Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar

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Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar (Script error: No such module "IPA"., Template:Lit), commonly abbreviated to KA, is an Icelandic multi-sport club based in Akureyri in the north of Iceland.[1] The club was founded in 1928. The football team currently plays in Besta deild karla and have won the top flight once in 1989.

Club

The club offers various sports including football, handball, judo, volleyball and weightlifting.

The club crest features a red shield overlaid on a blue shield. Within the red shield is a golden ball, with the letters 'KA' positioned above it in white. The team colours are yellow shirts and blue shorts.

Its main rival is another sports club in Akureyri, Þór Akureyri.

History

The early years (1928–1943)

KA was founded on January 8, 1928, in the home of Margrét and Axel Schiöth, at Hafnarstræti 23, with the goal of promoting sports in Akureyri.

ÍBA (1943–1974)

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Between 1944 and 1974 the two most prominent football clubs in Akureyri, KA and Þór, sent a united team under the banner of ÍBA to the Icelandic first tier made up of a selection of players from the Akureyri clubs. The club played 17 seasons in the top flight of Icelandic football league, Úrvalsdeild karla.

The first time the two Akureyri clubs, KA and Þór, combined forces was against recent league champions Valur in the middle of July 1942. The teams played twice, the united team from Akureyri won one game but lost the other. The positive results gave impetus to unification ideas and in 1943 for the fourth time a team from Akureyri played in Úrvalsdeild karla. But now it sailed under the flag of Íþróttaráð Akureyrar (In english Akureyri Sports Council) and not KA as in all the previous times.[1] Template:Webarchive

The subsequent year, in 1944, saw the establishment of ÍB Akureyri. By 1946, a football team representing ÍBA competed in Úrvalsdeild karla, for the first time.

From 1955 to 1974, the ÍBA team always took part in the Icelandic men's football tournament. In 1974, the two respective sports clubs ended their collaboration and started sending teams separately as KA and Þór.[2]

Back to the top tier (2015– )

The summer of 2015 was filled with anticipation for KA. Despite losing some key players, the team demonstrated strength during preseason, reaching the final of the Icelandic Men's Football League Cup but ultimately losing to Breiðablik. Good signings, preseason success, and the experienced coach Bjarni Jóhannsson, who took over in 2013, led many pundits to predict that KA would be promoted to the top flight with ease.[2] However, the season failed to meet expectations, and the team finished in 3rd place, prompting the sacking of manager Jóhannsson, with his assistant Srdjan Tufegdzic taking over late in the season.[3]

In 2016, KA finally reached the top flight. Under new management with Tufegdzic at the helm and notable acquisitions like Hallgrímur Mar Steingrímsson, Guðmann Þórisson, and Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson, the team comfortably won the second division. Expectations were high for KA's first match in the top division in thirteen years. The team faced Breiðablik and emerged victorious with a 1–3 scoreline. The first season in the top division since 2004 fared well as the team finished in 7th place.[4]

The following year saw KA once again finish in 7th place, and at the end of the season, the club parted ways with Tufegdzic. Óli Stefán Flóventsson replaced him and managed to guide the team to 5th place, KA's best showing since 2002. Elfar Árni Aðalsteinsson emerged as the team's top scorer with 13 goals. However, the subsequent season did not go as well for Flóventsson, who was let go after managing five games without a win.[5] His replacement, Arnar Grétarsson, led the team to a 7th-place finish, although the season was cut short due to COVID-19. The season was notable for an unusual number of draws, with the team drawing 12 times. The team was praised for its solid defending and the homegrown player Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason had a breakout season.[6]

The 2021 season marked Grétarsson's first full season as head coach, during which significant acquisitions like Jonathan Hendrickx, Dušan Brković, and the return of homegrown player Daníel Hafsteinsson bolstered the team's roster.[7] On 29 May 2021, Bjarnason made his international debut for the Icelandic national team before being sold to Lecce midway through the season.[8] Despite the loss of Bjarnason, KA achieved remarkable success, securing its best result since 2002 with a 4th-place finish.[9] Moving into the 2022 season, KA continued its upward trajectory, clinching its second-best result ever in the Besta deild karla. This achievement qualified them for the UEFA Europa Conference League. Nökkvi Þeyr Þórisson showcased an outstanding performance throughout the season, earning recognition as the league's best player and top scorer with 17 goals. Notably, his remarkable achievements came despite his transfer to K Beerschot VA before the season concluded.[10] Grétarsson's assistant and former KA player, Hallgrímur Jónasson, assumed managerial duties for the team towards the end of the season, following the departure of Grétarsson.[11] Jónasson successfully navigated the team through the playoffs and a second-place finish.[12]

In 2023, KA finished 7th[13] in the league and made it to the cup final against Víkingur R., ultimately losing 3-1.[14] The team also had a relatively successful UEFA Europa Conference League campaign, defeating Connah's Quay Nomads and Dundalk, with their journey coming to an end against Club Brugge.[15][16]

Football

Men's football

They have once been the Icelandic champions, in 1989 after a tough fight against FH (Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar). FH were in the lead until their final match, against already relegated team Fylkir. FH lost and KA obtained the title for the first time in their history.

KA formerly played at Akureyrarvöllur close to downtown Akureyri but have since moved all games to Greifavöllurinn, a temporary arena at the club's training base, KA-Heimilið in the Lundarhverfi neighborhood where a new permanent stadium is also being built.

Current squad

Template:Updated

<templatestyles src="Template:Football squad player/styles.css" /> Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF Template:Country data Iceland Kári Gautason
4 MF Template:Country data Spain Rodrigo Gomes Mateo
5 DF Template:Country data Iceland Ívar Örn Árnason
6 DF Template:Country data Montenegro Darko Bulatović
7 MF Template:Country data Iceland Daníel Hafsteinsson
8 FW Template:Country data Scotland Harley Willard
9 FW Template:Country data Iceland Elfar Árni Aðalsteinsson
10 FW Template:Country data Iceland Hallgrímur Mar Steingrímsson
11 FW Template:Country data Iceland Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson (captain)
12 GK Template:Country data BIH Kristijan Jajalo
13 GK Template:Country data Iceland Steinþór Már Auðunsson
14 MF Template:Country data Iceland Andri Fannar Stefánsson
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 MF Template:Country data Iceland Mikael Breki Þórðarson
22 DF Template:Country data Iceland Hrannar Björn Steingrímsson
23 FW Template:Country data Iceland Viðar Örn Kjartansson
25 MF Template:Country data Iceland Dagur Ingi Valsson
28 DF Template:Country data Iceland Hans Viktor Guðmunsson
29 FW Template:Country data Iceland Jakob Snær Árnason
44 MF Template:Country data Iceland Valdimar Sævarsson
77 MF Template:Country data Iceland Bjarni Aðalsteinsson
99 GK Template:Country data Iceland Jóhann Mikael Ingólfsson
? DF Template:Country data Iceland Aron Daði Stefánsson
? MF Template:Country data Iceland Ólafur Aron Pétursson

Out on loan

<templatestyles src="Template:Football squad player/styles.css" /> Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Template:Country data ISL Ívar Arnbro Þórhallsson (at Höttur/Huginn)
? MF Template:Country data ISL Árni Veigar Árnason (at Höttur/Huginn)
18 DF Template:Country data Iceland Hákon Atli Aðalsteinsson (at Dalvík/Reynir)
No. Pos. Nation Player
26 MF Template:Country data Iceland Ingimar Torbjørnsson Støle (at FH)
6 DF Template:Country data ISL Breki Hólm Baldursson (at Dalvík/Reynir)
90 MF Template:Country data ISL Dagbjartur Búi Davíðsson (at Dalvík/Reynir)

European record

Competition Matches W D L GF GA
UEFA European Cup 2 1 0 1 1 3
UEFA Cup Winners Cup 2 0 0 2 1 14
UEFA Intertoto Cup 2 0 2 0 2 2
UEFA Europa Conference League 6 3 1 2 11 13
Total 12 4 3 5 15 32
Matches
Season Competition Round Opponents 1st leg 2nd leg Aggregate
1970–1971 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Zürich 1–7 0–7 1–14 File:Symbol delete vote.svg
1990–1991 UEFA European Cup 1R Template:Flagicon CSKA Sofia 1–0 0–3 1–3 File:Symbol delete vote.svg
2003 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Sloboda Tuzla 1–1 1–1 Template:Aet 2–2 (2–3 p) File:Symbol delete vote.svg
2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q Template:Flagicon Connah's Quay Nomads 2–0 2–0 4–0 File:Symbol keep vote.svg
2Q Template:Flagicon Dundalk 3–1 2–2 5–3 File:Symbol keep vote.svg
3Q Template:Flagicon Club Brugge 1–5 1–5 2–10 File:Symbol delete vote.svg
2025–26 UEFA Conference League 1Q Template:Flagicon Silkeborg
Notes
  • PR: Preliminary Round
  • 1R: First round
  • 1Q: First qualifying round
  • 2Q: Second qualifying round
  • 3Q: Third qualifying round
  • PO: Play-off round

Recent history

Season Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Notes
1987 Úrvalsdeild 6 18 5 6 7 18 17 21 Fourth round
1988 Úrvalsdeild 4 18 8 3 7 31 29 27 Fourth round
1989 Úrvalsdeild 1 18 9 7 2 29 15 34 Fourth round
1990 Úrvalsdeild 8 18 5 1 12 18 28 16 Fourth round European Cup
1991 Úrvalsdeild 6 18 7 4 7 21 23 25 Fourth round
1992 Úrvalsdeild Template:Down-arrow10 18 3 4 11 18 33 13 Final Relegated to the 1.deild
1993 1.deild 4 18 9 2 7 31 22 29 Fourth round
1994 1.deild 8 18 5 3 10 26 34 18 Third round
1995 1.deild 3 18 7 6 5 26 25 27 Second round
1996 1.deild 4 18 7 5 6 36 33 26 Quarter-finals
1997 1.deild 7 18 4 6 8 24 31 18 Fourth round
1998 1.deild 7 18 7 4 7 24 28 25 Third round
1999 1.deild 6 18 6 5 7 24 24 23 Second round
2000 1.deild 3 18 10 4 4 38 23 34 Fourth round
2001 1.deild Template:Up-arrow 2 18 11 4 3 43 21 37 Final Promoted to the Úrvalsdeild
2002 Úrvalsdeild 4 18 6 7 5 18 19 25 Semi-finals
2003 Úrvalsdeild 8 18 6 4 8 29 27 22 Semi-finals UEFA Intertoto Cup
2004 Úrvalsdeild Template:Down-arrow 10 18 4 3 11 13 30 15 Final Relegated to the 1.deild
2005 1. deild 3 18 10 4 4 40 20 34 Fourth round
2006 1. deild 6 18 6 3 9 22 25 21 Quarter-finals
2007 1. deild 11 22 5 4 13 14 45 19 Third round
2008 1. deild 4 22 9 5 8 31 27 32 Third round
2009 1. deild 5 22 10 5 7 32 24 35 Fourth round
2010 1. deild 9 22 6 6 10 29 43 24 Quarter-finals
2011 1. deild 8 22 9 2 11 32 40 29 Third round
2012 1. deild 4 22 9 6 7 34 30 33 Fourth round
2013 1. deild 6 22 9 5 8 38 31 32 Second round
2014 1. deild 8 22 8 7 7 42 33 31 Third round
2015 1. deild 3 22 12 5 5 42 22 41 Semi-final
2016 1. deild Template:Up-arrow 1 22 16 3 3 42 16 51 Third round Promoted to the Úrvalsdeild
2017 Úrvalsdeild 7 22 7 8 7 37 31 29 Third round
2018 Úrvalsdeild 7 22 7 7 8 36 34 28 Fourth round
2019 Úrvalsdeild 5 22 9 4 9 34 34 31 Fourth round
2020 Úrvalsdeild 7 18 3 12 3 20 21 21 Fourth round *Season not completed due to COVID-19
2021 Úrvalsdeild 4 22 12 4 6 36 20 40 Fourth round
2022 Besta deild 2 27 16 5 6 54 30 53 Semi-final
2023 Besta deild 7 27 12 5 10 42 45 41 Final UEFA Europa Conference League

[17]

Trophies and achievements

Notable former players

Player of the Season

File:Haukur Hauksson (AIK-Halmstads BK, 2015, cropped).jpg
Haukur Heiðar Hauksson, two-time winner of the award
File:Gudmann Thorisson.jpg
Guðmann Þórisson, won the award in 2016
Season Name Nationality Position Ref.
2004 Sandor Matus Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2005 Template:Sortname Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2006 Janez Vrenko Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2007 Þorvaldur Sveinn Guðbjörnsson Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2008 Arnar Már Guðjónsson Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2009 Template:Sortname Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2010 Sandor Matus (2) Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2011 Template:Sortname (2) Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2012 Gunnar Valur Gunnarsson Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2013 Hallgrímur Mar Steingrímsson Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2014 Srdjan Rajkovic Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2015 Callum Williams Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2016 Template:Sortname Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2017 Hallgrímur Mar Steingrímsson (2) Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2018 Callum Williams (2) Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2019 Elfar Árni Aðalsteinsson Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2020 Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2021 Steinþór Már Auðunsson Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2022 Ívar Örn Árnason Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort
2023 Hallgrímur Mar Steingrímsson (3) Script error: No such module "flag". Template:Sort

Overall most appearances

Rank Nationality Name Years Appearances[18]
1 Template:Flagicon Hallgrímur M. Steingrímsson 2009–14, 2016– 320
2 Template:Flagicon Sandor Matus 2004–13 231
3 Template:Flagicon Dean Martin 1995–97, 1999–04, 2008–10 214
4 Template:Flagicon Hrannar Björn Steingrímsson 2014– 205
5 Template:Flagicon Elfar Árni Aðalsteinsson 2015– 198
6 Template:Flagicon Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson 2016– 173
7 Template:Flagicon Steingrímur Örn Eiðsson 1997–07 168
8 Template:Flagicon Andri Fannar Stefánsson 2010, 2019– 166
9 Template:Flagicon Bjarni Jónsson 1987–97 166
10 Template:Flagicon Þorvaldur M. Sigbjörnsson 1992–96, 1999–03, 2007 160

Overall top scorers

Rank Nationality Name Years Goals[19]
1 Template:Flagicon Hallgrímur M. Steingrímsson 2009–14, 2016– 98
2 Template:Flagicon Hreinn Hringsson 2000–06 73
3 Template:Flagicon Elfar Árni Aðalsteinsson 2015– 71
3 Template:Flagicon Þorvaldur M. Sigbjörnsson 1992–96, 1999–03, 2007 61
5 Template:Flagicon Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson 2016– 42
6 Template:Flagicon David Disztl 2009–2010, 2012 32
7 Template:Flagicon Nökkvi Þeyr Þórisson 2019–2022 30
8 Template:Flagicon Ævar Ingi Jóhannesson 2011–15 28
9 Template:Flagicon Þorvaldur Örlygsson 1984–89, 2000–03 25
10 Template:Flagicon Jóhann Helgason 2002–05, 2012, 2014–15 24

Managerial history

Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

Kit

Period Kit manufacturer
1975–78 Adidas
1979 Hummel
1980–1981 Puma
1982–83 Hummel
1984–98 Adidas
1999–2002 Puma
2003 Henson
2004–2014 Hummel
2015–2019 Diadora
2020–2023 Erreà
2023– Macron

Women's Football

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In 2010 the team also went to the semi-finals in the Icelandic cup, losing to the eventual winner Valur.[22] In 1989 and 2013 they lost the cup final.

In 2012 Þór/KA finished first in the Úrvalsdeild and secured its first ever Icelandic championship.[23]

On 29 September 2017, the club secured its second national championship by defeating FH, in the last game of the season, 2–0 with goals from Sandra Jessen and Sandra Stephany Mayor.[24]

Trophies and achievements

Template:Refbegin

  1. As Þór/KA
  2. As KA

Template:Refend

Handball

Men's handball

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Before the 2006–2007 Icelandic handball season, they merged their handball clubs to form Akureyri Handboltafélag. In 2017, KA left the partnership and reinstated the KA Handball section.

Trophies and achievements

Women's handball

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Trophies and achievements

Volleyball

Trophies and achievements

Men's volleyball

  • Icelandic Championships:
  • Icelandic Cup:
    • Champions: 1991, 1992, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
  • Icelandic League Cup:
    • Champions: 1989, 1991, 1994, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2019

Women's volleyball

  • Icelandic Championships:
  • Icelandic Cup:
    • Champions: 2019
  • Icelandic League Cup:
    • Champions: 2019

Club officials

Template:Updated[26]

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References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Urvalsdeild Template:Football in Iceland

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  20. UEFA rankings for 2011/12, retrieved 21 October 2010
  21. Thor/KA is champion, own website, retrieved 21 October 2010
  22. women.soccerway.com, 2010 Cup results
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  26. [3]‚ KA.is, 4 January 2018