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Fancying a bit of a managerial challenge, I had a quick look at all the national teams which occupied the bottom pot for the World Cup Qualifying draw (European Zone). A number of interesting names popped up - San Marino, Liechtenstein, and possibly Andorra. But none seemed to hold much appeal, until I saw the Faroe Islands. A fascinating group of Islands to the north of Scotland, and a thorn in the side of the Scottish National team in years gone past. Coupled with the fact they were in the same group as France, Ireland and Switzerland, this looked as tasty a challenge as any. So I phoned up the Faroese Football Association, told them I was interested, and asked them to displace the current manager of the national team. No, I didnt want to start off with the u21s and u19s. Yes, I could begin immediately.
And sure enough, the job was mine. Off I went to Aberdeen airport for the direct flight to Vagar and, once there, then the short trip to Torshavn to settle down to life in the middle of nowhere as the man in charge of one of the whipping boys of the UEFA zone.
The next day I wake up wondering what exactly I have done. I dont know the lanaguage, I certainly dont know the players, and I dont seem to have any coaching staff. Needing some degree of help in my new role, my first priority is to bring in some good coaches to look after the 19s and 21s. Deciding that perhaps youth is the way forward for the team, I needed coaches who could bring my younger players forward and develop into international superstars (ok, perhaps I was hoping for a bit much!!).
Incredibly, there was only one Faroese Coach available in the game, so regardless of stats, I snapped him up as a coach to maintain some traditionalism about the side. So, Kari Nielsen entered the International scene.
Next up was my new assistant manager, and for that, a bit of Brazilian flair was brought in (really because it was becoming tough to convince coaches to join the small revolution I was leading). So, in came a chap called Francisco to be my right hand man.
For the 19s and 21s, I was looking for staff who were superb are working with youngsters. Filling the 19s role is an entirely unknown Alan Bevan from England, and at 21s level, I brought in another English speaker, and equally obscure coach, Steve Round.
So, the Faroe Islands team was starting to get a more international feel around its backroom staff with a Scotsman, a Brazilian, a Faroese native and 2 coaches from England. Hopefully this would strike a nice balance, and a platform to build on.
The next issue was to piece together a squad capable of mixing it with the best, especially in light of the Swiss/French double-header that was looming in September.
After a brief perusal of the squad that I was left with, I started my scouting of the island, attempting to unearth what I hoped would be a few gems. Although by no means nepotism, a swift recall was given to ex-Partick Thistle goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen.
A number of other players I had never heard of, and it seems the Faroese media had never heard of either, also forced their way into my thinking, and I managed to piece together my first 26 man squad for the September fixtures. A couple of players pulled out injured before the squad was named (who I would have liked to have used - hopefully this wont be a recurring theme), but I still had reserves to call upon.
And so, although the media subsequently felt it was a young team, I released the names of my squad.
Goalkeepers:
Jakup Mikkelsen
Gunna Nielsen
Jens Martin Knudsen
Defenders
Jan Andreassen
Jens Kristian Hansen
Johan Byrial Hansen
Hans Frooi Hansen
Poul Ennigaro
Johannis Joensen
Jon Roi Jacobsen
Oli Johannesen
Kurt Morkore (also a striker)
With my main aim of trying to force the national team into the top 100 (and maybe even top 75) in the world, I led my new troops aboard a flight to Basel in Switzerland for my opening World Cup Qualifying match. Sitting at 133rd in the world and against what i thought would be far superior opposition, I was surprised to get a media announcement from an ex-internationalist saying he felt that the Faroes, if they get out the blocks quickly, could perhaps beat the Swiss. Confident talk, i thought, but perhaps a bit over-confident. Anything other than a humiliation (the FA's expectations for the campaign) would suffice.
So, after some brief words before the game, I led my men out for my first match, with a small, but hardy bunch of supporters cheering us on.
Switzerland 1 v Faroe Islands 3 Sat 4th Sept 2004 Ref: Mark Clattenburg
An incredible match which saw Switzerland race into a 1 goal lead, and leave me thinking that perhaps this was going to be a harder task than I originally gave it credit for. However, my men stuck to their task, and there was sheer elation when I watched the first goal go in - a lovely stike my Elttor after 33mins which settled the nerves a bit more.
More drama was to unfold 6 mins later when the Swiss keeper decided to temporarily join the Faroes, had an absolute howler of a sclaffed kick straight to a Borg, who tapped it into an empty net. 2-1!!!!!
The game was finally settled in the 65th minute when a Borg notched his 2nd goal of the game to put the match beyond doubt, and leave the Faroese celebrating long into the early hours of the morning. 1 match, 3 points, and the Faroe Islands sat joint top of Group 4.
Other results:
France 3 Israel 0
Ireland 3 Cyprus 0
After some great celebrations, it was time to board a plane back to Vagar and await the arrival of the French.
And so my very first home game as Faroe Islands manager at the 'National Stadium' in Torshavn. With Claus Jorgensn thanking me for his first cap, and Elttor dedicating his first international goal to myself, morale was high, but expectation realistic as the French came calling.
Faroe Islands 0 v France 3 Wednesday 8th September 2004 Ref: Anders Frisk
And so the onslught began. A decidedly ragged performance by the Faroes allowed danger man Henry behind the defensive line after 12mins to put the French ahead. However, a lifeline seemed to have been thrown in the Faroes direction after 18mins when referee Frisk awarded a penalty after a clumsy challenge by Boumsoung. Up stepped a Borg to hopefully notch up his 3rd of the campaign, only for him to send it past the post.
This gave the French greater determination, and a 2nd soon followed from Wiltord in 38minutes. The French themselves missed a penalty in 62 minutes as Mikkelsen saved brilliantly from Guily. Things got much worse when Kristian Hansen was sent off in 70 minutes, before Anelka finally managed to dispatch a penalty in this game 5 minutes from the end.
Claus Jorgensen also picked up his 2nd yellow of the campaign and finds himself suspended for the trip to Cyprus (along with offender Hansen).
And so to the double header of matches in October, both away, to Cyprus and Ireland.
A couple of squad selection problems arose even before the squad was announced, with impending suspensions for both Jens Kristian Hansen (red card) and also for Claus Jorgensen who was successful in getting booked in both of the 2 preceding games. However, as both would be free for the Ireland game, they retained their places in the squad.
And so an unchanged squad was announced, but within a day, Ennigaro had pulled out through injury, and so Simun Joensen was to receive his first call up, and ultimately got the chance to play.
Another ex-internationalist decided to throw in his tuppence-worth to the media predicting a defeat to Cyprus as he felt the side lacked quality, but that was quickly followed by Oli Johannssen speaking out about the optimisim within the camp Mixed messages again, but at least there is good squad morale.
In private I was secretly hoping for a victory if we had any intention of making a significant dent in this group as i felt we would be very lucky to pick up anything against Ireland.
And so off to Nicosia....
Cyprus 1 v Faroe Islands 1 9th October 2004Ref: Erol Ersoy
A match of mixed emotions. On the one hand, they had to play most of the second half after Labrou received his marching orders (52 mins) and so I would have liked to have seen the team capitalise a bit more on their reduced numbers. That being said, since we only had 2 shots on goal, I really couldnt say we deserved more from this match. Things looked good when they went down to 10 men, and then Benjaminsen opened the scoring after 67 mins.
Unfortunately, they kept attacking and finally broke down my defence with only 8 minutes to go (Konstantinou). So near but year so very far from another momentous victory. However, 4 points from the opening 3 games was better than I could have hoped.
Incidentally, I remember I was Cyprus in this group and Switzerland were quite poor in their own ground. I beat them 2-1 but battered them for the whole match and they scored with one of a handful of attacks.
Ireland 4 v Faroe Islands 0 Wednesday 12th October 2004 Ref: Gilles Veissiere
The writing seemed to be on the wall for this game when the media ran a story believing that the Faroes were easily going to win this game. Perhaps a sign that things are moving in the right direction, but uninhibited delusions of grandeur perhaps led to a degree of complacency at Lansdowne Road. Benjaminsen also spoke out in the media thanking me for his international opportunity, which he grasped so well in the last game with that vital goal in Cyprus.
Silently, I did view this as a slight opportunity as the only other group game was Cyprus v France and I couldnt see France not taking all 3 points.
On the suspension front, both previous offenders returned, only for Hans Hansen and Oli Johanssen to take their place on the sidelines. Again a largely unchanged team, notwithstanding the two suspensions.
Nevertheless, quick scoring by Macken for Ireland in 13 and 23 minutes quickly had us on the backfoot and chasing the game. Things worsened after 36mins when O'Shea of all people snuck another goal in, and the misery was complete just before half time with a Mikkelsen own goal.
Ireland were quite simply too good, and although the defence stopped leaking goals in the second half, we only had one shot in the whole game, which is a decidedly worrying statistic. After the shock opening game victory, the strikers have become a bit toothless in front of goal.
On the plus, we moved up to 125th in the world rankings.
To Faroe or Fail Miserably 
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