Ívar Ingimarsson

Ívar Ingimarsson (born 20 August 1977) is an Icelandic former professional footballer who played as a centre back.

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

Ívar Ingimarsson
Ívar playing for Reading in 2008
Personal information
Full name Ívar Ingimarsson[1]
Date of birth (1977-08-20) 20 August 1977[1]
Place of birth Reykjavík, Iceland
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1997 Valur 44 (5)
1998–1999 ÍBV 36 (5)
1999 → Torquay United (loan) 4 (1)
1999–2002 Brentford 113 (10)
2002–2003 Wolverhampton Wanderers 13 (2)
2003 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 15 (0)
2003–2011 Reading 251 (11)
2011–2012 Ipswich Town 8 (0)
Total 484 (34)
International career
1993–1994 Iceland U17 16 (2)
1995–1996 Iceland U19 11 (2)
1996–1999 Iceland U21 14 (0)
1998–2007 Iceland 30 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He began his career in Iceland with Valur and ÍBV before moving to England where, after an initial loan spell with Torquay United, he joined Brentford, making over 100 appearances. He moved to Reading in 2003, spending the next eight years with club and amassing 281 appearances before ending his career with a short spell at Ipswich Town.

At international level Ívar represented Iceland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level before making his senior debut in 1998. After thirty appearances he retired from international football in 2007.

Club career

Early years

Ívar was born in Reykjavík[1] and raised in Stöðvarfjörður.[3] He began his career with his local side Súlan. From the age of 13 he played for a merged side Súlan participated in, playing three seasons of senior football in total before joining Valur in Reykjavík, making 44 league appearances and scoring five goals after spending his first year there playing youth football again.[4] In March 1998, he signed for fellow Icelandic side ÍBV, making a further 36 appearances in the Úrvalsdeild, and scoring five goals, winning the double (Icelandic Premier Division and the Icelandic Cup) in 1998.[5]

Ívar joined Torquay United on loan from ÍBV in October 1999,[5] scoring on his debut in a 2–1 victory at league leaders Barnet on 23 October 1999.[6] Rumours were rife that a deal had already been done to take Ívar elsewhere at the end of his loan spell, and, after four league games for the Gulls, he duly signed for Brentford in November 1999 for £150,000,[7] confirming the fears of Torquay fans that he would never be a permanent fixture at Plainmoor.

While at Brentford, the band The Bluetones named one of their instrumental B-sides Ingimarsson in his honour; Adam Devlin, the guitarist, being a Bees fan.[8] He was released by Brentford in June 2002, the Bees unable to pay his wages. He signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers the following month,[9] but was unable to establish himself at Molineux, resulting in a loan spell with Brighton & Hove Albion in February 2003.[10]

Reading

In October 2003, Ívar was linked with a move to Crystal Palace, but snubbed them in favour of a move to Reading, whom he joined in a £175,000 deal on 23 October 2003 as Steve Coppell's first signing as Reading manager.[11]

At Reading, he held a key place in the first team playing alongside Ibrahima Sonko. Together they formed one of the best defences in the English Football League. On occasions he came up with the odd goal and proved vital in some games. He helped Reading to promotion to the Premier League in 2006 and played in Reading's first ever game in the top flight of English League football, a 3–2 win at home against Middlesbrough on 19 August 2006. On 13 November 2006, Ívar signed a contract extension to keep him at Reading until June 2009,[12] and on 5 May 2007 it was announced that he had been voted the 2006–07 Player of the Season by Reading fans.[13]

On 4 July 2007, Ívar signed an improved three-year contract to keep him at Reading until the end of the 2009–10 season.[14]

Following the release of Graeme Murty from Reading, and the arrival of new manager Brendan Rodgers, Ívar was announced as Reading's new club captain on 7 August 2009.[15]

Ívar played in all of Reading's FA Cup matches in the 2009/10 campaign including their famous 2–1 win over Liverpool at Anfield. He asked the new manager, Brian McDermott, to be rested for one game because he had played continuously since returning from injury in September. However, he was rested for two matches which were against Blackpool (which Reading lost 2–0) and for the match against Crystal Palace (which Reading won 3–1). Whilst playing in the 1–1 draw against Middlesbrough in March, Ívar had to come off in injury time at the end of the match due to a hamstring injury. As a result, this injury would keep Ívar out of action for the rest of the season.

Ívar was then offered a new one-year contract at the end of the 2009–10 season which he signed on 14 May 2010.[16] It was announced that, after eight years and 282 appearances for the Royals, Ívar had been released from Reading. Former Reading captain Ady Williams stated that "Ivar will go down as a Reading legend".[17]

Ipswich Town

On 13 June 2011, it was announced that Ívar had joined Ipswich Town on a free transfer, following his release from Reading. Manager Paul Jewell announced the deal, with Ívar handed a one-year contract.[18] Following a disappointing first half to the 2011–12 season, after six starts and two substitute appearances, on 7 January 2012 it was announced that Ívar's contract had been terminated by mutual consent.[19]

International career

Ívar represented Iceland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level, making 16, 11 and 14 appearances respectively.[20] He made his senior debut for Iceland in a June 1998 friendly match against South Africa. He opted to retire from international football for a period of just under two years because of arguments with the former joint-managers Ásgeir Sigurvinsson and Logi Ólafsson. He became available again once the pair were replaced by Eyjólfur Sverrisson, and made several further appearances before retiring again in 2007.[21]

Personal life

After retiring from football Ívar returned to Iceland and moved into the tourist industry.[22] His cousin, Gunnar Thorvaldsson was also a professional footballer and spent the second half of the 2009–10 season on loan at Reading.[23]

Career statistics
As of match played 2 January 2012.[24][25][26][27]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Valur 1995 Úrvalsdeild 11050——160
1996 17230??—202
1997 16330??—193
Total 445110??—555
ÍBV 1998 Úrvalsdeild 18150??3[lower-alpha 1]0241
1999 18440??4[lower-alpha 2]0264
Total 36590??70525
Torquay United (loan) 1999–2000 Third Division 4100000041
Brentford 1999–2000 Second Division 25100003[lower-alpha 3]0281
2000–01 42310406[lower-alpha 3]1534
2001–02 46620204[lower-alpha 4]0546
Total 11310306013113511
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2002–03 First Division 132002000152
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 2002–03 1500000—150
Reading 2003–04 2511020—281
2004–05 Championship 4433120—494
2005–06 4623040—532
2006–07 Premier League 3823010—422
2007–08 3421000—352
2008–09 Championship 261003000291
2009–10 2506000—310
2010–11 130100000140
Total 251111811200028112
Ipswich Town 2011–12 Championship 800000—80
Career total 4843441120020156536
  1. One appearance in the Icelandic Super Cup, two appearances in the Champions League
  2. Appearances in the Champions League
  3. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  4. One appearance in the Football League Trophy, three appearances in the Second Division play-offs

International
Source:[28]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Iceland
199810
200010
200270
200330
200440
200660
200780
Total300

Honours
ÍBV
Brentford
Reading
Individual

References
  1. "Ívar Ingimarsson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  2. "Ívar Ingimarsson". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  3. "How can Iceland produce so many professional football players" (PDF). Football Association of Iceland. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  4. ""Kominn tími til að stíga næsta skref"". Morgunblaðið. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  5. "Ivar Ingimarsson | Football Stats | No Club | Age 40 | 1996–2012 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  6. "Third Division round-up". The Guardian. 25 October 1999. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  7. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. pp. 85–86. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  8. Lawrence, Amy (11 February 2007). "Big interview: Steve Coppell". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  9. "Wolves sign Ingimarsson". Sky Sports. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  10. "Ingimarsson joins Seagulls". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  11. "Ingimarsson joins Reading". BBC Sport. 23 October 2003. Retrieved 30 March 2007.
  12. "Ivar and Brynjar sign contract extensions". readingfc.co.uk. 13 November 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
  13. "Ingimarsson is crowned Royals' player of the season after great campaign". readingfc.co.uk. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2007.
  14. "Four new contracts agreed". readingfc.co.uk. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2007.
  15. "Ivar announced as new captain". readingfc.co.uk. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  16. "Ingimarsson agrees new contract". Reading F.C. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  17. "Ingimarsson released by Reading". BBC News. 2 June 2011.
  18. "Ivar Ingimarsson to leave Reading for Ipswich Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  19. "Ipswich seal McCarthy loan deal". BBC News. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  20. "Ívar Ingimarsson: caps" (in Icelandic). Icelandic National Football Association. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  21. "Ivar retires from international scene". readingfc.co.uk. 15 November 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2007.
  22. Unnarsson, Kristján Már (2 December 2012). "Ívar byggir gistihús í Stöðvarfirði". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  23. Smith, Anthony (15 January 2010). "Thorvaldsson Gunn-ing for Forest". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  24. "Ívar Ingimarsson: playing career" (in Icelandic). Icelandic National Football Association. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  25. 1998 European appearances sourced individually to match reports:
    "FK Obilik 2–0 ÍBV". UEFA. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
    "ÍBV 1–2 FK Oblinik". UEFA. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  26. 1999 European appearances sourced individually to match reports:
    "ÍBV 1–0 Tirana". UEFA. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
    "Tirana 1–2 ÍBV". UEFA. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
    "ÍBV 0–2 MTK". UEFA. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
    "MTK 3–1 ÍBV". UEFA. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  27. "Ívar Ingimarsson". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  28. Ívar Ingimarsson at National-Football-Teams.com
  29. Haynes & Coumbe, p. 86.
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