Hannes Sigurðsson
Encyclopedia
Hannes Þorsteinn Sigurðsson (born 10 April 1983 in Reykjavík
, Iceland
) is an Icelandic football player who, plays for Russian Premier League
club PFC Spartak Nalchik
. A powerful 6 ft 3 striker
, he has played 10 games and scored one goal for the Iceland national football team
.
in 2001, scoring one goal in eleven matches. He moved to Norway
to play for Viking FK in 2002, and although he came on as a substitute to score twice on his debut, he spent the best part of his first three seasons in Norway on the substitutes' bench. While he played in 55 matches during these three years, he only started in six of these. However, Sigurðsson emerged as a supersub, racking up twelve goals to make him the most efficient player in the Norwegian League
with one goal every 72 minutes in 2002 and 2003. He emerged as a regular starter in 2005, when he also got his Iceland national team
debut against Italy
in March.
In July 2005 he signed for the English
club Stoke City F.C.
on a Bosman transfer, and he joined his new club in October 2005. Sigurðsson was signed by the Icelandic-owned Stoke under manager Johan Boskamp
. He scored one goal in twenty-nine matches in his first season. When ownership of the club changed in the Summer 2006, and Boskamp was fired in favour of new manager Tony Pulis
, Sigurðsson was deemed surplus to requirements. On 30 August 2006 Sigurðsson signed a deal with Danish Superliga
runners-up Brøndby IF
. He was a first-team regular throughout the autumn season, though injuries caused him to miss several games. He fell out of favour when manager René Meulensteen
was replaced by Tom Køhlert
ahead of the spring season, and Sigurðsson looked to leave Brøndby.
Sigurðsson returned to his former club Viking in February 2007, but his registration for the Norwegian club was delayed by the FIFA
ruling that a player may only represent two clubs during one year. After a lengthy appeals process, where the case of Javier Mascherano's transfer from West Ham United F.C.
to Liverpool F.C.
was frequently cited, Sigurðsson was finally cleared to play for Viking on 30 March 2007 – one day before the closure of the Norwegian transfer window
.
In March 2008, Sigurðsson signed for Swedish club GIF Sundsvall
, becoming the club's most expensive signing to date. He is currently playing for the Russian club PFC Spartak Nalchik
.
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
) is an Icelandic football player who, plays for Russian Premier League
Russian Premier League
The Russian Premier League , currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. There are 16 teams in the competition...
club PFC Spartak Nalchik
PFC Spartak Nalchik
PFC Spartak Nalchik is a Russian association football club based in Nalchik. Spartak has played in Russian Premier League since 2006.-History:...
. A powerful 6 ft 3 striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, he has played 10 games and scored one goal for the Iceland national football team
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
.
Biography
Sigurðsson started his professional career with FH HafnarfjordurFimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar
Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar, commonly referred to as FH, is Icelandic football club based in Hafnarfjörður.- Overview :The team are perhaps best known outside Iceland for beating Scottish side Dunfermline in the qualifying rounds of the 2004/05 UEFA Cup 4–3 on aggregate...
in 2001, scoring one goal in eleven matches. He moved to Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
to play for Viking FK in 2002, and although he came on as a substitute to score twice on his debut, he spent the best part of his first three seasons in Norway on the substitutes' bench. While he played in 55 matches during these three years, he only started in six of these. However, Sigurðsson emerged as a supersub, racking up twelve goals to make him the most efficient player in the Norwegian League
Norwegian Premier League
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
with one goal every 72 minutes in 2002 and 2003. He emerged as a regular starter in 2005, when he also got his Iceland national team
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
debut against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
in March.
In July 2005 he signed for the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on a Bosman transfer, and he joined his new club in October 2005. Sigurðsson was signed by the Icelandic-owned Stoke under manager Johan Boskamp
Johan Boskamp
Johannes Boskamp is a Dutch football manager, his most recent job was in Belgium managing KSK Beveren, but he was dismissed in late December 2009-Career:...
. He scored one goal in twenty-nine matches in his first season. When ownership of the club changed in the Summer 2006, and Boskamp was fired in favour of new manager Tony Pulis
Tony Pulis
Anthony Richard "Tony" Pulis is a Welsh former football player and is currently the manager of Stoke City. Pulis obtained his FA coaching badge at the age of 19, followed by his UEFA 'A' licence aged 21 – making him one of the youngest professional players ever to have obtained the qualification...
, Sigurðsson was deemed surplus to requirements. On 30 August 2006 Sigurðsson signed a deal with Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
runners-up Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF is a Danish professional football club based in Brøndbyvester, Brøndby, on the western outskirts of Copenhagen and is the biggest football club in Denmark with almost 2000 members. The club is also known as Brøndbyernes Idrætsforening, or Brøndby and BIF for short...
. He was a first-team regular throughout the autumn season, though injuries caused him to miss several games. He fell out of favour when manager René Meulensteen
René Meulensteen
René Meulensteen is a Dutch football coach. He holds both the UEFA "A" and the Royal Dutch FA "TCI" coaching licenses. Meulensteen played football himself in the Dutch lower leagues as a midfielder but he retired from playing at the age of 29...
was replaced by Tom Køhlert
Tom Køhlert
Tom Køhlert is a Danish former football player at, and former manager of, Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga.He started playing for Brøndby IF right from the beginning in 1964. He becam manager in 1981....
ahead of the spring season, and Sigurðsson looked to leave Brøndby.
Sigurðsson returned to his former club Viking in February 2007, but his registration for the Norwegian club was delayed by the FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
ruling that a player may only represent two clubs during one year. After a lengthy appeals process, where the case of Javier Mascherano's transfer from West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
to Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
was frequently cited, Sigurðsson was finally cleared to play for Viking on 30 March 2007 – one day before the closure of the Norwegian transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
.
In March 2008, Sigurðsson signed for Swedish club GIF Sundsvall
GIF Sundsvall
GIF Sundsvall is a Swedish football club located in the city of Sundsvall. The club, formed on 25 August 1903, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. The club is affiliated to Medelpads Fotbollförbund.- History :...
, becoming the club's most expensive signing to date. He is currently playing for the Russian club PFC Spartak Nalchik
PFC Spartak Nalchik
PFC Spartak Nalchik is a Russian association football club based in Nalchik. Spartak has played in Russian Premier League since 2006.-History:...
.