Valur

Football club infobox
clubname = Valur

|
fullname = Knattspyrnufélagið Valur
nickname = "Valsarar"
founded = May 11, 1911
ground = Vodafonevöllurinn, Reykjavík, Iceland
capacity = 3.000
chairman = Grímur Sæmundsen
manager = Willum Þór Þórsson
assistant manager = Þór Hinriksson
league = Landsbankadeildin
season = 2007
position = Landsbankadeildin, 1st
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=_whiteshoulders
leftarm1=FF0000|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=FF0000|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=FF0000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=0000FF|body2=0000FF|rightarm2=0000FF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FF0000

Valur, one of Iceland's oldest and most prolific athletic clubs is situated in the heartland of the nation's capital Reykjavík.

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 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.

Grounds

The grounds at Hlíðarendi are currently being completely restructured and Valur have recently started playing their home games at Vodafonevöllurinn, and the handball games in the new Vodafonehöllin the first section of the new ground to be used. The new football pitch will be used for the first time in the 2008 season. Reconstruction of Hlíðarendi will then be finished 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.

Club honours

;Men's football:
*;National Champions (20):*1930, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1956, 1966, 1967, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1985, 1987, 2007.
*;Cup Champions (9):*1965, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2005.
*;Icelandic League Cups (1):* 2008.
*;Super Cup Champions (2):* 2005, 2008.

;Women's football:
*;National Champions (8):*1978, 1986, 1988, 1989, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008.
*"'Cup Champions (10):*1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2006.

;Men's handball:
*;National Champions (21):*1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2007.
*;Cup Champions (6):*1974, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2008.

;Men's basketball:
*;National Champions (2):*1980, 1983.
*;Cup Champions (3):*1980, 1981, 1983

Notable former players

* Albert Guðmundsson
* Arnór Guðjohnsen
* Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen
* Guðni Bergsson
* Ármann Smári Björnsson
* Pálmi Rafn Pálmason
* Barry Smith
* Jim Bett
* Ari Freyr Skúlason
* Ívar Ingimarsson
* Ólafur Stefánsson
* Snorri Steinn Guðjónsson
* Pétur Karl Guðmundsson
* Jóhannes Eðvaldsson
* Atli Eðvaldsson
* Birkir Már Sævarsson

Current squad

Former Managers

*flagicon|SCO Ian Ross (football manager)
*flagicon|ISL Ingi Björn Albertsson

External links

* [http://www.valur.is Official website]
* [http://www.valur.is/skjol/valur_skipulag.wmv Overview video of new grounds]