Victor Pálsson

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

Guðlaugur Victor Pálsson
Guðlaugur playing for Hibernian in 2011
Personal information
Full name Guðlaugur Victor Pálsson
Date of birth (1991-04-30) 30 April 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Reykjavík, Iceland
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Plymouth Argyle
Number 44
Youth career
–2003 Fjölnir
2004–2007 Fylkir
2007–2009 AGF
2009–2010 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Liverpool 0 (0)
2010–2011 → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 2 (0)
2011–2012 Hibernian 31 (1)
2012 New York Red Bulls 16 (0)
2012 → NEC (loan) 12 (2)
2013–2014 NEC 38 (2)
2014–2015 Helsingborgs IF 33 (3)
2015–2017 Esbjerg fB 35 (3)
2017–2019 FC Zürich 47 (1)
2019–2021 Darmstadt 98 67 (6)
2021–2022 Schalke 04 28 (0)
2022–2023 D.C. United 28 (0)
2023–2024 Eupen 35 (2)
2024– Plymouth Argyle 8 (0)
International career‡
2007 Iceland U17 7 (0)
2008–2009 Iceland U19 6 (0)
2009–2012 Iceland U21 11 (0)
2014– Iceland 47 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024

Guðlaugur Victor Pálsson (born 30 April 1991) is an Icelandic professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle. He has previously played for Liverpool, Dagenham & Redbridge, Hibernian, New York Red Bulls, NEC, Helsingborgs IF, Esbjerg fB, Zürich, Darmstadt 98, Schalke 04, D.C. United and Eupen.

Club career

Early career

Guðlaugur was born in Reykjavík to an Icelandic mother and a Portuguese father. His paternal grandfather was a native of Mozambique. He played for Fjölnir but he decided to move to the neighbouring club Fylkir to get a chance to play on higher level. He then moved to Danish side AGF Aarhus in 2007.

Guðlaugur joined Premier League team Liverpool in 2009. He played for Liverpool reserves and served as team captain but failed to make the breakthrough into the first-team.[2] He went on loan to Dagenham & Redbridge in November 2010,[3][4] making his debut for the Daggers in the 1st round of the FA Cup in a 1–1 draw with Leyton Orient.[5] He made three appearances for the club, including an FA Cup tie, before returning to Liverpool.

Hibernian

On 28 January 2011, Guðlaugur signed an 18-month contract with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian.[2][6] Guðlaugur was given squad number 91, since 1991 was his birth-year. He made his debut in a 3–0 defeat against Dundee United two days later.[7] Guðlaugur scored his first goal for the club with a penalty in a 2–1 win against Kilmarnock on 12 February.[8] Guðlaugur played regularly under the management of Colin Calderwood, but featured less regularly after Calderwood was replaced by Pat Fenlon.[9] On 10 January 2012, Hibernian announced that Victor had left the club with immediate effect after an agreement was reached to cancel his contract.[9][10]

New York Red Bulls

Sky Sports reported on 24 January 2012 that Guðlaugur was close to agreeing to terms with Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls.[11] The signing was confirmed by New York on 10 February 2012.[12] Guðlagur did not command a regular starting place in the New York starting lineup during the 2012 season.[13]

Later career

With the New York Red Bulls in July 2012

In August 2012, the club loaned Guðlaugur to Eredivisie club NEC until May 2013, including an option for permanent signing.[14] On 31 December 2012, he was signed by NEC permanently on a free transfer. He signed a contract until the summer of 2016.[15]

After the relegation of NEC, Guðlaugur left the club and signed a contract in August 2014 with Swedish side Helsingborgs IF.[16] He made his league debut for the club on 10 August 2014 in a 0–0 home draw with Norrköping. He came on as a substitute for Arnór Smárason in the 75th minute.[17]

Guðlaugur signed a four-year contract with Danish side Esbjerg fB on 31 August 2015.[18] He made his league debut for the club on 14 September 2015 in a 4–2 home victory over Odense BK. He scored his first goal for the club in the 30th minute of this match.[19]

In July 2017 he signed a three-year contract with Swiss side FC Zürich.[20] He made his league debut for Zürich in a 2–1 home victory over Thun on 30 July 2017. He came on as a substitute for Sangoné Sarr in the 85th minute.[21] He was captain of the 2017–18 Swiss Cup winning team.

On 9 January 2019, Guðlaugur Victor signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with 2. Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98.[22][23]

On 25 May 2021, he agreed to join FC Schalke 04, newly relegated from Bundesliga, for the 2021–22 season, signing a two-year contract.[24]

On 27 July 2022, he joined Major League Soccer club D.C. United on a contract until the end of 2024 with an option for a further year.[25]

On 28 July 2023, Guðlaugur Victor returned to Europe when he joined Belgian Pro League club Eupen on a three-year deal,[26] but the Pandas were relegated at the end of his first season there.

On 25 July 2024, Guðlaugur Victor signed for EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle.[27] He reunited with former D.C. United manager Wayne Rooney, who had recommended his signing despite not being responsible for transfers at the club. Affected by injury and lack of form, he played only eight games before Rooney's resignation on 31 December.[28]

International career

Guðlaugur has represented Iceland at Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, and full international levels. He helped Iceland qualify to the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. He scored his first goal for the senior team in a 4–1 win against Liechtenstein on 31 March 2021.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played on 11 May 2024.[29][30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool 2010–11 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Dagenham & Redbridge 2010–11 League One 2 0 1 0 — — 3 0
Hibernian 2010–11 Scottish Premiership 16 1 — — — 16 1
2011–12 Scottish Premiership 15 0 0 0 — 3[a] 0 18 0
Total 31 1 0 0 — 3 0 34 1
New York Red Bulls 2012 Major League Soccer 16 0 1 0 — — 17 0
NEC Nijmegen 2012–13 Eredivisie 27 2 1 0 — — 28 2
2013–14 Eredivisie 23 2 2 0 — 2[b] 0 27 2
Total 50 4 3 0 — 2 0 55 4
Helsingborgs IF 2014 Allsvenskan 12 2 4 1 — — 16 3
2015 Allsvenskan 21 1 1 0 — — 22 1
Total 33 3 5 1 — — 38 4
Esbjerg fB 2015–16 Danish Superliga 5 1 1 0 — — 6 1
2016–17 Danish Superliga 30 2 2 0 — 3[c] 0 35 2
Total 35 3 3 0 — 3 0 41 3
FC Zürich 2017–18 Swiss Super League 33 1 6 1 — — 39 2
2018–19 Swiss Super League 14 0 1 0 5 1 — 20 1
Total 47 1 7 1 5 1 — 59 3
Darmstadt 98 2018–19 2. Bundesliga 15 0 — — — 15 0
2019–20 2. Bundesliga 31 3 2 0 — — 33 3
2020–21 2. Bundesliga 21 3 2 0 — — 23 3
Total 67 6 4 0 — — 71 6
Schalke 04 2021–22 2. Bundesliga 28 0 2 0 — — 30 0
D.C. United 2022 Major League Soccer 10 0 — — — 10 0
2023 Major League Soccer 18 0 0 0 — — 18 0
Total 28 0 — — — 28 0
Eupen 2023–24 Belgian Pro League 35 2 1 0 — — 36 2
Plymouth Argyle 2024–25 Championship 8 0 0 0 — — 8 0
Career total 380 20 27 2 5 1 8 0 420 23
  1. ^ Appearances in Scottish League Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Eredivisie play-offs
  3. ^ Appearances in Danish Superliga relegation play-offs

International

As of match played on 19 November 2024.[30]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Iceland 2014 1 0
2015 3 0
2016 0 0
2017 2 0
2018 5 0
2019 4 0
2020 8 0
2021 6 1
2022 2 0
2023 11 0
2024 5 1
Total 47 2
Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Guðlaugur Victor goal.
List of international goals scored by Guðlaugur Victor Pálsson
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 31 March 2021 Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein 26  Liechtenstein 3–0 4–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 9 September 2024 Gürsel Aksel Stadium, İzmir, Turkey 45  Turkey 1–1 1–3 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B

Honours

FC Zürich

Schalke 04

References

  1. ^ "Victor Pálsson". D.C. United. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Midfielder completes transfer". Liverpool F.C. official website. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  3. ^ "Defender seals loan switch". Liverpoolfc.tv. 4 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Dagenham and Redbridge sign Victor Palsson on loan". BBC Sport. 4 November 2010.
  5. ^ "Dag & Red 1 - 1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 6 November 2010.
  6. ^ "Palsson Deal Completed". hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian F.C. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Dundee Utd 3 - 0 Hibernian". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  8. ^ "Hibernian 2 - 1 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  9. ^ a b Schweitzer-Thompson, Alex (12 January 2012). "Victor Palsson has fond Hibs memories as he exits". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  10. ^ "Palsson Leaves Club". hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian F.C. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Palsson set for MLS move". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Red Bulls Sign Midfielder Victor Palsson". newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  13. ^ Panizo, Franco (27 August 2012). "Sources: RBNY close to loaning Palsson to Netherlands". www.mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  14. ^ "Red Bulls Loan Midfielder Victor Palsson to Dutch Club N.E.C. Nijmegen". www.newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  15. ^ "NEC trekt huurling Pálsson transfervrij aan". www.voetbalprimeur.nl. Voetbalprimeur. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  16. ^ "Sport | Het laatste nieuws uit Nederland leest u op Telegraaf.nl".
  17. ^ "Helsingborgs vs. Norrkoping – 10 August 2014 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  18. ^ "Esbjerg skriver fire år med Victor Palsson".
  19. ^ "Esbjerg vs. Odense – 14 September 2015 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  20. ^ "Der FC Zürich verpflichtet Victor Pálsson". fcz.ch. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  21. ^ "Zurich vs. Thun – 30 July 2017 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Lilien verpflichten Nationalspieler Pálsson". sv98.de. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  23. ^ "Palsson: Der erste Isländer in Darmstadt". kicker Online (in German). 9 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  24. ^ "Victor Pálsson joins S04, Florian Flick signs a pro deal". Schalke 04. 25 May 2021.
  25. ^ "D.C. United Sign Icelandic National Team Midfielder Victor Pálsson from German Bundesliga Club FC Schalke 04". D.C. United. 27 July 2022.
  26. ^ "La KAS Eupen engage l'international islandais Victor Pálsson" [KAS Eupen sign Icelandic international Victor Pálsson]. www.as-eupen.be/fr (in French). 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  27. ^ "Victor Pálsson signs for Argyle | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  28. ^ Law, James (31 December 2024). "'Humble & popular but no plan B' - The inside story of Rooney at Plymouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  29. ^ a b Victor Pálsson at Soccerway Edit this at Wikidata
  30. ^ a b Victor Pálsson at WorldFootball.net Edit this at Wikidata
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