Bjarni Felixson

Bjarni Felixson (27 December 1936 – 14 September 2023), commonly known as Bjarni Fel, was an Icelandic footballer, sports reporter and commentator.[1][2] Nicknamed The Red Lion due to his red hair,[3] he won six caps for the Iceland national team between 1962 and 1964. He played for Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur for several seasons,[4] winning the national championship five times and the Icelandic Cup seven times.[5] Following his playing career, he became a sports reporter and commentator for RÚV for 42 years.[6]

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Bjarni.
Bjarni Felixson
Born(1936-12-27)27 December 1936
Reykjavík, Iceland
Died14 September 2023(2023-09-14) (aged 86)
Copenhagen, Denmark
NationalityIcelandic
Other namesBjarni Fel, The Red Lion
Occupation(s)Sports reporter, commentator
Association football career
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1956–1968 KR
International career
1962–1964 Iceland 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

From 1956 to 1968, Bjarni played for Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur. Playing as a defender, he was not known as a great offensive threat and only scored two goals during his career. In a 1997 interview with Morgunblaðið, he stated that after scoring what ended being his last goal, the opposing goalkeeper muttered "I knew I should've retired last season".[5]

Broadcasting career

In 1969, Bjarni was hired by RÚV as a part-time commentator for broadcasts of Premier League matches. In 1972, he was hired fulltime by RÚV where he stayed on as a sports reporter and commentator for 42 years[7][8] and was the prime factor in bringing English football to the Icelandic audience.[2][9] He was at Hillsborough Stadium as a commentator during the Hillsborough disaster.[10][11][12]

Personal life and death

Bjarni's brothers, Hörður Felixson and Gunnar Felixson, both played with him on KR and the Icelandic national team. In 1963, all three brothers played together for Iceland in two games against England.[5]

In 2008, a sports bar in Reykjavík was named Bjarni Fel Sportsbar in his honour.[13]

Bjarni died on 14 September 2023, at the age of 86, in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he was to attend the funeral of Finn Heiner, the former head of sports of Denmarks radio.[14][7]

Honours

KR

References
  1. Jóhann Óli Eiðsson (27 December 2016). "Bjarni Felixson áttræður: Fagnaði afmælinu oft í vinnunni". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. Scott Murray (26 March 2016). "Bjarni Fel: the legend who brought football to warm the heart of Iceland". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  3. ""Rauða Ljónið" í landsliðinu". Tíminn (in Icelandic). 6 July 1962. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  4. "Ég held með Dönum". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 7 June 1986. p. 12. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  5. Magnús Orri Schram (23 February 1997). "Tek einn leik fyrir í einu". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). pp. B8–B9. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  6. Kolbeinn Tumi Daðason (15 September 2023). "„Ég er fréttamaður en ekki einhver spákelling"". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  7. Þorkell Gunnar Sigurbjörnsson; Hans Steinar Bjarnason (14 September 2023). "Segir íslenska íþróttahreyfingu eiga fáum meira að þakka en Bjarna Fel". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  8. Eiríkur Stefán Ásgeirsson (10 June 2010). "Bjarni Fel í KR-útvarpinu í kvöld". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. Viðar Guðjónsson (15 August 2014). "Fiðringur kominn í Bjarna Fel". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  10. Kristín Sigurðardóttir; Bjarni Pétur Jónsson (16 April 2019). "Ég var lengi að jafna mig á þessu". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  11. Kristín Sigurðardóttir; Bjarni Pétur Jónsson (16 April 2019). "Maður sá að fólk var að deyja". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  12. Helgi Snær Sigurðsson (4 December 2010). "Konungur Íslenskra íþróttafréttamanna". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). p. 56. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  13. Trausti S. Kristjánsson (23 September 2008). "Hélt að um grín væri að ræða". 24 Stundir (in Icelandic). p. 30. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  14. "Bjarni Felixson látinn". MBL. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.


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