Bjarni Felixson Explained

Bjarni Felixson
Birth Date:	27 December 1936
Birth Place:	Reykjavík, Iceland
Death Place:	Copenhagen, Denmark
Nationality:	Icelandic
Other Names:	Bjarni Fel, The Red Lion
Occupation:	Sports reporter, commentator
Module:	Embed: yes Position: Defender Years1: 1956–1968 Nationalyears1: 1962–1964 Nationalcaps1: 6 Nationalgoals1: 0

Bjarni Felixson (27 December 1936 – 14 September 2023), commonly known as Bjarni Fel, was an Icelandic footballer, sports reporter and commentator.^{[1] [2]} Nicknamed The Red Lion due to his red hair,^[3] he won six caps for the Iceland national team between 1962 and 1964. He played for Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur for several seasons,^[4] winning the national championship five times and the Icelandic Cup seven times.^[5] Following his playing career, he became a sports reporter and commentator for RÚV for 42 years.^[6]

Playing career

From 1956 to 1968, Bjarni played for Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur. Playing as a defender, he was not known as a great offensive threat and only scored two goals during his career. In a 1997 interview with Morgunblaðið, he stated that after scoring what ended being his last goal, the opposing goalkeeper muttered "I knew I should've retired last season".^[5]

Broadcasting career

In 1969, Bjarni was hired by RÚV as a part-time commentator for broadcasts of Premier League matches. In 1972, he was hired fulltime by RÚV where he stayed on as a sports reporter and commentator for 42 years^[7] and was the prime factor in bringing English football to the Icelandic audience.^{[2] [8]} He was at Hillsborough Stadium as a commentator during the Hillsborough disaster.^{[9] [10] [11]}

Personal life and death

Bjarni's brothers, Hörður Felixson and Gunnar Felixson, both played with him on KR and the Icelandic national team. In 1963, all three brothers played together for Iceland in two games against England.^[5]

In 2008, a sports bar in Reykjavík was named Bjarni Fel Sportsbar in his honour.^[12]

Bjarni died on 14 September 2023, at the age of 86, in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he was to attend the funeral of Finn Heiner, the former head of sports of Denmarks radio.^{[13] [14]}

Honours

KR

• Icelandic Championships: 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1968
• Icelandic Cup (7): 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967

Notes and References

1. News: Jóhann Óli Eiðsson . Bjarni Felixson áttræður: Fagnaði afmælinu oft í vinnunni . 25 April 2021 . . 27 December 2016 . Icelandic.
2. News: Scott Murray . Bjarni Fel: the legend who brought football to warm the heart of Iceland . 25 April 2021 . . 26 March 2016.
3. News: "Rauða Ljónið" í landsliðinu . 26 April 2021 . . 6 July 1962 . 12–13 . Icelandic.
4. News: Ég held með Dönum . 26 April 2021 . . 7 June 1986 . 12 . Icelandic.
5. News: Magnús Orri Schram . Tek einn leik fyrir í einu . 25 April 2021 . . 23 February 1997 . B8-B9 . Icelandic.
6. News: Kolbeinn Tumi Daðason . „Ég er fréttamaður en ekki einhver spákelling“ . 15 September 2023 . . 15 September 2023 . Icelandic.
7. News: Eiríkur Stefán Ásgeirsson . Bjarni Fel í KR-útvarpinu í kvöld . 26 April 2021 . . 10 June 2010 . Icelandic.
8. News: Viðar Guðjónsson . Fiðringur kominn í Bjarna Fel . 26 April 2021 . . 15 August 2014 . Icelandic.
9. News: Kristín Sigurðardóttir . Bjarni Pétur Jónsson . Ég var lengi að jafna mig á þessu . 26 April 2021 . . 16 April 2019 . Icelandic.
10. News: Kristín Sigurðardóttir . Bjarni Pétur Jónsson . Maður sá að fólk var að deyja . 26 April 2021 . . 16 April 2019 . Icelandic.
11. News: Helgi Snær Sigurðsson . Konungur Íslenskra íþróttafréttamanna . 26 April 2021 . . 4 December 2010 . 56 . Icelandic.
12. News: Trausti S. Kristjánsson . Hélt að um grín væri að ræða . 26 April 2021 . 24 Stundir . 23 September 2008 . 30 . Icelandic.
13. News: Bjarni Felixson látinn . 15 September 2023 . MBL . 14 September 2023.
14. News: Þorkell Gunnar Sigurbjörnsson . Hans Steinar Bjarnason . Segir íslenska íþróttahreyfingu eiga fáum meira að þakka en Bjarna Fel . 15 September 2023 . . 14 September 2023 . Icelandic.