Valur (men's handball)

The Valur men's handball is an Iceland professional team handball club from Reykjavík, that plays in the Úrvalsdeild karla. It is part of the greater sports club Valur

Reykjavík

Location of Valur

Valur
Full name	Knattspyrnufélagið Valur
Short name	Valur
Founded	1911; 114 years ago (1911)
Arena	N1 höllin
Head coach	Óskar Bjarni Óskarsson
League	Úrvalsdeild karla
Club colours
Home Away
Website Official site

History

The Valur men's handball team has a long history in Icelandic handball, the club is one of the most successful in the sport in Iceland: no team has won the Icelandic Championship and the Icelandic Cup as many times as the Valur men's team. The team's greatest achievement was undoubtedly reaching the final of the EHF Champions League in 1980, which it lost against the German TV Grosswallstadt. The final was played in the Munich Olympic Hall and was lost 21:12. Since then, no Icelandic club team has reached the finals of a European competition.

In 2024 they won the EHF European Cup for the first time, beating Olympiacos S.F.P. in the final over two legs with 30-26 and 32-35 (62-61 agg.).^[1]

Crest, colours, supporters

Kit manufacturers

Period	Kit manufacturer
- 2016	Hummel
2016–present	Macron

Kits

HOME
2018–19	2019–20	2022–24

AWAY
2016–18	2019–20	2022–24

Team

Current squad

Squad for the 2023–24 season^[2]

Valur

Goalkeepers 01 Björgvin Páll Gústavsson 12 Stefán Pétursson 31 Arnar Thor Fylkisson Left Wingers 10 Vignir Stefánsson 11 Daníel Örn Guðmundsson 19 Tómas Sigurðsson Right Wingers 07 Úlfar Monsi Páll Thordarson 20 Bergur Elí Rúnarsson 25 Allan Nordberg Line Players 03 Tjörvi Týr Gíslason 18 Thorvaldur Örn Thorvaldsson 29 Jóel Bernburg 88 Andri Finnsson Central Backs 06 Viktor Sigurðsson 09 Benedikt Gunnar Óskarsson 34 Anton Rúnarsson Left Backs 08 Aron Pálsson 15 Alexander Júlíusson 17 Breki Hrafn Valdimarsson 23 Róbert Hostert 24 Magnús Óli Magnússon Right Backs 05 Agnar Jónsson 09 Ísak Gústafsson 43 Alexander Petersson

Technical staff

• Head Coach: Óskar Bjarni Óskarsson
• Assistant Coach: Heimir Ríkarðsson
• Physiotherapist: Jón Gunnar Kristjánsson

Transfers

Transfers for the 2024–25 season

Joining

Leaving Benedikt Gunnar Óskarsson (CB) to Kolstad Håndball[3]

Transfers for the 2023–24 season
Joining Allan Nordberg (RW) from KA Alexander Petersson (RB)[4] Anton Rúnarsson (CB) from TV Emsdetten Viktor Sigurðsson (CB) from ÍR Reykjavik Ísak Gústafsson (RB) from Selfoss Leaving Stiven Tobar Valencia (LW) to S.L. Benfica[5] Arnór Snær Óskarsson (RB) to Rhein-Neckar Löwen[6] Thorgils Svölu Baldursson (LP) to Karlskrona Handboll Motoki Sakai (GK) to Osaki Osol

Previous Squads

2016–2017 Team
Shirt No	Nationality	Player	Birth Date	Position
1	Iceland	Daniel Andri Valtysson	(1996-08-27) 27 August 1996 (age 28)	Goalkeeper
3	Iceland	Orri Freyr Gislason	(1988-05-29) 29 May 1988 (age 37)	Line Player
4	Iceland	Olafur Aegir Olafsson	(1995-10-28) 28 October 1995 (age 29)	Right Back
5	Iceland	Heidar Adalsteinsson	(1988-08-29) 29 August 1988 (age 36)	Left Winger
6	Iceland	Atli Karl Bachmann	(1991-01-17) 17 January 1991 (age 34)	Right Back
7	Iceland	Thorgils Jon Svölu Baldursson	(1997-05-31) 31 May 1997 (age 28)	Line Player
8	Iceland	Atli Mar Baruson	(1991-06-17) 17 June 1991 (age 34)	Central Back
9	Iceland	Alexander Masson	(1998-07-26) 26 July 1998 (age 27)	Left Winger
10	Iceland	Vignir Stefansson	(1990-06-21) 21 June 1990 (age 35)	Left Winger
11	Croatia	Josip Jurić-Grgić	(1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 (age 30)	Left Back
12	Iceland	Sigurdur Ingiberg Olafsson	(1992-08-26) 26 August 1992 (age 32)	Goalkeeper
14	Iceland	Bjarni Valdimarsson	(1998-11-29) 29 November 1998 (age 26)	Left Back
15	Iceland	Alexander Örn Juliusson	(1994-10-17) 17 October 1994 (age 30)	Left Back
16	Iceland	Hlynur Morthens	(1975-12-12) 12 December 1975 (age 49)	Goalkeeper
18	Iceland	Sturla Magnusson	(1996-10-02) 2 October 1996 (age 28)	Line Player
19	Iceland	Sveinn Aron Sveinsson	(1993-03-04) 4 March 1993 (age 32)	Right Winger
21	Iceland	Helgi Karl Gudjonsson	(1995-02-06) 6 February 1995 (age 30)	Left Winger
27	Iceland	Sveinn Jose Rivera	(1998-03-19) 19 March 1998 (age 27)	Line Player
33	Iceland	Ýmir Örn Gíslason	(1997-07-01) 1 July 1997 (age 28)	Line Player
34	Iceland	Anton Rúnarsson	(1988-07-20) 20 July 1988 (age 37)	Central Back
44	Iceland	Sigurvin Jarl Armannsson	(1996-10-18) 18 October 1996 (age 28)	Left Winger
58	Iceland	Markus Bjornsson	(1998-01-15) 15 January 1998 (age 27)	Right Back

2007–2008 Team
Shirt No	Nationality	Player	Birth Date	Position
1	Iceland	Ingvar Gudmundsson	(1988-07-20) 20 July 1988 (age 37)	Goalkeeper
3	Iceland	Orri Freyr Gislason	(1988-05-29) 29 May 1988 (age 37)	Line Player
4	Iceland	Kristjan Karlsson	(1984-05-02) 2 May 1984 (age 41)	Right Winger
5	Iceland	David Höskuldsson	(1981-01-30) 30 January 1981 (age 44)	Left Winger
6	Iceland	Hjalti Palmason	(1981-05-06) 6 May 1981 (age 44)	Left Back
7	Iceland	Baldvin Porsteinsson	(1983-11-22) 22 November 1983 (age 41)	Left Winger
8	Iceland	Markus Mani Michaelsson-Maute	(1981-06-17) 17 June 1981 (age 44)	Left Back
9	Iceland	Anton Rúnarsson	(1988-07-20) 20 July 1988 (age 37)	Central Back
10	Iceland	Gunnar Hardarson	(1986-01-14) 14 January 1986 (age 39)	Line Player
11	Iceland	Ingvar Arnason	(1986-07-15) 15 July 1986 (age 39)	Line Player
12	Iceland	Olafur Haukur Gislason	(1981-03-08) 8 March 1981 (age 44)	Goalkeeper
13	Iceland	Agir Jonsson	(1979-05-12) 12 May 1979 (age 46)	Line Player
14	Iceland	Sigfus Pall Sigfusson	(1986-02-01) 1 February 1986 (age 39)	Central Back
15	Iceland	Elvar Fridriksson	(1986-06-12) 12 June 1986 (age 39)	Left Back
16	Iceland	Palmar Petursson	(1984-11-22) 22 November 1984 (age 40)	Goalkeeper
17	Iceland	Arnór Þór Gunnarsson	(1987-10-23) 23 October 1987 (age 37)	Right Winger
18	Iceland	Ernir Hrafn Arnarson	(1986-11-13) 13 November 1986 (age 38)	Right Back
20	Iceland	Birkir Marinosson	(1988-09-16) 16 September 1988 (age 36)	Right Winger
23	Iceland	Fannar Fridgeirsson	(1987-06-03) 3 June 1987 (age 38)	Central Back
66	Iceland	Atli Steinthorsson	(1980-12-02) 2 December 1980 (age 44)	Line Player

Accomplishments

Domestic

• Úrvalsdeild karla
  • Winner (24) : 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2007, 2017, 2021, 2022
• Icelandic Men's Handball Cup
  • Winner (13) : 1974, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2024

International

• EHF Champions League:
  • Runners-up : 1979–80
• EHF European Cup:
  • Champions : 2023–24

European record

European Cup and Champions League

Season	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1979–80 Finalist	Round 2	Brentwood'72 HC	38–14	32–19	70–33
	Quarter-finals	HK Drott	18–16	17–18	35–34
	Semi-finals	Atlético Madrid BM	18–15	21–24	39–39 (a)
	Finals	TV Grosswallstadt	12–21

EHF ranking

As of 12/10/2022^[7]

Rank	Team	Points
65	Dinamo Viktor Stavropol	83
66	Handballclub Fivers Margareten	82
67	Beşiktaş JK	80
68	Valur	80
69	Ystads IF	79
70	Górnik Zabrze	78
71	ØIF Arendal	76

Former club members

Notable former players

• Ernir Hrafn Arnarson (2006-2011)
• Fannar Fridgeirsson (2004-2010)
• Ýmir Örn Gíslason (2016-2020)
• Snorri Guðjónsson (2000-2003, 2017-2018)
• Hreiðar Guðmundsson (2019-2020)
• Valdimar Grímsson (1984-1994, 2000-2001)
• Arnór Þór Gunnarsson (2006-2010)
• Björgvin Páll Gústavsson (2021–)
• Guðmundur Hólmar Helgason (2013-2016)
• Guðmundur Hrafnkelsson (1991-1999)
• Daníel Þór Ingason (2013–2016)
• Einar Örn Jónsson (1995-2000)
• Ólafur Jónsson (1965-1975, 1984-1985)
• Kári Kristján Kristjánsson (2014-2015)
• Ómar Ingi Magnússon (2014–2016)
• Markus Mani Michaelsson-Maute (-2004, 2006-2011)
• Arnór Snær Óskarsson (2017-2023)
• Alexander Petersson (2023–)
• Anton Rúnarsson (2007-2012, 2016-2021, 2023-)
• Árni Þór Sigtryggsson (2017–2018)
• Dagur Sigurðsson (1990-1996)
• Ólafur Stefánsson (1984–1996)
• Geir Sveinsson (1980-1989, 1999–2003)
• Stiven Tobar Valencia (2017-2023)
• Josip Jurić-Grgić (2016-2017)
• Martin Nagy (2020-2021)
• Motoki Sakai (2021-2023)

Former coaches

Seasons	Coach	Country
2017-2023	Snorri Guðjónsson
2023–	Óskar Bjarni Óskarsson