Euro 2016: Viral Icelandic commentator sacked from his day job

Gudmundur Benediktsson has been fired as assistant manager of KR Reykjavik

Mark Critchley
Monday 27 June 2016 11:26 BST
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Iceland will play England in Nice on Monday night
Iceland will play England in Nice on Monday night (Getty)

The Icelandic football commentator who went viral after his brilliant commentary of Iceland’s last-minute winner against Austria has lost his day job.

Gudmundur Benediktsson work for television channel Sjónvarp Símans was complemented by an assistant manager role at KR Reykjavik, who are currently struggling in Iceland’s top flight.

KR sit ninth in the 12-team Urvalsdeild, having lost five of their last six games. The day after Benediktsson shot to fame for his commentary of Arnor Ingvi Trausatason's late strike, his club lost 2-1 to fellow stragglers Iprottabandalag Akraness.

Benediktsson and Bjarni Gudjonsson, the club’s manager and a former Stoke, Coventry and Plymouth Argyle player, were subsequently relieved of their duties by the club.

“From my first day on the job as coach of KR I have focused on the interests of the club as a priority,” said Gudjonsson.

“After a bad start to the season I, along with the board, concluded that it is in the interests of the team that I resign. I am grateful to the KR board for having trusted in me for the training team.”

Iceland play England at the Allianz Riviera in Nice on Monday night in the European Championships round of 16.

Benediktsson is expected to return to commentary duties for Sjónvarp Símans.

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