People of the Union puts the spotlight on individuals across FIFPRO’s member associations who are dedicated to improving the wellbeing of professional footballers.
Former Iceland defender Sif Atladottir talks about her role as General Manager of the Icelandic player union, her admiration for mothers returning to the pitch after childbirth, what inspires her, and learning from other player unions across the globe.
Tell us about yourself: what is your current role and what is your background?
I am a mother of two, a wife, a former professional footballer, currently a student, and I also just stepped into the General Manager role for the Icelandic PFA. I come from a football family, as my father was a professional player himself. I was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, where my father played most of his career. I am one of four siblings; all ended up playing football and all of us capped at least for the youth national teams.
My football career is an unusual one, as I didn’t really start playing until I was 15. I did other sports; track and field being the most common, which helped me a lot during my football career. I started playing for the senior national team in Iceland in 2007 and was active until I retired from international football in the fall of 2022. I played in Saarbrucken, Germany, for a season and a half before moving to Kristianstad, Sweden, where I played 11 years for Kristianstads DFF.
I am now studying sport management in the UEFA MIP program, alongside working as the new general manager of the union. I recently took over the position from the founder Kristinn Bjorgulfsson, who had been in a volunteer role and running everything from the start. I have big shoes to fill, but I have good mentors in Kiddi, Arnar Sveinn Geirsson and Grimur Oli Geirsson, the people that have got the union to the place where it is today.
What issue affecting players welfare are you most passionate about?
The maternity issue has been dear to my heart, as I had both my kids during my career and the regulations had not been introduced. So, I learned the hard way of how unprotected players are. Now, working in Iceland, I am building on the good work of the union and we are looking at financial literacy for players and mental health as well. These issues I feel are important for every player no matter where you are in your career.
Can you share one of your proudest moments or achievements working as a union representative?
We had a big breakthrough in 2023, when the union was finally recognised in the Icelandic football community. The Icelandic FA general assembly passed the proposal to allow the player union a right to address and propose on the GA. The constant work and push for recognition throughout the years also gave the same rights to other stakeholders in the football landscape in Iceland, such as the coaches association, women’s football advocacy group and more. That was a proud moment for us.
If you could change something in football, what would it be?
Employee contracts and social benefits for players. This is important as too many players go through their careers without these important rights. You give everything to the sport and often sacrifice other employment opportunities because you want to give everything on the pitch, and the cost of that sacrifice often doesn’t expose itself until you find yourself without certain rights that basic employment has outside the world of sports.
Is there anyone in the union world or in sports in general who inspires you?
In the union world, I think what Kiddi, Arnar Sveinn Geirsson and Grimur Oli Geirsson have done is inspiring. I see their selfless work every day; they have always been volunteers doing the work for the players in Iceland. Their perseverance and resilience is that of the best.
In a sporting context, I admire all of the female players who have returned to play after having children. I did it twice and I know how hard it is, and how underappreciated that journey is, because the players make it look easy. But that is the embodiment of resilience. Those women inspire me.
And, of course, my husband. We worked together for 14 years and having the privilege to work alongside him all those years was amazing. Now, I can watch him coach the next generation of footballers. He is someone one who inspires me every day.
What is your favourite football memory to date?
There are some national team and club games that I could pick from. But I think the one that is my favourite is when I became an Icelandic champion for the first time, in 2007. We beat our rivals at their place and, when we celebrated with our supporters, I saw my father cry for the first time. That is one of my favourite memories when looking back.
Who is your favourite footballer ever and why?
I loved watching Carles Puyol and Giorgio Chiellini. I loved the way they defended, and their art of defending was contagious. But my favourite footballers today are my kids. Watching them smile during practice and games is amazing and reminds me of why I do what I do. I want them to have it better than when I was playing. To be able to build a good support system for the next generations is what matters.
FIFPRO is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025. What does being part of a global union mean to you?
To be able have a unified voice on a global scale is what gives the players the power to address issues that concerns them. Every continent and country is different, but to be able to have the global connection is important. Learning from others and understanding what other unions are dealing with gives you so much knowledge in your daily work. The more we support each other the stronger we get.
Could you give one example of the value that FIFPRO has for your organisation?
There is a lot of knowledge that FIFPRO brings. For us that is important as the union is starting to find its feet in the Icelandic football landscape. Not a lot has changed in Icelandic football for some time, and elite sports are still looked at not something you do professionally. With all the knowledge that FIFPRO brings to the table, we can use that knowledge to educate and inform the sporting world around players rights. The data that has been accumulated gives us much leverage when discussing the players’ perspective.
And looking forward, what do you hope to see unions unite more on to shape the future of football for the players?
The most obvious one is the match calendar. But not only for the top professionals, but also for the smaller nations that are playing too few games. That is an important question as well, as many nations have less financial capacity to support professional leagues. That limits the opportunities for those players. And then of course the question around the women’s game. It has grown so much and quickly that more research and cooperation is needed to forge the path for the sustainability of the women’s game. I’m looking forward to seeing that part of the game grow, as there is so much potential for all these girls that are starting to see a future as a football player.
