Ásgeir Sigurvinsson
Encyclopedia
Ásgeir "Sigi" Sigurvinsson (born 8 May 1955 in Vestmannaeyjar) is an Iceland
ic football coach and a former player.
The attacking midfielder was one of the first, and certainly one of the most celebrated, Icelandic professional football players. He went from Iceland to Belgium
but spent the latter half of his career in Germany
.
club Standard Liège
in 1973, and stayed there for eight seasons, amassing more than 300 appearances overall, and helping the club to the 1981 Belgian Cup
. Immediately after, he was bought by Europe
an powerhouse FC Bayern Munich
, but was used mainly as a substitute and lasted only one year on the bench.
Sigurvinsson then joined fellow Bundesliga
outfit VfB Stuttgart
, where he figured prominently until his retirement, at 35. In his second year, he netted a career-best – in Germany – 12 goals, being instrumental in a league conquest after a 32-year wait. During his penultimate season, Sigurvinsson scored thrice in 28 matches as the club finished fifth, still adding all 12 matches (10 complete) in Stuttgart's UEFA Cup runner-up run. In total, he played 211 German first division matches, scoring 39 goals, and more than 500 overall as a professional.
After retiring in 1990, Sigurvinsson worked at Stuttgart for another three years, as a scout. Between April–November 1993, he had his first coaching experience, with native Knattspyrnufélagið Fram
.
, acted as technical director at the Football Association of Iceland
, for six years, and later coached the national team, from 2003 until late 2005.
In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA
's 50 anniversary, the Icelandic FA selected Sigurvinsson as its Golden Player
, the most outstanding Icelandic player of the last 50 years.
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 football coach and a former player.
The attacking midfielder was one of the first, and certainly one of the most celebrated, Icelandic professional football players. He went from Iceland to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
but spent the latter half of his career in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Club career
Sigurvinsson moved to BelgianBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
club Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
in 1973, and stayed there for eight seasons, amassing more than 300 appearances overall, and helping the club to the 1981 Belgian Cup
Belgian Cup
The Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
. Immediately after, he was bought by Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an powerhouse FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
, but was used mainly as a substitute and lasted only one year on the bench.
Sigurvinsson then joined fellow Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
outfit VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
, where he figured prominently until his retirement, at 35. In his second year, he netted a career-best – in Germany – 12 goals, being instrumental in a league conquest after a 32-year wait. During his penultimate season, Sigurvinsson scored thrice in 28 matches as the club finished fifth, still adding all 12 matches (10 complete) in Stuttgart's UEFA Cup runner-up run. In total, he played 211 German first division matches, scoring 39 goals, and more than 500 overall as a professional.
After retiring in 1990, Sigurvinsson worked at Stuttgart for another three years, as a scout. Between April–November 1993, he had his first coaching experience, with native Knattspyrnufélagið Fram
Knattspyrnufélagið Fram
Knattspyrnufélagið Fram is an Icelandic sports club, best known for its football team. In European competitions it is known as Fram Reykjavík. It was founded on 1 May 1908 in Reykjavík. Based at Safamýri, located in the Laugardalur district of Reykjavík City Center. They are currently playing in...
.
International career
Sigurvinsson, who got 45 caps, with five goals, for the national teamIceland 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....
, acted as technical director at the Football Association of Iceland
Football Association of Iceland
The Football Association of Iceland is the governing body of football in Iceland. It was founded on 26 March 1947, joined FIFA the same year, and UEFA in 1954. It organizes the football league, Pepsi deild, and the Iceland national football team and Iceland women's national football team...
, for six years, and later coached the national team, from 2003 until late 2005.
In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
's 50 anniversary, the Icelandic FA selected Sigurvinsson as its Golden Player
UEFA Jubilee Awards
To celebrate the Union of European Football Associations 's 50th anniversary in 2004, each of its member associations was asked by UEFA to choose one of its own players as the single most outstanding player of the past 50 years . The 52 players were known as the Golden Players...
, the most outstanding Icelandic player of the last 50 years.
Honours
- IB:
- Icelandic CupVISA-bikarThe Icelandic Cup is a knock-out football cup competition in Iceland. The final is played at Laugardalsvöllur at the end of the Icelandic season in October. The winners qualify for the UEFA Europa League.-Performance By Club:-Lost Finals By Club:...
: 1972
- Icelandic Cup
- Standard Liège:
- Belgian CupBelgian CupThe Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
: 1980–81
- Belgian Cup
- Bayern Munich:
- German CupDFB-PokalThe DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
: 1981–82
- German Cup
- Stuttgart:
- German LeagueFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
: 1983–84
- German League
External links
- Ásgeir Sigurvinsson at worldfootball.net