Guðmundur "Gunni" Torfason (born 13 December 1961, in Vestmannaeyjar) is an Icelandic former footballer and manager.

Guðmundur Torfason
Personal information
Full name Guðmundur Halldór Torfason
Date of birth (1961-12-13) 13 December 1961 (age 62)
Place of birth Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
Height 6 ft 01 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) striker
Youth career
ÍBV
Ármann
Fram
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1986 Fram 34 (27)
1986–1987 Beveren 7 (0)
1987–1988 Winterslag 24 (6)
1988 Racing Genk 12 (2)
1988–1989 Rapid Vienna 7 (1)
1989–1992 St Mirren 77 (26)
1992–1994 St Johnstone 38 (9)
1994–1995 Doncaster Rovers 4 (0)
1995 Fylkir 17 (4)
1996 Grindavík 12 (2)
International career
1978 Iceland U-17 1 (0)
1985–1991 Iceland 26 (4)
Managerial career
1996–1998 Grindavík
2000 Fram
2001–2002 ÍR
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Club

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A striker, he became top goalscorer in the Icelandic league in 1986 with 19 goals when he was also named the Player of the Year.[1][2] He moved to continental Europe with Belgian sides Beveren and Winterslag who later merged with Waterschei to become Racing Genk. Guðmundur became the first ever goalscorer of the new club when he scored against KV Mechelen.[3] He then had a spell with Austrians Rapid Vienna, before joining St Mirren in 1989.[4] He became club top scorer three seasons in a row.[5] In 1992 Guðmundur left St Mirren for St Johnstone.[6] In 1995, he moved for a brief spell at Doncaster Rovers.[7] He returned to Iceland to play for second division Fylkir and eventually ended his career after spending the 1996 season with Grindavík.

International

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Guðmundur made his debut for Iceland in July 1985 friendly match against the Faroe Islands and has earned a total of 26 caps, scoring 4 goals.[8] He represented his country in 5 FIFA World Cup qualification matches[9] and played his last international match for Iceland in a November 1991 European Championship qualifying match against France.

International goals

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Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 26 May 1987 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland   Netherlands 1–1 2–2 1988 Olympic Games qualification
2 26 May 1987 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland   Netherlands 1–1 2–2 1988 Olympic Games qualification
3 2 September 1987 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland   East Germany 1–0 2–0 1988 Olympic Games qualification
4 12 October 1988 İnönü Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey   Turkey 1–0 1–1 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification

[10]

Managerial career

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Guðmundur was a player-coach for Fylkir during the 1995 season.[11] In November 1995, he was hired as the coach of Grindavík.[12] He coached Fram in 2000.[13]

On 30 October 2011 Guðmundur returned to Scottish football after being appointed as Rangers' Icelandic scout.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Þetta er hátindur ferilsins og ólýsanlegur heiður". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 16 September 1986. p. B7. Retrieved 28 June 2022 – via Tímarit.is.  
  2. ^ "Mikill heiður að hljóta þessa viðurkenningu". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 27 September 1986. p. 47. Retrieved 28 June 2022 – via Tímarit.is.  
  3. ^ Gele ditjes, blauwe datjes - Free Thiel Vrienden (in Dutch)
  4. ^ "Langbestu kaupin í skoska boltanum". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 15 January 1990. pp. 17, 24. Retrieved 28 June 2022 – via Tímarit.is.  
  5. ^ Herald Scotland interview - 15 December 2012
  6. ^ "Torfason skills could swing things St Johnstone's way". Dundee Courier. 19 August 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 28 June 2022 – via The British Newspaper Archive.  
  7. ^ "Doncaster Rovers Player Profile". Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  8. ^ Landsleikir (National team career) - KSI (Islandic FA)
  9. ^ Guðmundur TorfasonFIFA competition record (archived)
  10. ^ MATCHES → all internationals of Guðmundur Torfason - EU Football
  11. ^ Gylfi Kristjánsson (14 June 1995). "Baráttan skilaði KA-mönnum sigri". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). p. 14. Retrieved 28 June 2022 – via Tímarit.is.  
  12. ^ Ægir Már Kárason (6 November 1995). "Guðmundur þjálfari Grindvíkinga". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). p. 24. Retrieved 28 June 2022 – via Tímarit.is.  
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ Gunni joins Gers - Football.co.uk
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