Brynjar Gunnarsson

Infobox Football biography
playername = Brynjar Gunnarsson


fullname = Brynjar Björn Gunnarsson
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1975|10|16|df=yes
cityofbirth = Reykjavík
countryofbirth = Iceland
height = 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
position = Defensive midfielder
currentclub = Reading
clubnumber = 6
contractend = 1 July 2008
youthyears =
youthclubs = KR Reykjavík
years = 1995–1997
1998
1998
1999
1999–2003
2003–2004
2003–2004
2004–2005
2005–
clubs = KR Reykjavík
Vålerenga
→ Moss (loan)
Örgryte IS
Stoke City
Nottingham Forest
→ Stoke City (loan)
Watford
Reading
caps(goals) = 050 0(1)
004 0(0)
005 0(2)
024 0(1)
131 (15)
013 0(0)
003 0(0)
036 0(3)
072 0(7)
nationalyears = 1997–
nationalteam = Iceland
nationalcaps(goals) = 065 0(4)
pcupdate = 17:39, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 00:00, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

Brynjar Björn Gunnarsson (born 16 October 1975 in Reykjavík) is an Icelandic footballer. His position is midfielder or defender, and he plays professionally for Reading. He supports Manchester United.

Club career

Gunnarsson has previously played for Nottingham Forest, Stoke City and Watford in England as well as Vålerenga in Norway, Örgryte IS in Sweden and KR Reykjavík in Iceland.

In 1999, Stoke City paid a club-record fee of £600,000 for Gunnarsson. He spent four years at the Britannia Stadium, making over 150 appearances, before moving onto Nottingham Forest on a free transfer in 2003.

However, he did not impress at the City Ground and was loaned back to Stoke just months later before Watford signed him in the summer of 2004, taking advantage of another Bosman move.

Gunnarsson signed for Watford in the summer of 2004, after being released by Forest. He made 43 appearances in an impressive first season. However, Ray Lewington's replacement as Watford manager, Adrian Boothroyd, to some raised eyebrows from the Watford support, allowed Gunnarsson to leave for Reading for a nominal fee in the summer of 2005. Boothroyd gave the justification that Gunnarsson was too similar to his central midfield partner, Gavin Mahon, and of lesser quality.

On 13 November 2006, Gunnarsson signed a contract extension to keep him at Reading until June 2008. [cite news | date=2006-11-13 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~927481,00.html | title=Ivar and Brynjar sign contract extensions | publisher=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2006-11-13]

Gunnarsson may not be considered as a first team regular by most, but he has scored plenty of important goals. Notable goals include an impressive strike against Liverpool, an equalising goal against Manchester United in the 2006-07 season's FA Cup and a winning goal in the dying moments against Sheffield United in the 2005-06 Championship season.

International career

Gunnarsson made his debut for Iceland in a June 1997 World Cup qualifying match against Macedonia. He has been capped 62 times for Iceland, scoring four goals. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/ijs-recintlp.html Iceland - Record International Players] - RSSSF]

References

External links

* [http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Squad/ProfilesDetail/0,,10306~9645,00.html Brynjar Gunnarsson profile] at readingfc.co.uk
*soccerbase|18921|Brynjar Gunnarsson
*FIFA player|155905|Brynjar Gunnarsson
* [http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=3138 National football teams profile]

Persondata
NAME=Gunnarsson, Brynjar
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=16 October 1975
PLACE OF BIRTH=Reykjavík
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=