Kjartan Finnbogason Explained

Kjartan Finnbogason
Fullname:Kjartan Henry Finnbogason
Birth Date:9 July 1986
Birth Place:Reykjavík, Iceland
Height:1.90 m
Position:Striker
Currentclub:FH
Clubnumber:9
Years1:2003–2004
Clubs1:KR Reykjavík
Caps1:16
Goals1:2
Years2:2005–2008
Clubs2:Celtic
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2006
Clubs3:Queen's Park (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2007
Clubs4:Åtvidabergs FF (loan)
Caps4:6
Goals4:1
Years5:2008–2010
Clubs5:Sandefjord
Caps5:22
Goals5:10
Years6:2009–2010
Clubs6:Falkirk (loan)
Caps6:7
Goals6:1
Years7:2010–2014
Clubs7:KR Reykjavík
Caps7:115
Goals7:53
Years8:2014–2018
Clubs8:AC Horsens
Caps8:119
Goals8:50
Years9:2018–2019
Clubs9:Ferencváros
Caps9:14
Goals9:6
Years10:2019–2020
Clubs10:Vejle BK
Caps10:42
Goals10:21
Years11:2020–2021
Clubs11:AC Horsens
Caps11:7
Goals11:2
Years12:2021
Clubs12:Esbjerg fB
Caps12:8
Goals12:2
Years13:2021-2022
Clubs13:KR
Caps13:35
Goals13:11
Years14:2023-
Clubs14:FH
Caps14:24
Goals14:11
Nationalyears1:2011–
Nationalteam1:Iceland
Nationalcaps1:13
Nationalgoals1:3
Club-Update:10 November 2023
Nationalteam-Update:19 January 2020

Kjartan Henry Finnbogason (born 9 July 1986) is an Icelandic international footballer who plays as a striker for FH. He has represented Iceland at international level.

Club career

Kjartan was born in Reykjavík, Iceland. He was signed by Celtic in December 2004.[1] Although signing for the club as a member of their youth academy, he was loaned to Queen's Park in the 2005–06 season to gain first team experience, but he suffered a broken foot and soon returned to Celtic Park. Despite scoring 28 goals in 20 reserve appearances for the Glasgow club, he failed to make a single first team appearance and left after less than two years. It was reported in the Scottish press that Kjartan was unhappy with the way he was treated. Sources claimed he was disenchanted with the lack of first team opportunities given to him by manager Gordon Strachan. Celtic were initially going to offer him a contract, but due to notable disagreements Kjartan handed in a transfer request.

He had several trial offers from English clubs and he made public his intention to play in the Premier League. Kjartan accepted a trial from Bristol City at the start of the 2007–08 season and went on the clubs Latvian tour against Skonto FC and FK Žalgiris Vilnius, but did not impress sufficiently and was released after the tour.[2]

He made a good impression at Falkirk after scoring in the 2–1 defeat of Livingston on 5 August 2009 as a trialist attacker in a friendly. In August 2009, Kjartan signed a six-month loan deal at Falkirk, with an option of a permanent deal. He scored on his debut, against Dundee United on 29 August 2009.[3]

He signed for Sandefjord Fotball in January 2010. Kjartan then signed for KR Reykjavik in 2010 making a two-year contract. Playing in shirt number 6 he scored 9 goals in all competitions. During the 2011 season, Kjartan played in shirt number 10. After 18 league games, KR Reykjavik was at the top of the table and Kjartan had scored 12 goals in the league. Kjartan broke a club record for KR Reykjavik scoring his seventh goal against MŠK Žilina in nine UEFA Cup appearances in 2011, making him the highest goal scorer in the clubs UEFA Cup history.

Ferencváros

He scored a hat-trick in the second round proper of the 2018–19 Magyar Kupa season against Sárvári FC.[4] [5]

He was the top scorer of the 2018-19 Magyar Kupa season.

Vejle

On 20 January 2019, Kjartan signed for Vejle Boldklub.[6]

Return to Horsens

After terminating his deal with Vejle, Finnbogason returned to AC Horsens on 6 October 2020, signing a deal until June 2021.[7] His contract was terminated by mutual consent in January 2021 for personal reasons, with Kjartan expressing an interest in returning to Iceland.[8]

Esbjerg

On 1 February 2021, Kjartan signed a 2000 -month contract with second-tier Danish 1st Division club Esbjerg fB.[9] Efter two goals in seven league games, Finnbogason's deal was terminated by mutual agreement on 11 May 2021, one day after the club's head coach, Ólafur Kristjánsson, was fired.[10]

International career

Kjartan scored his first ever international goal against China in the 2017 China Cup.

International goals

Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first.[11]

Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 10 January 2017 Guangxi Sports Center, Nanning, China align=center 1–0 align=center 2–0 2017 China Cup
2. 8 November 2017 Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar align=center 1–1 align=center 1–2 Friendly
3. 19 January 2020 Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, United States align=center 1–0 align=center 1–0

Notes and References

  1. News: O'Neill hails Icelandic signings. BBC Sport. BBC. 23 December 2004. 11 December 2011.
  2. News: Bristol City reject Icelandic ace. BBC Sport. BBC. 21 July 2007. 11 December 2011.
  3. Web site: Dundee Utd 2 - 1 Falkirk. BBC. BBC Sport. 29 August 2009 . 1 April 2010.
  4. Web site: Sárvári vs. Ferencvaros - 31 October 2018 - Soccerway.
  5. Web site: Magyar Kupa: Sárvár–Ferencváros - NSO.
  6. https://vejle-boldklub.dk/kjartan-vb-hoerer-til-i-superligaen/ Kjartan: VB hører til i Superligaen
  7. https://achorsens.dk/finnbogason-vender-hjem-til-ac-horsens Finnbogason vender hjem til AC Horsens
  8. News: Dalgård . Jonas . Kjartan skulle hjem til Island: Sådan er gamet . 1 February 2021 . bold.dk . 1 February 2021 . Danish.
  9. News: Dalgård . Jonas . Esbjerg henter fritstillet Kjartan Finnbogason . 1 February 2021 . bold.dk . 1 February 2021 . Danish.
  10. https://efb.dk/finnbogason-stopper-i-efb-nu/ Finnbogason stopper i EfB nu
  11. Web site: Finnbogason, Kjartan. National Football Teams. 9 November 2017.