 Gunnar (blue) with Iceland in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson | ||
| Date of birth | (1982-04-01)1 April 1982 (age 43) | ||
| Place of birth | Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2004 | ÍBV | 72 | (37) |
| 2004–2006 | Halmstads BK | 38 | (16) |
| 2006–2007 | Hannover 96 | 7 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | →Vålerenga (loan) | 16 | (4) |
| 2008–2011 | Esbjerg fB | 24 | (2) |
| 2010 | →Reading (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | →Fredrikstad FK (loan) | 7 | (3) |
| 2011 | ÍBV | 0 | (0) |
| 2011–2013 | IFK Norrköping | 70 | (34) |
| 2013–2014 | Konyaspor | 12 | (1) |
| 2014–2015 | BK Häcken | 23 | (3) |
| 2015–2018 | ÍBV | 55 | (24) |
| Total | 328 | (124) | |
| International career | |||
| 1998 | Iceland U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2000 | Iceland U19 | 5 | (1) |
| 2002–2003 | Iceland U21 | 7 | (0) |
| 2005–2013 | Iceland | 24 | (5) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2021 | KFS | ||
| 2022 | Vestri | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson (born 1 April 1982), commonlyanglicised asGunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson, is an Icelandicfootball manager and former professional footballer who played as astriker.
Born inVestmannaeyjar, Iceland, Gunnar started his career atÍBV. After establishing himself as the best striker in theIcelandic Premier League, he was transferred toHalmstads BK in Sweden in 2004. Here, he only narrowly missed out on the league title in his first year and won the Swedish golden boot in the following season (with 16 goals). He also featured in the club'sUEFA Cup campaign of 2005–06, scoring a vital goal in the qualifying round victory overSporting.
This brought him to the attention of several clubs from around Europe, before he eventually opted to move to German sideHannover 96 in March 2006 on a three-year deal.[1] His time in Germany however was blighted by persistent injuries; he only managed to make seven appearances and scored no goals. In August 2007, after only 17 months with Hannover, he was loaned toVålerenga. In summer 2008, he was sold to Danish clubEsbjerg fB. For the latter part of the 2009–10 season, Gunnar was on loan at the EnglishFootball League Championship sideReading F.C.[2]
Gunnar joined Norwegian side Fredrikstad FK on loan for the rest of the Norwegian 2010 season. On 17 March 2011, Gunnar signed a three-year contract with IFK Norrköping. After a prolific spell in the top Swedish league Gunnar signed a two-year contract with TurkishSüper Lig sideKonyaspor on 5 August 2013.[3]
In July 2015, Gunnar signed back withÍBV.[4] He retired from football following the2018 season. In his last game, he scored ahat-trick in ÍBV's 5–2 victory againstGrindavík. It was the fourth hat-trick of his career in theIcelandic top-tier league.[5]
He made his international debut on 30 March 2005, as a last minute substitute in a goalless friendly draw withItaly in Padova. His first international goal came in a 4–1World Cup qualifying victory overMalta on 8 June 2005.
Gunnar started his manager career withKFS in 2021, leading them to promotion to3. deild karla. In March 2022, he was hired as the manager of1. deild karla clubVestri.[6]
His cousin is formerReading defenderÍvar Ingimarsson. His sister is international footballerBerglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir.[7]
Individual