Albert Guðmundsson

Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson (5 October 1923 – 7 April 1994)[1] was the first Icelandic professional football player and played for, amongst others, Rangers, Arsenal, FC 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 and Minister of Industry.

For a different Icelandic footballer, see Albert Guðmundsson (footballer, born 1958). For his great-grandson, also an Icelandic footballer, see Albert Guðmundsson (footballer, born 1997).
This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Albert.
Albert Guðmundsson
Personal information
Full name Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson
Date of birth (1923-10-05)5 October 1923
Place of birth Reykjavík, Iceland
Date of death 7 April 1994(1994-04-07) (aged 70)
Playing position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1938–1944 Valur
1944 Rangers
1944–1946 Arsenal 2 (0)
1947–1948 Nancy
1948–1949 Milan 14 (2)
1949–1952 RC Paris 69 (31)
1952–1952 Nice 14 (0)
1953–1955 Valur
1956–1958 ÍBH Hafnarfjörður
National team
1946–1958 Iceland 6 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Sporting career

Albert 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

In 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. In 1985, he was appointed Minister of Industry, a position he held until 1987, when a tax scandal forced his resignation.[6]

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.[7]

References
  1. "On This Day - April 7 | Daily Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  2. "Albert Gudmundsson". Arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  3. "Iceland honours football pioneer Gudmundsson". UEFA.com. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  4. Fottballers who became Politicians
  5. "Leaving football behind". FIFA.com. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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