Heimir Hallgrímsson: Coaching Career & Record
Heimir Hallgrímsson is an Icelandic football manager and former player who currently coaches the Republic of Ireland national team. He helped Iceland reach the Euro 2016 quarter-finals and qualify for their first FIFA World Cup in 2018. His coaching career also includes spells with ÍBV in Iceland, Al-Arabi in Qatar and the Jamaica national team.
Euro 2016 quarter-finalist
2018 World Cup qualification
Euro 2016
Quarter-finals with Iceland
2018
First World Cup in Iceland history
Semi-finals
2023 tournament with Jamaica
Euro 2028
Extended by FAI in March 2026
Heimir Hallgrímsson: Coach Profile
Full name
Heimir Hallgrímsson
Date of birth
10 June 1967
Place of birth
Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
Nationality
Icelandic
Profession
Football manager, former player and dentist
Current team
Republic of Ireland
Current role
Head coach
Former teams
ÍBV, Iceland, Al-Arabi, Jamaica
Playing position
Defender
Major achievements
Euro 2016 quarter-finals; Iceland’s first World Cup qualification in 2018
Coaching qualification
UEFA Pro Licence
Hallgrímsson grew up on Heimaey, one of Iceland’s Westman Islands. Alongside his football career, he trained and worked as a dentist, continuing the profession during his early coaching years.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s Coaching Career
Hallgrímsson’s managerial career began in Iceland before progressing to international football. His work with Iceland brought him wider recognition, followed by coaching appointments in Qatar, Jamaica and the Republic of Ireland.
Hallgrímsson played for ÍBV from 1986 to 1996, apart from a spell at Höttur in 1993, and also represented other Icelandic clubs during his playing career. His first coaching experience came with Höttur’s women’s team in 1993. He later managed ÍBV’s women’s side, guiding the club to strong league finishes and domestic cup appearances.
He also took charge of ÍBV’s men’s team, first for the closing matches of the 2002 season and then for a longer spell from 2006 to 2011. After relegation, ÍBV won promotion back to Iceland’s top division in 2008 and went on to finish third in both 2010 and 2011.
In October 2011, Hallgrímsson joined Iceland’s national-team staff as assistant to Lars Lagerbäck, later becoming joint head coach. Iceland came close to qualifying for the 2014 World Cup but lost to Croatia in the European play-offs.
The breakthrough came at Euro 2016, the country’s first major tournament. Iceland drew with Portugal and Hungary and beat Austria to progress from the group, then stunned England 2–1 in the round of 16 before losing 5–2 to France in the quarter-finals.
After the tournament, Hallgrímsson became sole head coach and led Iceland to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, making them the smallest nation by population ever to reach the men’s tournament at that time. Iceland drew 1–1 with Argentina but lost to Nigeria and Croatia, exiting at the group stage with one point. Hallgrímsson stepped down in July 2018.
In December 2018, Qatari club Al-Arabi appointed Hallgrímsson on a two-and-a-half-year contract, his first club job abroad. During three Qatar Stars League campaigns, the team finished sixth, seventh and sixth.
Hallgrímsson became Jamaica’s head coach in September 2022 and began building the squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. He gave chances to younger players, including Dujuan Richards, who made his international debut in 2023.
Jamaica reached the semi-finals of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, including a 4–1 group-stage win over Trinidad and Tobago. Hallgrímsson resigned in July 2024 after Jamaica lost all three group matches at Copa América, against Mexico, Ecuador and Venezuela.
The Football Association of Ireland appointed Hallgrímsson as head coach on 10 July 2024, and his first match in charge was against England that September. In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Ireland secured a play-off place with late wins over Portugal (2–0) and Hungary (3–2). Before the play-offs, he signed a new contract running through Euro 2028. Ireland were then beaten by Czechia in the play-offs and missed out on the World Cup.
Coaching Statistics and Achievements
Hallgrímsson’s most significant achievements came during his work with Iceland, particularly the country’s first appearances at major international tournaments.
| Team | Period | Achievement or Result |
|---|---|---|
| ÍBV Women | 2003–2004 | Icelandic Cup winners in 2004 |
| ÍBV Men | 2006–2011 | Third in Iceland’s top division in 2010 and 2011 |
| Iceland | 2016 | Euro 2016 quarter-finalists |
| Iceland | 2018 | First FIFA World Cup appearance |
| Al-Arabi | 2018–2021 | Three Qatar Stars League campaigns |
| Jamaica | 2023 | CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finalists |
| Republic of Ireland | 2026 | FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final |
Iceland’s Major Tournament Record
| Tournament | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euro 2016 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| FIFA World Cup 2018 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Hallgrímsson shared coaching responsibility with Lagerbäck at Euro 2016 and independently managed Iceland at the 2018 World Cup. These figures cover tournament matches only, not his entire international coaching career.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s Republic of Ireland Career
The Football Association of Ireland appointed Hallgrímsson on 10 July 2024. His first competition was the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League, where Ireland faced England, Greece and Finland in League B.
The biggest moments of his tenure came during qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
- Ireland 2–0 Portugal (November 2025): Troy Parrott scored twice to keep Ireland’s hopes alive.
- Hungary 2–3 Ireland (November 2025): Parrott struck a hat-trick in a dramatic away win that sent Ireland into the European play-offs.
- New contract (March 2026): the FAI extended Hallgrímsson’s deal until the end of Euro 2028, which Ireland will co-host with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Play-off vs Czechia (March 2026): a 2–2 draw and defeat on penalties ended Ireland’s World Cup campaign.
Heimir Hallgrímsson: 2026–27 Nations League Campaign
Hallgrímsson remains in charge for the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League, with Ireland drawn against Austria, Kosovo and Israel in League B. After a slow start, the team found its footing with a convincing win in Debrecen.
| Date | Match | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 2026 | Kosovo vs Ireland | 1–0 | Defeat in the opening game |
| 27 Sep 2026 | Ireland vs Israel | 3–0 | Goals: Parrott, Idah, Moylan (played in Debrecen, Hungary) |
| 1 Oct 2026 | Ireland vs Austria | 2–2 | Draw |
| 4 Oct 2026 | Israel vs Ireland | 1–1 | Draw |
Ireland’s remaining group fixtures are scheduled against Austria on 14 November and Kosovo on 17 November 2026.
FAQ
Heimir Hallgrímsson is the head coach of the Republic of Ireland men's national football team. He was appointed in July 2024.
He helped Iceland reach the Euro 2016 quarter-finals and subsequently guided the national team to its first FIFA World Cup appearance in 2018.
Yes. He played for several Icelandic clubs, including ÍBV and Höttur, primarily as a defender, before concentrating on his coaching career.
His managerial career includes ÍBV, Iceland, Al-Arabi, Jamaica and the Republic of Ireland. He also coached women's teams during his early career.
His contract runs until the conclusion of Euro 2028, following an extension announced by the Football Association of Ireland in March 2026.