Jóhannesson in charge of Iceland
Monday, October 29, 2007
Article summary
FH Hafnarfjördur coach Ólafur Jóhannesson has been appointed to the helm of the Icelandic national team following the departure of Eyjólfur Sverrisson.
Article body
Ólafur Jóhannesson has been appointed the new coach of Iceland following the departure of Eyjólfur Sverrisson.
'First choice'
After the Football Association of Iceland (KSÍ) announced on Saturday that Sverrisson will not continue in the role once his contract expires on Wednesday, Jóhannesson has left club side FH Hafnarfjördur to sign a deal running until 31 December 2009. As FH coach, the 50-year-old Jóhannesson won the league title in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and this year guided them to their first Icelandic Cup. When asked if any other coaches had been in the picture to lead Iceland, KSÍ chairman Geir Thorsteinsson said: "Ólafur Jóhannesson was our first choice."
World Cup
Jóhannesson's first game in charge will be Iceland's concluding UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier in Denmark on 21 November, as they aim to avoid being overtaken by Liechtenstein and finishing bottom of a preliminary group for the first time since EURO '96™. But his main job will be to oversee the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, with the draw to be held on 25 November in Durban, South Africa.
