Iceland football coach Heimir Hallgrimsson steps down after seven years in role

Reykjavik: Heimir Hallgrimsson, the coach who led Iceland to its first World Cup in the recently concluded event in Russia, has stepped down from his role. [caption id=“attachment_4612401” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Heimir Hallgrimsson who oversaw Iceland’s incredible journey. AFP[/caption] The Icelandic Football Association announced that Hallgrimsson decided to leave at his own request, ending seven years in the role. Hallgrimsson was the co-coach with Lars Lagerback of Sweden at the European Championship in 2016, when Iceland reached the quarter-finals of the quadrennial event after beating England. After Lagerback left, Hallgrimsson, a part-time dentist, assumed sole control of the national team, which became the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup. The most momentous result for the nation at the World Cup was when Iceland drew with the Lionel Messi-led Argentina in its opening group game. However, Iceland failed to advance to the knockout stage.