davieG Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 osted: Wed 16 Sep 2015 Author: Leicester City image: http://www.lcfc.com/cms_images/gudjonsson-4-3280-2692798_478x359.jpg Joey GudjonssonImage by: Press Association Over the years, more than 100 Leicester City players have represented 31 different nations at full international level, amassing nearly 800 caps between them, and scoring over 50 international goals. This season, in a new series, Club Historian John Hutchinson looks at these players and at the footballing background of the countries they played for. The Player: Joey Guðjónsson - Aston Villa, Leicester City and Iceland image: http://www.lcfc.com/cms_images/gudjonsson-480-lcfc280-2692801.jpg Icelandic midfielder Joey Guðjónsson began his career with IA Akranes, currently one of the 12 sides in the Icelandic Premier League, before playing in Belgium, Holland and Spain. In January 2003 he was loaned by Real Betis to Aston Villa for whom he played 11 Premier League games. Leicester City signed Joey in July 2004, after he had completed a season-long loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers. In the next two Championship seasons, he made 89 appearances for the Foxes scoring 13 goals. In his second season, he won the Club’s awards for Player of the Year and (as a result of his shot from the halfway line against Hull City) Goal of the Season. He then left Leicester for a short and unsuccessful spell at AZ Alkmaar, and when Leicester City could not afford to buy him back, he spent spells at Burnley and Huddersfield Town before returning to Iceland in 2012 to play, successively, for Icelandic Premier League sides IA Akranes, Fram Reykyavik and (currently) Fylkir. Joey’s father Gudjon Thordarson managed Stoke City, Barnsley, Notts County, Crewe Alexandra and Iceland. His brother Thordor played for Derby County, Preston North End and Stoke City. His brother Bjarni played for Stoke City, Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle. His half-brother, Björn Sigurðarson, played for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Whilst at Leicester he won six of his 34 Iceland caps. The Country: Iceland image: http://www.lcfc.com/cms_images/gudjonsson-480-iceland280-2692800.jpg With its population of only 329,000, Iceland is one of world football’s lesser powers. Iceland’s first official international match was against Denmark in 1946. Their most frequent international opponents have been Norway, the Faroe Islands and Denmark. Between 1974 and 1977, and again between 1984 and 1985, Iceland’s manager was ex-Leicester City centre-half Tony Knapp who played nearly 100 games for the City between 1956 and 1961. Iceland entered the World Cup in 1958, and on every occasion since 1974, but have never qualified for the finals. They did, however, reach the play-offs for 2014 World Cup finals but lost to Croatia. Iceland first entered the European Championships in 1964 and then every tournament since 1976. Until this week, they have never qualified for the finals, although they did beat Spain and Russia in the qualifying rounds for 1992 and 2000. When Iceland beat Italy in a friendly in 2004, the game was watched by a record 20,204 fans – a 16th of Iceland’s population. Currently, Iceland is enjoying the most successful period in its football history. Last week they secured their place at a major tournament for the first time ever by qualifying, with two games to spare, for the 2016 UEFA Euro finals, a huge achievement for such a small nation. Famous Icelandic internationals who have played in the Premier League include Goudni Bergsson, Hermann Hreidarsson, Eidur Gujohnsen, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Heidar Helguson, and Gylfi Sigursson, as well as Leicester City’s Arnar Gunnlaugsson. Read more at http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/global-foxes-joey-gudjonsson-2692777.aspx#G0kMVuf8LZ7BqrGY.99
Father Ted Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Absolutely incredible that a country of that size could qualify for a major championships. It gets me thinking, Leicester has a similar sized population, what would be the best XI Leicester could put out currently if it was a country?
Manwell Pablo Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Always remember explaining the way Icelandic names work to someone on here and them going "what, so Joey's kids surnames will be Joeyson?!" lol That aside, a reasomable player in a fcking terrible side that what he was during his time here. Unsuprised he struggled at AZ
ramboacdc Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 didn't he score from his own half once or am i going mad?
filbertstreet Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 didn't he score from his own half once or am i going mad? yes, that was glorious
General Smuts Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Absolutely incredible that a country of that size could qualify for a major championships. It gets me thinking, Leicester has a similar sized population, what would be the best XI Leicester could put out currently if it was a country? Always give that a bash on Football Manager signing midlands born players only. You end up with Scott Carson or Chris Kirkland in goal and Luke Varney up front. Joe Mattock at left back. Expand that to Nottingham as well and you'd be able to pick Morgan, Simon Francis, Huddlestone, Will Hoskins, Leon Best, David McGoldrick, Lewis McGugan and Scott Loach. So you'd have a struggling Championship side at best.
MPH Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Always give that a bash on Football Manager signing midlands born players only. You end up with Scott Carson or Chris Kirkland in goal and Luke Varney up front. Joe Mattock at left back. Expand that to Nottingham as well and you'd be able to pick Morgan, Simon Francis, Huddlestone, Will Hoskins, Leon Best, David McGoldrick, Lewis McGugan and Scott Loach. So you'd have a struggling Championship side at best. I tried to pick a team of just Gingers once. Got sacked at the end of the season. Probably because i don't have ginger hair.
Father Ted Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Always give that a bash on Football Manager signing midlands born players only. You end up with Scott Carson or Chris Kirkland in goal and Luke Varney up front. Joe Mattock at left back. Expand that to Nottingham as well and you'd be able to pick Morgan, Simon Francis, Huddlestone, Will Hoskins, Leon Best, David McGoldrick, Lewis McGugan and Scott Loach. So you'd have a struggling Championship side at best. From Leicester, you could throw in Stearman at RB, Tomlin at CAM, Che Adams out wide as well. I'm struggling after that though!
Manwell Pablo Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 From Leicester, you could throw in Stearman at RB, Tomlin at CAM, Che Adams out wide as well. I'm struggling after that though! Least let us not forget the great Matt Robinson
The Blur Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 yes, that was glorious I missed most of that goal because I was too busy looking at Hume who limped off and hoping that he is not injured. I also dropped my phone during celebrations too so it is even more of a memorable goal for me. I think we won that game too- 3-1 or 3-2?
Manwell Pablo Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Least let us not forget the great Matt Robinson Oh and Hesky is still playing in the Championship for Bolton of course.
MPH Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 From Leicester, you could throw in Stearman at RB, Tomlin at CAM, Che Adams out wide as well. I'm struggling after that though! Heskey is still a registered professional...
Father Ted Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Least let us not forget the great Matt Robinson And T99FTY And totally forgot Heskey is still knocking about
Bayfox Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 From Leicester, you could throw in Stearman at RB, Tomlin at CAM, Che Adams out wide as well. I'm struggling after that though! What's the criteria cuz I'm sure stearman was born in Birmingham but grew up in Leicester from about 5.
Ric Flair Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Paul Anderson was born in Leicester as well I think, very poor selection we've got though really.
Sampson Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 You'd probably be going down to non-league to get some of your players in a Leicester only side. No one anywhere near the quality of Gylfi Sigurdsson or Kolbein Sigthorsson either.
Jordan Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 I'll always know him as "Joey from the halfway line."
General Smuts Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 What's the criteria cuz I'm sure stearman was born in Birmingham but grew up in Leicester from about 5. Louis Dodds would fall into this criteria as well. Born in Sheffield.
HesNotGudjonsonn2 Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Finally a topic about the player my name has always been based. Good times!
Jam Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 yes, that was glorious https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL-9_Srmmfo I'm sure he scored another beauty from outside the box later in the game aswell. IIRC
Sampson Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 He wasn't really that good bar those 2 goals against Hull though. He was a lower-half Championship player playing in team largely of Championship relegation fodder. Paul Gallagher was a better player for example, but he got slaughtered because he was playing in a promotion chasing team.
Donut Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Very average player. Amazing how far weve come from these days.
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