Looking Back: The Gudjohnsen Legacy – An Icelandic Football Family Tale

When you think of Icelandic football, the name ‘Gudjohnsen’ is likely the first one that pops into your head. This association primarily stems from Eidur Gudjohnsen, often revered as the greatest footballer in Iceland’s history. However, it’s not only Eidur who has contributed to the fame of this family name.

Father and Son on the Same National Team

Eidur’s father, Arnor, also proudly represented the Icelandic national team. In a remarkable moment during an international match against Estonia, Arnor and Eidur Gudjohnsen shared the pitch, marking a historic family milestone.

This encounter took place 29 years ago, on 24 April 1996, making them the first father-son duo to achieve this feat.

The match, which was a friendly held in Tallinn, witnessed Eidur making his debut for Iceland at just 17 years of age, famously stepping onto the field to replace his father Arnor, who was 34 at the time. Iceland triumphed with a score of 3-2.

However, the two never played together on the pitch simultaneously. They were scheduled to play the following international game alongside each other, but fate intervened when Eidur suffered an ankle injury just before the match.

Arnor enjoyed a distinguished career, spending significant time in Belgium with clubs like Lokeren and Anderlecht, as well as stints in France with Bordeaux and in Sweden with Hacken and Orebro. He also made 73 appearances for the Icelandic national team, netting 14 goals along the way.

The Son Who Surpassed His Father

Both Arnor and Eidur Gudjohnsen were strikers, with Eidur also adept at playing as a winger. Notably, Eidur’s career outshone that of his father’s.

Many will remember Eidur Gudjohnsen donning Chelsea’s blue jersey, where he celebrated considerable success, including two Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006. His time at Barcelona was equally impressive, as he secured the Champions League in 2009, along with four additional trophies that year, namely La Liga, Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup.

In England, he also represented Bolton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City, and Fulham. His journey began as a teenager when he moved to PSV Eindhoven, and he has played for various clubs across multiple countries during his extensive career.

His experiences include playing in his native Iceland, followed by stints in France (Monaco), Greece (AEK Athens), Belgium (Cercle Brugge, Club Brugge), Norway (Molde), and eventually concluding his career in China and India. His club career spanned an impressive 23 years.

On the international stage, Eidur made 88 appearances for Iceland between 1996 and 2016, scoring 26 goals.

The Next Generation of Gudjohnsens

The Gudjohnsen football legacy continues with Eidur’s three sons, who are all making their mark in the professional game. Inheriting the talent of both their father and grandfather, they all occupy forward positions.

Eidur’s oldest son, Sveinn Aron Gudjohnsen (born in 1998), is currently with Norwegian club Sarpsborg 08 in the Eliteserien (since 2024). He has also played in Italy’s Serie B (Spezia), in Denmark (Odense), in Sweden (Elfsborg), and in both the 2nd and 3rd Bundesliga in Germany (Hansa Rostock). Sveinn has represented Iceland at youth levels and has earned 20 caps for the senior national team, scoring two goals.

The middle son, Andri Lucas Gudjohnsen (born in 2002), plays for Gent in Belgium (since 2024). His youth career included time in the academies of both Barcelona and Real Madrid, where he made his debut with the Real Madrid reserve team. Andri has also played in Sweden (IFK Norrköping) and Denmark (Lyngby). He has already made 32 appearances for Iceland, finding the net eight times.

Brothers Sveinn and Andri had the unique opportunity to share the national team experience with their father when Eidur was an assistant coach.

The youngest brother, Daniel Tristan Gudjohnsen (born in 2006), similarly trained in the academies of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Since 2023, he has been playing for the Swedish club Malmö, where he is beginning to gain senior football experience. At the youth level, he has only represented Iceland so far.