Ívar Ingimarsson
Encyclopedia
Ívar Ingimarsson is an Icelandic professional footballer currently playing for Ipswich Town
.
, making 45 league appearances and scoring five goals. In August 1998, he signed for fellow Icelandic side ÍBV
, making a further 35 appearances in the Úrvalsdeild, and scoring five goals.
Ingimarsson joined Torquay United
on loan from ÍBV in October 1999, scoring on his debut in a 2–1 victory at league leaders Barnet
on 23 October 1999. Rumours were rife that a deal had already been done to take Ingimarsson 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 £200,000, 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. He was released by Brentford in June 2002, the Bees unable to pay his wages. He signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers
the following month, but was unable to establish himself at Molineux, resulting in a loan spell with Brighton & Hove Albion
in February 2003.
, 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.
At Reading, he held a key place in the first team playing alongside Ibrahima Sonko
. Together they formed one of the best defenses 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, Ingimarsson signed a contract extension to keep him at Reading until June 2009, and on 5 May 2007 it was announced that he had been voted the 2006–07 Player of the Season by Reading fans.
On 4 July 2007, Ingimarsson signed an improved three year contract to keep him at Reading until the end of the 2009–10
season.
Following the release of Graeme Murty
from Reading, and the arrival of new manager Brendan Rodgers
, Ingimarsson was announced as Reading's new club captain on 7 August 2009.
Ingimarsson has played in all of Reading's FA Cup matches in the 2009/10 campaign including their famous 2–1 win over Liverpool FC 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, Ingimarsson 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 Ingimarsson out of action for the rest of the season.
Ingimarsson was then offered a new one year contract at the end of the 2009/10 season which he signed on the 14th May 2010. It was announced that, after eight years and 282 appearances for the Royals, Ingimarsson had been released from Reading. Former Reading captain Aidy Williams stated that "Ivar will go down as a Reading legend".
on a free transfer, following his release from Reading. Manager Paul Jewell
announced the deal, with Ingimarsson handed a one-year contract.
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.
Reading
His cousin is professional footballer Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson
who spent the second half of the 2009/2010 season on loan at Reading.
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
.
Early years
Ingimarsson began his career with his local side Súlan (in Stöðvarfjörður), then joined Valur ReykjavíkValur
Knattspyrnufélagið Valur is an Icelandic athletic club based in Reykjavík, Iceland. One of Iceland's most prolific clubs it celebrates its 100th birthday in 2011. The club is situated close to the city centre, in the traditional east side of town, at the old farmgrounds of Hlíðarendi...
, making 45 league appearances and scoring five goals. In August 1998, he signed for fellow Icelandic side ÍBV
Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja
Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja is an Icelandic sports club from Vestmannaeyjar off the south coast of Iceland. It has both women and men teams competing in various sports.-Current mens squad:...
, making a further 35 appearances in the Úrvalsdeild, and scoring five goals.
Ingimarsson joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on loan from ÍBV in October 1999, scoring on his debut in a 2–1 victory at league leaders Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
on 23 October 1999. Rumours were rife that a deal had already been done to take Ingimarsson elsewhere at the end of his loan spell, and, after four league games for the Gulls, he duly signed for Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in November 1999 for £200,000, confirming the fears of Torquay fans that he would never be a permanent fixture at Plainmoor.
While at Brentford, the band The Bluetones
The Bluetones
The Bluetones were an English indie rock band, formed in Hounslow, Greater London, in 1993. The band's members were Mark Morriss on vocals, Adam Devlin on guitar, Scott Morriss on bass guitar, and Eds Chesters on drums. A fifth member, Richard Payne, came on board between 1998 and 2002...
named one of their instrumental B-sides Ingimarsson in his honour; Adam Devlin, the guitarist, being a Bees fan. He was released by Brentford in June 2002, the Bees unable to pay his wages. He signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
the following month, but was unable to establish himself at Molineux, resulting in a loan spell with Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
in February 2003.
Reading
In October 2003, Ingimarsson was linked with a move to Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, but snubbed them in favour of a move to Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, whom he joined in a £175,000 deal on 23 October 2003 as Steve Coppell
Steve Coppell
Stephen James "Steve" Coppell is an English former footballer and manager, currently without a club.As a player, he was a highly regarded right winger known for his speed and work rate. He won domestic honours with Manchester United and represented England at the World Cup...
's first signing as Reading manager.
At Reading, he held a key place in the first team playing alongside Ibrahima Sonko
Ibrahima Sonko
Ibrahima Sonko is a Senegalese international professional footballer who currently plays for Ipswich Town.-Reading:...
. Together they formed one of the best defenses in the English Football League
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
. 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
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
on 19 August 2006. On 13 November 2006, Ingimarsson signed a contract extension to keep him at Reading until June 2009, and on 5 May 2007 it was announced that he had been voted the 2006–07 Player of the Season by Reading fans.
On 4 July 2007, Ingimarsson signed an improved three year contract to keep him at Reading until the end of the 2009–10
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
season.
Following the release of Graeme Murty
Graeme Murty
Graeme Stuart Murty is a footballer. He has made more than 400 appearances in the Football League playing for York City, Reading, Charlton Athletic and Southampton...
from Reading, and the arrival of new manager Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers is a Northern Irish former footballer, who is currently the manager of Swansea City.After retiring as a footballer at the age of 20, Rodgers stayed at Reading and was appointed as youth team coach. He joined Chelsea, under the leadership of José Mourinho, as youth team manager in...
, Ingimarsson was announced as Reading's new club captain on 7 August 2009.
Ingimarsson has played in all of Reading's FA Cup matches in the 2009/10 campaign including their famous 2–1 win over Liverpool FC at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
. He asked the new manager, Brian McDermott
Brian McDermott
Brian G. McDermott is an English professional rugby league football coach and former player. He started as Head Coach of Harlequins RL of Super League on 8 July 2006 and departs on 4 September 2010.-Biography:...
, 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, Ingimarsson 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 Ingimarsson out of action for the rest of the season.
Ingimarsson was then offered a new one year contract at the end of the 2009/10 season which he signed on the 14th May 2010. It was announced that, after eight years and 282 appearances for the Royals, Ingimarsson had been released from Reading. Former Reading captain Aidy Williams stated that "Ivar will go down as a Reading legend".
Ipswich Town
On 13 June 2011, it was announced that Ingimarsson had joined Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
on a free transfer, following his release from Reading. Manager Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
announced the deal, with Ingimarsson handed a one-year contract.
International career
Ingimarsson made his debut for IcelandIceland 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....
in a June 1998 friendly match against South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
. 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
Ásgeir Sigurvinsson
Ásgeir "Sigi" Sigurvinsson is an Icelandic football coach and a former player.The attacking midfielder was one of the first, and certainly one of the most celebrated, Icelandic professional football players...
and Logi Ólafsson
Logi Ólafsson
Logi Ólafsson is an Icelandic football coach. As of 13 October 2010 he is the head coach of top division football team Selfoss. His last position before was as the manager of KR Reykjavík in Iceland. He was also in charge of the Iceland national team between 1996 and 1997, and then as a joint...
. He became available again once the pair were replaced by Eyjólfur Sverrisson
Eyjólfur Sverrisson
Eyjólfur Gjafar Sverrisson is a former Icelandic footballer and former coach of the Iceland national football team.He is the father of Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson, who signed for West Ham United in the summer of 2008.-Club career:...
, and made several further appearances before retiring again in 2007.
Honours
Brentford- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
runner-up: 20012001 Football League Trophy FinalThe 2001 Football League Trophy Final was the 18th final of the Football League Trophy, the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Football League Second and Third Divisions...
Reading
- Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe 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...
winner: 2005–06
Personal life
He is married and has two children.His cousin is professional footballer Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson
Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson
Gunnar Heiðar Þorvaldsson, commonly anglisised as Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson , is an Icelandic footballer who currently plays as a striker for Esbjerg fB, he is loaned to Fredrikstad FK and the Icelandic national team...
who spent the second half of the 2009/2010 season on loan at Reading.
External links
- Ívar Ingimarsson profile at readingfc.co.uk