 | ||||
| Full name | Knattspyrnufélagið Víkingur | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | Víkingur, Vikes (Víkingar) | |||
| Founded | 21 April 1908; 117 years ago (1908-04-21) | |||
| Ground | Víkingsvöllur | |||
| Capacity | 1,450[1] | |||
| Club chairman | Björn Einarsson | |||
| FC chairman | Heimir Gunnlaugsson | |||
| Manager | Sölvi Ottesen | |||
| League | Besta deild karla | |||
| 2025 | Besta deild karla, 1st of 12 (champions) | |||
| Website | vikingur | |||
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Knattspyrnufélagið Víkingur (Icelandic pronunciation:[ˈkʰnahtˌspɪ(r)tnʏˌfjɛːˌlaijɪðˈviːciŋkʏr̥],lit. 'Viking Football Club'[a]) , commonly referred to asVíkingur Reykjavík (to distinguish them fromVíkingur Ólafsvík) and internationally known asVikingur F.C., is a professionalIcelandicsports club based in theFossvogur neighbourhood ofReykjavík. It is one of the oldest sports clubs in Iceland, founded on 21 April 1908. Originally founded as a football club, it is now a multi-sport club that also operates divisions inhandball,tennis,table tennis,karate andskiing. All sports include both male and female teams.
Its men's football team currently plays in the top-tierBesta deildin and has won sevennational championship titles and fiveCup titles.
Víkingur's handball department is one of the more successful ones in Iceland, with its men's team having won sevennational championships and the women's handball team having won threenational championships.
Þorbjörn Þórðarson, who was the chairman of the Vikingur in the period of 1943–44, designed the originalVíkingur badge.[2]
In the foreground of Vikingur's original crest is a brownish 19th century leather ball framed with white badges and has red and black stripes in the background.[3]
Víkingur have played in red and black striped outfits since the club's early years.[4]
Facilities and home ground are located atVíkin since 1984 when a football pitch was first laid there. The club residence followed in 1988 and indoor facilities were built in 1991, significantly improving the overall facilities.[5] Víkin is located in the district ofFossvogur (Háaleiti & Bústaðir), on the east side ofReykjavík.[6]
The sports venue was constructed in 2004 and completed in 2005.Víkingsvöllur holds around 2000 spectators when at maximum capacity using side-stands.
The youth training program at Víkin is notable for its contribution to the Iceland national senior and youth teams, providing in recent years players such asKári Árnason,Sölvi Ottesen,Kolbeinn Sigþórsson,Aron Elís Þrándarson andÓttar Magnús Karlsson.
Víkingur Reykjavik was founded on the 21 April 1908 with the purpose of financing a ball purchase for a group of boys in a Reykjavik neighborhood to play football.
The club's inaugural meeting, with 32 boys present, was held in the basement of Túngata 12 in Reykjavik.
The founding fathers of Víkingur Reykjavik Football Club were:
In the first 10 years of Vikingur's history, the team failed to win in only a single match. In that period Vikingur scored 58 goals and conceded 16.
However, the team did not win a single title in that time due to them not yet having a regular senior side to play in the Icelandic Championship.[8]
The Viking's first match in the Championship took place on 9 June 1918 – when the team ensured a 5–0 victory over their rivalsValur.[9]
Two years later the club won its first Championship title. The second Championship title came in 1924.[10]During the first 40 years of Vikingur's history, the club did not to have any actual club facilities.
Vikingur's first residence was a former "Iglo officers club" in Camp Tripoli at Suðurgata which the club took on lease in the years between 1946 and 1950 by promises of being slotted an area of land south of University of Iceland at Vatnsmýri.
The residence at Camp Tripoli proved to be a true lever for the club for a period of time, since in Víkingur's first decades, meetings were held in various places in Reykjavik and the club did not have any sporting facilities.
Vikingur was later assigned an area of land in conjunction with Íþróttafélag Reykjavíkur at Vatnsmýri.[11]
Following the years at Suðurgata, Víkingur continued its search for a suitable club location since the given area at Vatnsmýri was considered too small for the club.
In 1953, building constructions began for a new club house at Hæðargarður in the district of Bústaða- og smáíbúðahverfi Reykjavíkur, which at the time was being organized. However, despite the new club house, the club's working environment was poor as there were no sporting facilities or home pitch. Training continued to take place in various settings in Reykjavik.
Víkingur's firstIcelandic Cup title in men's football came in the year 1971, when the team was victorious in the final over rivalsUBK Kópavogur, 1–0.[12]
It wasn't until the year 1976 that Víkingur got assigned an area of land in Fossvogur and began to build up its residence and sporting facilities.
In general, the main service area of the club is demarcated by Fossvogsdalur, Kringlumýrarbraut, Miklabraut and Reykjanesbraut.
Much work was done to prepare the grounds in Fossvogur during the years of 1981,1982 and 1983 when the Vikingur team clinched the first consecutive footballChampionship- andSuper Cup titles in the club's history. A couple of years later, in 1984, footballers could start training atVíkin. Construction of the indoor facilities were completed in 1991.[13] Construction began in 2004 on the sports venue atVíkin and was inaugurated in 2005. Víkin seats around 1,200 spectators. In the 2015 season, the men's football team will take part in theUEFA Europa League, having reached the club's highest league position of 4th place since winning theChampionship in 1991.
After a period of struggle and re-organization at Víkin in the 2012 season, the Víkingur team won promotion to the footballChampionship.
Aron Elís Þrándarson was chosen both as the 'most promising' and 'best' player in the league.
Having regained their place in the footballChampionship in 2013, the team finished 4th place, achieving the club's highest league position since 1991.
Víkingur men's team played their firstEuropa League qualifiers since 1992, and admit a 2–3 defeat on aggregate againstSlovenian teamFC Koper.
Arnþór Ingi Kristinsson scored both of Víkingur's goals in the away clash againstFC Koper.Ólafur Þórðarson parted ways with the club.
Only lacking the temporal difference to challenge for a spot in theEuropa League qualification the team's fate was a mid-table finish.
Óttar Magnús Karlsson was the standout player in the team as he was chosen 'most promising player' in the league.
The season turned sharply byMiloš Milojević surprise resignation from the gaffers position early in the season.
This event cued the return to home of the then retired multiple championship winner and fans favouriteLogi Ólafsson, who steered them to a safe mid-table finish.
Memorable for lively supporters match day experiences at Víkin, the 2018 early season performance was however highly affected by sloppy pitch conditions.
Acclaimed Iceland InternationalSölvi Geir Ottesen made his return to Víkin - now alternatively known as the 'Homeground of Happiness'.
At the end of the seasonLogi Ólafsson moved back into retirement passing the managerial position to his assistant and former InternationalArnar Gunnlaugsson.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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20th century[edit]
| 21st century[edit]
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Following players have represented Víkingur and either made at least 100 league appearances for the club, or made at least 10 appearances for their national team.
In the current squad, Halldór Smári is the most capped player for Víkingur with 301 matches followed by Dofri Snorrason with 186.
David Örn Atlason has 142 matches and Sölvi Geir Ottesen has 84 matches to his name. (May 2019)[14]
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| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Agg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972–73 | European Cup Winners' Cup | 1R |  Legia Warsaw | 0–2 | 0–9 | 0–11 |
| 1981–82 | UEFA Cup | 1R |  Bordeaux | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–8 |
| 1982–83 | European Cup | 1R |  Real Sociedad | 0–1 | 2–3 | 2–4[16] |
| 1983–84 | European Cup | 1R |  Rába ETO Győr | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–4[17] |
| 1992–93 | UEFA Champions League | 1R |  CSKA Moscow | 0–1 | 2–4 | 2–5[18] |
| 2015–16 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  Koper | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–3[19] |
| 2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q | Olimpija Ljubljana | — | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | — |
| 2022–23 | UEFA Champions League | PR |  FCI Levadia | 6–1 | ||
 Inter Club d'Escaldes | 1–0 | |||||
| 1Q |  Malmö FF | 3–3 | 2–3 | 5–6 | ||
| UEFA Europa Conference League | 2Q |  The New Saints | 2–0 | 0−0 | 2−0 | |
| 3Q | Lech Poznań | 1–0 | 1–4 (a.e.t.) | 2–4 | ||
| 2023–24 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 1Q |  Riga | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q |  Shamrock Rovers | 0−0 | 1–2 | 1–2 |
| UEFA Conference League | 2Q |  Egnatia | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | |
| 3Q | Flora | 1−1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | ||
| PO | UE Santa Coloma | 5–0 | 0−0 | 5–0 | ||
| League phase |  Omonia | — | 0–4 | 19th Place | ||
 Cercle Brugge | 3–1 | — | ||||
 Borac Banja Luka | 2–0 | — | ||||
 Noah | — | 0–0 | ||||
| Djurgårdens IF | 1–2 | — | ||||
 LASK | — | 1–1 | ||||
| KPO |  Panathinaikos | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | ||
| 2025–26 | UEFA Conference League | 1Q |  Malisheva | 8–0 | 1–0 | 9–0 |
| 2Q | Vllaznia | 4–2 (a.e.t.) | 1–2 | 5–4 | ||
| 3Q |  Brøndby | 3–0 | 0–4 | 3–4 | ||
| 2026–27 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q | ||||
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 169 |  Jablonec | 8.210 |
| 170 | Slovan Liberec | 8.210 |
| 171 |  Víkingur Reykjavik | 8.000 |
| 172 | Ballkani | 8.000 |
| 173 | Fehérvár | 8.000 |
In celebration of the club's centennial anniversary in 2008, Vikingur supporters club held a competition for a new club anthem to be played at home games.[22]
The winning song,Vikingur – 100 years, or simply:Við viljum sigur í dag Víkingar! was composed and performed by Stefán Magnússon and Freyr Eyjólfsson[23]
| Year | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1918–90 | NA | NA |
| 1991–93 | Adidas | Bahco |
| 1994–01 | Lotto | Kaupthing |
| 2002–05 | Lotto | Kaupthing |
| 2006–09 | Prostar | Kaupthing |
| 2010–13 | Puma | TVG Zimsen |
| 2014–15 | Nike | TVG Zimsen |
| 2016–2021 | Macron | TVG Zimsen |
| 2022– | Macron | Húsasmiðjan |
