Ice-cold Stefansson enjoying Ultimate Selection

Icelander Olafur Stefansson is one of the legends of European handball from the last decade and was recently awarded with a place in the Ulitimate Selection. 

He has won the EHF Champions League four times with two teams and led Iceland to its only two medals at major championships, silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and bronze at the EHF EURO 2010 in Austria. 

An extremely elegant player with a great eye for the defence-splitting pass, Stefansson will receive the award for the best right back in the 20-year history of the EHF Champions League during the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne.

Stefansson spoke to ehfCL.com about the award, his memories of the competition and his career.

ehfCL.com: What does this award mean to you?

Olafur Stefansson: It really is a great honour, because we‘re talking about a long time, 20 years,  it‘s not like being the man of the match and there is only one for each position. 

When I think about it, there are many players who could have been named. Players like Urdangarin, Laszlo Nagy and Kim Andersson, but I just try to be happy and enjoy it. 

I would understand it for the last ten years, but twenty years is a really long time. I only played in the Champions League for the first time eleven years ago.  So it‘s kind of two for one, being named the best right back of the last 20 years.

ehfCL.com: Which part of your career in the EHF Champions League gives you the fondest memories?

Olafur Stefansson: I really don‘t know. But the win with Magdeburg in 2002 was a big surprise, the first attempt of the club.  It was almost like by accident.  Of course we worked hard for it, but it was special because it was so unexpected. 

At Ciudad Real it was far more solid.  It was like, you were disappointed if you didn‘t win it, like the season wasn‘t a success without it, just like for Kiel today. 

That was how it was in Spain after Talant took over, so the biggest adventure was the title with Magdeburg.

ehfCL.com: Who are your personal favourites of the FINAL4 this year?

Olafur Stefansson: Kiel is the obvious choice. I would say they are the favourites and also my favourite team because of their three Icelanders. 

Alfred Gislason has done great things with the team, but he faces a big challenge next season with key players leaving this summer. But I think that‘s a good thing, having to evolve, you could almost say that it‘s been too easy for him in the last few years.

ehfCL.com: Where will you watch the event this year?

Olafur Stefansson: I will try to watch it on German TV, which I can reach here in Doha. 

I would really have liked to be able to be there, but can‘t as I have to play here. 

However, my father will be there for me and maybe people will think that it‘s me, just looking a bit older, as we are becoming more and more alike.

ehfCL.com: What are your memories of the VELUX EHF FINAL4, how did you like the event?

Olafur Stefansson: My first thought is that I regret having never won it the three times I‘ve been there. The first time was when I had just gone from Ciudad Real to Rhein Neckar Löwen. We were playing some minor match, but stayed at the hotel next to the hall in Cologne where the teams in the FINAL4 were, and then I promised myself that I wouldn‘t miss out on it again. 

The next two years I went to the FINAL4, first with RNL and then with AG København, but unfortunately we didn‘t win it. But I like the concept of semi-finals and finals on the same weekend.  With Germany as a kind of home of handball, the setting is great.

ehfCL.com: Do you have any rituals before every game?

Olafur Stefansson: Yes, I always have to put on the left shoe first and tie it before I tie the right one.  But nowadays, that‘s more or less subconscious. 

Also I have some things regarding timings and music, but so does everyone else.

ehfCL.com:  Having won the EHF Champions League four times and becoming national champion in four countries, do you consider yourself a born winner?

Olafur Stefansson:  Well, not really, at least not in the beginning. The first eight years or so of my career, I was actually waiting for someone to find me out, as I thought I wasn‘t the real deal. 

Thankfully, that has changed with the years and the success I‘ve enjoyed, my confidence has increased. 

Luck is always a factor, but you have to be able to work with what God throws in your lap. When the chance comes, it‘s too late to prepare. You‘ve got to be ready. 

The life of an athlete isn‘t very glamorous, It‘s about the next game, that‘s the criteria. If you take it seriously, you‘ll be more successful.