Icelandic footballer (born 1989)
Alfreð Finnbogason (born 1 February 1989) is an Icelandic former professional footballer who played as a striker .
With Heerenveen , Alfreð was the Dutch Eredivisie 's top scorer in the 2013–14 [ 2] season with 29 goals, a tally topped only by Luis Suárez , Cristiano Ronaldo and Jonathan Soriano in Europe's top leagues that season.[ 3]
Alfreð made his debut for the Iceland national team against the Faroe Islands in 2010. He has earned 72 caps to date, scoring 18 goals. He was part of their squad at UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup , where he became the first Icelander to score a goal in the FIFA World Cup .
Club career
Born in Grindavík , Alfreð played for Ungmennafélag Grindavíkur 's youth teams while also spending two years of his childhood in the Scottish capital Edinburgh .[ 4] Alfreð played for boys' club Hutchison Vale , and became a fan of Hibernian , while his father studied in the city.[ 4]
Breiðablik
Finnbogason training with Breiðablik
Alfreð joined Breiðablik in 2005, featuring in the club's highly successful youth team alongside future internationals and/or expatriates Gylfi Sigurðsson , Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson , Elfar Freyr Helgason , Guðmundur Kristjánsson , Kristinn Steindórsson and Kristinn Jónsson .[ 5] [ 6]
He made his senior debut for Breiðablik in 2008. In the 2009 Úrvalsdeild season, he scored 13 goals in 18 league games for Breiðablik. At the end of the campaign, he was voted Young Player of the Year by his fellow players.[ 7] Breiðablik also won their first title ever, the Icelandic Cup .[ 8]
After the 2009 season, he had a trial with Tippeligaen side Viking and English Championship side Blackpool .[ 9]
In 2010, Alfreð was joint league top goalscorer with 14 goals, and voted player of the year by fellow players as Breiðablik won their first league title and participated for the first time in the UEFA Europa League when they played against Scottish side Motherwell .[ 10] [ 11] [ 12]
Lokeren
On 3 November 2010, Breiðablik confirmed that an offer for Alfreð from Belgian side Lokeren had been accepted.[ 13] After completing a medical, Alfreð signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club on 20 November 2010.[ 14]
Helsingborgs IF (loan)
On 6 March 2012, Alfreð joined Swedish champions Helsingborgs IF on a six-month loan deal, ending on 15 August 2012.[ 15]
Alfreð scored one goal and made five assists in a 6–1 aggregate win against Polish champions Śląsk Wrocław in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round .[ 16] At the end of the loan period, Alfreð was Helsingborg's top scorer of 2012 with 12 goals in 17 all competitions matches.[ 17] [ 18]
Heerenveen
On 16 August 2012, Alfreð signed a three-year contract with Dutch Eredivisie club Heerenveen .[ 19] He made a promising start for his new club, scoring two goals in his home debut against top side Ajax in a 2–2 draw and later scoring all four goals away to third division side Kozakken Boys in the KNVB Cup .[ 20] [ 21] Alfreð ended the season as the third-highest goalscorer of the Eredivisie, scoring 24 of Heereveen's 50 league goals.[ 22]
Real Sociedad
On 2 July 2014, Alfreð signed for Spanish La Liga club Real Sociedad for a €7.5 million transfer fee, rising to €10 million with add-ons.[ 23] [ 24] [ 25] He made his debut for the club later that month, starting in a 2–0 home win against Aberdeen for the season 's UEFA Europa League .[ 26]
Olympiacos (loan)
Greek champions Olympiacos had previously tried to sign the 26-year-old Icelandic, but failed to reach an agreement with his former club, Heerenveen.[ 27] Despite the rival interest of PAOK , on 26 July 2015, Olympiacos officially announced that they had signed him on loan from Real Sociedad. He scored his first goal in a friendly game against Beşiktaş on 9 August 2015.[ 28] Alfreð scored his first competitive and the winning goal for Olympiacos against Arsenal on 29 September 2015, in their Champions League Group F clash, earning Olympiacos their first ever win on English soil, in a 3–2 win at Emirates Stadium .
On 5 December 2015, he scored his first goal with a penalty kick in the Super League in a 4–3 away win against Panthrakikos .[ 29]
FC Augsburg
He was loaned to FC Augsburg on 1 February 2016.[ 30] He made his debut as a substitute against Ingolstadt five days later in a 2–1 defeat. He scored his first goal in his third appearance on 28 February, helping Augsburg to a 2–2 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach . He would go on to score seven goals in fourteen appearances, and the loan was made permanent on 1 July 2016. On 9 September 2017, he scored a hat-trick in a Bundesliga game against FC Köln , in which Augsburg won by 3–0. On 16 December 2017, he scored another hat-trick in a 3–3 draw against SC Freiburg .
Lyngby
On 1 September 2022, Finnbogason signed a one-year contract with recently promoted Danish Superliga club Lyngby .[ 31] He made his debut three days later, coming off the bench in the 64th minute for Tochi Chukwuani in a 2–0 home loss to Randers .[ 32]
Eupen and retirement
On 18 August 2023, Alfreð moved to Belgian Pro League club Eupen on a deal until June 2025.[ 33] He made his debut for the club on 20 August, starting in a 3–1 away victory against Kortrijk .[ 34] On 17 September, he scored his first goal for the Pandas , a consolation goal in the 80th minute of a 3–1 home loss to Standard Liège .[ 35] Following Eupen's relegation to the Challenger Pro League , Alfreð reached an agreement with the club to terminate his contract on 5 September 2024.[ 36] He then announced his retirement from football on 21 November 2024.[ 37]
International career
Alfreð earned 11 caps and scored five goals for Iceland at under-21 level. His first goal came on 8 September 2009 in a 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Group 5 qualifier 6–2 win against Northern Ireland under-21s at The Showgrounds , Coleraine .[ 38]
Alfreð won his first cap for the Iceland national team in 2010, coming on as a substitute in a friendly match against the Faroe Islands .[ 39] [ 40] Alfreð scored on his full debut for Iceland against Israel in a 3–2 loss at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv .[ 39] [ 41] As of 26 June 2018,[update] Alfreð has 50 caps and 14 goals for the senior team.[ 39]
He was selected for UEFA Euro 2016 .[ 42]
In May 2018 he was named in Iceland's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[ 43] In their first match at the tournament, Alfreð scored the equalising goal as Iceland drew 1–1 with Argentina .[ 44]
In August 2024, Alfreð retired from international football.[ 45]
Personal life
In 2007, Alfreð spent five months as an exchange student in Sardinia , Italy, playing for Sassari Torres during the stay, where he managed to score in a win against the Italy U-17 national team.[ 46]
On 19 April 2013, Alfreð set a record for the most goals scored in a season by an Icelandic footballer playing in a top division in any country after he scored his 24th goal of the season, and also his last of the season. The previous record-holder had also played in the Netherlands, Pétur Pétursson , who scored 23 goals in 33 matches for Feyenoord in the 1979–80 Eredivisie .[ 47]
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 7 July 2023 [ 48]
International
As of 19 November 2023 [ 39]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team
Year
Apps
Goals
Iceland
2010
2
1
2011
4
0
2012
6
2
2013
8
1
2014
3
1
2015
7
2
2016
10
4
2017
5
0
2018
7
4
2019
5
0
2020
4
0
2021
0
0
2022
2
0
2023
10
3
Total
73
18
As of match played 16 October 2023 [ 39] [ 49]
Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Alfreð goal.
List of international goals scored by Alfreð Finnbogason
No.
Date
Venue
Cap
Opponent
Score
Result
Competition
1
17 November 2010
Bloomfield Stadium , Tel Aviv , Israel
2
Israel
1–3
2–3
Friendly
2
29 February 2012
Podgorica City Stadium , Podgorica , Montenegro
7
Montenegro
1–1
1–2
Friendly
3
7 September 2012
Laugardalsvöllur , Reykjavík , Iceland
9
Norway
2–0
2–0
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
4
7 June 2013
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland
15
Slovenia
2–1
2–4
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5
12 November 2014
King Baudouin Stadium , Brussels , Belgium
23
Belgium
1–1
1–3
Friendly
6
13 November 2015
National Stadium , Warsaw , Poland
29
Poland
2–2
2–4
Friendly
7
17 November 2015
Štadión pod Dubňom , Žilina , Slovakia
30
Slovakia
1–0
1–3
Friendly
8
6 June 2016
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland
34
Liechtenstein
3–0
4–0
Friendly
9
5 September 2016
Olimpiyskyi National Sports Complex , Kyiv , Ukraine
38
Ukraine
1–0
1–1
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
10
6 October 2016
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland
39
Finland
2–2
3–2
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
11
9 October 2016
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland
40
Turkey
2–0
2–0
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
12
2 June 2018
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland
46
Norway
1–1
2–3
Friendly
13
7 June 2018
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland
47
Ghana
2–0
2–2
Friendly
14
16 June 2018
Otkritie Arena , Moscow , Russia
48
Argentina
1–1
1–1
2018 FIFA World Cup
15
15 October 2018
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland
52
Switzerland
1–2
1–2
2018–19 UEFA Nations League A
16
17 June 2023
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland
66
Slovakia
1–1
1–2
UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
17
11 September 2023
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland
69
Bosnia and Herzegovina
1–0
1–0
UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
18
16 October 2023
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland
71
Liechtenstein
2–0
4–0
UEFA Euro 2024 qualification
Honours
Breiðablik
Olympiacos
Individual
References
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^ foxsports.nl [permanent dead link ]
^ "Kozakken Boys – sc Heerenveen – sc Heerenveen" . Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012 .
^ "Alfreð tók bronsskóinn í Hollandi" (in Icelandic). 433.is. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013 .
^ "Real Sociedad announce capture of Finnbogason from Heerenveen « Inside Spanish Football" . Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014 .
^ Finnbogason naar Real Sociedad (Finnbogason to Real Sociedad) ; Heerenveen's official website, 2 July 2014 (in Dutch)
^ Agreement with SC Heerenveen for the transfer of Alfred Finnbogason ; Real Sociedad's official website, 2 July 2014
^ Real Sociedad 2–0 Aberdeen ; UEFA .com, 31 July 2014
^ Olympiacos targeting Finnbogason ; sdna.com, 24 July 2015
^ Olympiacos complete deal for Finnbogason ; sdna.com, 26 July 2015
^ "Πανθρακικός – Ολυμπιακός 3–4" . www.contra.gr. 5 December 2015.
^ "Finnbogason kommt" [Finnbogason arrives] (in German). FC Augsburg . 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2016 .
^ "Alfred Finnbogason er klar for De Kongeblå!" . Lyngby Boldklub (in Danish). 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022 .
^ Bellaiche, Emil (13 September 2022). "Finnbogason efter start-debut: Fantastisk følelse" . bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022 .
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^ "Kortrijk vs. AS Eupen 1–3: Summary" . Soccerway . Perform Group. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023 .
^ "AS Eupen vs. Standard Liège 1–3: Summary" . Soccerway . Perform Group. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023 .
^ "Alfred Finnbogason says goodbye to KAS Eupen" (Press release). K.A.S. Eupen . 5 September 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024 .
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^ Bevan, Chris (16 June 2018). "Argentina 1–1 Iceland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2018 .
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^
^ Alfreð Finnbogason at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
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External links
Awards
Úrvalsdeild karla
1917: G. Thorsteinsson
1918: F. Thorsteinsson
1919: F. Thorsteinsson
1935: Einarsson , Bergsteinsson & Ólafsson
1936: O. Jónsson
1937: O. Jónsson
1938: Bergsteinsson , Sigurðsson & B. Bjarnason
1939: B. Guðjónsson & Einarsson
1940: S. Jónsson & Isebarn
1941: Schram
1942: Sölvason
1943: Jónasson
1944: Sveinsson , Helgason , Eyjólfsson & E. Bergsson
1945: Óskarsson
1946: V. Guðmundsson
1947: Rí. Jónsson , Óskarsson , Halldórsson & A. Guðmundsson
1948: Hannesson
1949: Hannesson , Óskarsson & G. Jónsson
1950: Th. Þórðarson , Rí. Jónsson , Hallbjörnsson , Halldórsson & Lárusson
1951: Rí. Jónsson
1952: Rí. Jónsson
1953: Rí. Jónsson
1954: Rí. Jónsson
1955: Rí. Jónsson , Th. Jónsson & Th. Þórðarson
1956: S. Bergsson & Th. Þórðarson
1957: Th. Þórðarson
1958: Th. Þórðarson
1959: Beck
1960: Elísson & Beck
1961: Beck
1962: Elísson
1963: Hákonarsson
1964: Hafsteinsson
1965: B. Baldvinsson
1966: J. Jóhannsson
1967: Gunnarsson
1968: Númason , Árnason , Lárusson & Re. Jónsson
1969: Hallgrímsson
1970: Gunnarsson
1971: S. Jóhannsson
1972: Pálsson
1973: Gunnarsson
1974: Te. Þórðarson
1975: Hallgrímsson
1976: Albertsson
1977: Pétursson
1978: Pétursson
1979: Þorleifsson
1980: Hallgrímsson
1981: L. Guðmundsson & Þorleifsson
1982: Karlsson & Þorleifsson
1983: Albertsson
1984: Steinsson
1985: Ó. Torfason
1986: G. Torfason
1987: Ormslev
1988: Kristjánsson
1989: H. Magnússon
1990: H. Magnússon
1991: Steinsson & H. Magnússon
1992: A. Gunnlaugsson
1993: Th. Guðjónsson
1994: Biberčić
1995: A. Gunnlaugsson
1996: Daðason
1997: T. Guðmundsson
1998: Jóhannesson
1999: Jóhannesson
2000: Sigþórsson
2001: H. Hjartarson
2002: G. Hjartarson
2003: Takefusa
2004: Þorvaldsson
2005: T. Guðmundsson
2006: M. Baldvinsson
2007: Garðarsson
2008: Steinarsson
2009: Takefusa
2010: Björnsson , Finnbogason & Mbang
2011: G. Jóhannsson
2012: Guðnason
2013: Björnsson , Kjartansson & Martin
2014: Martin
2015: Pedersen
2016: G. Gunnlaugsson
2017: A. Bjarnson
2018: Pedersen
2019: Martin
2020: Lennon
2021: Hansen
Besta deild karla
Úrvalsdeild karla Besta deild karla