The Besta deild kvenna (lit. 'Women's Best Division') is the top-tier women's football league in Iceland. It features 10 teams that play a double round robin to decide the champion, which qualifies for a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League. The 2022 season was the first season of the league after it was rebranded as Besta deild kvenna; previously, it had been named Úrvalsdeild kvenna (lit. 'Women's Elite League').[1]
 | |
| Founded | 1972. |
|---|---|
| Country |  Iceland |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of clubs | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | 1. deild kvenna |
| Domestic cup(s) | Icelandic Cup |
| League cup(s) | Icelandic Football League Cup |
| International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League |
| Current champions | Breiðablik (2024) |
| Most championships | Breiðablik (18 titles) |
| Website | ksi.is |
| Current: 2024 Besta deild kvenna | |
History
editThe Icelandic women's tournament began in 1972. Eight teams competed in two groups and the top team from each group, FH and Ármann. met in a final where FH won 2–0. In 1976, only five team registered for competition so the group arrangement was abandoned and instead the teams played in one division with home and away games. The following years, fewer and fewer teams participated, due to lack of training, lack of access to Grass fields, and little or none youth programs. After only three teams participating in 1980, the tide turned the following season with five new teams registering for competition and the addition of the Icelandic Women's Football Cup.[2] On 24 February 2022, the league was rebranded as Besta deild kvenna.[3]
Champions
editThe list of all champions:[4]
- 1972: FH
- 1973: Ármann
- 1974: FH
- 1975: FH
- 1976: FH
- 1977: Breiðablik
- 1978: Valur
- 1979: Breiðablik
- 1980: Breiðablik
- 1981: Breiðablik
- 1982: Breiðablik
- 1983: Breiðablik
- 1984: ÍA
- 1985: ÍA
- 1986: Valur
- 1987: ÍA
- 1988: Valur
- 1989: Valur
- 1990: Breiðablik
- 1991: Breiðablik
- 1992: Breiðablik
- 1993: KR
- 1994: Breiðablik
- 1995: Breiðablik
- 1996: Breiðablik
- 1997: KR
- 1998: KR
- 1999: KR
- 2000: Breiðablik
- 2001: Breiðablik
- 2002: KR
- 2003: KR
- 2004: Valur
- 2005: Breiðablik
- 2006: Valur
- 2007: Valur
- 2008: Valur
- 2009: Valur
- 2010: Valur
- 2011: Stjarnan[5]
- 2012: Þór/KA
- 2013: Stjarnan[6]
- 2014: Stjarnan
- 2015: Breiðablik
- 2016: Stjarnan
- 2017: Þór/KA
- 2018: Breiðablik[7]
- 2019: Valur[8]
- 2020: Breiðablik
- 2021: Valur
- 2022: Valur[9]
- 2023: Valur
- 2024: Breiðablik
By club
edit| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Breiðablik | 18 |
| Valur | 14 |
| KR | 6 |
| FH | 4 |
| Stjarnan | 4 |
| ÍA | 3 |
| Þór/KA | 2 |
| Ármann | 1 |
Players
editPlayers of the year
edit
Source:[13]
Top goalscorers of all time
edit| # | Player | Years | Goals | Apps | Goals per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olga Færseth | 1992–2008 | 269 | 217 | 1.24 |
| 2 | Margrét Lára Viðarsdóttir | 2000–2008, 2016-2019 | 207 | 143 | 1.46 |
| 3 | Harpa Þorsteinsdóttir | 2002–2018 | 181 | 252 | 0.72 |
| 4 | Ásta Breiðfjörð Gunnlaugsdóttir | 1976–1995 | 154 | 143 | 1.08 |
| Helena Ólafsdóttir | 1986–2001 | 154 | 193 | 0.80 | |
| 6 | Hrefna Huld Jóhannesdóttir | 1995–2009 | 147 | 176 | 0.84 |
| 7 | Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir | 2007–2020, 2024- | 140 | 199 | 0.70 |
| 8 | Laufey Sigurðardóttir | 1981–1998 | 137 | 178 | 0.77 |
| 9 | Elín Metta Jensen | 2010– | 134 | 189 | 0.71 |
| 10 | Ásthildur Helgadóttir | 1991–2003 | 133 | 153 | 0.87 |
| 11 | Rakel Hönnudóttir | 2006–2017, 2020 | 125 | 215 | 0.58 |
| 12 | Hólmfríður Magnúsdóttir | 2000–2008, 2011, 2017-2021 | 124 | 167 | 0.75 |
| 13 | Fanndís Friðriksdóttir | 2005–2012, 2014–2017, 2018- | 118 | 248 | 0.48 |
| 14 | Sandra María Jessen | 2012–2018, 2022- | 107 | 170 | 0.63 |
| 15 | Kristín Ýr Bjarnadóttir | 2000–2004, 2008–2011, 2013–2016 | 102 | 153 | 0.67 |
| 16 | Ásgerður Ingibergsdóttir | 1992–2005 | 97 | 162 | 0.60 |
| 17 | Dóra María Lárusdóttir | 2001–2010, 2012–2014, 2016–2021 | 94 | 269 | 0.35 |
| 18 | Katrín Ásbjörnsdóttir | 2009– | 91 | 207 | 0.44 |
| Guðrún Jóna Kristjánsdóttir | 1985–2004 | 91 | 215 | 0.42 | |
| Rakel Logadóttir | 1997–2014 | 91 | 216 | 0.42 |
Source: KSI
Top scorers by season
editSee also
edit- Besta deild karla (men's football league)
References
edit- ^ Helga Margrét Höskuldsdóttir (24 February 2022). "Nýtt vörumerki með rætur íslenskri knattspyrnusögu". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ Bylgja Eybjörg Arnarsdóttir. "Kvennaknattspyrna í Evrópu: Saga og þróun" (PDF). Skemman (in Icelandic). National and University Library of Iceland. p. 22. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Helga Margrét Höskuldsdóttir (24 February 2022). "Nýtt vörumerki með rætur íslenskri knattspyrnusögu". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ "Íslandsmeistarar í kvennaflokkum" [Icelandic champions in women's categories] (in Icelandic). KSÍ. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Stjarnan women win 1st championship" (in Icelandic). stjarnan.is. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ "Stjarnan storm to Iceland's women's title". freenewspos.com. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- ^ Leifsson, Anton Ingi (17 September 2018). "Breiðablik Íslandsmeistari í sautjánda sinn". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ Jónsson, Kristján (21 September 2019). "Valur Íslandsmeistari í ellefta sinn". Mbl.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ Sigurdórsson, Guðmundur Karl (1 October 2022). "Valskonur fögnuðu titlinum eftir jafntefli" [Valskonur celebrated the title after a draw]. mbl.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ Gunnarsson, Henry Birgir (October 2, 2017). "Andri og Mayor best". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ Anton Ingi Leifsson (22 September 2018). "Sandra best, Alexandra efnilegust og Bríet besti dómarinn". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 23 September 2018.
- ^ Anton Ingi Leifsson, Svava Kristín Gretarsdóttir (29 September 2019). "Elín Metta og Óskar Örn best, Finnur og Hlín efnilegust". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ "Women's Players' Footballer of the Year". KSI.is. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
External links
edit- Standings on Official Site
- women.soccerway.com
- IcelandFootball.net - List of Ladies First Level Champions (in English)