Eidur Gudjohnsen, of course, is the answer to a well-known test question. Who was the first player to come on as a substitute for his own father in an international soccer match? What might be even more astonishing is that it could happen again in a few years: Eidur’s son was one of the star players in the annual televised high school tournament in the summer of 2008, captaining the Barcelona team.
Born in Reykjavik in 1978, Eidur Gudjohnsen was clear he was always going to be a footballer and made his Icelandic League debut when he was just 16 years old. After just 17 games for his Valur club, the player had done enough to earn a transfer to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven. However, during his 2 seasons in the Netherlands, Eidur suffered numerous injuries and was only able to complete 13 games before being transferred back to Iceland, to KR Reykjavik.
However, he had hardly signed before he set out on his travels again, this time to England and, after a brief trial, to Bolton Wanderers. It was his success here, primarily as an active and determined center forward, that motivated him to move to Chelsea, where he stayed for 6 seasons. During this spell at Stamford Bridge, Gudjohnsen made a total of 268 first team appearances, scoring 78 goals.
Although originally a centre-forward, Eidur always displayed what pundits insisted on calling “a surprisingly good touch for a big man”. Technically gifted, with very quick feet and, most importantly, a nimble brain, Chelsea fans raved about the great Icelander due to his remarkable versatility. Capable of playing up front, in midfield or even on the wings, Eidur was part of the developing Chelsea team that won the league in 2005 and 2006 and the Carling Cup in 2005.
Many people were surprised when Eidur signed for Barcelona in the summer of 2006, especially when he seemed to be seen as a direct replacement for fan favorite Henrik Larsen. Initially playing as a striker, he certainly struggled to win over the Barça fans and, in his first season, a return of just 5 goals in 25 league appearances raised questions about the player’s suitability for La Liga.
However, one thing that Eidur Gudjohnsen has always been about is his determination and that played a big part in his ability to turn the tough situation around. By being used more in midfield, the player showed his adaptability and consequently, in both 2006/07 and 2007/08, he became an important member of the squad. Able to play in a variety of positions and always ready to score a goal, Eidur Gudjohnsen is now an established Barcelona player and one the fans now fully trust.
Iceland’s record goalscorer, and with more than 50 caps already, and captain of the national team, Gudjohnsen has been Iceland’s Player of the Year three times. He’s a good bet he’ll try to keep his spot on the national team until he can play on the same team as his son. That would be a good test question.
