Arnór Smárason

Arnór Smárason (born 7 September 1988) is an Icelandic footballer who plays for Icelandic second-tier 1. deild karla side ÍA Akranes.[1] He can play in all the positions on the midfield.

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Arnór.

Arnór Smárason
Arnór playing for Helsingborg in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-09-07) 7 September 1988
Place of birth Akranes, Iceland
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 ÍA Akranes
Number 88
Youth career
1996–2003 ÍA Akranes
2003 Molde
2003–2004 ÍA Akranes
2004–2008 Heerenveen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Heerenveen 25 (5)
2010–2013 Esbjerg 60 (14)
2013–2015 Helsingborg 55 (12)
2015 → Torpedo Moscow (loan) 11 (2)
2016–2018 Hammarby IF 60 (9)
2018–2020 Lillestrøm 36 (11)
2021–2023 Valur 30 (6)
2023– ÍA Akranes 20 (3)
International career‡
2003–2004 Iceland U-17 11 (2)
2005–2007 Iceland U-19 16 (5)
2007–2011 Iceland U-21 10 (2)
2008– Iceland 26 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 January 2019

Early life

Arnór was born in Akranes, Iceland, and is a cousin of Pétur Pétursson. He started his football career at the local club ÍA Akranes, before moving to Norway at age 15 together with his family. He played a year with Molde FK as his father was attending Molde University College, before returning to Iceland.[2] A year later, Arnór moved to the Netherlands to join up with the youth teams of SC Heerenveen, following a successful trial.[3]

Club career

Hereenveen

Arnór signed his first professional contract with Hereenveen on 9 September 2007, aged 19.[4] He made his senior debut the same season, during the spring of 2008, whilst also signing a new three-year deal with the Eredivisie side.[5]

During the following season, in 2008–09, Arnór became a regular starter for Heerenveen. He made his continental debut for the club in the Europa League on 18 September 2008, coming on as a late sub in a 1–1 draw against the Portuguese side Vitória.[6] Nearly a month later, on 19 October 2008, Arnór scored his first competitive goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Roda.[7] That season Heerenveen finished 5th in the Eredivisie and went all the way to the final in the KNVB Cup. They eventually won against Twente, 2–2 after full-time and 5–4 on penalties, though Arnór remained on the bench as an unused sub.[8] In all, Arnór played 27 games for Hereenveen during the season and scored 5 goals.[9]

Due to a serious back injury, Arnór missed most of the 2009–10 league play. He was sent to the clinic of Bayern Munich club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, who treated him during the spring of 2010.[10] He returned to the pitch in March the same year, playing two competitive games throughout the season.[9] At the same time, Heerenveen communicated that Arnór would leave the club as a free transfer the upcoming summer, due to the club's financial difficulties.[11]

Esbjerg

In June 2010, he moved to Esbjerg fB in Denmark.[12] Arnór signed a three year-deal with the Superliga club.[13] He went straight into Esbjerg's first team and played his first game in the opening round of the 2010-11 season, a 0–3 loss against Odense.[14] He scored his first goal for the club on 28 August 2010 against Silkeborg, in a 2–1 win.[15] He went on to play 24 of Esbjerg's 33 games in the league,[9] when the team disappointingly finished at the foot of the table and was relegated to the 1st Division.[16]

Esbjerg made a quick return to the Danish top tier. With six rounds left of the 2011–12 Danish 1st Division, they were crowned champions and had already won their promotion.[17] Arnór played 19 games for his side throughout the season, being used as a rotation player, scoring 5 goals.[9]

Arnór started his first game of the 2012–13 season in the third round against SønderjyskE, where he scored in 1–3 loss.[18] In the same game, Arnór attracted a knee injury that kept him sidelined during the fall of 2012. He made his come back on 8 November in a Danish Cup fixture against Aalborg, 0–0 after full-time and 4–2 on penalties, where Arnór slotted home his kick from the spot.[19] After a tough winter with limited playing time, Arnór broke into the starting eleven during the end of the campaign, starting in Esbjerg's last 7 games of the season, in which he scored 5 goals.[20] On 9 May 2013, Esbjerg won the Danish Cup following a 1–0 victory against Randers in the final. Arnór was picked in the starting eleven and was subbed off during extra time.[21] During the summer of 2013, he parted ways with Esbjerg at the end of his contract, on mutual consent.[22]

Helsingborgs IF and loan spell at Torpedo Moscow

In July 2013, Arnór moved to Helsingborgs IF in Sweden on a three and a half-year deal.[23] He was sought out as a replacement for Alejandro Bedoya, who had recently been sold to the French club Nantes.[24] At the time of his arrival, midway through the 2013 season, Helsingborg was situated 2nd in the Allsvenskan table.[25] Arnór made his debut for the side on 15 July, in a 3–0 win against Östers IF.[26] His first goal for the club came only weeks later, on 5 August, in a 1–2 away loss against Djurgårdens IF.[27] Eventually, Helsingborg dropped off from the top positions and finished 5th in Allsvenskan.[28] Arnór played 14 competitive games during the season, scoring 4 goals.[9]

During the 2014 Allsvenskan, Arnór played 27 out of 30 games in the league, scoring 3 goals.[9] In addition, he had a successful run in the Svenska Cupen, scoring 2 goals in 6 fixtures as Helsingborg made it all the way to the final.[29] On 18 May 2014, his side lost the final against Elfsborg with a score of 0–1.[30]

Ahead of the 2015 season, with two years left on his contract, Arnór was loaned to FC Torpedo Moscow in the Russian Football Premier League.[31] In his debut on 15 March 2015 against Zenit Saint Petersburg, he scored an added-time scissor kick to equalise for his team in a 1–1 draw.[32] In May 2015, the whole Torpedo squad went on strike due to their wages being unpaid since the start of the year. The team was then situated at the foot of the league.[33] In all, Arnór played 11 games during his six month-loan spell at Torpedo, scoring 2 goals.[9]

In the summer of 2015, Arnór returned to Helsingborg, only to be deemed surplus to requirements (due to his reported high salary) by then manager Henrik Larsson.[34] Due to injuries in the squad, however, Arnór returned to the starting eleven and scored a long-range strike in a 3–1 win against AIK on 19 July 2015.[35] He kept his place in the team throughout the rest of the season, scoring 5 goals in 14 matches and becoming Helsingborg's second best top scorer in the league.[36]

Hammarby IF

On 10 December 2015, he signed for the Stockholm-based club Hammarby IF on a three-year deal.[37] He reportedly moved on a free transfer, even though he had one year left on his contract with Helsingborg.[38] He made his debut for Hammarby on 26 February 2016, in a 0–0 draw against Syrianska FC in the Svenska Cupen.[39] A month later, Arnór scored a spectacular volley against fierce rivals AIK in the quarter final of the Svenska Cupen. Hammarby won the game on penalties after goalkeeper Ögmundur Kristinsson, a fellow countryman of Arnór, scored the decisive kick.[40] During his first league season at the club, Arnór quickly established himself as a regular starter, making 27 appearances and scoring 4 goals.[9]

At the beginning of 2017, under the reign of new manager Jakob Michelsen, Arnór Smárason was appointed as the new vice captain at Hammarby.[41] He remained a starter for the team during the season, scoring 5 goals in 29 league games.[9] However, in 2018 he was used sparingly by Hammarby and left the club on 27 July, signing with Lillestrøm SK in Eliteserien.[42]

International career

Arnór Smárason was first called up to the Iceland U21s in 2007, making 10 appearances while scoring twice during the next four years.[43]

He made his debut in the senior national team in a friendly against Wales on 21 May 2008, in a 0–1 loss. Arnór scored his first international goal for his country in a 2–0 friendly win against Liechtenstein on 11 February 2009.[43]

Iceland qualified for their first major tournament, the UEFA Euro in France, in 2016. Arnór was, however, not called up to the squad by manager Lars Lagerbäck.[44]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 11 December 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Heerenveen 2007–08[45] Eredivisie20001[lower-alpha 1]030
2008–09[45] Eredivisie215305[lower-alpha 2]0295
2009–10[45] Eredivisie2000—20
Total 2553060345
Esbjerg 2010–11[46] Superliga24321—264
2011–12[46] 1st Division18530—215
2012–13[46] Superliga18650—236
Total 6014101—7015
Helsingborg 2013[47] Allsvenskan15411—165
2014[47] Allsvenskan26362—325
2015[47] Allsvenskan14511—156
Total 551284—6316
Torpedo Moscow (loan) 2014–15[45] Russian Premier League11200—112
Hammarby 2016[47] Allsvenskan27451—325
2017[47] Allsvenskan29540—335
2018[47] Allsvenskan4000—40
Total 60991—6910
Lillestrøm 2018[48] Eliteserien13710—147
2019[48] Eliteserien23410—244
2020[48] 1. divisjon0000—00
Total 361120—3811
Career total 247533266028559
  1. Appearance in Eredivisie European play-offs
  2. Appearances in UEFA Cup

International goals
Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first.[49]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.11 February 2009La Manga Stadium, Cartagena, Spain Liechtenstein1–02–0Friendly
2.24 February 2012Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan Japan1–31–3Friendly
3.14 January 2018Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia Indonesia2–14–1Unofficial Friendly

Honours

Club

SC Heerenveen

Esbjerg fB

References
  1. Arnór Smárason at WorldFootball.net
  2. "PÅ FD – Arnor Smarason: "Drömmen? Att vinna SM-guld med Hammarby är nummer 1"" (in Swedish). Fotbolldirekt. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  3. "Arnór Smárason til úrvalsdeildarliðsins Heerenveen í Hollandi" (in Icelandic). Morgunblaðið. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  4. "Arnór með atvinnusamning hjá Heerenveen" (in Icelandic). Morgunblaðið. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  5. "Heerenveen semur á ný við Arnór" (in Icelandic). Morgunblaðið. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  6. "Vitória Setúbal vs. Heerenveen, 1 - 1". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  7. "Roda JC vs. Heerenveen, 2 - 2". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  8. "Arnór bikarmeistari með Heerenveen". Morgunblaðið. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  9. "Profile: Arnór Smárason". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  10. "Arnór – en lirare för de stora scenerna" (in Swedish). Helsingborgs Dagblad. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  11. "Arnór fær sig lausan í vor" (in Icelandic). Morgunblaðið. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  12. "EfB henter islandsk landsholdsspiller". Bold. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  13. "Arnór Smárason til Esbjerg (Staðfest)" (in Icelandic). Fótbolti.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  14. "OB vs. Esbjerg, 3-0". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  15. "Esbjerg vs. Silkeborg, 2-1". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  16. "Esbjerg og Randers rykker ned" (in Danish). Danmarks Radio. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  17. "Arnór Smárason upp um deild með Esbjerg". Fótbolti.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  18. "Esbjerg vs. SønderjyskE, 1-2". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  19. "Arnór Smárason skoraði úr víti fyrir Esbjerg". Fótbolti.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  20. "Esbjerg-kant regner med sommerexit" (in Danish). Bold. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  21. "Arnór Smárason danskur bikarmeistari" (in Icelandic). Fótbolti.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  22. "Arnór Smárason yfirgefur Esbjerg" (in Icelandic). Fótbolti.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  23. "Smarason klar for ny klub klokken 15". Tipsbladet. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  24. "Arnór Smárason kan ersätta Alejandro Bedoya i Helsingborg" (in Swedish). Fotbolltransfers. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  25. "Arnór Smárason í Helsingborg (Staðfest)" (in Icelandic). Fótbolti.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  26. "Helsingborg vs. Öster, 3-0". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  27. "Djurgården vs. Helsingborg, 2-0". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  28. "2013: Tabell och resultat - Allsvenskan, herrar" (in Swedish). SvFF. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  29. "Elfsborg lagði Helsingborg og tryggði sér bikarinn" (in Icelandic). Fótbolti. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  30. "Elfsborg cupmästare 2014" (in Swedish). SvFF. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  31. "Arnór Smárason til Torpedo Moskvu (Staðfest)" (in Icelandic). Fótbolti.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  32. "Torpedo Moscow fans branded a 'disgrace' after Hulk is racially abused". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  33. "Arnór og félagar neituðu að æfa" (in Icelandic). Fótbolti.net. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  34. "Stjärnan kan sänka lön för att få stanna". Aftonbladet. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  35. "Arnór Smárason målskytt i återkomsten" (in Swedish). Helsingborgs Dagblad. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  36. "Smarason på väg lämna" (in Swedish). Helsingborgs Dagblad. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  37. "Arnór Smárason till Hammarby". Hammarbyfotboll.se (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  38. "Bekräftat: Hammarby värvade Smarason gratis från HIF" (in Swedish). Fotbollskanalen. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  39. "Bajen utbuat: 'Det här var långt ifrån bra'" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  40. "Hammarby slog AIK efter straffläggning" (in Swedish). Expressen. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  41. "Den dystra sviten fortsätter" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  42. "Arnór Smárason till Lillestrøm" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  43. "Arnór Smárason" (in Icelandic). Knattspyrnusamband Íslands. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  44. "Birkir och Ögmundur till EM!" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  45. "Arnór Smárason: Club matches". worldfootball.net. Heim:spiel Medien. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  46. "All time player database". efbhistorik.dk. Retrieved 30 May 2019. Select player from 'Spiller' dropdown menu.
  47. "Arnór Smárason: Statistik" (in Swedish). Svenska Fotbollförbundet. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  48. "Arnór Smárason". altomfotball.no (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  49. "Arnór Smárason". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
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