Vestri (men's football)
Icelandic football club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Vestri men's football team, commonly known as Vestri, is the men's football department of the Íþróttafélagið Vestri multi-sport club and is based in Ísafjarðarbær, Iceland.[1] In 2025, the team won the Icelandic Cup after defeating Valur in the Cup final. As of 2026, it plays in the Icelandic second-tier 1. deild karla.
1988, as BÍ'88
2006
as BÍ/Bolungarvík
2016
as Vestri
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| Full name | Íþróttafélagið Vestri | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Djúpmenn | ||
| Founded | 1986, as Badmintonfélag Ísafjarðar 1988, as BÍ'88 2006 as BÍ/Bolungarvík 2016 as Vestri | ||
| Ground | Kerecisvöllurinn, Ísafjörður | ||
| Capacity | 1,596 | ||
| Manager | Daniel Osafo-Badu | ||
| League | 1. deild karla | ||
| 2025 | Besta deild karla, 11th of 12 (relegated) | ||
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History
The club was founded in 1986 as the football department of Badmintonfélag Ísafjarðar, or BÍ for short.[2] It first participated in the Icelandic tier-4 league, then known as 4. deild karla, that same year and their first coach was former Icelandic international player Björn Helgason. In 1988, Ísafjörður biggest club, Íþróttabandalag Ísafjarðar (ÍBÍ), folded after years of financial difficulties and most of their players moved over to BÍ who took over as the town's major football club.[3][4] The club took up the name BÍ'88 to mark the new beginning and Jóhann Króknes Torfason was hired as the head coach.[5] They won their group in 4. deild convincingly, scoring 46 goals while conceding only 3, with their biggest win being an 18–0 victory over Höfrungur. In the 4. deild playoff they came out on top and achieved promotion to 3. deild karla where they played the next three years. In 1991 the team achieved promotion to 2. deild karla after finishing as runner-up's in 3. deild. They played there for two years before being relegated back to 3. deild. After the 1996 season, the club withdrew from play due to financial difficulties.
From 2006 to 2016 the team fielded a joint team with Ungmennafélag Bolungarvíkur, called BÍ/Bolungarvík.[6][page needed] In 2008 the team was promoted to 2. deild karla[7] and in 2010 to 1. deild karla.[8] In October 2010 the team hired Guðjón Þórðarson as their manager.[9] In 2016 the club merged into Íþróttafélagið Vestri along with Skellur (Volleyball), Sundfélagið Vestri (Swim) and KFÍ (Basketball).[10][11][12]
On 21 September 2019, Vestri won a 7–0 victory against Tindastóll in the last game of the season and secured a promotion to the second-tier 1. deild karla.[13]
On 30 September 2023, Vestri defeated Afturelding in the 1. deild karla promotion playoff final to secure a berth in the top-tier Besta deild karla for the first time in its history.[14]
On 22 August 2025, Vestri defeated Valur in the Icelandic Cup final, 1–0, securing its first ever major trophy. With the win, it secured a berth in a European competition for the first time.[15] Vestri became the first non-top flight Iceandic club to participate in a UEFA club competition.
Squad
Current squad
- As of 20 August 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Player of the year
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1988 |  Guðmundur Gíslason[16] |
|
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Top scorers by season
| Season | Player | League | Total Goals | Domestic League | Domestic Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Daði Berg Jónsson | Besta deild | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 2024 | Andri Rúnar Bjarnason | Besta deild | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 |  Vladimir Tufegdžić | 1. deild | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2022 | Vladimir Tufegdžić | 1. deild | 6 | 4 | 2 |
 Nicolaj Madsen | 1. deild | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2021 | Pétur Bjarnason | 1. deild | 14 | 11 | 3 |
| 2020 |  Nacho Gil | 1. deild | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | Pétur Bjarnason | 2. deild | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 2018 | Pétur Bjarnason | 2. deild | 17 | 14 | 3 |
| 2017 | Pétur Bjarnason | 2. deild | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 | Sólon Breki Leifsson | 2. deild | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2015 | Pape Mamadou Faye | 1. deild | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | Andri Rúnar Bjarnason | 1. deild | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| 2013 |  Ben Everson | 1. deild | 12 | 10 | 2 |
| 2012 | Pétur Georg Markan | 1. deild | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| 2011 | Tomi Ameobi | 1. deild | 12 | 11 | 1 |
| 2010 | Andri Rúnar Bjarnason | 2. deild | 22 | 19 | 3 |
| 2009 | Andri Rúnar Bjarnason | 2. deild | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Goran Vujic | 2. deild | 8 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2008 | Andri Rúnar Bjarnason | 3. deild | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 2007 | Pétur Geir Svavarsson | 3. deild | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 2006 | Óttar Kristinn Bjarnason | 3. deild | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | Þröstur Pétursson | 3. deild | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2004 | Hálfdán Daðason | 3. deild | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Pétur Georg Markan | 3. deild | 9 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2003 | Pétur Georg Markan | 3. deild | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| 2002 | Pétur Georg Markan | 3. deild | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 1993 | Djordje Tosic | 1. deild | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Jóhann Þór Ævarsson | 1. deild | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1992 | Jóhann Þór Ævarsson | 1. deild | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| 1988 | Stefán Tryggvason[16] | 3. deild | 10 | - | - |
Players in bold are currently playing for Vestri.
Former notable players
Players who have played for Vestri (Badmintonfélag Ísafjarðar, BÍ'88 and BÍ/Bolungarvík) and earned international caps at senior level. Correct as of 28 October 2025.
| Nat. | Player | Date of birth | Current club | Position | International career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Pape Abou Cissé | 14 September 1995 | Free Agent | Defender | 2018–2022 |
 |
Silas Songani | 28 June 1989 | Free Agent | Forward | 2013–2018 |
 |
Cafu Phete | 4 April 1994 | Vestri |
Midfielder | 2020–present |
|
Eiður Aron Sigurbjörnsson | 26 February 1990 | Njarðvík |
Defender | 2019–present |
 |
James Charles Mack | 10 August 1988 | Retired | Forward | 2018–present |
|
Andri Rúnar Bjarnason | 12 December 1990 | Stjarnan |
Forward | 2018–2019 |
|
Kundai Benyu | 12 December 1997 | CAPS United |
Midfielder | 2017–present |
 |
Loïc Cédric Mbang Ondo | 5 October 1990 | Retired | Defender | 2017–2024 |
|
Emil Pálsson | 10 June 1993 | Retired | Midfielder | 2016 |
 |
Brentton Muhammad | 11 September 1990 | Retired | Goalkeeper | 2014–2024 |
|
Matthías Vilhjálmsson | 30 January 1987 | Retired | Forward | 2009–2016 |
|
Gilles Mbang Ondo | 10 October 1985 | Retired | Forward | 2007–2013 |
 |
Nigel Quashie | 20 July 1978 | Retired | Midfielder | 2004–2006 |
Managerial history
| Dates[6] | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Björn Helgason |
|
| 1987 | Jakob Ólason |
|
| 1988 | Jóhann Króknes Torfason |
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| 1989 | Örnólfur Oddsson |
Player-manager |
| 1990 | Jóhann Króknes Torfason |
|
| 1991–1992 | Ámundi Sigmundsson |
Player-manager |
| 1993 | Helgi Helgason |
|
| 1994 | Einar Friðþjófsson |
|
| 1995 | Björn Ingimarsson |
Fired midway through season |
| 1995 | Örnólfur Oddsson |
Interim player-manager |
| 1996 | Ómar Torfason |
Player-manager |
| 2002–2004 | Haukur Benediktsson |
Player-manager |
| 2005 | Örnólfur Oddsson |
|
| 2006–2007 | Jónas Leifur Sigursteinsson |
|
| 2008 | Slobodan Milišić |
|
| 2009 | Dragan Kažić |
|
| 2010 | Alfreð Elías Jóhannsson |
Player-manager |
| 2011 | Guðjón Þórðarson |
|
| 2012–2014 | Jörundur Áki Sveinsson |
|
| 2015 | Jón Hálfdán Pétursson |
|
| 2016 | Ásgeir Guðmundsson |
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| 2017 | Daniel Osafo-Badu |
Player-manager |
| 2017–2020 | Bjarni Jóhannsson |
|
| 2020–2021 | Heiðar Birnir Torleifsson |
Resigned in July 2021 |
| 2021 | Jón Þór Hauksson |
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| 2022 | Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson |
|
| 2023–2025 | Davíð Smári Lamude[17] |
Sacked 29 September 2025 |
| 2025 | Jón Þór Hauksson[18] |
Appointed until the end of the season |
| 2025– | Daniel Osafo-Badu |
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Honours
- Icelandic Cup:
- Winners (1): 2025
- 1. deild karla
- Play-off Winners (1): 2023
- 2. deild karla
- 3. deild karla
- Winners (1): 1988
- Runner-up (1): 2008