Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson facts for kids
Jóhann playing for Iceland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson | ||
| Date of birth | 27 October 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Reykjavík, Iceland | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, winger | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Al Dhafra | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–2006 | Breiðablik | ||
| 2006 | Chelsea | ||
| 2006–2008 | Fulham | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2009 | Breiðablik | 22 | (6) |
| 2009–2014 | AZ | 119 | (9) |
| 2014–2016 | Charlton Athletic | 81 | (16) |
| 2016–2024 | Burnley | 200 | (15) |
| 2024–2025 | Al-Orobah | 28 | (4) |
| 2025– | Al Dhafra | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2008 | Iceland U19 | 2 | (1) |
| 2008–2011 | Iceland U21 | 14 | (6) |
| 2008– | Iceland | 99 | (8) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 17 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:17, 19 November 2024 (UTC) |
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Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson (born on October 27, 1990) is a professional footballer from Iceland. He plays for UAE Pro League club Al Dhafra and is also a key player for the Iceland national team. Jóhann is a very flexible player. He can play in many different midfield roles, like a defensive midfielder, central midfielder, right midfielder, attacking midfielder, or as a winger.
Jóhann started his senior football journey at Breiðablik in Iceland. After one season, he moved to the Dutch team AZ in the Eredivisie, where he also played in the Europa League. Later, he joined Championship club Charlton Athletic for two seasons. Then, he moved to Burnley, a team that had just been promoted. He played a lot during the 2017–18 season, helping them qualify for the Europa League.
Jóhann was an important part of the Iceland national team. He played in both the UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In Euro 2016, he helped Iceland score their very first goal in a major tournament.
Contents
- Jóhann's Football Journey: Club Career Highlights
- Representing His Country: International Career
- Career Statistics Overview
- Trophies and Achievements
- See also
Jóhann's Football Journey: Club Career Highlights
Starting Out: Breiðablik and Early Moves
Jóhann was born in Reykjavík, Iceland. He began his football career at Breiðablik. When he was younger, his family moved to England. There, he spent time in the youth teams of big clubs like Chelsea and Fulham. He also studied at the International School of London.
However, Jóhann found it hard to get used to life in London. So, in 2008, he decided to move back to Iceland. He rejoined his childhood club, Breiðablik. He missed playing football and going to school with his friends.
Making His Mark at Breiðablik
After returning to Breiðablik, Jóhann played his first senior game. It was the opening match of the season, a 1–1 draw against Íþróttabandalag Akraness. He quickly became a regular player in the 2008 Úrvalsdeild league. He often played as a left winger or a striker.
Jóhann scored his first goal for Breiðablik on July 7, 2008. This helped his team win 2–0 against Fylkir. By the end of the season, he had played 22 games and scored six goals. He was even voted the best player for part of the Icelandic Premier League season.
Playing in the Netherlands: AZ Alkmaar
On January 28, 2009, Jóhann moved to the Dutch club AZ. He signed a five-year contract with them. He had spent two seasons playing for AZ's reserve team. Then, under a new coach, Gertjan Verbeek, he got his chance in the first team.
First Goals and Success at AZ
Jóhann scored in his very first game for AZ. It was a Europa League qualifier, a 2–0 win against IFK Göteborg. He then made his league debut in a 1–1 draw against NAC Breda. He continued to score important goals in the Europa League and the KNVB Cup, which is a Dutch cup competition.
On January 29, 2011, Jóhann scored his first league goal for AZ in a big 6–1 win. In the 2010–11 season, he played 34 games and scored four goals. He kept playing well in the 2011–12 season, scoring in the Europa League qualifiers and league games. He signed a new contract with AZ in January 2012. That season, he played 47 games and scored six goals.
Winning the KNVB Cup with AZ
In the 2012–13 season, Jóhann continued to be a key player. He scored his first goal of the season in October 2012. He also scored two goals in the KNVB Cup against Den Bosch and Ajax. He helped AZ reach the final of the KNVB Cup. AZ won the final 2–1 against PSV Eindhoven, and Jóhann played a big part in that victory. He finished the season with 39 appearances and six goals.
In his final season with AZ, 2013–14, Jóhann scored his first goal in the 2013 Johan Cruyff Shield. He scored seven goals in the Europa League and league combined by the end of 2013. He played 53 games and scored nine goals in total that season. Jóhann decided to leave AZ because he wanted a new challenge and to play at a higher level in England.
Returning to England: Charlton Athletic
On July 11, 2014, Jóhann moved back to London, joining Championship club Charlton Athletic. He signed a two-year deal. This was his return to England after eight years. He was given the number seven shirt for the new season.
Making an Impact at Charlton
Jóhann played his first game for Charlton Athletic in a 1–1 draw against Brentford. He scored his first league goal for the club on September 20, 2014, in a 1–1 draw against Rotherham United. He had some minor injuries but returned to form, scoring against Leeds United.
He scored many impressive goals that season. One special goal against Cardiff City on Boxing Day won him the "Goal of the Season" award. He scored six more goals, including one against Blackpool that won "Goal of the Month" in March. Jóhann was voted runner-up for the club's "Player of the Season" award. He had a great first season, scoring 11 goals in 37 matches.
Continued Performance and Relegation
Before the 2015–16 season, Jóhann signed a new four-year contract with Charlton on July 22, 2015. He started the season well, scoring two goals in two matches. He had another period out with an injury in December. After returning, he scored four more goals that season.
Jóhann finished the 2015–16 season with six goals in 42 games. Unfortunately, Charlton was relegated to League One. Despite this, Jóhann was one of the top players for assists in the Championship that season.
Premier League Dream: Burnley
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On July 19, 2016, Jóhann joined Premier League club Burnley. They had just been promoted to the Premier League. He signed a three-year deal. He made his Burnley debut as a substitute in a 1–0 loss to Swansea City.
Key Player and Promotion with Burnley
His first goal for Burnley came on November 5, 2016, in a 3–2 win over Crystal Palace. In January 2023, after playing well and staying fit, Jóhann signed a contract extension with Burnley until June 2024. He played a big role in the 2022–23 Championship season. He scored four goals and made six assists, including two goals in a 2–0 win against Sheffield United. Burnley won the Championship and were promoted back to the Premier League.
On May 18, 2024, it was announced that Jóhann would leave Burnley after eight seasons. However, on July 6, after Scott Parker became the new manager, Jóhann signed a new one-year deal to stay with the club for the 2024–25 season.
New Adventures: Al-Orobah and Al Dhafra
On August 23, 2024, Jóhann signed with Saudi Pro League club Al-Orobah. He played 28 games and scored 4 goals for them.
As of July 2025, Jóhann has joined UAE Pro League club Al Dhafra.
Representing His Country: International Career
Jóhann played his first game for the Iceland U21 team on June 12, 2008. On August 12, 2008, he was called up to the senior national team for the first time. He earned his first cap (played his first game) for Iceland in a friendly match against Azerbaijan, where he set up a goal.
Historic Goals and Major Tournaments
On September 6, 2013, Jóhann scored a hat-trick (three goals) in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Switzerland. This was the first hat-trick for an Icelandic player in 13 years! His last goal was a curling shot from outside the box in the 91st minute, making the final score 4–4.
He was chosen for Iceland's squad for UEFA Euro 2016. In his first Euro 2016 match, he assisted a goal for Birkir Bjarnason. This was Iceland's first-ever goal in a major tournament, an equalizer against Portugal. On June 27, 2016, Jóhann played against England in the Euro 2016 round of 16. Iceland famously won 2–1, moving on to the quarter-finals. Jóhann started every game for Iceland until they were knocked out by France in the quarter-final.
In May 2018, he was also part of Iceland's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Career Statistics Overview
Jóhann has had a long and successful career. Here's a summary of his appearances and goals for his clubs and national team.
Club Appearances and Goals
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Breiðablik | 2008 | Úrvalsdeild | 22 | 6 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 25 | 9 | |||
| AZ | 2010–11 | Eredivisie | 23 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 9 | 2 | — | 34 | 4 | ||
| 2011–12 | Eredivisie | 30 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | 13 | 1 | — | 47 | 6 | |||
| 2012–13 | Eredivisie | 31 | 2 | 6 | 4 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 38 | 6 | |||
| 2013–14 | Eredivisie | 35 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | 13 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 53 | 9 | ||
| Total | 119 | 9 | 16 | 7 | — | 36 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 172 | 25 | |||
| Charlton Athletic | 2014–15 | Championship | 41 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 11 | ||
| 2015–16 | Championship | 40 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 6 | |||
| Total | 81 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 86 | 17 | ||||
| Burnley | 2016–17 | Premier League | 20 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18 | Premier League | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 2 | |||
| 2018–19 | Premier League | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 36 | 3 | ||
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 1 | |||
| 2020–21 | Premier League | 22 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 2 | |||
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | Championship | 37 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 4 | |||
| 2023–24 | Premier League | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 1 | |||
| 2024–25 | Championship | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | |||
| Total | 200 | 15 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 228 | 15 | |||
| Al-Orobah | 2024–25 | Saudi Pro League | 28 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 29 | 5 | |||
| Al Dhafra | 2025–26 | UAE Pro League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 450 | 50 | 34 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 41 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 539 | 71 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland | 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 9 | 0 | |
| Total | 99 | 8 | |
- Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Jóhann goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 November 2012 | Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella, Andorra la Vella, Andorra | 22 |  Andorra |
1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 6 September 2013 | Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland | 26 |  Switzerland |
1–0 | 4–4 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 3 | 3–4 | |||||||
| 4 | 4–4 | |||||||
| 5 | 5 March 2014 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | 32 |  Wales |
1–1 | 1–3 | Friendly | |
| 6 | 6 October 2017 | New Eskişehir Stadium, Eskişehir, Turkey | 61 |  Turkey |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 7 | 9 October 2017 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 62 |  Kosovo |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 8 | 8 June 2019 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 73 |  Albania |
1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
Trophies and Achievements
Jóhann has won some important trophies during his career:
AZ
- KNVB Cup: 2012–13 (This is a major cup competition in the Netherlands.)
Burnley
- EFL Championship: 2022–23 (Burnley won the league title and were promoted to the Premier League.)
See also
In Spanish: Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson para niños
