Albert Guðmundsson (footballer, born 1923) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson | ||
| Date of birth | 5 October 1923 | ||
| Place of birth | Reykjavík, Iceland | ||
| Date of death | 7 April 1994 (aged 70) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1938–1944 | Valur | ||
| 1944 | Rangers | ||
| 1944–1946 | Arsenal | 2 | (0) |
| 1947–1948 | Nancy | ||
| 1948–1949 | AC 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) |
|
|||
Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson (born October 5, 1923 – died April 7, 1994) was a famous Icelandic footballer and later a well-known politician. He played football for big clubs like Rangers, Arsenal, Nancy, and A.C. Milan. After his exciting sports career, he became a member of the Icelandic parliament, called the Alþingi, for 15 years. He even served as a minister, helping to manage Iceland's money and industries.
Contents
Albert Guðmundsson: Iceland's Football Legend
His Early Days and First Steps in Football
Albert started playing football when he was young with a local club in Iceland called Valur. He was very talented! In 1944, he moved to Scotland to study business in Glasgow. While there, he began his international football journey with Rangers.
Playing for Big European Clubs
After a short time with Rangers, Albert moved to England. He joined Arsenal as an amateur player. He played in a few friendly matches and two official First Division games in October 1946. He was only the second non-British player to play for Arsenal!
Later, Albert played for other famous clubs in Europe. He joined Nancy in France, then AC Milan in Italy, and RC Paris back in France. He even played for Nice. He was one of the first Icelandic footballers to play professionally in other countries, which was a huge deal!
Playing for Iceland
Albert also proudly played for the Icelandic national team. He represented his country in 6 matches and scored 2 goals between 1946 and 1958.
From Sports to Politics
Becoming a Member of Parliament
After his amazing football career, Albert decided to enter politics. In 1974, he was elected to the Alþingi, which is the parliament of Iceland. He represented the capital city, Reykjavík.
Serving as a Minister
Albert continued to rise in politics. In 1983, he became the Minister of Finance of Iceland, meaning he was in charge of the country's money. Then, in 1985, he was appointed Minister of Industry, a role where he helped guide Iceland's businesses and factories. He held this position until 1987.
Leaving His Party
After some disagreements, Albert decided to leave his political party, the Independence Party. This happened just a few weeks before a general election. He then helped create a new political party called the Citizens' Party.
Albert Guðmundsson was a truly remarkable person who made a big impact both on the football field and in the political world of Iceland.
