Albert Guðmundsson (footballer, born 1923)

Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson (5 October 1923 – 7 April 1994)[1] was an Icelandic professional footballer who played for, amongst others, Rangers, Arsenal, FC Nancy and A.C. Milan.[2] After retiring from his sporting career he became a politician and was a member of Alþingi for 15 years, serving as Minister of Finance of Iceland and Minister of Industry.

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Albert.

Albert Guðmundsson
Personal information
Full name Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson
Date of birth (1923-10-05)5 October 1923
Place of birth Reykjavík, Iceland
Date of death 7 April 1994(1994-04-07) (aged 70)
Position(s) 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
International career
1946–1958 Iceland 6 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sporting career

Albert played football from a young age with local club Valur. In 1944 he made his way to Scotland to study business at Skerry's College, Glasgow. He began his foreign footballing career with Rangers.[3] After a short stint there he went to England where he played for Arsenal as an amateur; he played several friendly matches and two First Division matches in October 1946. He was only Arsenal's second foreign player.[4]

Political career

In 1974, he was elected to the Alþingi (the Icelandic parliament), representing Reykjavík. He ran for president in 1980 election but only finished third and lost to Vigdís Finnbogadóttir.[5] In 1983, he became Minister of Finance of Iceland.[6] In 1985, he was appointed Minister of Industry, a position he held until 1987, when a tax scandal forced his resignation.[7]

Feeling that the Independence Party's leadership had failed to support him, he left the party soon after his resignation and only a few weeks before a general election.[8]

References
  1. "Albert Guðmundsson". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  2. "Albert Gudmundsson". Arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  3. "Iceland honours football pioneer Gudmundsson". UEFA.com. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  4. "From 6 Yard Box To Soap Box: Footballers Who Became Politicians". 25 October 2012.
  5. "Leaving football behind". FIFA.com. 10 June 2016. Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  6. "Fyrri ráðherrar | Fjármálaráðuneytið". 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010.
  7. Háskólabókasafn, Landsbókasafn Íslands-. "Tímarit.is". timarit.is.
  8. Háskólabókasafn, Landsbókasafn Íslands-. "Tímarit.is". timarit.is.
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