KA Akureyri

KA was founded on January 8, 1928, in the home of Margrét and Axel Schiöth, at Hafnarstræti 23, with the goal of promoting sports in Akureyri.

Between 1944 and 1974 the two most prominent football clubs in Akureyri, KA and Þór, sent a united team under the banner of ÍBA to the Icelandic first tier made up of a selection of players from the Akureyri clubs. The club played 17 seasons in the top flight of Icelandic football league, Úrvalsdeild karla.

The first time the two Akureyri clubs, KA and Þór, combined forces was against recent league champions Valur in the middle of July 1942. The teams played twice, the united team from Akureyri won one game but lost the other. The positive results gave impetus to unification ideas and in 1943 for the fourth time a team from Akureyri played in Úrvalsdeild karla. But now it sailed under the flag of Íþróttaráð Akureyrar (In english Akureyri Sports Council) and not KA as in all the previous times.[1] Archived 29 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine

The subsequent year, in 1944, saw the establishment of ÍB Akureyri. By 1946, a football team representing ÍBA competed in Úrvalsdeild karla, for the first time.

From 1955 to 1974, the ÍBA team always took part in the Icelandic men's football tournament. In 1974, the two respective sports clubs ended their collaboration and started sending teams separately as KA and Þór.[2]

KA won the Icelandic Men’s Football Championship for the first time in the club’s history in 1989, completing one of the most notable title runs in Icelandic football. The achievement challenged the long-standing dominance of Reykjavík-based clubs and is widely regarded as a landmark moment for football in northern Iceland.

Coached by Guðjón Þórðarson, KA were often characterised as a physically strong and highly competitive side rather than a technically elaborate one. While this approach occasionally led to dropped points against lower-ranked teams, KA proved highly effective against title rivals, with decisive results against Fram, Valur, and KR forming the backbone of their championship campaign. The team finished the season unbeaten in their final 11 league matches. After a mixed start to the season, KA gathered momentum with a series of key victories, including dominant home and away wins over established contenders. A crucial turning point came late in the season, when KA moved to the top of the league table for the first time following a 5–1 away victory against Víkingur Reykjavík.

In the penultimate round, KA dropped points in a draw against Valur in a crucial match. With only one round remaining, FH led the league with 32 points, while KA were close behind on 31. FH were widely expected to clinch the title, as they were scheduled to face already relegated Fylkir at home. However, KA secured a 2–0 away win against ÍBK in the final round, while FH suffered a surprise home defeat to Fylkir. The combined results confirmed KA as Icelandic champions, sealing their first league title.

As FH had been expected to secure the championship, the trophy was not immediately available and had to be driven from Hafnarfjörður to Keflavík. Nevertheless, celebrations were extensive. An estimated 1,000 supporters welcomed the team home at Akureyri Airport, followed by official receptions and public festivities.

Forward Þorvaldur Örlygsson was named Iceland’s Player of the Season. His performances during the 1989 campaign were widely recognised as instrumental in KA’s historic triumph and after the season he transferred to Nottingham Forest.

The summer of 2015 was filled with anticipation for KA. Despite losing some key players, the team demonstrated strength during preseason, reaching the final of the Icelandic Men's Football League Cup but ultimately losing to Breiðablik. Good signings, preseason success, and the experienced coach Bjarni Jóhannsson, who took over in 2013, led many pundits to predict that KA would be promoted to the top flight with ease. However, the season failed to meet expectations, and the team finished in 3rd place, prompting the sacking of manager Jóhannsson, with his assistant Srdjan Tufegdzic taking over late in the season.

In 2016, KA finally reached the top flight. Under new management with Tufegdzic at the helm and notable acquisitions like Hallgrímur Mar Steingrímsson, Guðmann Þórisson, and Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson, the team comfortably won the second division. Expectations were high for KA's first match in the top division in thirteen years. The team faced Breiðablik and emerged victorious with a 1–3 scoreline. The first season in the top division since 2004 fared well as the team finished in 7th place.

The following year saw KA once again finish in 7th place, and at the end of the season, the club parted ways with Tufegdzic. Óli Stefán Flóventsson replaced him and managed to guide the team to 5th place, KA's best showing since 2002. Elfar Árni Aðalsteinsson emerged as the team's top scorer with 13 goals. However, the subsequent season did not go as well for Flóventsson, who was let go after managing five games without a win. His replacement, Arnar Grétarsson, led the team to a 7th-place finish, although the season was cut short due to COVID-19. The season was notable for an unusual number of draws, with the team drawing 12 times. The team was praised for its solid defending and the homegrown player Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason had a breakout season.

The 2021 season marked Grétarsson's first full season as head coach, during which significant acquisitions like Jonathan Hendrickx, Dušan Brković, and the return of homegrown player Daníel Hafsteinsson bolstered the team's roster. On 29 May 2021, Bjarnason made his international debut for the Icelandic national team before being sold to Lecce midway through the season. Despite the loss of Bjarnason, KA achieved remarkable success, securing its best result since 2002 with a 4th-place finish. Moving into the 2022 season, KA continued its upward trajectory, clinching its second-best result ever in the Besta deild karla. This achievement qualified them for the UEFA Europa Conference League. Nökkvi Þeyr Þórisson showcased an outstanding performance throughout the season, earning recognition as the league's best player and top scorer with 17 goals. Notably, his remarkable achievements came despite his transfer to K Beerschot VA before the season concluded. Grétarsson's assistant and former KA player, Hallgrímur Jónasson, assumed managerial duties for the team towards the end of the season, following the departure of Grétarsson. Jónasson successfully navigated the team through the playoffs and a second-place finish.

In 2023, KA finished 7th in the league and made it to the cup final against Víkingur R., ultimately losing 3-1. As a result, the team qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League and in 2024 they had a relatively successful campaign, defeating Connah's Quay Nomads and Dundalk, with their journey coming to an end against Club Brugge.

In 2024, KA would repeat their successful cup run from last year once again facing Víkingur R. in the final. On their way to the final, KA defeated ÍR, Vestri, Fram, and Valur. The final was played at a high tempo, with both teams adopting an attacking approach in the first half. KA proved more incisive going forward and took the lead in the 37th minute following a corner kick, when Viðar Örn Kjartansson forced the ball over the line during a crowded goalmouth situation. In the second half, Víkingur increased their attacking pressure, but KA maintained their intensity and defensive discipline, limiting clear scoring opportunities. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Dagur Ingi Valsson sealed the win for KA. The match ended 2–0, securing KA’s first Icelandic Cup title. KA's victory also meant that they had qualified for the UEFA Conference League, a second time in a row.