Hákon Valdimarsson Explained

Hákon Valdimarsson
Fullname:Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson
Birth Date:13 October 2001
Birth Place:Iceland
Height:1.93 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Brentford
Clubnumber:31
Youthyears1:–2014
Youthclubs1:KR
Youthyears2:2015–2017
Youthclubs2:Grótta
Years1:2017–2021
Clubs1:Grótta
Caps1:65
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–2024
Clubs2:IF Elfsborg
Caps2:48
Goals2:0
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Brentford
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:2018
Nationalteam1:Iceland U18
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2019
Nationalteam2:Iceland U19
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2021–2022
Nationalteam3:Iceland U21
Nationalcaps3:8
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2022–
Nationalteam4:Iceland
Nationalcaps4:11
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:1 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:10 June 2024

Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson (born 13 October 2001) is an Icelandic professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Brentford and the Iceland national team.[1]

Handball

Hákon Valdimarsson played handball in Reykjavík for Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur. He played as an outfield player. [2]

Club career

KR

After playing for their handball team, Valdimarsson joined the Under 19 football team when they needed a goalkeeper. He played with them for a while, until the first team needed a second goalkeeper.

Grótta

Valdimarsson joined Grótta in 2015. After playing as an outfield player for the youth sides of KR, he first played as a goalkeeper after his switch to Grótta in 2015, appearing as an outfield player for Grótta's youth sides as late as 2017.[3] He made his senior debut in the last game of the 2017 1. deild season as an already relegated Grótta lost 2–1 to Leiknir Reykjavík.[4] Hákon then played in 15 out of 22 games in the 2018 2. deild as Grótta placed second and were promoted back to 1. deild. In the 2019 season, Hákon played in all 22 matches as Grótta became champions and were promoted to the top tier Úrvalsdeild for the first time.[5] In 2020 he played all 18 matches as Grótta were relegated back to the 1. deild. It was announced on the 30 April 2021 that Hákon had signed with Allsvenskan team IF Elfsborg and that Hákon would join them in the summer.[6] Hákon played nine matches for Grótta in the first half of the 2021 season before joining Elfsborg in July.

IF Elfsborg

It was announced on the 30 April 2021 that Hákon had signed with Allsvenskan team IF Elfsborg and that Hákon would join them in the summer, Hákon then joined formally in July.[7] Hákon made his Allsvenskan debut for Elfsborg in a 1–0 win against IFK Göteborg on 1 October 2021 and proceeded to play in the next four matches.[8] Hákon was on the bench for the first half of the 2022 season, before he was given a chance to start in a 1–0 loss against Kalmar FF on 24 July 2022. The following game he was on the bench but a second start of the season in a 1–1 draw against Mjällby AIF saw him cement his place as the starting goalkeeper for IF Elfsborg. Hákon started all but one game in the 2023 season, being sent off in the 29th minute of a 1–0 loss to IFK Värnamo on 2 September 2023. Hákon conceded 22 goals in 29 league appearances, keeping 14 clean sheets. At the end of the season, Hákon was given the Allsvenskan goalkeeper of the year award.[9]

Brentford

On 26 January 2024, Hákon signed a contract until June 2028 with Premier League club Brentford, for a reported £2.6 million transfer fee.[10] [11]

International career

Hákon has featured for the U-18, U-19 and U-21 Iceland youth teams, debuting in 2018, 2019 and 2021 respectively. On 12 November 2021 Hákon received his first call-up to the senior squad when Patrik Gunnarsson had to withdraw through injury.[12]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Grótta20171. deild10002030
20182. deild1500030180
20191. deild2203030280
2020Úrvalsdeild1802030230
20211. deild900030120
Total6505014000840
IF Elfsborg2021Allsvenskan5050
2022Allsvenskan14050190
2023Allsvenskan290290
Total480500000530
Brentford2023–24Premier League0000
Career total84050140001370

Honours

Grótta

Allsvenskan

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 26 Jan 2024 . BRENTFORD SIGN ICELAND GOALKEEPER VALDIMARSSON . Brentford FC.
  2. News: 26 Jan 2024 . HANDBALL TO FOOTBALL: NEW BRENTFORD SIGNING HÁKON VALDIMARSSON’S UNORTHODOX PATH TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE . Brentford FC.
  3. Web site: Leikmaður - Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson . www.ksi.is . . 13 November 2021 . is.
  4. Web site: Leikskýrsla: Leiknir R. - Grótta - Knattspyrnusamband Íslands . www.ksi.is . . 13 November 2021 . is.
  5. Web site: Grótta í úrvalsdeildina eftir ótrúlegt sumar . RÚV . . 13 November 2021 . is . 21 September 2019.
  6. Web site: Sæmundsson . Ingvi Þór . Elfsborg krækir í Hákon Rafn - Vísir . visir.is . . 13 November 2021 . is.
  7. Web site: Tveir efnilegir Íslendingar kynntir hjá nýjum félögum . RÚV . . 13 November 2021 . is . 16 July 2021.
  8. Web site: Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson Football Stats Elfsborg Boras Age 20 Soccer Base . 13 November 2021 . www.soccerbase.com.
  9. Web site: 2023-11-14 . Spelare från Malmö FF och IF Elfsborg dominerade på Allsvenskans Stora Pris - Allsvenskan . 2023-12-08 . allsvenskan.se . sv-SE.
  10. Web site: 26 January 2023 . Brentford sign Iceland Goalkeeper Valdimarsson . 26 January 2023 . Brentford F.C..
  11. Web site: Smith . Dom . 24 January 2024 . Brentford agree £2.6m deal for new goalkeeper with medical today . 27 January 2024 . Evening Standard . en.
  12. Web site: Hákon Rafn kallaður inn í A-landsliðið . RÚV . . 13 November 2021 . is . 12 November 2021.
  13. Web site: Íslandsmót - Inkasso-deild karla - 2019 . www.ksi.is . . 13 November 2021 . is.
  14. https://www.ruv.is/frettir/ithrottir/2023-11-14-hakon-rafn-besti-markvordur-saensku-deildarinnar-397097 Hákon Rafn besti markvörður sænsku deildarinnar