The Vestri men's football team, commonly known as Vestri, is the men's football department of the Íþróttafélagið Vestri multi-sport club and is based in Ísafjarðarbær, Iceland. In 2025, the team won the Icelandic Cup after defeating Valur in the Cup final. As of 2026, it plays in the Icelandic second-tier 1. deild karla.
History The club was founded in 1986 as the football department of Badmintonfélag Ísafjarðar, or BÍ for short. It first participated in the Icelandic tier-4 league, then known as 4. deild karla, that same year and their first coach was former Icelandic international player Björn Helgason. In 1988, Ísafjörður biggest club, Íþróttabandalag Ísafjarðar (ÍBÍ), folded after years of financial difficulties and most of their players moved over to BÍ who took over as the town's major football club. The club took up the name BÍ'88 to mark the new beginning and Jóhann Króknes Torfason was hired as the head coach. They won their group in 4. deild convincingly, scoring 46 goals while conceding only 3, with their biggest win being an 18–0 victory over Höfrungur. In the 4. deild playoff they came out on top and achieved promotion to 3. deild karla where they played the next three years. In 1991 the team achieved promotion to 2. deild karla after finishing as runner-up's in 3. deild. They played there for two years before being relegated back to 3. deild. After the 1996 season, the club withdrew from play due to financial difficulties.
From 2006 to 2016 the team fielded a joint team with Ungmennafélag Bolungarvíkur, called BÍ/Bolungarvík. In 2008 the team was promoted to 2. deild karla and in 2010 to 1. deild karla. In October 2010 the team hired Guðjón Þórðarson as their manager. In 2016 the club merged into Íþróttafélagið Vestri along with Skellur (Volleyball), Sundfélagið Vestri (Swim) and KFÍ (Basketball).
On 21 September 2019, Vestri won a 7–0 victory against Tindastóll in the last game of the season and secured a promotion to the second-tier 1. deild karla.
On 30 September 2023, Vestri defeated Afturelding in the 1. deild karla promotion playoff final to secure a berth in the top-tier Besta deild karla for the first time in its history.
On 22 August 2025, Vestri defeated Valur in the Icelandic Cup final, 1–0, securing its first ever major trophy. With the win, it secured a berth in a European competition for the first time. Vestri became the first non-top flight Icelandic club to participate in a UEFA club competition, losing 6–0 on aggregate against Qarabağ FK in the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round.
European record Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate 2026–27 UEFA Europa League 1QR Qarabağ 0–3 0–3 0–6 UEFA Conference League 2QR RFS 1–1 1–4 2–5
Squad Current squad
Player of the year YearWinner1988 Guðmundur Gíslason YearWinner2006 Sigurgeir Sveinn Gíslason2007 Pétur Geir Svavarsson2008 Goran Vujic2009 Óttar Kristinn Bjarnason2010 Sigurgeir Sveinn Gíslason YearWinner2011 Þórður Ingason2012 Andri Rúnar Bjarnason2013 Hafsteinn Rúnar Helgason2014 Matthías Króknes Jóhannsson2015 Loic Cédric Mbang Ondo YearWinner2016 Ernir Bjarnason2017 Daði Freyr Arnarsson2018 Elmar Atli Garðarsson2019 Zoran Plazonic2020 Nacho Gil YearWinner2021 Nicolaj Madsen20222023 Gustav Kjeldsen2024 Eiður Aron Sigurbjörnsson2025 Fatai Gbadamosi2026 Ibrahima Baldé
Top scorers by season SeasonPlayerLeagueTotal GoalsDomestic LeagueDomestic Cup2026 Ibrahima Baldé1. deild550 2025 Daði Berg Jónsson Besta deild 7 5 2 2024 Andri Rúnar Bjarnason 8 8 0 2023 Vladimir Tufegdžić1. deild 9 9 2022 6 4 2 Nicolaj Madsen 6 6 0 2021 Pétur Bjarnason 14 11 3 2020 Nacho Gil 10 10 0 2019 Pétur Bjarnason 2. deild 12 7 5 2018 17 14 3 2017 6 6 0 2016 Sólon Breki Leifsson 8 8 2015 Pape Mamadou Faye 1. deild 5 5 2014 Andri Rúnar Bjarnason 11 7 4 2013 Ben Everson 12 10 2 2012 Pétur Georg Markan 8 5 3 2011 Tomi Ameobi 12 11 1 2010 Andri Rúnar Bjarnason 2. deild 22 19 3 2009 8 8 0 Goran Vujic 8 8 2008 Andri Rúnar Bjarnason 3. deild 14 14 2007 Pétur Geir Svavarsson 25 25 2006 Óttar Kristinn Bjarnason 10 0 2005 Þröstur Pétursson 4 4 2004 Hálfdán Daðason 9 9 Pétur Georg Markan 9 9 2003 10 7 3 2002 4 4 0 1993 Djordje Tosic 1. deild 5 5 Jóhann Þór Ævarsson 5 5 1992 7 6 1 1988 Stefán Tryggvason 3. deild 10 -
Players in bold are currently playing for Vestri.
Former notable players Players who have played for Vestri (Badmintonfélag Ísafjarðar, BÍ'88 and BÍ/Bolungarvík) and earned international caps at senior level. Correct as of 28 October 2025.
Nat.PlayerDate of birthCurrent clubPositionInternational careerPape Abou CisséFree AgentDefender2018–2022Silas Songani TelOne F.C.Forward2013–2018Cafu Phete VestriMidfielder2020–presentEiður Aron Sigurbjörnsson NjarðvíkDefender2019–presentJames Charles MackRetiredForward2018–presentAndri Rúnar Bjarnason StjarnanForward2018–2019Kundai Benyu CAPS UnitedMidfielder2017–presentLoïc Cédric Mbang OndoRetiredDefender2017–2024Emil PálssonMidfielder2016Brentton MuhammadGoalkeeper2014–2024Matthías VilhjálmssonForward2009–2016Gilles Mbang Ondo2007–2013Nigel QuashieMidfielder2004–2006
Managerial history DatesNameNotes1986 Björn Helgason1987 Jakob Ólason1988 Jóhann Króknes Torfason1989 Örnólfur Oddsson Player-manager1990 Jóhann Króknes Torfason1991–1992 Ámundi Sigmundsson Player-manager1993 Helgi Helgason1994 Einar Friðþjófsson1995 Björn Ingimarsson Fired midway through season1995 Örnólfur Oddsson Interim player-manager1996 Ómar Torfason Player-manager2002–2004 Haukur Benediktsson2005 Örnólfur Oddsson2006–2007 Jónas Leifur Sigursteinsson2008 Slobodan Milišić2009 Dragan Kažić2010 Alfreð Elías Jóhannsson Player-manager2011 Guðjón Þórðarson 2012–2014 Jörundur Áki Sveinsson 2015 Jón Hálfdán Pétursson 2016 Ásgeir Guðmundsson 2017 Daniel Osafo-Badu Player-manager2017–2020 Bjarni Jóhannsson2020–2021 Heiðar Birnir Torleifsson Resigned in July 20212021 Jón Þór Hauksson2022 Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson2023–2025 Davíð Smári LamudeSacked 29 September 20252025 Jón Þór Hauksson Appointed until the end of the season2025– Daniel Osafo-Badu
Honours Icelandic Cup: Winners (1): 2025 1. deild karla Play-off Winners (1): 2023 2. deild karla Runner-up (3): 1991, 2010, 2019 3. deild karla Winners (1): 1988 Runner-up (1): 2008
References
External links Official Website