Ólafur Stefánsson
Encyclopedia
Ólafur Indriði Stefánsson (born July 3, 1973 in Reykjavík
, Iceland
) is an Iceland
ic handball
player who currently plays for AG København
in Denmark. He is the current captain for the Iceland national handball team
. His demarcation is right back. He is considered to be one of the best handball players in the world.
As a player for his national team, he currently holds the record for the number of goals scored with a national handball team (over 1400 goals) ever. He is also one of the most enduring handball players of all times, being a field player since 1990.
He was voted Sports Personality of the Year in Iceland in 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009.
and became champion of Iceland with that team 5 times. After Valur, he migrated to Germany
, playing with LTV Wuppertal, then SC Magdeburg
. In 2003, he played for the renowned handball team BM Ciudad Real
in Spain
, until 2009 where he went back to Germany to play with Rhein-Neckar Löwen
.
to take part in the world championships, which were held in Iceland.
He was captain for the national handball team on the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing (ending with the silver medal), and again on the 2010 European Championship
where Iceland finished third.
, formerly of NBA's Dallas Mavericks
.
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, Iceland
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...
) is an Iceland
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 handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
player who currently plays for AG København
AG København
AG København is a Danish handball club from Glostrup and Albertslund, two suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark. In the season 2010/2011 it plays in the Danish Handball League. Their head coach was former Danish national team player Klavs Bruun Jørgensen in the 2010/11 season. Head coach is Magnus...
in Denmark. He is the current captain for the Iceland national handball team
Iceland national handball team
The Iceland national handball team is the national handball team of Iceland and is controlled by the Icelandic Handball Association.- World Championships :- European Championships :- Olympic games :- Current squad :...
. His demarcation is right back. He is considered to be one of the best handball players in the world.
As a player for his national team, he currently holds the record for the number of goals scored with a national handball team (over 1400 goals) ever. He is also one of the most enduring handball players of all times, being a field player since 1990.
He was voted Sports Personality of the Year in Iceland in 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009.
Career in clubs
Stefánsson started in the Reykjavík sports club ValurValur
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...
and became champion of Iceland with that team 5 times. After Valur, he migrated to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, playing with LTV Wuppertal, then SC Magdeburg
SC Magdeburg
SC Magdeburg is a German multi-sports club located in the city of Magdeburg, which offers athletics, canoeing, gymnastics, rowing, swimming and team handball. Historically, the club has also had a water polo section as well as a football section that was separated that as 1. FC Magdeburg in 1965...
. In 2003, he played for the renowned handball team BM Ciudad Real
BM Ciudad Real
Balonmano Ciudad Real was a Spanish handball team based in Ciudad Real, Castilla La Mancha. BM Ciudad Real plays in Liga ASOBAL. They won the 2009 EHF Champions League by beating THW Kiel in the final. 67:66 on aggregate.-History:...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, until 2009 where he went back to Germany to play with Rhein-Neckar Löwen
Rhein-Neckar Löwen
Rhein-Neckar Löwen is a handball club from Mannheim, Germany. The club was founded in 2002 as a merger of TSG Kronau and TSG Baden Östringen, competing initially under the name SG Kronau/Östringen...
.
Career on the national team
In 1995, he was selected to play on the Iceland national handball teamIceland national handball team
The Iceland national handball team is the national handball team of Iceland and is controlled by the Icelandic Handball Association.- World Championships :- European Championships :- Olympic games :- Current squad :...
to take part in the world championships, which were held in Iceland.
He was captain for the national handball team on the 2008 Summer Olympics
Handball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
thumb|left|240px|Gold medalists [[France]] collect their medals on August 24, 2008Handball competitions at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics were held from August 9, to August 24, at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium and National Indoor Stadium. Medals were awarded for both Men's and Women's team...
in Beijing (ending with the silver medal), and again on the 2010 European Championship
2010 European Men's Handball Championship
The 2010 EHF European Men's Handball Championship was held in Austria from 19–31 January, in the cities of Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz and Wiener Neustadt.-Venues:...
where Iceland finished third.
Family
He is the brother of Icelandic basketball player Jón Arnór StefánssonJón Arnór Stefánsson
Jón Arnór Stefánsson is an Icelandic basketball player who currently plays with CAI Zaragoza in Spain and also is a member of the Icelandic national team. He won the FIBA EuroCup title in 2005 with Dynamo Saint Petersburg.-External links:**...
, formerly of NBA's Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
.
SC Magdeburg
- BundesligaBundesliga (handball)The Handball-Bundesliga is the top German professional handball league. The league has been sponsored by Toyota since 2007 and therefore the league is called the Toyota Handball-Bundesliga...
: 2001 - DHB-Supercup: 2001
- Champions LeagueEHF Champions LeagueThe EHF Champions League is the most important professional club handball competition in Europe . The competition was started in the 1956–57 season, and is administered by the European Handball Federation.The most successful teams are from Germany and Spain...
: 2002 - EHF CupEHF CupThe EHF Cup is an official competition for men's handball clubs of Europe and takes place every year. From 2012/13 it will be merged with EHF Cup Winners' Cup to EHF European Cup....
: 1999, 2001 - EHF Men’s Champions Trophy: 2001, 2002
BM Ciudad Real
- Liga ASOBAL : 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009
- Copa ASOBALCopa ASOBALThe Copa ASOBAL is an annual cup competition for Spanish handball teams. It is Organized by the Liga ASOBAL.The Copa ASOBAL was founded in 1990 and is disputed between 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th at previous season final standings....
: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 - Supercopa ASOBALSupercopa ASOBALThe Supercopa ASOBAL or Supercopa de España de Balonmano is an annual cup competition for Spanish handball teams. It is a competition managed by the Liga ASOBAL....
: 2005, 2008 - EHF Champions LeagueEHF Champions LeagueThe EHF Champions League is the most important professional club handball competition in Europe . The competition was started in the 1956–57 season, and is administered by the European Handball Federation.The most successful teams are from Germany and Spain...
: 2006, 2008, 2009 - EHF Men’s Champions Trophy: 2005, 2006
International
- 5th place at 1997 World Championship1997 World Men's Handball Championship- Final standings :# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # - External links :*...
- 4th place at 2002 European Championship2002 European Men's Handball ChampionshipThe 2002 Men's European Handball Championship took place from 25 January to 3 February 2002 in Sweden.-Teams:-Venues:-Preliminary round:The first three of each group reach the main stage...
- 2nd at 2008 Olympic GamesHandball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament-Group B:All times are China Standard Time ---------------------------------------------------------Medal round:All times are China Standard Time -Quarterfinals:-------------Classification:----...
- 3rd place at 2010 European Championship2010 European Men's Handball ChampionshipThe 2010 EHF European Men's Handball Championship was held in Austria from 19–31 January, in the cities of Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz and Wiener Neustadt.-Venues:...
Individual
- Icelandic Sports Personality of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009
- Top Scorer at 2002 European ChampionshipEuropean Men's Handball ChampionshipThe European men's handball championship is the official competition for senior men's national handball teams of Europe, and takes place every two years. In addition to crowning the European champions, the tournament also serves as a qualifying tournament for the World Championship...
- Top Scorer in Magdeburg's history
- Top Scorer in 2007-08 EHF Champions League
- Top Scorer at BM Ciudad Real in 2002-03 season
- Selected in 2002 European Championship2002 European Men's Handball ChampionshipThe 2002 Men's European Handball Championship took place from 25 January to 3 February 2002 in Sweden.-Teams:-Venues:-Preliminary round:The first three of each group reach the main stage...
All Star Team - Selected in 2004 Olympic Games All Star Team
- Selected in 2008 Olympic GamesHandball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament-Group B:All times are China Standard Time ---------------------------------------------------------Medal round:All times are China Standard Time -Quarterfinals:-------------Classification:----...
All Star Team - Selected in 2010 European Championship2010 European Men's Handball ChampionshipThe 2010 EHF European Men's Handball Championship was held in Austria from 19–31 January, in the cities of Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz and Wiener Neustadt.-Venues:...
All Star Team
Links
- Ólafur Stefánssons profile at rhein-neckar-loewen.de