Beating Scotland can help country forget cash crisis, says Iceland boss Olafur Johannesson

Mar 29 2009 By Scott Mcdermott

THERE'S an awkward pause as Olafur Johannesson's face cracks under the strain. His wrinkles tighten and for a few seconds tears look inevitable.

His emotions are getting the better of him.

Iceland's head coach can't hide it. As he sits in the sunshine at his team's Spanish training base - looking ahead to the crucial World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Wednesday - a dark cloud hovers over him.

Johannesson is asked about the financial crisis that has engulfed his homeland and the rest of the world. Iceland has been hit especially hard by a crippling recession that has affected millions.

The dramatic collapse of Iceland's banking industry resulted in huge protests on the street and a national feeling of disappointment, bitterness and depression.

On the surface you might think it has nothing to do with football.

But one look at Johannesson as he contemplated what a victory in Glasgow would mean for Iceland as a nation, tells you a different story. The wily gaffer - who began his managerial career at just 22 - knows a win against George Burley's team in the Group 9 showdown wouldn't just lift his squad, it would lift an entire nation.

Johannesson said: "Our country is going through a terrible economic crisis, like the rest of the world. But Iceland has been badly affected by it.

"That's why it would be special to win some games - like the one at Hampden - and qualify for a major tournament.

"If we could achieve that it would put a much-needed smile back on the faces of Icelandic people.

"It would help them forget about the crisis. It was similar to when we came second in handball at the Olympics last year - there was a lot of smiling then. It's the same with football. If we win this game the nation will be happy.

"Victory can help take people's minds off what's going on. They can scream and shout at the TV and let their anger out."

Johannesson is only 51 but has more managerial experience than most coaches around Europe, having started as a player-boss at Icelandic minnows Haukar - in charge of players years older than him.

But that baptism of fire has helped shape him as a manager. Olafur went on to turn Hafnarfjordur in to the top side in the country, knocking Dunfermline out of the UEFA Cup in 2004.

Now Johannesson believes he's in charge of the most talented Icelandic national team ever with stars like Eidur Gudjohnsen, Hermann Hreidarsson and Gretar Steinsson plying their trade in Europe's best leagues.

Olaf said: "I was only 22 when I got my first job. Haukar were in Iceland's Second Division. It's not that unusual to have such a young manager in Iceland.

"The club asked if I would be interested in going from Reykjavik out to the country to be their player-boss.

"It wasn't a difficult job but it's always easier to be on the pitch than in the dugout. I was managing some players who were 10 years older than me.

"Smaller clubs in Iceland often look for players to coach their teams. People may think of me now as not having that much experience but I have more than most managers.

"I wouldn't have landed the job as Iceland national boss if I didn't have that background and experience.

"At 22, I could never have imagined coaching my country.

"I was in the Second Division for 10 years before I went to Hafnarfjordur. I played with them years before and they are the best team in Iceland.

"But this is a good time to be national manager. We are a small country with few players. But now we have a big squad who play in leagues around Europe including Norway, Sweden, Holland, England and Spain.

"We've never qualified for a major tournament and no-one believes we can reach the play-offs.

"But if we can qualify it would be unbelievable and we have a real chance.

"We have to believe and I want to be the first Icelandic coach to do it.

"The Scots reckon they will win easily in Glasgow and I hope their players think that too - that can help us.

"We deserved a draw the last time we met Scotland in Reykjavik. But there's no point dwelling on it, it's over and now we are concentrating on Glasgow."

It's impossible to think of Iceland's national team without a vision of Gudjohnsen coming in to your head. The Barcelona superstar has been the pivotal figure in their set-up for the best part of a decade.

But Johannesson is adamant they don't need to solely rely on the former Chelsea man any more because there are other stars such as Coventry's Aron Gunnarsson emerging as major talents.

He said: "Everyone thinks of Iceland as just Gudjohnsen.

"But it's not all about Eidur - we now have other guys in the squad who can go and win games for us.

"The players have to know that too.

In the past they maybe looked at Gudjohnsen as the main man but we are trying to change that mentality.

"They trust him but we have to be 11.

We can't keep relying on one man because eventually he will stop playing international football.

"Although I think I will probably stop before him!"