Besta deild karla
| Founded | 1912 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Iceland |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1st |
| Relegation to | 1. deild karla |
| Domestic cup(s) | VISA-bikar Deildabikar |
| International cup(s) | Champions League Europa League |
| Current champions | KR (25th) |
| Most championships | KR (25) |
| TV partners | Sport Five, Stöð 2 Sport |
| Sponsor(s) | Pepsi |
| Website | http://www.ksi.is |
| Current: 2011 season | |
The Úrvalsdeild karla (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈurvalsˌteilt ˈkʰartla], Men's Select Division) is the top tier of the Icelandic football pyramid. Because of the harsh winters in Iceland, it is generally played in the spring and summer (May to September). It is run by the Football Association of Iceland and is currently comprised by 12 clubs. UEFA currently ranks the league 37th in Europe.[1] From 27 April 2009 the Úrvalsdeild have been known as Pepsi-deildin (e. "The Pepsi League") after KSÍ and Ölgerðin (The producers of Pepsi in Iceland) signed a three year sponsorship contract.[2]
The top division consists of 12 clubs. Each club faces every other club twice during the season, once at home and once away. At the end of each season, the bottom two clubs are automatically relegated to the second level of the Icelandic league system, the 1. deild karla (First Division), with the top two clubs of the 1. deild karla automatically promoted to the Úrvalsdeild.
For the first time in the competition's history, the 2008 season saw 12 teams compete in the premier division, a part of KSI Football Association of Iceland attempt to strengthen Icelandic football. Therefore only one team were relegated in the 2007 season and three clubs were promoted from the 1. deild karla (First Division)
KR hold the most titles, 25. Valur is next with 20, and ÍA and Fram follow with 18 each. The current champions of Iceland are Breiðablik.
Current clubs (2011)
- Breiðablik (Kópavogur)
- FH (Hafnarfjörður)
- Fram (Reykjavík)
- Fylkir (Reykjavík)
- Grindavík (Grindavík)
- ÍBV (Vestmannaeyjar)
- Keflavík (Keflavík)
- KR (Reykjavík)
- Þór Akureyri (Akureyri)
- Stjarnan (Garðabær)
- Valur (Reykjavík)
- Víkingur Reykjavík (Reykjavík)
History
Championship History
Only 10 teams in 96 years have won the Icelandic league title. UBK are the most recent to join the list, winning their first title in 2010. KR has won the most titles. They have been Iceland's champions 24 times.
Champions by number of titles
| Team | Titles | First title | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|
| KR | 25 | 1912 | 2011 |
| Valur | 20 | 1930 | 2007 |
| ÍA | 18 | 1951 | 2001 |
| Fram | 18 | 1913 | 1990 |
| Víkingur | 5 | 1920 | 1991 |
| FH | 5 | 2004 | 2009 |
| Keflavík | 4 | 1964 | 1973 |
| ÍBV | 3 | 1979 | 1998 |
| KA | 1 | 1989 | 1989 |
| UBK | 1 | 2010 | 2010 |
Season by season records
Top scorers
Player of the year
| SEASON | PLAYER OF THE YEAR | CLUB |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Bjarni Sigurðsson
|
ÍA |
| 1985 | Guðmundur Þorbjörnsson
|
Valur |
| 1986 | Guðmundur Torfason
|
Fram |
| 1987 | Pétur Ormslev
|
Fram |
| 1988 | Sigurjón Kristjánsson
|
Valur |
| 1989 | Þorvaldur Örlygsson
|
KA |
| 1990 | Sævar Jónsson
|
Valur |
| 1991 | Guðmundur Steinsson
|
Víkingur |
| 1992 | Lúkas Kostic
|
ÍA |
| 1993 | Sigurður Jónsson
|
ÍA |
| 1994 | Sigursteinn Gíslason
|
ÍA |
| 1995 | Ólafur Þórðarson
|
ÍA |
| 1996 | Gunnar Oddsson
|
Leiftur |
| 1997 | Tryggvi Guðmundsson
|
ÍBV |
| 1998 |  David Winnie
|
KR |
| 1999 | Guðmundur Benediktsson
|
KR |
| 2000 | Hlynur Stefánsson
|
ÍBV |
| 2001 | Gunnlaugur Jónsson
|
ÍA |
| 2002 | Finnur Kolbeinsson
|
Fylkir |
| 2003 |  Allan Borgvardt
|
FH |
| 2004 | Heimir Guðjónsson
|
FH |
| 2005 | Allan Borgvardt
|
FH |
| 2006 | Viktor Bjarki Arnarsson
|
Víkingur |
| 2007 | Helgi Sigurðsson
|
Valur |
| 2008 | Guðmundur Steinarsson
|
Keflavík |
| 2009 | Atli Guðnason
|
FH |
| 2010 | Alfreð Finnbogason
|
Breiðablik |
Young player of the year
| SEASON | YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR | CLUB |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Guðni Bergsson
|
Valur |
| 1985 | Halldór Áskelsson
|
Þór Akureyri |
| 1986 | Gauti Laxdal
|
Fram |
| 1987 | Rúnar Kristinsson
|
KR |
| 1988 | Arnljótur Davíðsson
|
Fram |
| 1989 | Ólafur Gottskálksson
|
ÍA |
| 1990 | Steinar Guðgeirsson
|
Fram |
| 1991 | Arnar Grétarsson
|
Breiðablik |
| 1992 | Arnar Gunnlaugsson
|
ÍA |
| 1993 | Þórður Guðjónsson
|
ÍA |
| 1994 | Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen
|
Valur |
| 1995 | Tryggvi Guðmundsson
|
ÍBV |
| 1996 | Bjarni Guðjónsson
|
ÍA |
| 1997 | Sigurvin Ólafsson
|
ÍBV |
| 1998 | Ólafur Þór Gunnarsson
|
ÍR |
| 1999 | Grétar Hjartarson
|
Grindavík |
| 2000 | Helgi Valur Daníelsson
|
Fylkir |
| 2001 | Grétar Rafn Steinsson
|
ÍA |
| 2002 | Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson
|
ÍBV |
| 2003 | Ólafur Ingi Skúlason
|
Fylkir |
| 2004 | Emil Hallfreðsson
|
FH |
| 2005 | Hörður Sveinsson
|
Keflavik |
| 2006 | Birkir Sævarsson
|
Valur |
| 2007 | Matthías Vilhjálmsson
|
FH |
| 2008 | Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson
|
Breiðablik |
| 2009 | Alfreð Finnbogason
|
Breiðablik |
| 2010 | Kristinn Steindórsson
|
Breiðablik |
References
- ^ UEFA Country Ranking 2009 Bert Kassies' site, accessed 12 February 2009
- ^ Pepsi-deildin í knattspyrnu 2009 KSÍ's official site, accessed 28 April 2009
- ^ Fram was the only team to participate in the 1913 season
- ^ Fram was the only team to participate in the 1914 season
External links
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