Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson quits after 7 years with team

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JUNE 16: Heimir Hallgrimsson, Manager of Iceland acknowledges the fans following the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Argentina and Iceland at Spartak Stadium on June 16, 2018 in Moscow, Russia.
Matthias Hangst / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Heimir Hallgrimsson stepped down as head coach of Iceland on Tuesday after seven years with the national team, the country's football association announced.

His resignation comes after Iceland failed to progress out of the group stage last month during the nation's first appearance at a World Cup.

Despite earning a draw against Lionel Messi's Argentina, Iceland finished at the bottom of Group D after losing to both Nigeria and World Cup finalist Croatia.

The 51-year-old joined the national team in 2011 when he was named an assistant to former coach Lars Lagerback. He went on to become the joint manager in 2014 before Iceland's unexpected success at Euro 2016 when the nation beat England to reach the quarter-finals.

He was named manager shortly after the tournament and went on to guide Iceland to a first-place finish in its qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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