Freyr Alexandersson has been handed the responsibility of ensuring Iceland’s women’s football team qualifies for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in two year’s time. Freyr, who has signed a two-year contract, takes over from Siggi Eyjólfsson, who was in charge of the team between 2007 and 2013.
After Siggi Eyjolfsson stepped aside following the successful Euro 2013 Women’s Championships campaign, the Football Association of Iceland’s first choice was 31-year-old Alexandersson.
The new manager, who is coach at men’s first division side Leikner, has previously worked as assistant manager at women’s side Valur Reykjavik, where the club won the title twice during his two-year spell there between 2008 and 2009. He then was appointed assistant manager at Valur’s men’s team before taking up his position at Leiknir, where he will retain his role.
He takes over at a time when Iceland’s women’s football is at its healthiest ever position after qualifying for its first major tournament, the Women’s European Championships, in 2009 and then following it up with reaching the quarter-finals of the same tournament in Sweden earlier in the summer.
Freyr Alexandersson said he has experience of coaching many of the girls who have been in the side in recent years so he is fully aware of what he is getting in to. He added that he doesn’t feel any pressure yet and that he views it as a great opportunity to qualify for the World Cup in 2015.