Fuente: © UEFA (English)
http://www.uefa.com/

FOOTBALL EUROPE: Iceland pin hopes on Vidarsson

/noticias.info/ by Stefán Stefánsson
from Reykjavik

A scion of one of Iceland's top footballing families, Bjarni Thór Vidarsson is looking to make an impact in the Premiership with Everton FC.

Family connections
Family connections may have helped the midfielder win his move to England. Vidarsson was spotted at his childhood club, FH Hafnarfjördur, by FIFA-registered players' agent Kenny Moyes - the brother of Everton manager David Moyes - who helped bring him to the Liverpool-based side in July 2004. Vidarsson himself has plenty of family ties football. His father Vidar Halldórsson was the captain of FH and played for the Icelandic national team. Bjarni's two brothers are also professionals - Arnar Thór Vidarsson has won 43 international caps and is left-back for Dutch side FC Twente while midfielder Davíd Thór Vidarsson is at FH having previously played for Lillestrøm SK.

Best yet
However, the general consensus is that young Bjarni is the most gifted footballer in his family. Yet to be capped at senior level, he has shone for the Under-17, U19 and U21 national sides, impressing - and nearly scoring - this year in a hard-fought 1-0 defeat against Italy in qualifying for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. What remains to be seen is whether his talent will flourish at Everton. The 18-year-old midfielder has certainly made a promising start to life in England. In March he signed his first professional contract, which will keep him at the club for the next two years.

Unused substitute
Initially a youth-team player, he has moved up through the ranks and was an unused substitute in two Premiership games in 2006 - against Newcastle United FC in February and more recently against West Ham United FC earlier this month. A big break in the first team looks to be around the corner; he is certainly impressing the right people. In an interview with the club's official website, Everton's former England international midfielder Phil Neville picked out "the Icelandic midfielder" as one of the two youngsters who had impressed him most at the club since his arrival from Manchester United FC. notas_de_prensa_archivo