Gudmundur Benediktsson is having the most up/down of weeks.
On Wednesday, the Icelandic football commentator had one of the greatest days of his life when Iceland progressed from the group stage of Euro 2016, the first time they’ve competed at the tournament.
Benediktsson is likely still nursing a sore throat after exploding into celebrations when Arnor Ingvi Traustason finished off a counter attack with a goal, the last kick of the game, against Austria.
https://twitter.com/danmari83/status/745694539738943488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The celebratory roars went viral but, unfortunately for Benediktsson, he’s lost his day job as assistant manager of Icelandic side KR Reykjavik.
The Guardian report that he’s been forced to resign from his position following a meeting with the club’s board, who made the decision to part ways with Benediktsson after an underwhelming start to the Urvalsdeild season.
Both Benediktsson and manager Bjarni Gudjonsson were asked to step down after losing five of their last six games in all competitions.
“From my first day on the job as coach of KR, I have focused on the interests of the club as a priority,” Gudjonsson said. “After a bad start to the season, I along with the board, concluded that it is the interests of the team now for the best that I resign.
“I am grateful to the KR board for having trusted in me for the training team. KR’s future is bright and I am confident that the team will get back to the top, where it belongs, before long.”
We admit that we’ve never watched a KR Reykjavik game but we have a hard time believing that Benediktsson is a better assistant manager than he is a commentator as his passion that comes through the microphone is, quite simply, unmatched.
Benediktsson’s next gig comes on Monday, when he will be on commentary duty for Iceland’s round of 16 clash with England. And my God are we hoping for another late Iceland goal.
