Eyjólfsson ends Iceland reign

Siggi Eyjólfsson has stepped down after a seven-year reign as Iceland women's coach.

Eyjólfsson took over in 2006 and made history by twice qualifying for the UEFA Women's EURO finals, the first Iceland team to make any senior football tournament. In 2009 they lost all three games, yet in Sweden last month, they held Norway and beat the Netherlands to reach the quarter-finals. They eventually succumbed to the hosts in the 39-year-old's record 78th game at the helm.

“Results have surpassed all expectations and it is great to quit after this success when we achieved our best results in the finals in Sweden this year which has taken the national team to another level," said Eyjólfsson, head of education at the Football Association of Iceland (KSÍ) since 2002, a role he retains.

"The development has been good, the team has twice made it to finals and climbed the ranking list rapidly so the future is bright. The association gave me time to think this over and after carefully thinking this through I decided to call it a day. I have been the coach for seven years and this was a really difficult decision, but it is time to move on.

"I have had some offers from men's teams and also foreign women's team, I will now look at my possibilities but looking more into men's football."

Eyjólfsson's successor will begin their FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying campaign at home to Switzerland on 26 September with Denmark, Serbia, Israel and Malta also in their group.