Arnar Viðarsson

Arnar Þór Viðarsson (transliterated as Arnar Thor Vidarsson;[2] born 15 March 1978) is an Icelandic football coach and a former player, his playing position was midfielder. He last played for Belgian Pro League side Cercle Brugge, where he was also employed as head coach. He was the head coach of Iceland men's national team from 2020 to 2023.[3]

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Arnar.
Arnar Viðarsson
Viðarsson with De Graafschap
Personal information
Full name Arnar Þór Viðarsson[1]
Date of birth (1978-03-15) 15 March 1978
Place of birth Reykjavík, Iceland
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1997 FH 35 (3)
1997–2006 Lokeren 235 (6)
1997 → Lillestrøm (loan) 6 (0)
1998 → FH (loan) 4 (0)
1998 → Genk (trial) 0 (0)
2006–2008 Twente 11 (0)
2007–2008 → De Graafschap (loan) 32 (1)
2008–2014 Cercle Brugge 157 (0)
Total 480 (10)
International career
1993 Iceland U16 8 (0)
1993–1994 Iceland U17 7 (0)
1995–1996 Iceland U19 11 (0)
1996–1999 Iceland U21 17 (0)
1998–2007 Iceland 52 (2)
Managerial career
2014 Cercle Brugge (assistant)
2014–2015 Cercle Brugge
2015–2018 Lokeren (assistant and U21)
2018 Lokeren (caretaker)
2018–2019 Lokeren (assistant and U21)
2019–2020 Iceland U21
2020–2023 Iceland
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

He started his career in FH, and moved to Belgium to play for Sporting Lokeren early in his career. He returned to FH for a short period, but apart from a loan spell at Lillestrøm SK and a trial at Genk, he has played for Lokeren from October 1998 until 2006. Since then, Lokeren has signed many Icelandic players, for instance midfielder Rúnar Kristinsson who holds the Icelandic record for most international caps.

In 2006, he transferred to FC Twente, where he signed a contract until 2009. For the 2007-08 he was loaned out to newly promoted De Graafschap, before eventually returning to Belgium, playing for Cercle Brugge, where he ended his career as a player in the summer of 2014, becoming assistant under head coach Lorenzo Staelens. Following the sacking of Staelens on October of that same year, Arnar was appointed head coach.

International career

Arnar was capped 52 times for Iceland, scoring 2 goals,[4] as well as 41 times at youth level. He made his debut for the seniors in a June 1998 friendly match against South Africa.

Personal life

Arnar is the brother of fellow Icelandic midfielders Bjarni and Davíð, and the son of Icelandic footballer Viðar Halldórsson.[5]

Managerial statistics
As of match played 30 March 2023
Team From To Record
GWDLWin %
Cercle Brugge 6 October 2014 18 March 2015 25 6 3 16 024.00
Lokeren (caretaker) 28 October 2018 1 November 2018 1 0 1 0 000.00
Iceland U21 4 January 2019 21 December 2020 13 8 1 4 061.54
Iceland 22 December 2020 30 March 2023 31 6 13 12 019.35
Total 70 20 18 32 028.57

References
  1. "Þjálfari: Arnar Þór Viðarsson" [Trainer: Arnar Þór Viðarsson] (in Icelandic). Football Association of Iceland. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  2. "Steckbrief: Arnar Thor Vidarsson" [Characteristics: Arnar Thor Vidarsson]. Kicker (in German). Olympia-Verlag. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  3. Ingvi Þór Sæmundsson (30 March 2023). "Arnar Þór rekinn". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  4. Iceland - Record International Players - RSSSF
  5. "Bjarni Þór Viðarsson samdi við Everton" [Bjarni Thor Vidarsson signed for Everton]. Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 20 May 2004.
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