West Ham skipper Dagny Brynjarsdottir opens up on hopes of sharing silverware win with her son
DAGNY BRYNJARSDOTTIR dreams of lifting her first major trophy in England since the birth to her son Brynjar in 2018.
The West Ham captain wants that picture perfect moment of her child and her celebrating a silverware win with the Irons.
Brynjarsdottir has won 19 trophies including NWSL and Bundesliga titles with Portland Thorns and Bayern Munich.
Today the striker, 31, who grew up in Hella in Iceland, will lead her team-mates in a clash with Aston Villa for an FA Cup quarter-final spot.
The striker, who has been a Hammers fan since childhood, told SunSport: “I won a lot of trophies before I became a mum, but I actually haven’t had one since then.
“I’m still waiting for the one title where I can take a picture of myself and my son (holding a trophy).
“I want to make it to a final with the team.
“It will be hard, but I want to go all the way.
“Hopefully it’s going to happen this season.”
With the club, seventh in the WSL, having battled Manchester City in an FA Cup final in 2019, Brynarsdottir is eager to see them vying for the trophy at Wembley again.
The striker added: “With where we are in the league at the moment, obviously we’re not going to win that, so cup games are crucial for us.
“It would mean a lot to me and to the club. We are in this to win trophies.”
This term Brynjarsdottir was named team captain by boss Paul Konchesky after helping the Irons to sixth place last season.
It is their highest WSL position to date.
She is part of a small crop of current WSL stars who have given birth during their elite playing careers.
They include Chelsea’s Melanie Leupolz and Reading skipper Emma Mukandi who have both given birth in the past two years.
Brynjarsdottir’s son was born in June 2018 during her three-year spell at National Women’s Soccer League giants Portland Thorns.
Becoming a parent with her husband Omar has made Brynjarsdottir even more focused as a footballer.
The Irons captain added: “I’m probably a better team-mate as I’m more chilled now.
“Before I was a parent, if I played well or had a bad game, I would be thinking about it for days.
“But there’s no time for that when I’m home, I have to be a mum.
“It’s good and it’s healthy to be able to switch on and off.
“Obviously it’s not easy all the time especially if my son is sick or I’m doing a lot of travelling. The ‘mum guilt’ can kick in quite a bit.
“But still, I try to get the best out of myself while I’m training or playing in a match.”
Brynjarsdottir sees a good support system as vital when combining motherhood with a professional career for club and country.
And she praised West Ham and gaffer Konchesky for providing a family club environment in the literal sense.
She adds: “Last month when my husband had to fly to Iceland, I had to bring my son to a Saturday training session because I had him by myself.
“Konch (Paul Konchesky) brought his kids in so they were babysitting my son at the training ground.
“My son loves to come to the club.
“His highlight on game days is to come into the changing room after matches.
“It’s very helpful to have staff and a manager who are understanding.”
Support for pro footballers who are mothers has been an ongoing issue in the past few years.
In January Brynjarsdottir’s friend Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir shared details of her landmark maternity pay claim against her former club Lyon.
The midfielder, who retired from playing for Iceland this year, not paid her full salary whilst pregnant at the club
Last August, Fifa ordered the French giants to pay the full amount owed to her,
It was a ruling she hailed as a wake-up call for clubs.
Brynjarsdottir, who played with the midfielder for Iceland at last summer’s Euros, said: “What Sarah did is great for the future and it wasn’t easy for her
“I’m just very grateful to her and I know (the situation) took a toll because it was a big fight with Lyon.
“Supporting mums is something clubs need to get right if they want to be a part of how fast the (women’s) game is growing.
“This is important for future mums who play professional football because there will be more in the game and other sports.
“West Ham and Portland Thorns treated me well.
“I’ve been very lucky with that, but I know that’s not the case everywhere. Hopefully in the future it will be.”