Interview with Carolina Mendes: a Portuguese girl in Grindavík, with Italy in her heart and a passion for traveling

Carolina Ana Trinidade Coruche Mendes was born in Estremoz in 1987. She is one of the most representative football players of Portugal's national football team, that reached the first, historic qualification to the group stage at Euro2017 in the Netherlands. Her career begun right in her country, between Ponte Frielas and 1° de Dezembro, before going abroad. While in Spain she showed her potential with Estartit and Llanos de Olivenza, enough to be noticed and acquired by Riviera di Romagna, where she has been the absolute protagonist of her team right away. Subsequently, she was traded to Rossiyanka, in Russia, and Djurgårdens IF, one of the most important clubs in Sweden. 

In the current season we have the pleasure to see her playing in the Pepsideild for the Grindavík club.

Carolina Mendes trying to score a goal during Grindavík - ÍBV (Benóný Þórhallsson - Fótbolti.net)

Interview with Sigurður Grétar Benónýsson: how life changes from Vestmannaeyjar to North Carolina

Sigurður Grétar Benónýsson was born in 1996 in Heimaey. He has spent his life and football career in the archipelago until he has moved to USA at High Point University, North Carolina.

He has played both for KFS and IBV. He has debuted in Pepsideild at the beginning of this season, playing 8 matches and scoring 2 goals. Now he is playing in the "Big South Conference", a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, and he is doing even better: 18 matches played, 10 goals and 4 assists.

Sigurður has been nominated “Big South Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year” (twitter.com)

He is doing not only a football experience, he is majoring in Psychology and minoring in coaching too. We've talked to him about how life has changed by moving from Vestmannaeyjar to North Carolina. Enjoy!

Interview with Áki Johansen: bringing Faroe Islands U17 in Europe Elite

Faroese football is living a brilliant moment. Faroe Islands main team have recently obtained several satisfactions as the two victories against Greece during the Euro 2016 qualifications, a draw against Hungary after a good match and the great victory against Latvia during the Russia 2018 qualifications. 

Áki Johansen was born in 1969 (facebook.com)

We've recently talked with Jákup Thomsen, one of the most promising Faroese player, who said us that the best is yet to come.

We have contacted Áki Johansen, U17 Faroe Islands coach, who has just conquered a wonderful qualification at Euro 2017 Elite Phase to ask him what he thinks about it.

Interview with Viðar Jónsson: blade running with Leiknir Fáskrúðsfjörður

Viðar Jónsson is the coach of Leiknir Fáskrúðsfjörður. He is a long-standing man of the team: he has played there from 2001 to 2010, he has been the coach of the women's team from 2005 to 2007. He begun his experience as coach of Leiknir Fáskrúðsfjörður main team in 2014 when it was playing in 3.deild and he brought it to 1.deild by two consecutive promotions.

His sporting masterpiece has been keeping Leiknir Fáskrúðsfjörður in 1.deild this year in an extremely thrilling last game of the championship.

Viðar Jónsson (leiknirfaskrudsfirdi.123.is)

We have asked him about his feelings in those days and what we can expect from Leiknir Fáskrúðsfjörður next year. #CIEF already interviewed its president one years ago, just after the promotion to 1.deild. This team belongs to the village of Fáskrúðsfjörður in the East Coast. It has a population of about 660.

Interview with Freyr Alexandersson: the coach of the Iceland women's national football team

Freyr Alexandersson is the coach of the Iceland women's national football team. He begins his work for KSI in September 2013. This is his third experience on the bench, after Valur women's and men's from 2009 to 2012 and Leiknir Reykjavik from 2013 to 2015.

Freyr was born in Reykjavik in 1982. At Leiknir Reykjavik he has been both as coach and player from 2001 to 2007.

Freyr Alexandersson heading the training of Iceland women's national football team (twitter.com)

Iceland women's national football team is having a wonderful 2016: third place at Algarve Cup and 21 point on 24 in the qualification to Euro2017. The 2017 UEFA Women's Championship will take place in the Netherlands. This will be the 12th edition and sixteen countries will compete for it. Iceland is told to have the best team ever. How far will Iceland go? Here you are what Freyr has told us about:

Intervista a Jákup Thomsen: cosa ci riserva il futuro del calcio alle Faer Oer

Jákup Ludvig Thomsen è uno dei giocatori più promettenti della nazionale U21 delle Isole Faer Oer. E' nato nel 1997 e gioca come centravanti. Ha mosso i primi passi della sua carriera nell'HB di Tórshavn, squadra della capitale nonché la più titolata dell'arcipelago.

Jákup Ludvig Thomsen in azione con la maglia dell'under21 contro l'Azerbaijan (affa.az)

A soli 15 anni ha fatto le valigie per la Danimarca. Attualmente gioca per l'FC Midtjylland. Lo scorso anno, con la squadra U19 dei nerorossi, ha raggiunto i quarti di finale della Youth League, uscendo contro il titolatissimo Barcellona solo ai supplementari. Durante la competizione Jákup ha segnato cinque goal di cui uno da cineteca contro l'Atletico Madrid.

Lo abbiamo contattato per chiedergli la sua opinione su passato, presente e futuro della sua carriera e del calcio del nostro arcipelago preferito:

Interview with Hallgrímur Jónasson: Húsavík, there and back

Hallgrímur Jónasson was born in Húsavík in 1986. He has played for his hometown club, Völsungur, debuting at the age of 16 before moving to Þór Akureyri in 2003 and than to Keflavik in 2006.

In 2009 he begun his international career with the Swedish team of GAIS, in Gothenburg. In 2011 he moved to Denmark where he played for SønderjyskE and OB. He is currently a player of Lyngby BK.

Hallgrímur Jónasson in action with Iceland (visir.is)

He has got 15 caps with Icelandic national team. He made his first appearance in 2008 in a 3-0 victory against Faroe Islands. He has scored three goals for Iceland, two of them in the same match, a 5-3 loss against Portugal.

Here you are what he has said to us about his career around Europe:

Interview with Kristinn Steindórsson: back from the US to Europe with Iceland in the suitcase

Kristinn Steindórsson is born in Reykjavik in 1990. He began his career playing with Breidablik and he was part of that team which was able to win the first and only championship and Icelandic Cup of its history.

Kristinn Steindórsson in action with GIF Sundsvall (media.gettyimages.com)

In 2012 he began his international career by moving to Sweden. He joined Halmstads BK and he played there for three seasons. In 2015 he collected two caps with the Icelandic national team, scoring two goals against Canada and USA, and he played in MLS with Columbus Crew.

This year he has come back to Sweden, in GIF Sundsvall. Here you are what he has told us about his best memories and his future.

Interview with Magnús Már Einarsson: living football at the football pitch and at the keyboard!

Fotbolti.net is the best site on the web about Icelandic football. It's a valuable source of information about our favourite championship and it's a very important point of reference for #CIEF. We've got the chance to interview Magnús Már Einarsson who is both publisher at fotbolti.net and a football player in Icelandic championship.

Magnús Már Einarsson in action (facebook.com)

Magnús Már is born in 1989. He began his football career in Hvíti riddarinn, before moving to Afturelding, Leiknir Reykjavik (where he played a couple of match in Pepsideildin), Huginn and then back to Afturelding.

We've talked to him about his football experience and we've asked him what he thinks about the Icelandic football "golden age" as we've seen not only at Euro 2016, but with Iceland U21 and Iceland women's national team too. Enjoy!

Interview with Heiðar Ægisson: the young star of the star team of Garðabær

Stjarnan is the Icelandic name for "Star" and it's a football team located in Garðabær. It was founded in 1960, it's playing in the Icelandic highest league since 2009. In 2014 Stjarnan won the Icelandic title for the first time in its history and reached the play-off final round of Europa League, losing against Inter Milan, after having beaten Bangor City, Motherwell and Lech Poznan.

Heiðar Ægisson goes wild after his goal against Northern Ireland (ichef.bbci.co.uk)

Heiðar Ægisson begun his career in that winning team, when he was only 18 years old. Since then, he has played 55 matches in Pepsideild with Stjarnan, 4 matches with Iceland U19 and 6 matches with Iceland U21.

We've talked to him few days before the match between Fjölnir and Stjarnan, so he is kepting his promise to bring Stjarnan in Europe again. We hope he will do the same thing with Iceland U21 to Euro2017!

Discovering a protagonist: interview with Jákup Thomsen, what the future holds for Faroe Islands' attack

Jákup Ludvig Thomsen is one of the most promising players of Faroe Islands U-21. He was born in 1997 and he plays as striker. He has taken the first steps of his career in HB Tórshavn, the most winning team of Faroe.

Jákup Thomsen playing for the Faroese Islands U-21 team against Azerbaijan (affa.az)

He moved to Denmark when he was 15 years old. He currently plays for FC Midtjylland. Last year, with FC Midtjylland U19, he reached the quarter final against Barcelona losing at extra-time in the Youth League where he've played all the five matches scoring a great goal against Atletico Madrid. We've talked him about his past, his future and football in Faroe Islands.

Ögmundur Kristinsson - Keeping safe the Icelandic goal to go on with the Icelandic dream

Ögmundur Kristinsson was born in Iceland in 1989. He has been playing for Fram Reykjavik since 2006 to 2014, before moving to Danish team of Randers. He made his debut in the first squad at the of 16. He won the 1.deild that year and the Icelandic Cup in 2013.

In 2015 he signed a three years contract with Swedish club of Hammarby IF, becoming the third Icelandic player there together with Birkir Már Sævarsson and Arnór Smárason.
Ho
Ögmundur made his first international appearance on 4 June 2014 in a match against Estonia. He has collected 10 caps with the Icelandic National team and he has been selected for EURO2016.

We've contacted him and we are very proud to host his interview in our pages.

Ögmundur Kristinsson playing with the Icelandic national team (mbl.is)

Discovering a protagonist: interview with Haukur Heiðar Hauksson, the Icelandic arrow speeding across Sweden

Haukur Heiðar Hauksson is born in Akureyri in 1991. He is a right back and he began his career playing with his hometown team KA Akureyri. He reached the top of his Icelandic career between 2012 and 2014 with KR.

In 2015 he began his Swedish adventure with AIK Solna, missing the title for just three points.

Haukur made his first international appearance on 19 January 2015 in a friendly match against Canada. He has played most of the last matches of Icelandic national team and he is working hard to win Allsvenskan and to be in France next summer.

Haukur in action with AIK Solna (mbl.is)

1) You began your career with KA in 2008. What are your best memories with the team of your home town?

Skallagrimur, making history from the Egils Saga to the football pitch

Skalla-Grímur was a viking man who began to colonize Borgarfjordur between IX and X centuries. Nowadays his descendants play football, basketball, badminton and many other sports in a sport club with his name. In this way, Skallagrimur goes on in being a key figure for Borgarnes, a very nice village at the shore of Borgarfjörður in Icelandic West Coast.

Skallagrimur football team played in Urvalsdeild just once, in 1997. In 2012 it gave up in having a first team and restarted from 4.deild the following year. This season it was third in the championship, missing playoff for the second time in a row.

Here you are the interview with Ívar Örn Reynisson, the chairman of the local football club, who illustrates us the club organization, history and ambitions of Skallagrimur:

Borgarnes at the shore of Borgarfjörður (flickr.com)

1) Skallagrimur is a sport club belonging to Borgarnes, a nice 2.000 people village on Borgarfjörður coast. How important is your club for Borgarnes?

Jonathan Glenn, scoring goals from the Caribbean to the Artic

Jonathan Glenn has been voted as the best player during Urvalsdeild 2015 by our blog. He has played 20 matches scoring 12 goals in the season, playing with IBV till July and than with Breiðablik.

We've had a quick talk with Jonathan after his trips with the Trinidanian national team. He has just renewed with Breiðablik for a two years contract. By this confirmation, the green&white team from Kópavogur begins the assault to the next Urvalsdeild.

Here you are his answers, fast as he runs to the goal:

Jonathan scoring again (mbl.is)

1) Jonathan Glenn, from Trinidad and Tobago to Iceland, passing through the US. Which have been your best experiences in these countries?

Discovering B-67, the dream team coming from the Artic Circle

After Icelandic and Faroese football, our blog is going to discover Greenlandic one.

Greenland is the biggest island in the world and over three-quarters of which is covered by permanent ice. It has a got a population of about 56.000 people who live in small villages by the sea. Greenland has got its own parliament and government, but it still keeps a strong relationship with Denmark. Greenland and Denmark, together with Faeroe Islands, are the United Kingdom of Denmark.

Nuuk is the Greenlandic capital and it's the hometown of B67, a kind of Barcelona of the Arctic with its own Arctic Messi: it has won eleven championships since 1993 and have a topscorer with an impressive scoring record.

I tried to have a videoconference with someone belonging to B67 board and I discovered that Greenlandic connection is much better than in Genoa back country. Thanks to board member Finn Meinel and chairman Christian Laursen, we've travelled through Greenlandic football and B67 history.

B-67 first team celebrates the umpteenth trophy (B-67 courtesy)

1) First of all, how is life in Nuuk?

Discovering a protagonist: interview with Birkir Már Sævarsson, a long trip around Iceland, Norway and Sweden

After the interview with first time national Oliver Sigurjonsson, it's time to talk about a Icelandic national veteran: Birkir Már Sævarsson. He was born in 1984 and he is a cornerstone of Lagerbäck's team with 54 caps and playing on both wings.

He is spending his career between Iceland, Norway and Sweden. He played for Valur and Brann before arriving to Hammarby this season. He is getting prestigious results both with his clubs and the national team. He has still got a strong bond to Valur, the team where he is grown, and many satisfaction to achieve with Hammarby and Iceland.

Birkir playing with Iceland

1) Birkir, 31 years old, 54 caps in the national team and many championships played through Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Are you satisfied about your career? What have been your best moments in these three countries?​

Discovering a protagonist: interview with Oliver Sigurjonsson, from Breiðablik to Iceland national team

Iceland qualification to Euro 2016 is the tip of the iceberg of a football movement, the Icelandic one, which is rising quickly. Both male and female Icelandic youth teams are doing very well. Between them, U21 is standing out from the top of their European round ahead of France, Scotland, Ukraine, Macedonia and Northern Ireland.

During last friendly matches against Poland and Slovakia, Lagerbäck and Hallgrimsson have launched some talent coming from U21 team. At only 20 years, Oliver Sigurjonsson has gained his first cap and a good international experience. Thanks to our passionate colleague Mattia Giodice, we have talked to him the day after his debut.

Oliver debuting against Slovakia at Žilina stadium

1) Oliver, last week you received your first call from Iceland national team and last night you collected your first cap against Slovakia. How have you felt in these last days?

Discovering a protagonist: interview with Signar í Homrun, EB/Streymur's chairman

Together with few other states, Faer Oer are a genuine exception to modern football, based on business and tv. Faer Oer national team has proudly faced best European teams, playing without overpayed professional players. We all remember when Italy played against Faer Oer in 2007, few months later having won FIFA World Cup in Germany. Azzurri won 2-1 with difficulty.

We begin our report on Faroese football with a former powerhosue team: EB/Streymur. This team was founded in 1993 by the merger of other two teams, EB and Streymur. Since then, it has won 2 championships, 4 national cups, 3 national super cups.

This year EB/Streymur has been relegated. We have a talk with Signar í Homrun, in the club board since 2010 and chairman since last summer. The team is passing thorugh a difficult generational change and it's taking on it with the head held high and believing in forthcoming success.

Streymnes, EB/Streymur homevillage (flickr.com)

1) In 2012 you won your last championship, in this season you've been relegated in 1 Deild. What's happened to EB/Streymur?

Discovering a protagonist: interview with Magnús Björn Ásgrímsson, Leiknir Fáskrúðsfjörður's chairman

Icelandic and Faroese championships have finally ended but we are going to keep the blog constantly updated till next season restart. Our staff is getting in touch with teams, coaches and players to keep the light on our favourite championships.

Here you are the interview with Magnús Björn Ásgrímsson, Leiknir Fáskrúðsfjörður's chairman, both in english and in italian.

Leiknir F. comes from two consecutive promotions and it could be the next 1.deild revelation. It belongs to a 600 people town in the savage east coast and, in its own small way, replays the Icelandic national team's growth of these years: good training facilities, experienced staff, perseverance, few economic resources, a great talent in "do it yourself".

In his long introduction to the interview Magnús, who's being Leiknir F.'s chairman for almost 19 years, point out that he is doing a no paying job as the big part of jobs in Icelandic football world, except coaches.

Leiknir Fáskrúðsfjörður in 2015 season