Birkir Már Sævarsson facts for kids
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Sævarsson with Iceland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Birkir Már Sævarsson | ||
| Date of birth | 11 November 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Reykjavík, Iceland | ||
| Height | 1.86 m | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003–2008 | Valur | 67 | (2) |
| 2008–2014 | Brann | 168 | (15) |
| 2015–2017 | Hammarby | 84 | (3) |
| 2018–2024 | Valur | 157 | (16) |
| Total | 476 | (36) | |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2006 | Iceland U21 | 3 | (0) |
| 2007–2021 | Iceland | 103 | (3) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2019 | KH (assistant) | ||
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Birkir Már Sævarsson (born 11 November 1984) is a famous Icelandic former football player. He was a great defender who played for many clubs and his national team. He was known for his speed and energy on the field.
Contents
Birkir's Football Journey
Birkir Már Sævarsson had a long and exciting career in football. He played for teams in Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. He also represented his home country, Iceland, in big international tournaments.
Starting at Valur
Birkir began his professional football journey with his local team, Valur, in Iceland. He made his first senior appearance in 2003. He played 66 league games for Valur and scored two goals. In 2007, he helped Valur win the top Icelandic league title, the 2007 Úrvalsdeild.
Playing in Norway with Brann
In 2008, when he was 23, Birkir moved to Norway to join SK Brann. This team played in Norway's top league, the Tippeligaen. Birkir was known as a very flexible defender. He could play on both the right and left sides of the field. People often praised him for his amazing stamina, speed, and how he helped with attacks from his defensive position. He even scored goals!
In 2011, Birkir and Brann reached the final of the Norwegian Cup. However, they lost the game 1–2. For two full seasons, 2012 and 2013, Birkir played every single minute of every game as a right-back. He signed a new contract with Brann in 2013.
Later, a new coach changed things, and Birkir didn't play as much. In 2014, Brann faced a tough season and was moved down to a lower league. This meant Birkir's time with Brann ended after 6.5 years. He then moved to a Swedish team.
Time in Sweden with Hammarby
In December 2014, Birkir joined Hammarby IF, a top team in Sweden. He started playing as a central defender, but soon moved back to his usual position on the right side. Fans loved his strong performances and voted him the "newcomer of the year" in 2015. He played 28 league games that season and scored two goals.
Birkir continued to be a very important player for Hammarby in 2016 and 2017. He helped the team with five assists in 2017. At the end of 2017, Birkir decided to look for a new club. He wanted to be ready for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with Iceland.
Back to Valur and Retirement
Before the 2018 season, Birkir returned to his first professional club, Valur, in Iceland. He signed a three-year contract. He even got to play alongside his younger brother, Aron Elí Sævarsson, on the team! After the 2024 season ended, Birkir decided to retire from playing football.
Playing for Iceland
Birkir Már Sævarsson was a key player for the Iceland national team. He made his first appearance for Iceland on 2 August 2007. It was a 1–1 draw against Liechtenstein. Nine years later, on 6 June 2016, he scored his first goal for Iceland against the same team! He hit a great shot from far away, and Iceland won 4–0 in a friendly game.
UEFA Euro 2016
At age 31, Birkir played in his first major tournament, the UEFA Euro 2016 in France. In one game against Hungary, he accidentally scored an own goal, which led to a 1–1 draw.
However, Birkir was highly praised for his amazing defending in other games. He managed to keep superstar players like Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal and Raheem Sterling from England from scoring. Iceland famously beat England 2–1 in the round of 16! Birkir played every minute for Iceland during the tournament. His team made it all the way to the quarter-finals, where they lost 5–2 to France.
2018 FIFA World Cup
In May 2018, Birkir was chosen to be part of Iceland's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. This was a huge achievement for him and his country.
Birkir played his final game for the national team on 14 November 2021, against North Macedonia. He played over 100 games for his country, which is a fantastic achievement!
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Birkir also started coaching. On 15 April 2019, he became an assistant coach for a club called Knattspyrnufélagið Hlíðarendi.
Career Highlights
Birkir Már Sævarsson had a very successful career. He played a total of 476 club games and scored 36 goals. For his national team, Iceland, he played 103 games and scored 3 goals. He was a strong and reliable defender throughout his career.
International Goals
Here are the goals Birkir scored for Iceland:
- 6 June 2016: Against Liechtenstein (Friendly game)
- 14 October 2020: Against Belgium (UEFA Nations League)
- 31 March 2021: Against Liechtenstein (FIFA World Cup qualification)
Awards and Trophies
Birkir won several titles during his time as a player:
Valur
- Icelandic League: 2007
- Icelandic Cup: 2005
- League Cup: 2008
Images for kids
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Sævarsson with Iceland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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Sævarsson playing for Iceland against Austria in May 2014
See also
In Spanish: Birkir Már Sævarsson para niños
