities than before • We have more football players than ever before • Coaching is a profession at all levels in Iceland, it puts a higher standard on the coaching. Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson • Children don´t exercise as much? • Street football has decreased • Some of our clubs are too crowded • Too young assistant coaches? • Too many players per coach? • Not enough emphasis on developing the best players? The new generation – Gylfi Sigurdsson and our U-21 national team? Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Thank you for your attention! • • • • • • • Icelandic football – Siggi Eyjolfsson Siggi Eyjolfsson Technical director/coach education director at The Football Association of Iceland Women´s national team head coach English F.A. Pro licence coach B.Sc. Exercise and Sport Science M.Sc. Exercise and Sport Psychology [email protected] Tel:(354)-848-8040