Emil Hallfreðsson
Encyclopedia
Emil Hallfreðsson is an Icelandic footballer currently playing for Serie B
side Hellas Verona
.
, Hallfreðsson was brought to Tottenham Hotspur
by then Sporting Director Frank Arnesen
in December 2004, having spent his formative years at FH Hafnarfjarðar
of the Úrvalsdeild in Iceland. Tottenham had been looking for players who could solve their problems on the left, and the purchases of the likes of Andy Reid
, Hallfreðsson and Reto Ziegler
in 2005 were all done to create more competition for this position. With Hallfreðsson's departure from White Hart Lane
in 2007, they have all left the club.
Hallfreðsson became a regular starter for the Tottenham Hotspur Reserves, and played a key part in the Spurs' 2005–06 Premier League Southern Reserve title win. He then had a successful four-month loan stint at Swedish side Malmö FF
, with a total of 24 appearances and eight goals, before returning to England in the fall.
His aim had then been to make the Spurs' first team, but in his remaining months at the club he was not selected for a single game. In July 2007, he was sold to the Norwegian club Lyn, where he was slated to stay until 2010. His first match for the club was a friendly against Ham-Kam, followed by a 20-minute substitution in a league game away against Sandefjord
. His first and only 90-minute appearance was against Bodø/Glimt
in the Norwegian Cup
, in which he delivered a fine cross to Dylan Macallister
for the 1–0 goal and the win. Three days later, the club surprisingly announced that Hallfreðsson would be leaving for Italy and Reggina.
. In his first season, he played a regular role in Reggina's team, but in the second season he played less. In April 2009 he did, however, score a spectacular winning goal against Juventus.
, he completed a one year loan to Football League Championship
side Barnsley
on 14 August 2009. He scored his first goal for Barnsley against Plymouth Argyle on 28 November 2009. However, the game was later abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch. His first goal did come two weeks later however, in the home game with Newcastle
, slamming home a Daniel Bogdanovic
cross from 6 yards. Hallfredsson's goal made it 1–1 in an eventual 2–2 draw.
. At the end of the season Hallfreðsson won the Mastino del Bentegodi award as the team's player of the year. Looking ahead to the upcoming Serie B
season, on 22 June 2011, three days after winning the First Division play-off, Verona outbid Reggina to purchase his contract.
. In 2007, he was selected for the national squad for their UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
side Hellas Verona
Hellas Verona F.C.
Hellas Verona Football Club is a professional Italian association football team, based in Verona, Veneto. The team's colours are yellow and blue and gialloblu is the team's most widely used nickname...
.
Early career
Primarily a left sided midfielderMidfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, Hallfreðsson was brought to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
by then Sporting Director Frank Arnesen
Frank Arnesen
Frank Arnesen is a former Danish football player and currently sporting director at Hamburger SV. Arnesen was Director of Football at English football clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea....
in December 2004, having spent his formative years at FH Hafnarfjarðar
Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar
Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar, commonly referred to as FH, is Icelandic football club based in Hafnarfjörður.- Overview :The team are perhaps best known outside Iceland for beating Scottish side Dunfermline in the qualifying rounds of the 2004/05 UEFA Cup 4–3 on aggregate...
of the Úrvalsdeild in Iceland. Tottenham had been looking for players who could solve their problems on the left, and the purchases of the likes of Andy Reid
Andy Reid (footballer)
Andrew Matthew "Andy" Reid is an Irish footballer who currently plays for Nottingham Forest in the Football League Championship. He plays as a midfielder and has also represented the Republic of Ireland.-Personal life:...
, Hallfreðsson and Reto Ziegler
Reto Ziegler
Reto Ziegler is a Swiss footballer who plays for Turkish Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe.-Early career:Ziegler was in the summer of 2004 signed by Tottenham Hotspur to a contract initially meant to begin on 1 January 2005, when his contract with Grasshoppers expired...
in 2005 were all done to create more competition for this position. With Hallfreðsson's departure from White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
in 2007, they have all left the club.
Hallfreðsson became a regular starter for the Tottenham Hotspur Reserves, and played a key part in the Spurs' 2005–06 Premier League Southern Reserve title win. He then had a successful four-month loan stint at Swedish side Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
, with a total of 24 appearances and eight goals, before returning to England in the fall.
His aim had then been to make the Spurs' first team, but in his remaining months at the club he was not selected for a single game. In July 2007, he was sold to the Norwegian club Lyn, where he was slated to stay until 2010. His first match for the club was a friendly against Ham-Kam, followed by a 20-minute substitution in a league game away against Sandefjord
Sandefjord Fotball
Sandefjord Fotball is a Norwegian professional football club, founded on September 10, 1998. The club plays in the Adeccoligaen. Their home ground is the Komplett.no Arena, located in Sandefjord, Vestfold....
. His first and only 90-minute appearance was against Bodø/Glimt
F.K. Bodø/Glimt
FK Bodø/Glimt is a Norwegian football club from the town of Bodø and was founded in 1916. Its nickname is the original club name: Glimt.Bodø/Glimt have been Northern Norwegian champions nine times, Norwegian Cup Champions twice and league runners-up three seasons .Glimt are known for their yellow...
in the Norwegian Cup
Norwegian football cup
The Norwegian Football Cup is the main knockout cup competition in Norwegian football. It is run by the Football Association of Norway and has been contested since 1902, making it the oldest football tournament in the country. The tournament is commonly known as Cupen or NM, an acronym formed...
, in which he delivered a fine cross to Dylan Macallister
Dylan Macallister
Dylan Jacob Macallister is an Australian football player who plays as a forward for A-League club Gold Coast United...
for the 1–0 goal and the win. Three days later, the club surprisingly announced that Hallfreðsson would be leaving for Italy and Reggina.
Reggina
Hallfreðsson played his first Serie A match on 26 August 2007 a 1–1 draw with Atalanta B.C.Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
. In his first season, he played a regular role in Reggina's team, but in the second season he played less. In April 2009 he did, however, score a spectacular winning goal against Juventus.
Barnsley
Having not been selected to play for Reggina 1st match of the 2009–10 season at Coppa ItaliaCoppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
, he completed a one year loan to Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on 14 August 2009. He scored his first goal for Barnsley against Plymouth Argyle on 28 November 2009. However, the game was later abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch. His first goal did come two weeks later however, in the home game with Newcastle
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, slamming home a Daniel Bogdanovic
Daniel Bogdanovic
Danijel Bogdanović , more commonly spelled Daniel Bogdanović, is a Maltese professional footballer of Serb descent who plays as a striker for Blackpool.- Playing career :...
cross from 6 yards. Hallfredsson's goal made it 1–1 in an eventual 2–2 draw.
Hellas Verona
On 31 August 2010 Reggina loaned him to Verona. His first season with Verona he was a regular starter and a decisive player in achieving promotion to Serie BSerie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
. At the end of the season Hallfreðsson won the Mastino del Bentegodi award as the team's player of the year. Looking ahead to the upcoming Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
season, on 22 June 2011, three days after winning the First Division play-off, Verona outbid Reggina to purchase his contract.
International career
Hallfreðsson has been capped numerous times for the Icelandic under-21 national football team, and made his debut for the Icelandic A-team in 2005, against ItalyItaly national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
. In 2007, he was selected for the national squad for their UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.
External links
- Emil Hallfreðsson's Official Website
- Halfreðsson Stats soccerway.com