In the end it was always going to be an easy decision for Thorgrimur Thrainsson. “When I announced I wanted to be the president of Iceland I said that the national team will be No1 and the election No2,” recalls the 57-year-old former defender turned motivational speaker and children’s author. “Little by little I found out that I couldn’t do both at the same time. So I chose to be here with the team instead because it is more important for Iceland to do well in the Euros than it was for me to be president.”
With the elections to succeed Olafur Ragnar Grimsson set to take place on Saturday – less than 48 hours after Iceland’s crucial final match against Austria in Paris on Wednesday evening – Thrainsson really had little choice.
“I think the next president will probably serve for about 12 years, by which time I will be 69 and that could be the perfect age for me,” he reflects. “You never know. I think I can do a great job.”
One would not put it past him. While Whereas it used to be traditional for most British players to settle into retirement by buying a pub, Thrainsson has worked as a model, actor and journalist before publishing his first book in the mid-1990s. For the past nine years the man who won 17 caps and was part of the Valur side who famously defeated Monaco in the 1988 European Cup – Arsène Wenger’s first match in Europe – has also been a key member of Iceland’s backroom staff and travelled to France with a special brief.
“The other day coach Heimar [Hallgrimsson] was making a bit of fun of it,” says Thrainsson. “He calls me Alt Muligt, which is a Danish phrase that means ‘all sorts of stuff’.”
Among his varied duties are checking into the team hotel the night before they arrive to ensure a smooth transition and even helping out the goalkeeping coach when required. But, make no mistake, Thrainsson’s main role in the squad gathered from the smallest population to qualify for a European Championship finals (320,000 at the last count, with an estimated 8% having travelled to France) is to help maintain the renowned team spirit that has taken Iceland to the verge of qualifying from Group F.
“Because I used to play football myself I know when I can get close to them,” he explains. “If they are a little bit down and they need someone to comfort them, then I try to help if I can. But also it’s important to know when to keep a distance as well. I have to have this intuition not to get in the way but always be available.”
“He is not one of the coaching staff so his relationship with the players is a bit more relaxed,” says the journalist Kristjan Jonsson from Mbl.is. “I imagine there is a good atmosphere around him because he is a very charismatic guy.”
As an example of Thrainsson’s approach, when he was asked to respond to Gylfi Sigurdsson’s cheeky recommendation that any players who were having trouble sleeping the night before their opening match against Portugal should try reading one of his books, he replied deadpan: “When people make fun of a person it is a sign of affection.”
“He was a decent player but didn’t play that many matches for the national team and he wasn’t a professional,” says Jonsson. “So the Football Association did not get someone who was a star in Icelandic football to do this role. They hired Thorgrimur instead who has very good people skills.”
Those were very much in evidence before the game against Portugal when he left his seat on the bench to film a video of Iceland’s supporters, later posted on his Facebook account with the message: “In tears on the pitch in Saint-Etienne when the wonderful Iceland sang our song for the game. The support is much more than priceless and players and the rest are infinitely grateful. This would not be possible without you. A thousand kisses and hugs.”
When asked about the video, Thrainsson says: “I normally wouldn’t do it but because it was such a special game. I also have the role to try and keep a record of everything that happens during the competition. When the competition is over every player will get a USB memory stick with all the films on it.”
Unfortunately for Thrainsson, however, another of his many projects may need revisiting once Iceland’s Euro 2016 adventure is over. Before leaving for France he handed in a manuscript to his publisher for his latest book, entitled La Mascotte, which tells the story of their stay at their training base in Annecy.
“It’s about a French boy who was working at the hotel even though he is only 12 years old. His own story is very sad and, little by little, the readers will find out about him as well. Although the players don’t like the boy at the beginning because he starts stealing their footballs and clothes, they love him at the end because he brings them good luck. All the players and the staff are in it with their real names and of course there are many ‘local’ jokes that not many people will understand except the players. I hope that they will enjoy reading it.”
Yet having correctly predicted the 1-1 draw against Cristano Ronaldo and co, Birkir Mar Saevarsson’s late own-goal against Hungary ruined Thrainsson’s forecast of a 2-0 victory, meaning Wednesday’s game against Austria will determine Iceland’s fate. Of the possible permutations, a second place finish in the group would see them facing England in the round of 16. “At the moment the book ends after the first three games but I will change it … I’m not going to say if but when we get out of the group,” he says. “The dream would be to play against England. Then I would definitely add another chapter.”
