Birkir Már Sævarsson

Birkir Már Sævarsson (born 11 November 1984) is an Icelandic professional footballer who plays as a defender for Úrvalsdeild side Valur.[2]

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

Birkir Már Sævarsson
Sævarsson with Iceland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Birkir Már Sævarsson[1]
Date of birth (1984-11-11) 11 November 1984
Place of birth Reykjavík, Iceland
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Valur
Number 2
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2008 Valur 67 (2)
2008–2014 Brann 168 (15)
2015–2017 Hammarby 84 (3)
2018– Valur 128 (15)
International career‡
2006 Iceland U21 3 (0)
2007–2021 Iceland 103 (3)
Managerial career
2019 KH (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 November 2021
Sævarsson playing for Iceland to Austria in May 2014

Club career

Valur

Birkir started his professional career with local team Valur in the Úrvalsdeild, where he made his senior debut in 2003. He went on to play 66 competitive league games for the club, scoring twice, across five seasons. He won the 2007 Úrvalsdeild with Valur.[3]

Brann

In 2008, at age 23, he joined the Norwegian side SK Brann in Tippeligaen. Before signing for Brann, Sævarsson had a trial with Bryne FK.[4] Being known as a versatile defender, he was originally planned as a right back at Brann, but played almost all the 2009 season on the left back. He was often praised for his stamina, pace, and ability to contribute to the attacking play from his wing-back position.[5] Birkir soon also became known for his scoring ability.[6]

In 2011, his side reached the final in the Norwegian Cup, where Birkir played the whole game as Brann lost 1–2 to Aalesunds FK.[7] Birkir played all minutes in every competitive game during the 2012 and 2013 seasons as right back.[8]

Birkir signed a four-year contract extension with Brann in May 2013.[8] During the reign of Swedish manager Rikard Norling, Birkir however lost his place as a regular starter at Brann. In 2014, Norling opted to play the homegrown youngster Andreas Vindheim instead of the Icelandic international.[7] The season ultimately went horrible for Brann, who got relegated to the second tier after losing against Mjøndalen in qualification play.[9]

The relegation also put an end to Birkir's 6.5-year spell at Brann, who transferred to the Swedish top-tier club Hammarby IF in December 2014.[10] He reportedly left Brann on a free transfer.[11]

Hammarby

At Hammarby he began the 2015 season as a centre-back, but eventually moved back to his natural position on the right flank after the arrival of Richard Magyar.[12] After putting on impressive performances on both positions, he was voted as the "newcomer of the year" by the supporters.[13] Birkir played 28 league games for his side, scoring twice, as Hammarby finished 11th in Allsvenskan.[12] In 2016, Sævarsson played 27 competitive games, scoring once.[14]

Birkir kept his place as a key player at Hammarby in 2017, as the club placed 9th in Allsvenskan, while providing five assists in 29 appearances.[14] At the end of the year, Birkir sought to leave Hammarby at the expiration of his contract, seeking a new club ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[15][16]

Return to Valur

Before the 2018 season, Birkir moved back to his native country and first professional club Valur. He signed a three-year deal with the reigning champions of Iceland.[2] Birkir teamed up with his younger brother Aron Elí Sævarsson, born in 1997, in the squad.[17]

International career

Birkir made his debut for the Iceland national team on 2 August 2007, in a 1–1 draw against Liechtenstein.[18] Nine years later, on 6 June 2016, he scored his first national goal against the same opposition. Birkir slotted home a volley strike from far distance as Iceland won 4–0 in a friendly.[19]

He played his first tournament at age 31, being selected for the UEFA Euro 2016 in France.[20] In the second group stage game against Hungary, he scored an own goal resulting in a 1–1 draw.[21] Birkir was praised for keeping the Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo at bay in a group stage draw,[22] as well as neutralizing Raheem Sterling in Iceland's sensational 2–1 win against England in the round of 16.[18] Birkir played all minutes for Iceland during the tournament, where his side ultimately got knocked out in the quarter-final following a 5–2 loss against France.[23]

In May 2018 he was named in Iceland's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[24]

Birkir played his last game for the national team against North Macedonia on 14 November 2021.

Coaching career

On 15 April 2019, it was announced that Birkir was appointed as an assistant coach to 3. deild karla club Knattspyrnufélagið Hlíðarendi.[25][26]

Career statistics

Club
As of 8 June 2019[27][28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Season Club Division League Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Valur U23 2002 Icelandic Cup 002020
Valur 2003 Úrvalsdeild karla 800080
2004 1. deild 11020130
2005 Úrvalsdeild karla 102030
2006 18020200
2007 17120191
2008 11130141
Total 662110772
Brann 2008 Tippeligaen 810081
2009 26231293
2010 27210282
2011 27460334
2012 30252354
2013 30320303
2014 20130231
Hammarby 2015 Allsvenskan 28250332
2016 27150321
2017 29041331
Total 843141984
Valur 2018 Úrvalsdeild karla 18220202
2019 712091
Total 25340293
Career total 3432351439225

International
As of match played 14 November 2021[29]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Iceland 200720
2008110
200950
201030
201160
201250
201380
201450
201590
2016131
201790
2018100
201940
202051
202181
Total1033
Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Birkir goal.
List of international goals scored by Birkir Már Sævarsson[30]
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
16 June 2016Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland57 Liechtenstein2–04–0Friendly
214 October 2020Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland93 Belgium1–11–22020–21 UEFA Nations League A
331 March 2021Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein97 Liechtenstein1–04–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Valur

References
  1. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia: List of players: Iceland" (PDF). FIFA. 10 June 2018. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  2. "Birkir Már Sævarsson semur við Val til þriggja ára" (in Icelandic). Valur. 20 December 2017. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  3. "Meet 'the weakest right-back' tasked with taming Dimitri Payet". The Irish Times. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  4. "Bryne-vrakgods skal utfordre i Brann" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  5. "Skarsfjord: - Birkir, du kunne vært toppscorer!" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  6. "Sævarsson sendte Brann for alvor opp i medaljestriden" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 30 August 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  7. "Sævarsson: - Nedrykket hadde ingenting å si" (in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  8. "Sævarsson på vei bort fra Brann" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen. 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  9. "Praktfiasko för Norlings Brann" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  10. "Birkir Saevarsson klar för Hammarby" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  11. "Islänning kan värvas till Hammarby – till priset av en vänskapsmatch" (in Swedish). Fotbolldirekt. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  12. "2. Birkir Már Sævarsson" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  13. "Birkir Årets nykomling 2015!" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. Archived from the original on 28 November 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  14. "Birkir Már Sævarsson" (in Swedish). Svenskfotboll. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  15. "Saevarsson lämnar Hammarby för att hitta formen inför VM" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  16. "Birkir lämnar Hammarby" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  17. "Meistaraflokkur karla" (in Icelandic). Valur. 9 January 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  18. "Sævarsson räds inte utmaningen" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  19. "Seger i EM-genrepet – drömmål av Bajen-back" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  20. "A karla – Lokahópur fyrir EM 2016" (in Icelandic). Knattspyrnusamband Íslands. 9 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 May 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  21. "Hungary exult and Iceland only draw after Birkir Saevarsson own goal". The Guardian. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  22. "Sævarsson ler av sure Ronaldo". Aftenposten. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  23. "EM-hjälten: "Så ska Bajen lära av Island"". Aftonbladet. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  24. Crawford, Stephen (4 June 2018). "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists". Goal. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  25. Anton Ingi Leifsson (15 April 2019). "Spilaði gegn Messi síðasta sumar en þjálfar í 3. deildinni á Íslandi í sumar". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  26. Brynjar Ingi Erluson (15 April 2019). "Birkir Már verður aðstoðarþjálfari KH (Staðfest)". Fótbolti.net (in Icelandic). Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  27. "altomfotball.no: Birkir Sævarsson" (in Norwegian). Altom Fotball. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  28. "Birkir Már Sævarsson". Football Association of Iceland (in Icelandic). Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  29. "Birkir Már Sævarsson". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  30. "Birkir Már Sævarsson". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
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