Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson (5 October 1923 – 7 April 1994)[1] was an Icelandic professional footballer who played for, amongst others, Rangers, Arsenal, Nancy and A.C. Milan.[2] After retiring from his sporting career, he became a politician and was a member of Alþingi for 15 years, serving as Minister of Finance of Iceland and Minister of Industry.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson | ||
| Date of birth | 5 October 1923 | ||
| Place of birth | Reykjavík, Iceland | ||
| Date of death | 7 April 1994 (aged 70) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1938–1944 | Valur | ||
| 1944 | Rangers | ||
| 1944–1946 | Arsenal | 2 | (0) |
| 1947–1948 | Nancy | ||
| 1948–1949 | AC Milan | 14 | (2) |
| 1949–1952 | RC Paris | 69 | (31) |
| 1952–1952 | Nice | 14 | (0) |
| 1953–1955 | Valur | ||
| 1956–1958 | ÍBH Hafnarfjörður | ||
| International career | |||
| 1946–1958 | Iceland | 6 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Sporting career
editAlbert played football from a young age with local club Valur. In 1944, he made his way to Scotland to study business at Skerry's College, Glasgow. He began his foreign footballing career with Rangers.[3] After a short stint there, he went to England where he played for Arsenal as an amateur; he played several friendly matches and two First Division matches in October 1946. He was only Arsenal's second foreign player.[4]
Political career
editIn 1974, he was elected to the Alþingi (the Icelandic parliament), representing Reykjavík. He ran for president in 1980 election but only finished third and lost to Vigdís Finnbogadóttir.[5] In 1983, he became Minister of Finance of Iceland.[6] In 1985, he was appointed Minister of Industry, a position he held until 1987, when a tax scandal forced his resignation.[7]
Feeling that the Independence Party's leadership had failed to support him, he left the party soon after his resignation and only a few weeks before a general election.[8] He then immediately founded the Citizens' Party and sat in parliament for them for two years before being appointed ambassador to France.[9]
Personal life
editAlbert's son is former international striker and former politician Ingi Björn Albertsson, who held the record for most goals in the Icelandic top division from 1987 until 2012. Ingi's daughter and Albert's granddaughter is former international footballer Kristbjörg Ingadóttir.[10] Kristbjörg's son, and Albert's great-grandson, is footballer Albert Guðmundsson.[11] All four generations have scored for the Icelandic national team.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Albert Guðmundsson". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Albert Gudmundsson". Arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Iceland honours football pioneer Gudmundsson". UEFA.com. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "From 6 Yard Box To Soap Box: Footballers Who Became Politicians". 25 October 2012.
- ^ "Leaving football behind". FIFA.com. 10 June 2016. Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Fyrri ráðherrar | Fjármálaráðuneytið". 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010.
- ^ Háskólabókasafn, Landsbókasafn Íslands-. "Tímarit.is". timarit.is.
- ^ Háskólabókasafn, Landsbókasafn Íslands-. "Tímarit.is". timarit.is.
- ^ Háskólabókasafn, Landsbókasafn Íslands-. "Tímarit.is". timarit.is.
- ^ "Fótbolti.net". Fotbolti.net. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ "Albert Guðmundsson talar um afa sinn á heimasíðu Heerenveen - Vísir". Visir.is. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ "Skorað meira en langafi, afi og pabbi". RÚV. 14 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
External links
edit- Alþingi – Biography of ministers: Albert Guðmundsson (in Icelandic)