Árni Gautur Arason
Encyclopedia
Árni Gautur Arason is an Iceland
ic football goalkeeper, who currently playing for Lierse SK in Belgium
. Arason is also an educated lawyer from the University of Iceland
.
appearances for the club. After leaving Rosenborg, he had a brief spell at Manchester City
in the spring of 2004, serving as understudy to David James
, but only made two FA Cup
appearances for the club.
In the first of these, against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, City found themselves 3-0 down at half time after an abject first half performance, and down to 10 men after Joey Barton had been sent off at the half time whistle. Following a Sylvain Distin header early in the second half, City were 3-1 down when Spurs won a free kick about 25 yards out. Christian Ziege had already beaten Arason from a similar distance in the first half but this time Arason produced a stunning one handed tip onto the crossbar from a full stretch dive to his left, Gus Poyet could have headed the rebound into an open net but Arason scrambled back to his right to save this effort too. A goal here would arguably have killed the game off but after the brilliant double save City went on to win 4-3 in what has been described as one of the greatest FA Cup comebacks of all time. Arason's part in the historic win has never been forgotten by the City faithful.
He subsequently went on to join Vålerenga in the summer of 2004.
On 30 November 2007, Arason's contract expired and he left Vålerenga. In March 2008 he joined South African club Thanda Royal Zulu
on a short contract, before moving back to Norway joining Odd Grenland in the summer the same year.
Arason is a good and stable keeper who has played a lot of Norwegian Premier League
football, and been one of the Norwegian Premier League
's best goalkeepers in the 2000s.
and is still a regular for the Icelandic national team
, earning over 60 international caps since. He has not featured for the national team since leaving Norwegian club Vålerenga in 2007 until October 2008. But still he was on bench then in two matches.
Vålerenga
as the Norwegian league's goalkeeper of the year in 2001 and 2005.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic football goalkeeper, who currently playing for Lierse SK in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Arason is also an educated lawyer from the University of Iceland
University of Iceland
The University of Iceland is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern comprehensive university, providing instruction for about...
.
Club career
He played for Rosenborg between January 1998 and December 2003, also making several UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
appearances for the club. After leaving Rosenborg, he had a brief spell at Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in the spring of 2004, serving as understudy to David James
David James (footballer)
David Benjamin James is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bristol City.On 14 February 2009, he achieved the all-time Premier League appearance record with 536 appearances, overtaking Gary Speed. He held this record until being overtaken by Ryan Giggs on the 14th May 2011...
, but only made two FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
appearances for the club.
In the first of these, against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, City found themselves 3-0 down at half time after an abject first half performance, and down to 10 men after Joey Barton had been sent off at the half time whistle. Following a Sylvain Distin header early in the second half, City were 3-1 down when Spurs won a free kick about 25 yards out. Christian Ziege had already beaten Arason from a similar distance in the first half but this time Arason produced a stunning one handed tip onto the crossbar from a full stretch dive to his left, Gus Poyet could have headed the rebound into an open net but Arason scrambled back to his right to save this effort too. A goal here would arguably have killed the game off but after the brilliant double save City went on to win 4-3 in what has been described as one of the greatest FA Cup comebacks of all time. Arason's part in the historic win has never been forgotten by the City faithful.
He subsequently went on to join Vålerenga in the summer of 2004.
On 30 November 2007, Arason's contract expired and he left Vålerenga. In March 2008 he joined South African club Thanda Royal Zulu
Thanda Royal Zulu
Thanda Royal Zulu is a South African football club based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal that currently plays in the National First Division.-History:...
on a short contract, before moving back to Norway joining Odd Grenland in the summer the same year.
Arason is a good and stable keeper who has played a lot of Norwegian Premier League
Norwegian Premier League
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
football, and been one of the Norwegian Premier League
Norwegian Premier League
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
's best goalkeepers in the 2000s.
International career
He made his debut in an August 1998 friendly match against LatviaLatvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
and is still a regular for the Icelandic national team
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
, earning over 60 international caps since. He has not featured for the national team since leaving Norwegian club Vålerenga in 2007 until October 2008. But still he was on bench then in two matches.
Club
Rosenborg BK- Norwegian Premier LeagueNorwegian Premier LeagueTippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
Champion: 2000, 2001, 2002 - Norwegian Football CupNorwegian football cupThe 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...
Win: 1999Norwegian Football Cup 1999The Norwegian Football Cup 1999 was won by Rosenborg after they beat Brann in the cup final. It was the 94th Norwegian Football Cup. This was Rosenborg's eighth Norwegian Cup title.-First round:The First round was played on 4 May and 5 May...
Vålerenga
- Norwegian Premier LeagueNorwegian Premier LeagueTippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
Champion: 2005
Individual
Kniksen awardKniksen award
The Kniksen award , established in 1990, acclaims the best players in the Norwegian football premiership. The award is named after the legendary Norwegian football player Roald Jensen, nicknamed "Kniksen".-Category A:...
as the Norwegian league's goalkeeper of the year in 2001 and 2005.