Ólafur Ingi Skúlason
Encyclopedia
Ólafur Ingi Skúlason is an Iceland
ic footballer
and a midfielder, currently playing for Belgian club S.V. Zulte Waregem.
, Iceland
and, before playing for Arsenal F.C.
, played for Icelandic soccer team Fylkir
. After the Icelandic season had come to a close, he was looking for new employment, and found it with Arsenal on 1 July 2001. Skúlason was loaned back to Fylkir
over a part of the 2003 season, and was voted the best young player in the Icelandic league 2003.
A defensive midfielder, his Arsenal debut came on 2 December 2003 in a 5–1 defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
, replacing Justin Hoyte
after 55 minutes of the match. Skúlason was released by Arsenal on 28 May 2005. He signed for Brentford on 22 June 2005.
Upon his arrival at Brentford, the club's website quoted him as saying: "I look at this as a very important move for my career, knowing that manager Martin Allen had been interested in signing me for a while was a huge compliment for me."
Skúlason missed the 2005/6 season due to a cruciate knee ligament injury resulting from a tackle with Chesterfield
's Derek Niven
. He was passed fit for the start of the 2006/7 season and completed his comeback by scoring the winner in a 1–0 win over Blackpool
, the first game of the season. He signed for Helsingborgs IF
on 21 February 2007. After three successful years in Helsingborg, Skúlason denied a new contract offer and signed for Danish team SønderjyskE
on 1 January 2010.
in a friendly against Mexico
on 20 November 2003 as a substitute, replacing Veigar Páll Gunnarsson
. He has also captained their U21 team.
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
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and a midfielder, currently playing for Belgian club S.V. Zulte Waregem.
Club career
Skúlason was born in ReykjavíkReykjavík
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...
and, before playing for Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, played for Icelandic soccer team Fylkir
Fylkir
Fylkir FC is an athletic club in Árbær, in the eastern part of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland.Former players include Helgi Valur Daníelsson, who now plays for AIK, and Ólafur Ingi Skúlason, formerly of Arsenal and currently plays for Zulte Waregem in Belgium. Ragnar Sigurðsson who plays with...
. After the Icelandic season had come to a close, he was looking for new employment, and found it with Arsenal on 1 July 2001. Skúlason was loaned back to Fylkir
Fylkir
Fylkir FC is an athletic club in Árbær, in the eastern part of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland.Former players include Helgi Valur Daníelsson, who now plays for AIK, and Ólafur Ingi Skúlason, formerly of Arsenal and currently plays for Zulte Waregem in Belgium. Ragnar Sigurðsson who plays with...
over a part of the 2003 season, and was voted the best young player in the Icelandic league 2003.
A defensive midfielder, his Arsenal debut came on 2 December 2003 in a 5–1 defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
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...
, replacing Justin Hoyte
Justin Hoyte
Justin Raymond Hoyte is an English footballer who plays for Middlesbrough. His younger brother, Gavin Hoyte, plays for Arsenal in the reserve team. His mother is the British sprinter, Wendy Hoyte.-Arsenal:...
after 55 minutes of the match. Skúlason was released by Arsenal on 28 May 2005. He signed for Brentford on 22 June 2005.
Upon his arrival at Brentford, the club's website quoted him as saying: "I look at this as a very important move for my career, knowing that manager Martin Allen had been interested in signing me for a while was a huge compliment for me."
Skúlason missed the 2005/6 season due to a cruciate knee ligament injury resulting from a tackle with Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
's Derek Niven
Derek Niven
Derek Niven is a professional footballer who plays for Northampton Town, on loan from Chesterfield. He previously played for Stenhousemuir, Raith Rovers and Bolton Wanderers.-Playing career:...
. He was passed fit for the start of the 2006/7 season and completed his comeback by scoring the winner in a 1–0 win over 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...
, the first game of the season. He signed for Helsingborgs IF
Helsingborgs IF
Helsingborgs IF , commonly referred to as Helsingborg and locally HIF, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
on 21 February 2007. After three successful years in Helsingborg, Skúlason denied a new contract offer and signed for Danish team SønderjyskE
SønderjyskE
SønderjyskE is a Danish sport club. They have two football teams , two handball teams and an ice hockey team based in Vojens. All the teams play in South Jutland...
on 1 January 2010.
International career
Skúlason earned his first cap 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 a friendly against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
on 20 November 2003 as a substitute, replacing Veigar Páll Gunnarsson
Veigar Páll Gunnarsson
Veigar Páll Gunnarsson is an Icelandic football striker who plays for the Norwegian club Vålerenga.The Gunnarsson transfer in 2011, was a football transfer that led to football clubs Stabæk and Vålerenga to be nominated for fines of Norwegian kroner 500,000 and 350,000 respectively, by a committee...
. He has also captained their U21 team.