Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson Explained

Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson
Full Name:Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson[1]
Birth Date:18 February 1995
Birth Place:Reykjavík, Iceland
Height:1.86 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Copenhagen
Clubnumber:31
Youthyears1:2012–2013
Youthclubs1:KR Reykjavik
Years1:2013–2014
Clubs1:KR Reykjavik
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2014–2018
Clubs2:Nordsjælland
Caps2:60
Goals2:0
Years3:2018–2020
Clubs3:Dijon
Caps3:36
Goals3:0
Years4:2020–2024
Clubs4:Arsenal
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:2021–2022
Clubs5:OH Leuven (loan)
Caps5:18
Goals5:0
Years6:2022–2023
Clubs6:Alanyaspor (loan)
Caps6:30
Goals6:0
Years7:2023–2024
Clubs7:Cardiff City (loan)
Caps7:6
Goals7:0
Years8:2024–
Clubs8:Copenhagen
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Nationalyears1:2011
Nationalteam1:Iceland U16
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2012
Nationalteam2:Iceland U17
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2012
Nationalteam3:Iceland U18
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2012–2014
Nationalteam4:Iceland U19
Nationalcaps4:9
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2013–2016
Nationalteam5:Iceland U21
Nationalcaps5:17
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2017–
Nationalteam6:Iceland
Nationalcaps6:27
Nationalgoals6:0
Pcupdate:1 June 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:20:25, 14 October 2023 (UTC)

Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson (born 18 February 1995) is an Icelandic professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Danish Superliga club Copenhagen and the Iceland national team. He has also previously played for Dijon, Nordsjælland, KR Reykjavik and Arsenal.

Family

Rúnar Alex is the son of Rúnar Kristinsson, a former professional footballer.[2] [3]

Club career

Rúnar Alex was player of the season for FC Nordsjælland in the 2017–18 Danish Superliga.[4] In June 2018, Rúnar Alex joined French side Dijon on a four-year agreement.

Arsenal

On 21 September 2020, Rúnar Alex signed for Premier League club Arsenal on a four-year deal. He chose the number 13 at the club.[5] Rúnar Alex made his debut for the club on the 29th October 2020, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 UEFA Europa League win over League of Ireland side Dundalk at the Emirates Stadium.[6]

Arsenal faced Manchester City in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on 22 December. With the score at 1–1, Rúnar Alex let Riyad Mahrez's free kick slip through his arms to put Manchester City back in front. Arsenal lost the tie 4–1.[7] [8]

After first choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno was sent off against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 2 February 2021, Rúnar Alex made his Premier League debut as a substitute for Thomas Partey in a 2–1 away defeat.[9]

Loan spells

On 31 August 2021, Rúnar Alex joined Belgian First Division A club OH Leuven on loan until the end of the season.[10] On 27 October 2021, Rúnar Alex made his first appearance of the season for OH Leuven in their 2–1 Belgian Cup win over Lierse Kempenzonen,[11] with his league debut coming one month later on 26 November 2021 in a 1–3 away win to league leaders Union SG.

On 15 August 2022, Arsenal announced that Rúnar Alex was loaned to Süper Lig side Alanyaspor.[12]

On 18 August 2023, Rúnar Alex joined Championship side Cardiff City on a season long loan.[13] He was recalled on 1 February 2024 to Arsenal, where he was released on a free by mutual termination.[14]

Copenhagen

Rúnar Alex made the move to Danish side Copenhagen on 1 February 2024 via a free transfer.[15]

International career

Having previously represented his country at youth level, Rúnar Alex was called up to the senior Iceland squad for the 2017 China Cup, where the team became the silver medalist[16] [17] He earned his first senior cap in a friendly against the Czech Republic on 9 November 2017.

In May 2018, he was named in Iceland's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[18]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
KR Reykjavik2013Úrvalsdeild30001040
Nordsjælland2013–14Danish Superliga000000
2014–15Danish Superliga100010
2015–16Danish Superliga300030
2016–17Danish Superliga20000200
2017–18Danish Superliga36000360
Total60000600
Dijon2018–19Ligue 1250401010310
2019–20Ligue 11102010140
Total360602010450
Arsenal2020–21Premier League1000104060
2021–22Premier League00000000
2022–23Premier League0000000000
2023–24Premier League000000000000
Total100010400060
OH Leuven (loan)2021–22Belgian Pro League18030210
Alanyaspor (loan)2022–23Süper Lig30020320
Cardiff City (loan)2023–24Championship60002070
Copenhagen2024–25Danish Superliga00001010
Career total15501105060101770

International

[19]

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Iceland201710
201840
201900
202020
202150
202280
202370
Total270

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia: List of players: Iceland . FIFA . 13 . 10 June 2018 . 10 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180619164139/https://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF . 19 June 2018 . dead.
  2. Web site: Rúnar Kristinsson: Stefán er góður kostur . Mbl.is . 30 November 2013 . 1 July 2017.
  3. Web site: Rúnar Kristinsson . Visir.is . 7 January 2017 . 1 July 2017.
  4. News: Rúnar Alex genginn í raðir Dijon. 18 June 2018.
  5. Web site: Pictures: Alex Runarsson in Arsenal colours. 2020-09-21. www.arsenal.com. en.
  6. Web site: Arsenal XI v Dundalk: Team news and starting lineup. Simon. Collings. 30 October 2020. www.standard.co.uk.
  7. News: Match Report: Arsenal 1-4 Man City. Arsenal F.C.. Josh. James. 22 December 2020. 12 February 2024.
  8. News: Holders Man City thrash Arsenal to book EFL Cup semi-final spot. BBC Sport .
  9. News: Wolves 2-1 Arsenal: David Luiz and Bernd Leno sent off as Gunners lose. 2 February 2021. 3 February 2021.
  10. Web site: Alex Runarsson joins OH Leuven on loan. 2021-09-02. www.arsenal.com. en.
  11. Web site: Loan Watch: Moller brace and Clarke wondergoal. 2021-11-03. www.arsenal.com. en.
  12. Web site: Alex Runarsson joins Alanyaspor on loan . Arsenal F.C. . 15 August 2022 .
  13. Web site: Alex Runarsson joins from Arsenal on loan . Cardiff City F.C. . 18 August 2023 .
  14. Web site: Released! Arsenal back-up goalkeeper leaves on free transfer 'by mutual agreement' after making just one Premier League appearance for Gunners . Goal.com . 1 February 2024 .
  15. Web site: Rúnarsson ny FCK-keeper. 4 February 2024. F.C. København. da.
  16. Web site: Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson | Félagsmaður | Mótalisti | Mótamál | Knattspyrnusamband Íslands . is. Ksi.is . 7 January 2017 . 1 July 2017.
  17. Web site: Sjö nýliðar með karlalandsliðinu til Kína. Ruv.is . 2 January 2017 . 1 July 2017.
  18. Web site: Crawford . Stephen . Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad – Final 23-man lists . Goal . 24 March 2022 . 4 June 2018.
  19. Web site: Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson. EU-Football.info. 23 June 2018.