Ray Jónsson Explained

Ray Jónsson
Fullname:Ray Anthony Pepito Jónsson[1]
Birth Date:3 February 1979
Birth Place:Liloan, Cebu, Philippines
Height:1.75 m[2]
Position:Full back, wide midfielder
Youthyears1:–1997
Youthclubs1:Grindavik
Years1:1997–2013
Clubs1:Grindavík
Caps1:202
Goals1:5
Years2:1997–1998
Clubs2:→ GG (loan)
Caps2:?
Goals2:?
Years3:1999
Clubs3:Völsungur (loan)
Caps3:?
Goals3:?
Years4:2013–2014
Clubs4:Keflavík
Caps4:16
Goals4:0
Years5:2015
Clubs5:Global
Caps5:2
Goals5:0
Years6:2015–2017
Clubs6:Grindavík
Nationalyears1:2001
Nationalteam1:Iceland U21
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2010–2013
Nationalteam2:Philippines
Nationalcaps2:31
Nationalgoals2:0
Manageryears1:2015–2017
Manageryears2:2017–2020
Manageryears3:2022–
Managerclubs3:Reynir Sandgerði
Pcupdate:28 September 2013
Ntupdate:14:40, 15 November 2013 (UTC)

Ray Anthony Pepito Jónsson (born 3 February 1979) is a Filipino-Icelandic former footballer and current head coach of 3. deild karla club Reynir Sandgerði. He previously played for Úrvalsdeild karla club Keflavík. In January 2015 he was signed by Global to reinforce the team for the upcoming United Football League season. A former Iceland under-21 international, he has since switched allegiance to the Philippines, making his debut in 2010. He plays mainly as a left back but has also played as a winger and even as a forward early in his career.[3]

Club career

He signed a new three-year contract for Grindavik in March 2010.[4] [5] He has played in 146 Úrvalsdeild matches as of September 2010,[6] and also in some domestic and European Cup matches.[4]

In 2015, Ray Anthony played for Global FC of the United Football League in the Philippines and later returned to Iceland to serve as a playing coach for Grindavik.[7]

International career

His father is Icelandic and his mother is a Filipina making him eligible to represent either country at international level. In 2001, he played two games with the Icelandic under-21 team,[8] but since he has not played for the senior national team, he is eligible to play for the Philippines.[9] This is after FIFA removed the age limit on players changing national teams in June 2009.[10] In September 2010 he was called up to play for the Philippines national team in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup qualification.[6]

Ray Anthony was initially planning on going to Asia on holiday but was tipped about possibly trying out for the Philippines national team. He eventually got in touch with the people involved with the national team and he was able to join the team in time for the 2010 Long Teng Cup.[11] He then made his full international debut in their final match against Macau on 12 October 2010, playing the full 90 minutes in a 5 - 0 win.[12]

During the Suzuki Cup qualifiers, he played in all three matches and was instrumental in keeping two clean sheets against Timor-Leste and Cambodia. This helped the Philippines stay undefeated with one win and two draws and clinch qualification for the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup.[13] [14] [15] His good form would continue at the Suzuki Cup with the Philippines conceding only a single goal in the group stage, in the 1 - 1 draw with Singapore.[16] Thus, the Philippines qualified for the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time ever. They faced Indonesia in the semi-finals and in the first-leg, the Philippines lost 1 - 0 with the goal coming from a mix up between Ray Anthony and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.[17] The Philippines eventually lost 2 - 0 on aggregate.[18]

Coaching career

Grindavík

When Jónsson returned to Iceland in 2015,[19] he became coach for Grindavík, and also briefly simultaneously played for the club in the fourth division.[7]

Grindavík (women's)

In 2017, Jónsson was appointed as head coach for the women's team of Grindavík.[20] In his third season, he led the club to the 2. deild kvenna title and was promoted to 1. deild kvenna. He left the club in November 2020.[21]

Reynir Sandgerði

After coaching Grindavík's women's team for three seasons, Jónsson coached the youth teams of Reynir Sandgerði.

In October 2022, following the relegation of the club's senior team to 3. deild karla, Jónsson was appointed as head coach.[22]

Honors

Manager

Grindavík (women's)

2020

Personal life

Ray Anthony was born and raised in Liloan, Cebu before moving to Iceland when he was eight years old.[23] His mother hails from Cebu, and Jónsson himself can speak fluent Cebuano.[19] He has a younger brother named Michael, who is also a footballer and a former teammate at Grindavik.[24]

Ray Anthony is married and has three children, two daughters and a son, as of November 2016.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Philippines roster - 2012 AFC Challenge qualification . The-AFC.com . Asian Football Confederation . 2011-04-07 .
  2. Web site: Ray Anthony Jónsson profile . Football Database . 2010-10-08 .
  3. Web site: Hin Hliðin - Ray Anthony Jónsson, Grindavík . Fótbolti . Icelandic . Einarsson, Magnús Már . 2004-03-18 . 2010-10-10 .
  4. Web site: Ray Anthony Jónsson gerir nýjan samning við Grindavík . Fótbolti . Einarsson, Magnús Már . Icelandic . 2010-03-08 . 2010-10-06 .
  5. News: Ray gerir nýjan samning við Grindavík . VF.is . . Icelandic . 2010-03-05 . 2010-10-06 .
  6. News: Ray Anthony Jónsson valinn í A-landslið Filippseyja . Visir.is . . Jónsson, Óskar Ófeigur . Icelandic . 2010-09-27 . 2010-10-06 .
  7. News: Olivares. Rick. Catching up with former Azkal Ray Jonsson. 30 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161130213255/http://www.philstar.com/sports/2016/11/29/1648624/catching-former-azkal-ray-jonsson. 12 December 2016. The Philippine Star. 29 November 2016.
  8. Web site: Ray Anthony Jónsson - Landsleikir . Icelandic . KSI.is . Football Association of Iceland . 2011-03-25 .
  9. Web site: Ray valinn í landslið Filipseyja . UMFG.is . Knattspyrnudeild UMFG . Icelandic . 2010-09-28 . 2010-10-06 .
  10. Web site: FIFA removes age limits on players switching nationality . IMScouting . 2009-06-04 . 2010-10-10 .
  11. Web site: Brits Abroad: McMenemy hoping football can thrill the Manilans . https://archive.today/20120715145257/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=831577&cc=4716 . dead . 15 July 2012 . Lomas, Mark . ESPNsoccernet . ESPN Inc. . 2010-10-13 . 2010-10-26 .
  12. Web site: 2010 龍騰盃國際足球賽技術分析表 . Chinese . CTFA.com.tw . Chinese Taipei Football Association . 2010-10-12 . 2010-10-26 .
  13. News: Ian hattrick seals Filipino rout . AseanFootball.org . ASEAN Football Federation . 2010-10-22 . 2010-10-26 .
  14. News: Younghusbands propel Philippines to the top . AseanFootball.org . ASEAN Football Federation . 2010-10-24 . 2010-10-26 .
  15. News: Philippines squeeze through to final round . AseanFootball.org . ASEAN Football Federation . 2010-10-26 . 2010-10-26 .
  16. News: Fili steal a point from Lions . AseanFootball.org . ASEAN Football Federation . 2010-12-02 . 2011-03-25 .
  17. News: Indonesia take semi-final advantage . https://web.archive.org/web/20101220083833/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1352951.html . dead . 20 December 2010 . FIFA.com . Fédération Internationale de Football Association . 2010-12-16 . 2011-03-25 .
  18. News: Christian scores again to lead Indonesia into the final . AseanFootball.org . ASEAN Football Federation . 2010-12-19 . 2011-03-25 .
  19. News: Olivares . Rick . Former Azkal Ray Jonsson's women's team picked as favorite in Iceland tournament . 19 June 2020 . The Philippine Star . 19 June 2020.
  20. Web site: Ray Anthony og Nihad Hasecid þjálfa kvennalið Grindavíkur. Icelandic. UMFG Grindavík. 13 November 2017. 7 February 2023.
  21. Web site: Ray hættir með kvennalið Grindavíkur. Icelandic. UMFG Grindavík. 4 November 2020. 7 February 2023.
  22. Web site: Ray tekur við Reyni. Icelandic. Reynir Sandgerði. 15 October 2022. 30 December 2022.
  23. News: Pressure to deliver high for azkals . Tupas, Cedelf P. . Inquirer.net . Philippine Daily Inquirer . 2011-03-20 . 2011-03-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140512221352/http://www.inquirer.net/sports/articles/Pressure-to-deliver-high-for-Azkals.html . 12 May 2014.
  24. Web site: Ray Anthony Jónsson tognaður aftan í læri . Icelandic . Fótbolti . Jónsson, Hörður Snævar . 2008-05-27 . 2010-10-10 .