Guðlaugur Victor Pálsson (born 30 April 1991) is an Icelandic professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Belgian Pro League club Eupen. He has previously played for Liverpool, Dagenham & Redbridge, Hibernian, New York Red Bulls, NEC, Helsingborgs IF, Esbjerg fB, Zürich, Darmstadt 98 and Schalke 04.
 Guðlaugur playing for Hibernian in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Guðlaugur Victor Pálsson | ||
| Date of birth | 30 April 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Reykjavík, Iceland | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Eupen | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2003 | Fjölnir | ||
| 2004–2007 | Fylkir | ||
| 2007–2009 | AGF | ||
| 2009–2010 | Liverpool | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2011 | Liverpool | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Hibernian | 31 | (1) |
| 2012 | New York Red Bulls | 16 | (0) |
| 2012 | → NEC (loan) | 12 | (2) |
| 2013–2014 | NEC | 38 | (2) |
| 2014–2015 | Helsingborgs IF | 33 | (3) |
| 2015–2017 | Esbjerg fB | 35 | (3) |
| 2017–2019 | FC Zürich | 47 | (1) |
| 2019–2021 | Darmstadt 98 | 67 | (6) |
| 2021–2022 | Schalke 04 | 28 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | D.C. United | 28 | (0) |
| 2023– | Eupen | 35 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007 | Iceland U17 | 7 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Iceland U19 | 6 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | Iceland U21 | 11 | (0) |
| 2014– | Iceland | 44 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 March 2024 | |||
Club career
Guðlaugur was born in Reykjavík to an Icelandic mother and a Portuguese father. His paternal grandfather was a native of Mozambique. He played for Fjölnir but he decided to move to the neighbouring club Fylkir to get a chance to play on higher level. He then moved to Danish side AGF Aarhus in 2007.
Guðlaugur joined Premier League team Liverpool in 2009. He played for Liverpool reserves and served as team captain but failed to make the breakthrough into the first-team.[2] He went on loan to Dagenham & Redbridge in November 2010,[3][4] making his debut for the Daggers in the 1st round of the FA Cup in a 1–1 draw with Leyton Orient.[5] He made three appearances for the club, including an FA Cup tie, before returning to Liverpool.
On 28 January 2011, Guðlaugur signed an 18-month contract with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian.[2][6] Guðlaugur was given squad number 91, since 1991 was his birth-year. He made his debut in a 3–0 defeat against Dundee United two days later.[7] Guðlaugur scored his first goal for the club with a penalty in a 2–1 win against Kilmarnock on 12 February.[8] Guðlaugur played regularly under the management of Colin Calderwood, but featured less regularly after Calderwood was replaced by Pat Fenlon.[9] On 10 January 2012, Hibernian announced that Victor had left the club with immediate effect after an agreement was reached to cancel his contract.[9][10]
Sky Sports reported on 24 January 2012 that Guðlaugur was close to agreeing to terms with Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls.[11] The signing was confirmed by New York on 10 February 2012.[12] Guðlagur did not command a regular starting place in the New York starting lineup during the 2012 season.[13]
In August 2012, the club loaned Guðlaugur to Eredivisie club NEC until May 2013, including an option for permanent signing.[14] On 31 December 2012, he was signed by NEC permanently on a free transfer. He signed a contract until the summer of 2016.[15]
After the relegation of NEC, Guðlaugur left the club and signed a contract in August 2014 with Swedish side Helsingborgs IF.[16] He made his league debut for the club on 10 August 2014 in a 0–0 home draw with Norrköping. He was subbed on for Arnór Smárason in the 75th minute.[17]
Guðlaugur signed a four-year contract with Danish side Esbjerg fB on 31 August 2015.[18] He made his league debut for the club on 14 September 2015 in a 4–2 home victory over Odense BK. He scored his first goal for the club in the 30th minute of this match.[19]
In July 2017 he signed a three-year contract with Swiss side FC Zürich.[20] He made his league debut for Zürich in a 2–1 home victory over Thun on 30 July 2017. He was subbed on for Sangoné Sarr in the 85th minute.[21] He was captain of the 2017–18 Swiss Cup winning team.
On 9 January 2019, Guðlaugur Victor signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with 2. Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98.[22][23]
On 25 May 2021, he agreed to join FC Schalke 04, newly relegated from Bundesliga, for the 2021–22 season, signing a two-year contract.[24]
On 27 July 2022, he joined Major League Soccer club D.C. United on a contract until the end of 2024 with an option for a further year.[25]
On 28 July 2023, Guðlaugur Victor returned to Europe when he joined Belgian Pro League club Eupen on a three-year deal.[26]
International career
Guðlaugur has represented Iceland at Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, and full international levels. He helped Iceland qualify to the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. He scored his first goal for the senior team in a 4–1 win against Liechtenstein on 31 March 2021.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Liverpool | 2010–11 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2010–11 | League One | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Hibernian | 2010–11 | Scottish Premiership | 16 | 1 | — | — | — | 16 | 1 | |||
| 2011–12 | Scottish Premiership | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[a] | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| Total | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 34 | 1 | |||
| New York Red Bulls | 2012 | Major League Soccer | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| NEC Nijmegen | 2012–13 | Eredivisie | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14 | Eredivisie | 23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 27 | 2 | ||
| Total | 50 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 55 | 4 | |||
| Helsingborgs IF | 2014 | Allsvenskan | 12 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 16 | 3 | ||
| 2015 | Allsvenskan | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 1 | |||
| Total | 33 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 38 | 4 | ||||
| Esbjerg fB | 2015–16 | Danish Superliga | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17 | Danish Superliga | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 0 | 35 | 2 | ||
| Total | 35 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 41 | 3 | |||
| FC Zürich | 2017–18 | Swiss Super League | 33 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 39 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19 | Swiss Super League | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| Total | 47 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | 59 | 3 | |||
| Darmstadt 98 | 2018–19 | 2. Bundesliga | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20 | 2. Bundesliga | 31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 3 | |||
| 2020–21 | 2. Bundesliga | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 3 | |||
| Total | 67 | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 71 | 6 | ||||
| Schalke 04 | 2021–22 | 2. Bundesliga | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 0 | ||
| D.C. United | 2022 | Major League Soccer | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | Major League Soccer | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | |||
| Total | 28 | 0 | — | — | — | 28 | 0 | |||||
| Eupen | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 372 | 20 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 412 | 23 | ||
- ^ Appearances in Scottish League Cup
- ^ Appearances in Eredivisie play-offs
- ^ Appearances in Danish Superliga relegation play-offs
International
- As of match played on 26 March 2024.[28]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland | 2014 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 44 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Guðlaugur Victor goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 March 2021 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein | 26 |  Liechtenstein |
3–0 | 4–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
FC Zürich
Schalke 04
References
- ^ "Victor Pálsson". D.C. United. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Midfielder completes transfer". Liverpool F.C. official website. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ "Defender seals loan switch". Liverpoolfc.tv. 4 November 2010.
- ^ "Dagenham and Redbridge sign Victor Palsson on loan". BBC Sport. 4 November 2010.
- ^ "Dag & Red 1 - 1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 6 November 2010.
- ^ "Palsson Deal Completed". hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian F.C. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
- ^ "Dundee Utd 3 - 0 Hibernian". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Hibernian 2 - 1 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ a b Schweitzer-Thompson, Alex (12 January 2012). "Victor Palsson has fond Hibs memories as he exits". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
- ^ "Palsson Leaves Club". hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian F.C. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ "Palsson set for MLS move". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
- ^ "Red Bulls Sign Midfielder Victor Palsson". newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
- ^ Panizo, Franco (27 August 2012). "Sources: RBNY close to loaning Palsson to Netherlands". www.mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
- ^ "Red Bulls Loan Midfielder Victor Palsson to Dutch Club N.E.C. Nijmegen". www.newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
- ^ "NEC trekt huurling Pálsson transfervrij aan". www.voetbalprimeur.nl. Voetbalprimeur. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
- ^ "Sport | Het laatste nieuws uit Nederland leest u op Telegraaf.nl".
- ^ "Helsingborgs vs. Norrkoping – 10 August 2014 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ "Esbjerg skriver fire år med Victor Palsson".
- ^ "Esbjerg vs. Odense – 14 September 2015 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ "Der FC Zürich verpflichtet Victor Pálsson". fcz.ch. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ "Zurich vs. Thun – 30 July 2017 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ "Lilien verpflichten Nationalspieler Pálsson". sv98.de. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
- ^ "Palsson: Der erste Isländer in Darmstadt". kicker Online (in German). 9 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Victor Pálsson joins S04, Florian Flick signs a pro deal". Schalke 04. 25 May 2021.
- ^ "D.C. United Sign Icelandic National Team Midfielder Victor Pálsson from German Bundesliga Club FC Schalke 04". D.C. United. 27 July 2022.
- ^ "La KAS Eupen engage l'international islandais Victor Pálsson" [KAS Eupen sign Icelandic international Victor Pálsson]. www.as-eupen.be/fr (in French). 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ a b Victor Pálsson at Soccerway
- ^ a b Victor Pálsson at WorldFootball.net
External links
- Victor Pálsson at Soccerbase
- Voetbal International profile (in Dutch)
- Victor Pálsson at the Football Association of Iceland (in Icelandic)