Víkingur look onwards and upwards

After a fifth-placed finish in their first season since being formed with the merger of GÍ Gøta and LÍF Leirvík, Víkingur have hired former Faroe Islands coach Jógvan Martin Olsen with a view to bigger achievements in the future.

'An exciting job'
Following a shaky start, Víkingur can feel reasonably pleased with their maiden campaign, with fans from the neighbouring villages of Gota and Leirvik having come together to give the new team vocal backing in 2008. The club are already aiming to improve on that showing in 2009, with the 47-year-old Olsen having agreed to take the helm for the next two years. "I see this as an exciting job, and I see great potential in the playing staff," he said. " It's also pleasing that this club has such great support from local people."

'Open to anything'
Olsen started his coaching career at LÍF in 1994, two years after he won his third title as a player with B68 Toftir. He would later take charge of NSÍ Runavík while between 1995 and 2005 he was assistant to successive national team coaches Allan Simonsen and Henrik Larsen before taking the job himself in 2006. He is now studying for his UEFA Pro Licence with a view to a move overseas one day. "I plan to leave the Faroe Islands to get a coaching job abroad," he said. "I haven't decided which country I want to go to; I'm open to everything."

Súni outlook
The new coach will have help from his namesake Súni Olsen, who returned to the Faroe Islands in the summer after three seasons in Denmark with Aalborg BK and Viborg IF. Frustrated by a lack of first-team football in Denmark, the 27-year-old initially signed for B36 Tórshavn before the end of the season but made just two appearances due to injury problems. He has now elected to try his luck with Víkingur, having started his career with one of their predecessors, GÍ.

Points to prove
The midfielder, who first moved abroad to join Dutch side FC Zwolle in 2001, has a reputation for being able to shoot from distance with both feet and could be a great asset as Víkingur look to raise their game in 2009. With both Olsens – the coach and the player – out to prove that they can still cut it in the Formuladeildin and further afield, Víkingur's dream of a top-three finish is not an unrealistic one.