Heiðar Helguson
Encyclopedia
Heiðar Helguson is an Iceland
ic footballer who plays as a striker
for Queens Park Rangers
.
Helguson, who is also an Iceland international
, has also notably played for Watford
, Fulham
, and Lillestrøm
.
at a young age from Icelandic club Þróttur R. He made his first team debut in 1998, curiously wearing number 1 on his shirt. The next season Helguson became one of the great surprises in Norwegian football scoring 16 league-goals. Helguson was a very popular player, and even had his own fan-club named the Helgusonsons.
, where he played well. Helguson scored in his first game. He later picked up the display of the season award for this goal-scoring debut. He scored five more times that season. His goals were not enough to keep Watford up, and the Hertfordshire club were relegated after only one year in the Premier League.
Back in Division 1, Helguson was part of a Watford side that was undefeated for the first 15 games of the season, topping the league. However, when the side's form slumped in late 2000, Helguson suffered a crisis of confidence – one of several during his first few years at Watford – and was well below his best for a large amount of that campaign. At the end of the season Taylor retired and was replaced by Gianluca Vialli
, who used Helguson as a wing back.
With Ray Lewington in charge for the 2002–03 season, Helguson showed a marked improvement. Although still prone to injury (he did not start the season until late September), he finished the season Watford's top goal scorer with 13, including goals in Watford's run to the FA Cup semi-Finals. In 2003–04 injury kept Helguson out of most of the first half of the season. On his return he put in some notable performances, the most notable being his leading of the line against Chelsea in the FA Cup.
2004–05 was Helguson's best season in a Watford shirt. Relatively free of injury, he scored 20 goals and picked up the "Goal of the Season," "Display of the Season" and "Player of the Season" awards at the end of season awards ceremony. Inevitably his goal tally brought about interest from Premier League clubs and with Watford needing money, the offer from Fulham
was accepted.
victory over Lincoln
. More recently he has been enjoying an excellent run in the side, and the front pair of Helguson and Brian McBride
caused trouble to the best defences in the Premier League. Helguson scored against Chelsea
(penalty), Aston Villa (penalty), West Ham (open play – left foot) and Manchester United (open play – header), a double in a 6–1 win over West Brom, Bolton Wanderers
(header as a result of a free kick) and against Middlesbrough
(penalty). For the start of the 2006–07 season he was moved from No. 10 to No. 9 at Fulham.
to join Bolton Wanderers F.C.
for an undisclosed fee, as part of manager Sammy Lee
's squad restructuring. Helguson reportedly signed a three-year contract with the Trotters
, having been forced to consider his options following the signings of David Healy
and Diomansy Kamara
.
He made his Bolton debut as a substitute for the injured Kevin Davies
on August 11, 2007 with Wanderers already trailing to Newcastle United
. Four days later he returned to Fulham for the first time since leaving and got on the scoresheet in a 2–1 Bolton defeat.
It was the end of January 2008 by the time Helguson got any more playing time, but his return was welcome with Bolton desperately short of firepower having sold Nicolas Anelka
to Chelsea earlier on that month. His first appearance back in the side was a goalless draw against old club Fulham where he came off the substitutes bench for the last eight minutes of the game. He scored his first goal for Bolton since coming back from injury 4 days later against Reading
in a 2–0 win.
Bolton confirmed in May 2008 that they had sent Helguson over to Belgium for more surgery in order to have him back for pre-season training.
on an emergency loan until the end of January, 2009. However, the loan did not go through until the following Friday.
After failing to score on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers
and in his second match against Sheffield Wednesday
, Helguson scored once against Plymouth Argyle
and braces against both Preston North End
and Blackpool
to bag himself 5 goals in his first 10 games. On 2 January, the deal was made permanent for an undisclosed fee.
Helguson became a Rangers legend by scoring the winning goal from a penalty in a 1-0 victory against Arch rivals Chelsea
. This was QPR's first win over Chelsea in over 15 years.
He then went on to score two goals against Stoke in a 3-2 victory away from home. He headed in a sublime goal,whilst the other goal was a tap in.
, before being substituted due to injury. He made his fourth appearance of his loan spell at Vicarage Road against Scunthorpe United
, scoring his fourth and fifth goal. Whilst the original loan spell ended on the 28th December, there was constant speculation about the player resigning for the club on loan. On 11 January, both clubs confirmed that the loan deal was to be extended until the end of the season.
in an April 1999 friendly match against Malta
, coming on as a substitite for Ríkharður Daðason
, and as of October 2010 has earned 52 caps, scoring 12 goals. He was top scorer in the 2004 FA Summer Tournament
with 3 goals. After playing in a friendly against Spain
in August 2006 a long spell outside the national team followed during which Helguson announced his retirement from international football, in June 2007.
On 28 August 2008 Helguson announced his return to international football and was immediately selected in the Icelandic team to face Norway and Scotland a few days later. He scored a goal against Norway in the world cup qualifier as the match ended 2–2.
He scored a goal in the Euro qualifier match against Portugal (2010.10.12).
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...
ic footballer who plays as a 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...
for Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
.
Helguson, who is also an Iceland international
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....
, has also notably played for Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, and Lillestrøm
Lillestrøm S.K.
Lillestrøm Sportsklubb is a Norwegian football club from the city of Lillestrøm. It was founded in 1917, after the merger of two local football clubs. Their home ground is Åråsen Stadion, while the principal training ground is Lillestrøm stadion, or the indoor arena, LSK-Hallen...
.
Lillestrøm
Helguson came to Lillestrøm S.K.Lillestrøm S.K.
Lillestrøm Sportsklubb is a Norwegian football club from the city of Lillestrøm. It was founded in 1917, after the merger of two local football clubs. Their home ground is Åråsen Stadion, while the principal training ground is Lillestrøm stadion, or the indoor arena, LSK-Hallen...
at a young age from Icelandic club Þróttur R. He made his first team debut in 1998, curiously wearing number 1 on his shirt. The next season Helguson became one of the great surprises in Norwegian football scoring 16 league-goals. Helguson was a very popular player, and even had his own fan-club named the Helgusonsons.
Watford
Helguson was signed by Watford manager Graham Taylor mid-way through the 1999–2000 season for a club record £1.5m. Brought in to boost the struggling club's striking department, Helguson had a good debut at home to LiverpoolLiverpool 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...
, where he played well. Helguson scored in his first game. He later picked up the display of the season award for this goal-scoring debut. He scored five more times that season. His goals were not enough to keep Watford up, and the Hertfordshire club were relegated after only one year in the Premier League.
Back in Division 1, Helguson was part of a Watford side that was undefeated for the first 15 games of the season, topping the league. However, when the side's form slumped in late 2000, Helguson suffered a crisis of confidence – one of several during his first few years at Watford – and was well below his best for a large amount of that campaign. At the end of the season Taylor retired and was replaced by Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli is an Italian football manager and former player. Since retiring, he has gone into management and punditry and is a commentator for Sky Sport Italia....
, who used Helguson as a wing back.
With Ray Lewington in charge for the 2002–03 season, Helguson showed a marked improvement. Although still prone to injury (he did not start the season until late September), he finished the season Watford's top goal scorer with 13, including goals in Watford's run to the FA Cup semi-Finals. In 2003–04 injury kept Helguson out of most of the first half of the season. On his return he put in some notable performances, the most notable being his leading of the line against Chelsea in the FA Cup.
2004–05 was Helguson's best season in a Watford shirt. Relatively free of injury, he scored 20 goals and picked up the "Goal of the Season," "Display of the Season" and "Player of the Season" awards at the end of season awards ceremony. Inevitably his goal tally brought about interest from Premier League clubs and with Watford needing money, the offer from Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
was accepted.
Fulham
Helguson signed for Fulham on June 27, 2005 and was largely confined to the bench at the beginning of the campaign. He scored his first goal for Fulham in the 5–4 League CupFootball League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
victory over Lincoln
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. More recently he has been enjoying an excellent run in the side, and the front pair of Helguson and Brian McBride
Brian McBride
Brian Robert McBride is a retired American soccer player who finished his career for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer , but spent the majority of his time in MLS playing for the Columbus Crew. For much of his career he played in Europe, notably for Fulham in the English Premier League...
caused trouble to the best defences in the Premier League. Helguson scored against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
(penalty), Aston Villa (penalty), West Ham (open play – left foot) and Manchester United (open play – header), a double in a 6–1 win over West Brom, Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
(header as a result of a free kick) and against Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
(penalty). For the start of the 2006–07 season he was moved from No. 10 to No. 9 at Fulham.
Bolton Wanderers
On 20 July 2007 it was announced that Helguson was leaving FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
to join Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
for an undisclosed fee, as part of manager Sammy Lee
Sammy Lee (footballer)
Samuel "Sammy" Lee is an English football coach and former player. He played most of his career for hometown club Liverpool during the 1970s and 1980s as a midfielder, and also represented England fourteen times....
's squad restructuring. Helguson reportedly signed a three-year contract with the Trotters
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, having been forced to consider his options following the signings of David Healy
David Healy (footballer)
David Jonathan Healy, MBE is a Northern Ireland international footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish Premier League champions Rangers...
and Diomansy Kamara
Diomansy Kamara
Diomansy Mehdi Moustapha Kamara is a professional football striker, currently playing for Eskişehirspor...
.
He made his Bolton debut as a substitute for the injured Kevin Davies
Kevin Davies
Kevin Cyril Davies is an English footballer who currently plays for Bolton Wanderers and the England national football team as a striker. He was made Bolton team captain in January 2009....
on August 11, 2007 with Wanderers already trailing to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. Four days later he returned to Fulham for the first time since leaving and got on the scoresheet in a 2–1 Bolton defeat.
It was the end of January 2008 by the time Helguson got any more playing time, but his return was welcome with Bolton desperately short of firepower having sold Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Anelka
Abdul-Salam Bilal on 14 March 1979) is a French international footballer, who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Chelsea. Anelka was also a regular starter for the French national team...
to Chelsea earlier on that month. His first appearance back in the side was a goalless draw against old club Fulham where he came off the substitutes bench for the last eight minutes of the game. He scored his first goal for Bolton since coming back from injury 4 days later against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in a 2–0 win.
Bolton confirmed in May 2008 that they had sent Helguson over to Belgium for more surgery in order to have him back for pre-season training.
Queens Park Rangers
On 20 November, it was announced that Helguson had joined Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
on an emergency loan until the end of January, 2009. However, the loan did not go through until the following Friday.
After failing to score on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
and in his second match against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Helguson scored once against Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and braces against both Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
and Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
to bag himself 5 goals in his first 10 games. On 2 January, the deal was made permanent for an undisclosed fee.
Helguson became a Rangers legend by scoring the winning goal from a penalty in a 1-0 victory against Arch rivals Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. This was QPR's first win over Chelsea in over 15 years.
He then went on to score two goals against Stoke in a 3-2 victory away from home. He headed in a sublime goal,whilst the other goal was a tap in.
Return to Watford
On 15 September 2009, Watford successfully acquired the services of Helguson, on a three-month loan from Queens Park Rangers, meaning the player returned to the club who he played for between 2000 and 2005. He made an immediate impact on his return, assisting one and scoring a brace during his substitute appearance against Leicester CityLeicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, before being substituted due to injury. He made his fourth appearance of his loan spell at Vicarage Road against Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
, scoring his fourth and fifth goal. Whilst the original loan spell ended on the 28th December, there was constant speculation about the player resigning for the club on loan. On 11 January, both clubs confirmed that the loan deal was to be extended until the end of the season.
International career
Helguson made his debut for IcelandIceland 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....
in an April 1999 friendly match against Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
, coming on as a substitite for Ríkharður Daðason
Ríkharður Daðason
Ríkharður Daðason is a former Icelandic football forward. In his teenage years Ríkharður was also a talented handball player.-Club career:...
, and as of October 2010 has earned 52 caps, scoring 12 goals. He was top scorer in the 2004 FA Summer Tournament
2004 FA Summer Tournament
The FA Summer Tournament was a minor international football competition, which took place in England in summer 2004.Host nation England, Japan and Iceland participated in the tournament, and matches took place at the City of Manchester Stadium, home of English club Manchester City.This three-nation...
with 3 goals. After playing in a friendly against Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
in August 2006 a long spell outside the national team followed during which Helguson announced his retirement from international football, in June 2007.
On 28 August 2008 Helguson announced his return to international football and was immediately selected in the Icelandic team to face Norway and Scotland a few days later. He scored a goal against Norway in the world cup qualifier as the match ended 2–2.
He scored a goal in the Euro qualifier match against Portugal (2010.10.12).