Lars Lagerbäck is ready for a new role in Iceland

May return to the national team

Of: Andreas Käck

Published: Dec 22, 2020 at 5:08 p.m.
Updated: Dec 22, 2020 at 8:25 p.m.

Arnar Vidarsson has taken over Iceland.

But Lars Lagerbäck is still ready to return.

– We are highly tagged to have Lars with us in the World Cup qualifiers, says Vidarsson according to Fotbollskanalen.

When Lagerbäck was fired by the Norwegian national team this week, it wasn’t long before the Icelandic media started speculating about the return of “Lasse Lava.”

Today came the news that it will be Arnar Vidarsson, 42, who will take over as the new captain of the national team. He has been signing for two years and thus replaces Erik Hamrén, who recently had to leave.

But Lagerbäck is not offside. Vidarsson confirms that he is happy to welcome the 72-year-old Swede as a kind of helping hand.

“Great qualities”

In fact, they have already made contact.

– We talked to Lars. We are very tagged to have him with us in the World Cup qualifiers. He has great experience and qualities as a coach. We believe that if Lars is ready to come and help us, he will strengthen the whole environment around the entire national team, Vidarsson says according to Fotbollskanalen.

Give time

While in Norway, Lagerbäck worked with Per Joar Hansen. The latter said recently that the duo turned down a job offer because they “got too close.”

Vidarsson says he’s willing to give Lagerbäck time.

– Lars has recently left the Norwegian national team and we are very aware that he is not ready to work with us full time as he is now. We talked about meeting Lars after New Years. Either in Iceland or we go to him. Then we can control everything and hopefully in the future Lars will be able to be with us.

Photo: JOHANNA LUNDBERG / BILDBYRÅN

Lars Lagerbäck as captain of the Icelandic team during the 2016 European Championship.

Published: Dec 22, 2020 at 5:08 p.m.

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