Íþróttafélagið Leiknir, commonly known as Leiknir Reykjavík, is an Icelandic multi-sport club. It is best known for its men's football section, but also fields departments in Badminton, Basketball, Volleyball and Karate.[1] The club was founded in 1973 and is based in Breiðholt neighbourhood of Reykjavík.
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| Full name | Leiknir Reykjavík | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Ljónin (The Lions) | ||
| Short name | LEI | ||
| Founded | 17 May 1973 | ||
| Ground | Leiknisvöllur, Reykjavík | ||
| Capacity | 1,215 | ||
| Chairman | Oscar Clausen | ||
| Manager | Ólafur Hrannar Kristjánsson | ||
| League | 1. deild karla | ||
| 2024 | 1. deild karla, 8th of 12 | ||
| Website | https://www.leiknir.com/ | ||
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Leiknir plays its home matches at Leiknisvöllur, which has a capacity of 1,215 of which 525 seating[2]
The club's motto is "Pride of Breiðholt".
Facilities
editThe whole Leiknir area is newly renovated and is in excellent condition. In 2008 the club opened its new facilities which replaced the old cabin that had served as the club's office and dressing facility since 1987. The current facilities are a 700 sq m club house, artificial turf with heat, main stadium and total of 4 practice grounds. One practice ground is called Þorsteins-völlur, named on 7 September 2012 in memory of 9-year-old Þorsteinn Björnsson, a former player of the youth department in Leiknir.
The club has access to a swimming pool and a gymnasium located next to the Leiknir area.
Men's football
editSeasons
editLeiknir currently plays in 1. deild karla, the second tier of Icelandic football. In 2014 the men's football team placed 1st in the 1. deild karla and won a promotion to the Úrvalsdeild, for the first time in the clubs history, however after just one season they were relegated to back to the first division. In 2021 they returned to the top flight having finished second in the 2020 season and this time they managed to finish 8th. In 2022 they finished above the relegation spots in the regular season but were relegated after the playoffs.
Support
editThe organized supporters of Leiknir are known as Leiknisljónin, translated in English as the Leiknir's Lions. Founded in 2015 they have been the main supporter group of Leiknir. In 2022, Leiknir got its second unofficial faction, a youth faction called Ghetto Boys. The club's anthem is In the Ghetto made famous by Elvis Presley and is played before every home game.
Rivalry
editLeiknir's main rivals are their neighbours ÍR. Leiknir and ÍR are the only football clubs in Breiðholt and they represent two very different areas of the neighbourhood. The match between these two is known as Breiðholtsslagurinn. Those games tend to be very interesting. The club's record against ÍR in more recent times is very favorable.
Youth academy
editThe club runs a youth setup in its district for children aged 6–18. The club is renowned for playing many homegrown players and developing young players. Some of the most noticeable home-grown players are Rúnar Kristinsson, Hannes Þór Halldórsson, Hilmar Árni Halldórsson, Sævar Atli Magnússon and Júlíus Magnússon
Honours
editLeague
edit- 1. deild karla (1st Division)
- 2. deild karla (2nd Division)
- 3. deild karla (3rd Division)
- Runners-up (1): 2003[5]
Cups
edit- Reykjavíkurmótið (Reykjavik Cup)
- Deildarbikarkeppni KSÍ – B deild (League Cup – B division)
- Winners (1): 2005[9]
Players
editCurrent squad
edit- As of 3 Sep 2024[10]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Managerial history
edit| Name | Nationality | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Pétur Arnþórsson | 
|
1994–1996 |
| Magnús Pálsson |
|
1996–1997 |
| Jóhann Gunnarsson |
|
1999–2000 |
| Magnús Einarsson |
|
2001–2003 |
| Garðar Ásgeirsson |
|
2004–2006 |
| Óli Halldór Sigurjónsson |
|
2006–2007 |
| Jesper Tollefsen | 
|
2007 |
| Garðar Ásgeirsson |
|
2007–08 |
| Sigursteinn Gíslason |
|
2008–2011 |
| Zoran Miljković | 
|
2011 |
| Willum Þór Þórsson |
|
2011–2012 |
| Davíð Snorri Jónasson and Freyr Alexandersson |
|
2012–2015 |
| Kristján Guðmundsson |
|
2015–2016 |
| Kristófer Sigurgeirsson |
|
2016[11]–2018 |
| Stefán Gíslason |
|
2019 |
| Sigurður Heiðar Höskuldsson |
|
2019–2022 |
| Vigfús Arnar Jósefsson |
|
2023–2024 |
| Ólafur Hrannar Kristjánsson |
|
2024– |
Backroom staff
editClub officials
edit| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Oscar Clausen |
| Director | Geir Þorsteinsson |
| Board of Directors | Aron Fuego Daníelsson Brynjar Hlöðvers Elvar Geir Magnússon Eyjólfur Tómasson |
Source: Leiknir | Stjórn Leiknis
Basketball
editLeiknir's basketball department was founded in 1992.[12] In October 2021, Brynjar Karl Sigurðsson was announced as the new chairman of Leiknir's basketball department.[13]
Men's basketball
editTitles
editWomen's basketball
editHistory
editIn March 2022, the team started a collaboration with Aþena basketball club to field a team in the women's second-tier 1. deild kvenna.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Leiknir Reykjavík – Stolt Breiðholts". leiknir.com (in Icelandic). Íþróttafélagið Leiknir. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ "Leiknisvöllur - Knattspyrnusamband Íslands".
- ^ "Úrslit – staða | Mótalisti | Mótamál | Knattspyrnusamband Íslands". Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Leikskýrsla: Leiknir R. – Víkingur Ó. – Knattspyrnusamband Íslands".
- ^ "Stakt mót – Knattspyrnusamband Íslands".
- ^ "Leikskýrsla: Leiknir R. – Valur – Knattspyrnusamband Íslands".
- ^ "Leikskýrsla | Mótalisti | Mótamál | Knattspyrnusamband Íslands". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ "Stakt mót – Knattspyrnusamband Íslands".
- ^ "Team roster". KSÍ official website. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Einarsson, Þórður (17 October 2016). "Kristófer Sigurgeirsson nýr þjálfari Leiknis" [Kitts Sigurgeirsson new training facility] (in Icelandic). Leiknir R. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Leiknir og Aþena gera með sér samkomulag – Senda lið í fyrstu deild kvenna". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). 31 March 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ Ingvi Þór Sæmundsson (1 October 2021). "Brynjar Karl aftur heim til Leiknis". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ – 2. deild karla
- ^ Skúli Sigurðsson (27 April 2016). "Leiknir sigraði 2. deildina". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.