# Valur (men's handball)

The Valur men's handball is an Iceland professional team handball club from Reykjavík, that plays in the Úrvalsdeild karla.

## History

The Valur men's handball team has a long history in Icelandic handball, the club is one of the most successful in the sport in Iceland: no team has won the Icelandic Championship and the Icelandic Cup as many times as the Valur men's team. The team's greatest achievement was undoubtedly reaching the final of the EHF Champions League in 1980, which it lost against the German TV Grosswallstadt. The final was played in the Munich Olympic Hall and was lost 21:12. Since then, no Icelandic club team has reached the finals of a European competition.
In 2024 they won the EHF European Cup for the first time, beating Olympiacos S.F.P. in the final over two legs with 30-26 and 32-35 (62-61 agg.).

## Crest, colours, supporters
### Kit manufacturers

| Period | Kit manufacturer |
| - 2016 | Hummel |
| 2016–present | Macron |

### Kits

HOME :
| 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 2022–24 |
AWAY :
| 2016–18 | 2019–20 | 2022–24 |

## Team
### Current squad

    Squad for the 2023–24 season
Valur :
Goalkeepers
01 Björgvin Páll Gústavsson
12 Stefán Pétursson
31 Arnar Thor Fylkisson
Left Wingers
10 Vignir Stefánsson
11 Daníel Örn Guðmundsson
19 Tómas Sigurðsson
Right Wingers
07 Úlfar Monsi Páll Thordarson
20 Bergur Elí Rúnarsson
25 Allan Nordberg
Line Players
03 Tjörvi Týr Gíslason
18 Thorvaldur Örn Thorvaldsson
29 Jóel Bernburg
88 Andri Finnsson
Central Backs
06 Viktor Sigurðsson
09 Benedikt Gunnar Óskarsson
34 Anton Rúnarsson
Left Backs
08 Aron Pálsson
15 Alexander Júlíusson
17 Breki Hrafn Valdimarsson
23 Róbert Hostert
24 Magnús Óli Magnússon
Right Backs
05 Agnar Jónsson
09 Ísak Gústafsson
43 Alexander Petersson :

### Technical staff

* Head Coach: Óskar Bjarni Óskarsson
* Assistant Coach: Heimir Ríkarðsson
* Physiotherapist: Jón Gunnar Kristjánsson

### Transfers

    Transfers for the 2024–25 season
Transfers for the 2023–24 season :
Joining
Allan Nordberg (RW) from KA
Alexander Petersson (RB)
Anton Rúnarsson (CB) from TV Emsdetten
Viktor Sigurðsson (CB) from ÍR Reykjavik
Ísak Gústafsson (RB) from Selfoss
Leaving
Stiven Tobar Valencia (LW) to S.L. Benfica
Arnór Snær Óskarsson (RB) to Rhein-Neckar Löwen
Thorgils Svölu Baldursson (LP) to Karlskrona Handboll
Motoki Sakai (GK) to Osaki Osol :

## Previous Squads

2016–2017 Team :
| Shirt No | Nationality | Player | Birth Date | Position |
| 1 | Iceland | Daniel Andri Valtysson | (1996-08-27) 27 August 1996 (age 28) | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Iceland | Orri Freyr Gislason | (1988-05-29) 29 May 1988 (age 36) | Line Player |
| 4 | Iceland | Olafur Aegir Olafsson | (1995-10-28) 28 October 1995 (age 29) | Right Back |
| 5 | Iceland | Heidar Adalsteinsson | (1988-08-29) 29 August 1988 (age 36) | Left Winger |
| 6 | Iceland | Atli Karl Bachmann | (1991-01-17) 17 January 1991 (age 34) | Right Back |
| 7 | Iceland | Thorgils Jon Svölu Baldursson | (1997-05-31) 31 May 1997 (age 27) | Line Player |
| 8 | Iceland | Atli Mar Baruson | (1991-06-17) 17 June 1991 (age 33) | Central Back |
| 9 | Iceland | Alexander Masson | (1998-07-26) 26 July 1998 (age 26) | Left Winger |
| 10 | Iceland | Vignir Stefansson | (1990-06-21) 21 June 1990 (age 34) | Left Winger |
| 11 | Croatia | Josip Jurić-Grgić | (1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 (age 29) | Left Back |
| 12 | Iceland | Sigurdur Ingiberg Olafsson | (1992-08-26) 26 August 1992 (age 32) | Goalkeeper |
| 14 | Iceland | Bjarni Valdimarsson | (1998-11-29) 29 November 1998 (age 26) | Left Back |
| 15 | Iceland | Alexander Örn Juliusson | (1994-10-17) 17 October 1994 (age 30) | Left Back |
| 16 | Iceland | Hlynur Morthens | (1975-12-12) 12 December 1975 (age 49) | Goalkeeper |
| 18 | Iceland | Sturla Magnusson | (1996-10-02) 2 October 1996 (age 28) | Line Player |
| 19 | Iceland | Sveinn Aron Sveinsson | (1993-03-04) 4 March 1993 (age 31) | Right Winger |
| 21 | Iceland | Helgi Karl Gudjonsson | (1995-02-06) 6 February 1995 (age 30) | Left Winger |
| 27 | Iceland | Sveinn Jose Rivera | (1998-03-19) 19 March 1998 (age 26) | Line Player |
| 33 | Iceland | Ýmir Örn Gíslason | (1997-07-01) 1 July 1997 (age 27) | Line Player |
| 34 | Iceland | Anton Rúnarsson | (1988-07-20) 20 July 1988 (age 36) | Central Back |
| 44 | Iceland | Sigurvin Jarl Armannsson | (1996-10-18) 18 October 1996 (age 28) | Left Winger |
| 58 | Iceland | Markus Bjornsson | (1998-01-15) 15 January 1998 (age 27) | Right Back |
2007–2008 Team :
| Shirt No | Nationality | Player | Birth Date | Position |
| 1 | Iceland | Ingvar Gudmundsson | (1988-07-20) 20 July 1988 (age 36) | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Iceland | Orri Freyr Gislason | (1988-05-29) 29 May 1988 (age 36) | Line Player |
| 4 | Iceland | Kristjan Karlsson | (1984-05-02) 2 May 1984 (age 40) | Right Winger |
| 5 | Iceland | David Höskuldsson | (1981-01-30) 30 January 1981 (age 44) | Left Winger |
| 6 | Iceland | Hjalti Palmason | (1981-05-06) 6 May 1981 (age 43) | Left Back |
| 7 | Iceland | Baldvin Porsteinsson | (1983-11-22) 22 November 1983 (age 41) | Left Winger |
| 8 | Iceland | Markus Mani Michaelsson-Maute | (1981-06-17) 17 June 1981 (age 43) | Left Back |
| 9 | Iceland | Anton Rúnarsson | (1988-07-20) 20 July 1988 (age 36) | Central Back |
| 10 | Iceland | Gunnar Hardarson | (1986-01-14) 14 January 1986 (age 39) | Line Player |
| 11 | Iceland | Ingvar Arnason | (1986-07-15) 15 July 1986 (age 38) | Line Player |
| 12 | Iceland | Olafur Haukur Gislason | (1981-03-08) 8 March 1981 (age 43) | Goalkeeper |
| 13 | Iceland | Agir Jonsson | (1979-05-12) 12 May 1979 (age 45) | Line Player |
| 14 | Iceland | Sigfus Pall Sigfusson | (1986-02-01) 1 February 1986 (age 39) | Central Back |
| 15 | Iceland | Elvar Fridriksson | (1986-06-12) 12 June 1986 (age 38) | Left Back |
| 16 | Iceland | Palmar Petursson | (1984-11-22) 22 November 1984 (age 40) | Goalkeeper |
| 17 | Iceland | Arnór Þór Gunnarsson | (1987-10-23) 23 October 1987 (age 37) | Right Winger |
| 18 | Iceland | Ernir Hrafn Arnarson | (1986-11-13) 13 November 1986 (age 38) | Right Back |
| 20 | Iceland | Birkir Marinosson | (1988-09-16) 16 September 1988 (age 36) | Right Winger |
| 23 | Iceland | Fannar Fridgeirsson | (1987-06-03) 3 June 1987 (age 37) | Central Back |
| 66 | Iceland | Atli Steinthorsson | (1980-12-02) 2 December 1980 (age 44) | Line Player |

## Accomplishments
### Domestic

* Úrvalsdeild karla
** Winner (24) : 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2007, 2017, 2021, 2022
* Icelandic Men's Handball Cup
** Winner (13) : 1974, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2024

### International

* EHF Champions League:
** Runners-up : 1979–80
* EHF European Cup:
** Champions : 2023–24

## European record
### European Cup and Champions League

| Season | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
| 1979–80 Finalist | Round 2 | Brentwood'72 HC | 38–14 | 32–19 | 70–33 |
| 1979–80 Finalist | Quarter-finals | HK Drott | 18–16 | 17–18 | 35–34 |
| 1979–80 Finalist | Semi-finals | Atlético Madrid BM | 18–15 | 21–24 | 39–39 (a) |
| 1979–80 Finalist | Finals | TV Grosswallstadt | 12–21 |

### EHF ranking

    As of 12/10/2022
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 65 | Dinamo Viktor Stavropol | 83 |
| 66 | Handballclub Fivers Margareten | 82 |
| 67 | Beşiktaş JK | 80 |
| 68 | Valur | 80 |
| 69 | Ystads IF | 79 |
| 70 | Górnik Zabrze | 78 |
| 71 | ØIF Arendal | 76 |

## Former club members
### Notable former players

* Ernir Hrafn Arnarson (2006-2011)
* Fannar Fridgeirsson (2004-2010)
* Ýmir Örn Gíslason (2016-2020)
* Snorri Guðjónsson (2000-2003, 2017-2018)
* Hreiðar Guðmundsson (2019-2020)
* Valdimar Grímsson (1984-1994, 2000-2001)
* Arnór Þór Gunnarsson (2006-2010)
* Björgvin Páll Gústavsson (2021–)
* Guðmundur Hólmar Helgason (2013-2016)
* Guðmundur Hrafnkelsson (1991-1999)
* Daníel Þór Ingason (2013–2016)
* Einar Örn Jónsson (1995-2000)
* Ólafur Jónsson (1965-1975, 1984-1985)
* Kári Kristján Kristjánsson (2014-2015)
* Ómar Ingi Magnússon (2014–2016)
* Markus Mani Michaelsson-Maute (-2004, 2006-2011)
* Arnór Snær Óskarsson (2017-2023)
* Alexander Petersson (2023–)
* Anton Rúnarsson (2007-2012, 2016-2021, 2023-)
* Árni Þór Sigtryggsson (2017–2018)
* Dagur Sigurðsson (1990-1996)
* Ólafur Stefánsson (1984–1996)
* Geir Sveinsson (1980-1989, 1999–2003)
* Stiven Tobar Valencia (2017-2023)
* Josip Jurić-Grgić (2016-2017)
* Martin Nagy (2020-2021)
* Motoki Sakai (2021-2023)

### Former coaches

| Seasons | Coach | Country |
| 2017-2023 | Snorri Guðjónsson | |
| 2023– | Óskar Bjarni Óskarsson | |