You could probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of international football coaches that have settled in Bermuda.

Nevertheless, Icelander Paul Eudlangsson, the man who oversaw the rapid development of football in the neighbouring Faroe Islands and their emergence onto the world stage is now living and working in Bermuda, What's more he has declared his desire to have some sort of input into the development football on the Island.

Eudlangsson, who is currently employed as a physical trainer at the Olympic Club gym in Hamilton, does indeed have much to offer, having been heavily immersed in the game in both a playing and coaching capacity for most of his life.

In his younger days he played professionally in Iceland before moving to the Faroe Islands to continue his career and develop his knowledge of coaching.

The Faroes were then his home for 19 years and whilst he was there he earned for himself a formidable footballing reputation, winning every major domestic title both as a player and a coach.

It was in 1986 however, having distinguished himself in every role on offer, that he was promoted to take over the senior squad, becoming the youngest ever appointed national coach in the process. He took charge of the first FIFA registered game for the Faroe Islands which was, ironically, against his home nation.

In partnership with a very ambitious and forward-thinking chairman at the helm of the Faroe Islands Football Association, he helped instigate something of a footballing revolution on the islands, guiding them step by step into the unchartered territory of UEFA and FIFA sponsored competitions.

"I was very fortunate that when I was in the Faroes we had a man running the association who was a visionary," he said. "Though the vast majority of the public did not think his grand ideas were sensible given that we were so small, he was responsible for eventually getting us into UEFA and FIFA competitions.

"As a first step we improved the standard of coaching. Many of the coaches took the initiative by travelling abroad as often as they could to pick up new ideas and get qualified. Once that was done, there was a complete transformation in the standard of the football, right down to the grass roots."

After nine years as manager of the senior squad, Eudlangsson returned to Iceland seeking a fresh challenge, coaching widely at clubs in the Icelandic Premier League. He has since moved away from a day-to-day involvement with football, exploring his interests in sports science at university in Scotland and moving to Bermuda in order to train athletes from a wide variety of sports.

He did admit however, despite his busy and rewarding schedule, that there were times when he missed the regular involvement with the game that has shaped his entire life.

"I miss it every time I turn on the TV! I was in fact approached by Jon Beard last season who asked me to get involved with Devonshire Colts before the Under-17 Cup final which I did and thoroughly enjoyed," he said.

"I would love to get further involved because I have to admit I was surprised when I came to Bermuda at the level of talent around. The ability of some of the players that I have seen is there in bundles."

The Icelander, while admitting that his knowledge of the local game was still somewhat limited, did however express concern over what he saw as an alarming shortage of international competition for the senior Bermudian squad, fearing that the young talent that he had encountered could be unnecessarily squandered over the coming years because of a lack of opportunity.

"There does not seem to be much for a Bermudian player after the age of 18. When nothing happens like that, players very quickly lose their motivation. Maybe Bermuda needs a visionary like I had in the Faroe Islands," he remarked.

Nonetheless, he reiterated his willingness to assist the BFA in any way they saw fit.

"I am very busy at the Olympic Club at the moment and find the work extremely rewarding. But if I can help football in Bermuda I would love to," he said.