KR, or Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur, was established in 1899, making it the oldest club in Iceland’s history. Their rich history is the reason why the club is regarded by many as the most iconic club in Iceland. KR is not only a huge part of the sports history in Iceland but also a huge part of the the country’s history. In this article I will go through KR’s history, former player and current state.
History - League and Cup
KR has won the league 26 times and the cup tournament 14 times making it the most successful club in Iceland. No club has won the league nor the cup more often than KR, making the KR fan chant: “Við erum bestir á Íslandi! Við vinnum deildina oftast! Bikarinn oftast! Oftar en allir aðrir!” the realest chant in football. KR was the first club to win the league in Iceland (1912), the first club to win the first division when the league was split into two leagues (1955) and was also the first Icelandic representative in Europe. Despite having achieved many historical accomplishments, it has been a while since the club last won the league (2013). That is mainly due to the great competition in the Pepsi league from clubs like: Stjarnan, FH and Valur.
Interview with a former KR player
I sat down with Páll Ólafsson, a former KR player, and asked him some questions about the club and his experience as a KR player.
1. What makes KR stand out from the other clubs in Iceland?
“Namely the history and its success story. They were the first Icelandic representatives in Europe and were the first team that played against a major European club, Liverpool. Today their home turf is known as the most difficult pitch to play. The fans are extremely supportive and loyal and the organization within the club is strong”
2. What was your favourite moment at KR?
“The first season I played in ‘87 for KR Football club, only 19 years old. Equally I was proud two years earlier when I played for the first-team in handball”
3. How did the fans treat you?
“They were always supportive. Some were my friends.”
4.If you could describe KR in three words, what words would you use?
“Classic, family and winners”
PHOTO: Sent by Páll via Mail
KR 0-5 Liverpool
On August 17th 1964, the Reykjavik side came up against one of the greatest teams in the world, Liverpool. The game was played at Laugardalsvollur and the attendance for the game was 10.000 (KR.is). The game ended in a 5-0 KR defeat but the KR players and fans have fond memories of this historical game. The reason why this game is so historical is because it is HIGHLY unlikely that an Icelandic side will ever play against a top English side in a competitive match ever again! Iceland, at the time, was unknown by many people in the world and they had never heard of KR ever in their life. This story has more value today because Liverpool just recently made it to the Champions League final. The Reds will play against Real Madrid on May 26th in Kiev.
Current state
The current manager is the KR legend, Rúnar Kristinsson, who previously held a job in Sweden and Belgium before taking over again as the KR head coach. Rúnar is a fan favourite and KR supporters have high expectations this season. KR lost their first game of the season against the reigning champions, Valur, in a thrilling 2-1 match. KR equalised in added time, sparking some hope in the KR players and fans, but Valur quickly snatched the three points by scoring the winning goal a few seconds later. Their next game will be against the Garðabær side, Stjarnan, away. Stjarnan wants to compensate for the disappointing draw against Keflavík where the Blues conceded 2 goals on the 85th and 88th minute.
Conclusion
KR is a club that will forever be a big part of football in Iceland. I know that there are many people that absolutely detest KR and hate the club with every bone in their body, however, there are also many people, from all ages, that have fond memories of the club that they will cherish for the rest of their life. KR is a club that has some of the most loyal supporters in Iceland and it looks like that that loyalty will only continue for the coming years. KR will continue to try their best to reach their former glory and will hopefully break some more historical records.
Post by: Ólafur Hálfdan Pálsson
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