Knattspyrnufélagið Valur (English: Valur Football Club) is an Icelandic athletic club based in Reykjavík, Iceland. One of Iceland's most prolific clubs it celebrates its 100th birthday in 2011. The club is situated close to the city centre, in the traditional east side of town, at the old farmgrounds of Hlíðarendi. The club was originally formed as part of the local YMCA to play association football, but later incorporated handball and basketball. The club is the country's most prolific, looking at the national and cup titles amongst both men and women in the three biggest local ball sports, football, handball and basketball.[1]
[edit] History
The club was founded on 11 May 1911, as a subdivision of KFUM, the Icelandic YMCA. The name was later in the same year changed to Valur, which is an Icelandic word for gyrfalcon. In 1930 the club won its first national title and has been amongst the best football teams in the country ever since. In 1939 Valur bought the farmgrounds of Hlíðarendi which retains its name even today, where they currently practice and play, and where they now have a full-fledged football field and an indoor arena. Originally Valur played only football, but around 1940, the club got involved in more sports, first team handball where they won the first national title, and later skiing. In the post-war era (1948), a women's handball division was started at Valur and in the 1970s a women's football division. In 1970, Körfuknattleiksfélag Reykjavíkur (Reykjavík Basketball Club, KFR) joined Valur and became their basketball division.[2]
[edit] Stadia
The grounds at Hlíðarendi were completely restructured in the years between 2004 and 2007 and Valur currently is playing their home games at Vodafonevöllurinn, and the handball games in the new Vodafonehöllin, the first section of the new grounds to be utilized. The new football pitch was used for the first time in the 2008 season. Reconstruction of Hlíðarendi will then be finalized with an indoor football pitch.
In June 2007 the club signed a 5 year sponsorship deal with Vodafone which will see the football stadium being renamed Vodafonevöllurinn and the handball/basketball stadium being renamed Vodafonehöllin.[3]
[edit] Club honours
- Men's football
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- 1930, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1956, 1966, 1967, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1985, 1987, 2007
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- 1965, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2005
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- Women's football
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- 1978, 1986, 1988, 1989, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
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- 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Men's handball
- National Champions: 21[5]
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- 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2007
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- 1974, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2008, 2009, 2011
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- Women's handball
- National Champions: 13[5]
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- 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1983, 2010, 2011
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- Men's basketball
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[edit] Players
[edit] Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
[edit] Out on Loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
[edit] Notable players
Former Valur players who have played professionally.
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[edit] Coaches
[edit] References
[edit] External links
