Famous Icelander Football Players

Icelandic footballer Alfreð Finnbogason is a forward who began his youth career with teams such as Grindavík and later graduated to senior teams such as Breiðablik. He has also played for Dutch, Spanish, German, and Belgian clubs. He has won the Icelandic Cup with Breiðablik and the Super League Greece with Olympiacos.

Gylfi Sigurðsson is an Icelandic football player who plays for the Iceland national team and Premier League club Everton. He helped the Iceland national team reach the quarter-finals at UEFA Euro 2016, the team's first major tournament. He also represented the country at their first-ever FIFA World Cup in the year 2018. 

Icelandic footballer Kolbeinn Sigþórsson, who started his senior career with HK, later had a successful stint with the Dutch club Ajax, winning the Eredivisie thrice and the Johan Cruyff Shield once. His 26 goals for the Iceland national team have made him the top joint national goal-scorer of all time.

Icelandic footballer Aron Gunnarsson is best known as a midfielder for the Qatari club Al-Arabi. While he was initially determined to be a handball player, he later switched to football. He led Iceland to their first World Cup in 2018 and also captained them to the quarter-finals of the 2016 UEFA Euro.

Born to Icelandic parents in the US, footballer Aron Jóhannsson moved to Iceland at age 3. Starting his senior career with Fjölnir, he later had successful stints with the Dutch club AZ and the Danish club AGF. While he initially represented the Iceland U21 team, he later switched to the US national team.

Icelandic professional football-winger Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson made his senior-career debut with Breiðablik. Thereafter he played with AZ, with whom he won the 2012–13 KNVB Cup; and with Charlton Athletic before joining Burnley in July 2016. He represented Iceland in UEFA Euro 2016, where he assisted the country’s first-ever goal in a major tournament; and in 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Icelandic footballer Birkir Bjarnason plays as a central midfielder for the Turkish club Adana Demirspor. Starting his senior career with Viking, he has also played for teams such as Aston Villa, winning the 2019 EFL Championship play-offs with them, and the Swiss Super League with FC Basel.

Icelandic former professional football centre-back Ragnar Sigurðsson  made his senior-career debut with Fylkir and went on to play with several other clubs, most notably with IFK Göteborg, with whom he won Allsvenskan (2007), Svenska Supercupen (2008) and Svenska Cupen (2008). He won 97 caps while representing Iceland during 2007-20, which included representing the country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.  

Icelandic professional footballer Jón Daði Böðvarsson made his senior debut with Selfoss. Thereafter he played with several other clubs before joining his present club Bolton Wanderers in January 2022. He played for Iceland at under-19 and under-21 level and became full international in 2012. He remained part of the national squad during UEFA Euro 2016 and 2018 FIFA World Cup. 

Icelandic former footballer and coach Eiður Guðjohnsen began his senior career with Valur and then had successful stints with clubs such as Chelsea and Barcelona as a forward/midfielder. The son of former striker Arnór Guðjohnsen, he had also led the Iceland national football team as its captain.

Apart from being a coach and former footballer, Heimir Hallgrímsson is also a qualified dentist. The Icelandic defender has had successful playing stints with teams such as ÍBV and Höttur. He has also coached the Iceland team and the Qatari club Al-Arabi among others. He also has his dental chamber in Vestmannaeyjar.

Icelandic professional football centre-back Hörður Björgvin Magnússon  made his senior-career debut with Knattspyrnufélagið Fram and went on to play with other clubs including Juventus and CSKA Moscow. He won the 2018 Russian Super Cup with the latter and joined Panathinaikos in July 2022. He plays for Iceland and was part of the nation’s 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup.

Icelandic professional football striker Viðar Örn Kjartansson presently plays for the Super League Greece club Atromitos. He made his senior debut for Selfoss. His achievements so far includes becoming Úrvalsdeild Top Goalscorer (2013), Tippeligaen top scorer (2014) and Israeli Premier League Top Goalscorer (2016–17); and winning Chinese FA Cup (2015) with Jiangsu Sainty and Allsvenskan (2016) with Malmö FF.    

Icelandic professional footballer Emil Hallfreðsson made his senior career debut with Icelandic multi-sports club Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar. Moving on, he played with other clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Reggina and Virtus Verona and rejoined the latter club in October 2021. He also plays for the Iceland national team and was part of the nation’s squad during EURO 2016 and 2018 World Cup.

Icelandic footballer Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson started his career with ÍA and later also played for the Wolverhampton Wanderers. He now represents the Norwegian club Molde as a forward and won the Tippeligaen and the Norwegian Cup with them in 2014. He also plays for the Iceland national team.

Icelandic footballer Arnór Ingvi Traustason began his senior career with Keflavík and then also represented teams such as Rapid Wien, Malmö FF, and New England Revolution. The midfielder also plays for the Iceland national team and the Swedish club IFK Norrköping and won the 2015 Allsvenskan with the latter.

Icelandic footballer Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir represents the German club VfL Wolfsburg as a forward. She has won the 2020 Icelandic Championship with Breiðablik and the 2022 Frauen-Bundesliga with VfL Wolfsburg. She was also named the 2021 Icelandic Women's Footballer of the Year and the 2020 Úrvalsdeild Player of the Year.

Icelandic footballer Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir now plays for Juventus FC as a midfielder. She has previously had successful stints with Olympique Lyonnais, Rosengård, and VfL Wolfsburg. She made headlines when she trained during pregnancy and returned to the field immediately after having a baby in late 2021.

Icelandic footballer Guðjón Baldvinsson plays as a striker for KR Reykjavík. Starting his career with Ungmennafélagið Stjarnan, he later also played for the Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League. He has also had successful stints with the Danish club FC Nordsjælland and the Swedish club GAIS.

Mikael Anderson is an Icelandic football player who plays for the national football team as well as Aarhus Gymnastikforening. A midfielder, Anderson also holds Danish citizenship and has played for both Denmark and Iceland at youth levels.

Elín Metta Jensen is an Icelandic football player who plays as a striker for the women's national football team and Valur. Elín has helped Valur win prestigious tournaments such as the Icelandic Women's Cup and Icelandic Women's Super Cup. Elín Metta Jensen has also represented her country in important tournaments like the 2013 and 2017 UEFA Women's Championship.

Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir is an Icelandic football player who plays for the Iceland women's national football team. As far as her club career is concerned, Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir has played for teams like Stjarnan and Vålerenga. She is currently a part of the Orlando Pride.

Kristian Hlynsson is an Icelandic football player who plays for Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax. Although he was born in Denmark, Hlynsson chose to represent Iceland internationally at youth levels. Kristian Hlynsson is currently a part of the Iceland men's national under-21 football team.

Eyjolfur Sverrisson is an Icelandic retired football player who played for the national football team from 1990 to 2001. Known for his versatility, Sverrisson played as a defender, midfielder, and forward. Eyjolfur Sverrisson also played basketball as a shooting guard and represented the Tindastóll men's basketball team from 1983 to 1989.

Retired Icelandic footballer Björgólfur Hideaki Takefusa played as a forward/striker. Starting his senior career with Þróttur R., he later represented clubs such as Fylkir, Víkingur R., Valur, and Fram. He has also played thrice for the Icelandic national football team. He is the grandson of American politician George Lincoln Rockwell.

Viðar Halldórsson is an Icelandic retired football player who represented the Iceland national football team from 1976 to 1983. He also played for the FH men's football team from 1970 to 1987. After retiring as a player, Viðar Halldórsson returned to FH where he took up an administrative role and is currently serving as chairman.