Some of his team-mates are electricians. Others repair boats or drive vans. As for Árni Frederiksberg himself, he sells frozen pizza – that is, when he’s not banging in goals for trailblazing KÍ Klaksvík. With the 31-year-old in form as hot as a pre-heated oven, KÍ have been writing history and making headlines this summer, becoming the first club from the Faroe Islands to reach a UEFA competition group stage.
They guaranteed themselves a spot in the Europa Conference League at the very least by stunning Swedish title holders Häcken on penalties in the Champions League second qualifying round. Frederiksberg struck twice in Gothenburg as the game finished 3-3 after extra time, having also hit two in a shock 3-0 victory away to Hungarian giants Ferencváros in the previous round.
Some of his team-mates are electricians. Others repair boats or drive vans. As for Árni Frederiksberg himself, he sells frozen pizza – that is, when he’s not banging in goals for trailblazing KÍ Klaksvík. With the 31-year-old in form as hot as a pre-heated oven, KÍ have been writing history and making headlines this summer, becoming the first club from the Faroe Islands to reach a UEFA competition group stage.
They guaranteed themselves a spot in the Europa Conference League at the very least by stunning Swedish title holders Häcken on penalties in the Champions League second qualifying round. Frederiksberg struck twice in Gothenburg as the game finished 3-3 after extra time, having also hit two in a shock 3-0 victory away to Hungarian giants Ferencváros in the previous round.
“This is an amazing feeling and it’s still hard to take it all in,” the forward declared. “I didn’t imagine I’d ever have the possibility to play in a group stage and it’s never been in my thoughts. When we drew Ferencváros, it was more about it being a good experience to play against them, something to tell my son when he’s older. But, after that game, we started to dream and now we have secured a group stage place, which is unbelievable.”
Disbelief is a common emotion in Klaksvík these days. The town of 5,000 inhabitants is the second largest of the Faroe Islands and sits nestled between steep, rugged hills on three sides and a picturesque bay to the north. It’s a stunning location, even more so when snow lays across the landscape and a mist rolls in to cover the hilltops – a fairytale venue for a team now plotting the quintessential football fairytale.
“Tears. Tears of joy,” the Faroese champions exclaimed on social media after their Häcken win. “What a team. What a club. What a town. What a story. Amazing support. This is unreal.” And it’s tough to argue with any of that given all the remarkable aspects to their journey, from the fans lining the road with flaming torches to welcome them home from Hungary to the backstory of goalkeeper Nils Jonatan Johansson. Another hero against Häcken thanks to his shoot-out save, the 32-year-old retired last year only to be recruited as an emergency option – and after spending his retirement playing as a centre-back in the Norwegian fifth division. Best of all, his and KÍ’s story is far from over.
Some of his team-mates are electricians. Others repair boats or drive vans. As for Árni Frederiksberg himself, he sells frozen pizza – that is, when he’s not banging in goals for trailblazing KÍ Klaksvík. With the 31-year-old in form as hot as a pre-heated oven, KÍ have been writing history and making headlines this summer, becoming the first club from the Faroe Islands to reach a UEFA competition group stage.
They guaranteed themselves a spot in the Europa Conference League at the very least by stunning Swedish title holders Häcken on penalties in the Champions League second qualifying round. Frederiksberg struck twice in Gothenburg as the game finished 3-3 after extra time, having also hit two in a shock 3-0 victory away to Hungarian giants Ferencváros in the previous round.
Some of his team-mates are electricians. Others repair boats or drive vans. As for Árni Frederiksberg himself, he sells frozen pizza – that is, when he’s not banging in goals for trailblazing KÍ Klaksvík. With the 31-year-old in form as hot as a pre-heated oven, KÍ have been writing history and making headlines this summer, becoming the first club from the Faroe Islands to reach a UEFA competition group stage.
They guaranteed themselves a spot in the Europa Conference League at the very least by stunning Swedish title holders Häcken on penalties in the Champions League second qualifying round. Frederiksberg struck twice in Gothenburg as the game finished 3-3 after extra time, having also hit two in a shock 3-0 victory away to Hungarian giants Ferencváros in the previous round.
Some of his team-mates are electricians. Others repair boats or drive vans. As for Árni Frederiksberg himself, he sells frozen pizza – that is, when he’s not banging in goals for trailblazing KÍ Klaksvík. With the 31-year-old in form as hot as a pre-heated oven, KÍ have been writing history and making headlines this summer, becoming the first club from the Faroe Islands to reach a UEFA competition group stage.
They guaranteed themselves a spot in the Europa Conference League at the very least by stunning Swedish title holders Häcken on penalties in the Champions League second qualifying round. Frederiksberg struck twice in Gothenburg as the game finished 3-3 after extra time, having also hit two in a shock 3-0 victory away to Hungarian giants Ferencváros in the previous round.
“This is an amazing feeling and it’s still hard to take it all in,” the forward declared. “I didn’t imagine I’d ever have the possibility to play in a group stage and it’s never been in my thoughts. When we drew Ferencváros, it was more about it being a good experience to play against them, something to tell my son when he’s older. But, after that game, we started to dream and now we have secured a group stage place, which is unbelievable.”
Disbelief is a common emotion in Klaksvík these days. The town of 5,000 inhabitants is the second largest of the Faroe Islands and sits nestled between steep, rugged hills on three sides and a picturesque bay to the north. It’s a stunning location, even more so when snow lays across the landscape and a mist rolls in to cover the hilltops – a fairytale venue for a team now plotting the quintessential football fairytale.
“Tears. Tears of joy,” the Faroese champions exclaimed on social media after their Häcken win. “What a team. What a club. What a town. What a story. Amazing support. This is unreal.” And it’s tough to argue with any of that given all the remarkable aspects to their journey, from the fans lining the road with flaming torches to welcome them home from Hungary to the backstory of goalkeeper Nils Jonatan Johansson. Another hero against Häcken thanks to his shoot-out save, the 32-year-old retired last year only to be recruited as an emergency option – and after spending his retirement playing as a centre-back in the Norwegian fifth division. Best of all, his and KÍ’s story is far from over.
Some of his team-mates are electricians. Others repair boats or drive vans. As for Árni Frederiksberg himself, he sells frozen pizza – that is, when he’s not banging in goals for trailblazing KÍ Klaksvík. With the 31-year-old in form as hot as a pre-heated oven, KÍ have been writing history and making headlines this summer, becoming the first club from the Faroe Islands to reach a UEFA competition group stage.
They guaranteed themselves a spot in the Europa Conference League at the very least by stunning Swedish title holders Häcken on penalties in the Champions League second qualifying round. Frederiksberg struck twice in Gothenburg as the game finished 3-3 after extra time, having also hit two in a shock 3-0 victory away to Hungarian giants Ferencváros in the previous round.
