The coach that led Iceland to its first World Cup has stepped down. The Icelandic Football Association says Heimir Hallgrimsson has decided to leave at his own request, ending seven years in the role. Hallgrimsson, 51, was the co-coach with Lars Lagerback of Sweden when the country qualified for its first ever major tournament, competing at the European Championship in 2016.
Their run to the quarter-finals in that tournament saw them beat England in the last-16 in Nice, before losing to hosts France. After Lagerback left, Hallgrimsson assumed sole control of the national team, which became the least populous team to ever play at a World Cup. Iceland drew with Argentina in its opening group game, to clam its first ever World Cup point, thanks to Hannes Thor Halldorsson’s penalty save from Lionel Messi.