{"id":295028,"date":"2023-10-26T08:25:03","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T08:25:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=295028"},"modified":"2023-10-26T08:25:03","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T08:25:03","slug":"i-started-at-breidablik-now-im-in-the-prem-i-wish-them-the-best-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/soccer\/i-started-at-breidablik-now-im-in-the-prem-i-wish-them-the-best-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I started at Breidablik now I’m in the Prem \u2013 I wish them the best in Europe’"},"content":{"rendered":"
  • Bookmark<\/span><\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/path><\/svg><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

    For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter<\/p>\n

    Thank you for subscribing!<\/h2>\n

    For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter<\/p>\n

    We have more newsletters<\/p>\n

    Kopavogur isn't part of Reykjavik, but Iceland's capital seamlessly transitions into the seaside town so quickly that only a few eagle-eyed tourists would realise they'd even left. <\/p>\n

    It's a trip a lot of them take to escape the relative hustle and bustle of Reykjavik in search of the Sky Lagoon – Iceland's latest chic geothermal spa.<\/p>\n

    However, these days, the Sky Lagoon isn't the only attraction in Kopavogur. Their football team, Breidablik, has been pulling up trees in Europe. Over the summer, Breidablik became the first male team from the island to reach a European group stage.<\/p>\n

    READ MORE:<\/b> 'I worked at a salt factory, and then faced Lionel Messi at the World Cup weeks later'<\/b> <\/p>\n

    READ MORE:<\/b> Unexpected new career of the only goalkeeper to save a Messi penalty at a World Cup<\/b><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    TNT is the only place you can watch all the action from the Champions League this year. You can see every game from the group stage right through to the final as Manchester City look to defend their crown as the newest kings of the World's biggest and best football tournament.<\/p>\n

    \u00a329.99 a month<\/p>\n

    Breidablik are an outlier in club football, stranded hundreds of kilometres away from the European mainland. And their journey to the group stages of the Europa Conference League proves that.<\/p>\n

    The Icelanders had to play ten qualifiers, including trips to San Marino and Ireland, plus a visit to Montenegro in between. There were games in Bosnia and Denmark, before one famous night at home in Iceland made sure they created history as they beat Macedonian outfit Struga to book their place in the Conference League group stages. <\/p>\n

    Will you be keeping track of Breidablik's European journey? Let us know in the comments section<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Johann Berg Gudmundsson has been watching Breidablik from afar. As one of their favourite sons, Gudmundsson played for Breidablik before making his way to the Premier League, where he now plays for Burnley.<\/p>\n

    "Reaching the Europa Conference League for the first time from such a small nation with a low budget as well? This is quite incredible, to be honest," Gudmundsson told Daily Star Sport<\/i><\/b>.<\/p>\n

    As a child, Gudmundsson played in Breidablik's football halls – designed to withstand the Icelandic winters. He explained that all kids in the area had access to the facilities.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    "It's not like here in England," Gudmundsson added. "In Iceland, everybody can play for Breidablik. If you live that in area, you can just pay an annual fee."<\/p>\n

    Iceland's football boom, which saw the tiny national dump England out of Euro 2016, has been credited to their indoor football halls. It was in these halls that Gudmundsson was given his footballing education and, unlike in England, all the coaches are qualified.<\/p>\n

    Gudmundsson joked the football hall at Breidablik was his "second home," adding: "The winters in Iceland can be quite tough, so being able to play inside, on an artificial pitch, was really good for me."<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Gudmundsson briefly moved to London, before returning to Iceland and Breidablik to make his first moves towards a professional career. Icelandic football is semi-professional – Breidablik still are. Their captain – Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson – is a baker.<\/p>\n

    It was in this semi-professional environment that Gudmundsson took his first steps into football: "For me, it worked out perfectly playing against real men," the Icelander admitted.<\/p>\n

    "If you're good enough you get your chance, and I was good enough. I got the chance and grabbed it, so obviously, it worked out fantastic!"<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Gudmundsson left Breidablik in 2009 when he moved to the Netherlands, in a journey that ended on these shores. The midfielder now turns out for Burnley – who he joined in 2016.<\/p>\n

    "I've been following them closely. They've been they've been doing really well in Europe, for sure," he added. However, Gudmundsson then joked he was disappointed with their league form, where they relinquished their title to Vikingur Reykjavik.<\/p>\n

    Breidablik opened their Europa Conference League campaign in Israel against Maccabi Tel-Aviv. And despite going three goals down early doors the Icelanders battled back to set up a grandstand finish, but it was too little too late.<\/p>\n

    Iceland got its first taste of European football in the second gameweek, when Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk rocked up to Reykjavik. Breidablik had been forced to play at the national stadium – Laugardalsvollur – as their home ground was too small.<\/p>\n

    "It is difficult to go to Iceland I mean, the weather, you never know how that's gonna be," Gudmundsson admitted. <\/p>\n

    Breidablik put up a good fight on home ground, but Zorya Luhansk ran out 1-0 winners.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    On Thursday, the Icelanders will start the latest leg of their European odyssey, when they travel to Belgium to face Gent. On paper, it's their toughest group stage clash.<\/p>\n

    Gudmundsson, who is currently out of action for Burnley, will be watching the game from Lancashire, hoping his boyhood side can do something truly special.<\/p>\n