Hermann Hreiðarsson

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

Hermann taking a throw-in for Portsmouth at Old Trafford in 2008
Personal information
Date of birth11 July 1974
Place of birthReykjavík, Iceland
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing positionLeft back
Club information
Current team
Fylkir
Number-
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1993–1997ÍBV66(5)
1997–1998Crystal Palace37(2)
1998–1999Brentford41(6)
1999–2000Wimbledon24(1)
2000–2003Ipswich Town102(2)
2003–2007Charlton Athletic132(3)
2007–2012Portsmouth123(8)
2012Coventry City2(0)
2013ÍBV4(0)
2014–Fylkir0(0)
National team
1995Iceland U-216(1)
1996–2011Iceland89(5)
Teams managed
2013ÍBV (player-manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 May 2014.
† Appearances (Goals).

Hermann Hreiðarsson (born 11 July 1974) is an Icelandic footballer who plays as a left back for Icelandic club Fylkir. He spent 15 seasons in England, gaining a total of 315 appearances in the English Premier League. Hermann was relegated from the Premier League five times, a record he holds jointly with Nathan Blake.

Club career

Early career

In 1993, Hermann started playing for his local club ÍBV, where he took part in five seasons with the team. He only played 3 games out of 18 in his first season as the club finished 8th out of 10, but played all the matches in the next two seasons with the club finishing 8th and then 3rd. He then played every match but one in his fourth season as the club finished 4th. He left before the completion of his last season, but the club ended up as champions of Iceland for the second time and for the first time in 18 years, with Hermann playing a big role in the turnaround of the club's fortunes.[1]

In 1997, Hermann was scouted by Premier League newcomers Crystal Palace.[2] He came into English football in August that year when Palace signed him up. He was one of the team's few stand-out players in a season where Palace were relegated. At Palace, Hermann scored league goals against Sheffield Wednesday[3] and Chelsea, with the latter goal briefly giving Palace the lead at Stamford Bridge.[4] He also scored once in the League Cup against Torquay United.[5]

Brentford

In September 1998, Hermann opted to move further down The Football League and followed recently departed Crystal Palace chairman Ron Noades to Brentford, where Noades was now chairman as well as the manager. He joined the London-based Third Division side for a then-club record incoming fee of £750,000.[6]

Brentford were champions of the Third Division and Hermann scored six goals, but in October 1999, he signed for Premier League side Wimbledon in a deal worth £2.5 million, which remained Brentford's record transfer fee received until September 2014.[7] They were later relegated from the top flight that season. During his time at Wimbledon, he scored once against West Ham United.[8]

Hermann has been relegated from the Premier League a joint record five times with five different teams (every Premier League club he has played for). In the 1997–98 season he was a part of the Crystal Palace squad which was relegated at the end of the season. He also has managed to be relegated with Wimbledon in the 1999–2000 season, Ipswich Town in the 2001–02 season and with Charlton Athletic in the 2006–07 season. He suffered his fifth relegation playing for Portsmouth in the 2009–10 season.

Ipswich Town

A £4.5 million move before the 2000–01 season saw him become newly promoted Ipswich Town's record signing. Ipswich finished fifth in the club's first season back in the Premier League, thus securing a UEFA Cup place. The following season, there was a complete reversal of fortunes, and they were relegated. Ipswich trimmed their squad to save on finances, but Hermann turned down a move to newly promoted West Bromwich Albion at the start of the 2002–03 season – reportedly due to West Bromwich offering him vastly reduced wages compared to what he was currently receiving, and also Hermann not wanting to face another relegation battle.[9] At Ipswich he scored league goals against Manchester City[10] and West Ham United[11] and scored once in the UEFA Cup against Helsingborg.[12]

Charlton Athletic

In March 2003, Hermann moved on from Ipswich, joining Premier League side Charlton Athletic. He signed a three-and-a-half year contract, with the club paying £800,000, plus a further £100,000 if they were not relegated in the 2003–04 season to Hermann. He was able to move to Charlton outside the Premier League's transfer window as Ipswich were in administration, although he would not be eligible to play for the club for the remainder of that season.

Hermann proved his worth for Charlton after making his debut in a 3–0 home defeat at the hands of Manchester City. He would miss only five games in his debut season, and would be regular starter in subsequent years.

Portsmouth

On 25 May 2007, Hermann exercised a clause in his contract with Charlton which allowed him to leave on a free transfer if they were relegated and signed a two-year deal with fellow Premier League club Portsmouth.[13] On 29 September, Hreiðarsson scored his first goal for Portsmouth in a 7–4 Premier League win at home against Reading. He followed that up with another goal the following weekend against Fulham. On 20 April 2008, Hermann was sent off for a professional foul on Darius Vassell at the City of Manchester Stadium against Manchester City, but his season ended well by lifting the FA Cup after a 1–0 victory over Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium.[14]

Hermann scored two goals in two games for the second season running in 2009, when he netted with headers against both Liverpool and Manchester City. In December 2009, he scored the first goal in a 2–0 victory against Burnley. On 27 March 2010, Hermann snapped his achilles tendon in an away match against Tottenham Hotspur and was ruled out for the rest of the season.[15] After the match, Spurs and former Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp commented, "The game was soured by Hermann's injury. The lads said they heard it pop." Due to this injury, Hreiðarsson was unable to play in the 2010 FA Cup Final.

After Portsmouth were relegated from the Premier League, it became unknown whether Hermann would stay at the club. However, on 8 October, he signed a new one-year contract.[16] For most of the 2010-11 season, Hermann remained on the bench, as manager Steve Cotterill preferred loan signing Carl Dickinson, but in the latter part of the season, he became first-choice ahead of Dickinson and made his 500th league appearance against Barnsley on 19 February 2011.[17] He signed a new one-year contract with Portsmouth on 8 July.[18]

Coventry City

On 14 January 2012, after a long injury spell and limited playing time, it was announced that Hermann would sign for fellow Championship side Coventry City on a six-month contract.[19] He was injured after only two appearances an could not play for the rest of the season.

Hermann was released by Coventry when his contract ran out at the end of the 2011–12 season. Coincidentally, both Coventry City and Portsmouth were relegated from the Championship that season.

Portsmouth trial

On 4 September 2012 a rumour circulated that Hermann was to offer his services to Portsmouth and play for nothing. On September 5 the rumour was confirmed by Portsmouth's local paper The News. In an online article Michael Appleton had apparently stated "Hermann will come in and train with us towards the end of the week and we will see where he is from a fitness point of view. He tells me he wants to play for nothing but we will assess him. I am certainly not ruling it out. We will see how his fitness is, like we would do with any triallist". Hermann intended to play in a League 1 match the following Sunday against Crawley Town.[20] The defender's trial officially started on September 6. Due to his appointment as manager of his hometown club ÍBV, he will not be playing for Portsmouth.

International career

Hermann made his debut for Iceland in a June 1996 friendly match against Cyprus, coming on as a substitute for Alexander Högnason. He since become a strongly established member of the team, collecting 89 caps[21] and captaining the side in his later years.

Managerial career

Hermann reached an agreement with his hometown club ÍBV on 19 September 2012 to become their manager for the 2013 Úrvalsdeild season.[22] He would later sign former English international goalkeeper and Portsmouth teammate David James for the 2013 season.

Career statistics

Club

[23][24][25]

Updated on 5 May 2013

Season Club Division League Icelandic Cup Deildabikar Other Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1993ÍBVÚrvalsdeild2000---20
199418231213
199518110191
199617250??1**020252
199711031??-00141
ÍBV Total 665122001020817
Season Club Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1997–98Crystal PalacePremier League30240200000362
1998–99Division 17000310000101
Crystal Palace Total 37240510000463
1998–99BrentfordDivision 333421003100386
1999–00Division 28200200000102
Brentford Total 41621203100488
1999–00WimbledonPremier League24120000000261
2000–01Division 1100000000010
Wimbledon Total 25120000000271
2000–01Ipswich TownPremier League36120700000451
2001–0238120100061472
2002–03Division 128020300030360
Ipswich Town Total 10226011000911283
2003–04Charlton AthleticPremier League33210100000352
2004–0534130210000392
2005–0634050300000420
2006–0731000200000330
Charlton Athletic Total 1323908100001494
2007–08PortsmouthPremier League32360100000393
2008–0923220101*031303
2009–1017150100000231
2010–11Championship28110000000291
2011–12200000000020
Portsmouth Total 10271403010311228
2011–12Coventry CityChampionship200000000020
Coventry City Total 200000000000
Season Club Division League Icelandic Cup Deildabikar Other Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2013ÍBVÚrvalsdeild500000-3070
ÍBV Total 715122001050887
2014FylkirÚrvalsdeild000000-0000
Fylkir Total 000000000000
Career total 513264932925117261034

(*) Community Shield

(**) Icelandic Super Cup

International goals

Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 4 September 1999 Laugardalsvöllur, Iceland  Andorra 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2000 Qualifying
2 24 March 2001 Sofia, Bulgaria  Bulgaria 1–0 1–2 FIFA World Cup 2002 Qualifying
3 11 June 2003 Kaunas, Lithuania  Lithuania 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying
4 7 September 2005Sofia, Bulgaria  Bulgaria 2–0 3–2 FIFA World Cup 2006 Qualifying
5 2 September 2006Belfast, Northern Ireland  Northern Ireland 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying

Honours

ÍBV
Brentford
Portsmouth

Personal life

Hermann is married to fellow Icelander Ragna Lóa Stefánsdóttir, herself a former football player. They have two daughters, Telma and Ída, in addition to Ragna Lóa's own children, Stefán and Elsa.[26]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "Sheff Wed 1 Crystal Palace 3". Sporting Life. 25 October 1997. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  4. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (11 March 1998). "Vialli double inspires Chelsea rout". The Independent. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  5. ↑ Harling, Nick (25 August 1998). "Hreidarsson scuppers battling Torquay". The Independent. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  6. ↑ Brentford Football Club Official Matchday Magazine versus Hull City 07/05/05. 2005. p. 46.
  7. ↑ http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/brentford/forshaw_completes_wigan_move_as_brentford_receive_record_fee_with_everton_picking_up_sell_on_1_3752160
  8. ↑ Tongue, Steve (26 December 1999). "Hislop's error rescues Wimbledon". The Independent. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  9. ↑ "Hreidarsson snubs West Brom". BBC News. 13 August 2002. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  10. ↑ "Ipswich give City the blues". BBC Sport. 25 November 2000. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  11. ↑ "Hammers sink Ipswich". BBC Sport. 28 October 2001. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  12. ↑ "Ipswich battle through". BBC Sport. 1 November 2001. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  13. ↑ Sinnott, John (25 May 2007). "Pompey sign defender Hreidarsson". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 May 2007.
  14. ↑ McNulty, Phil (17 May 2008). "Portsmouth 1–0 Cardiff". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  15. ↑ "Tottenham 2-0 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  16. ↑ "Hreidarsson signs new deal". Sky Sports. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  17. ↑
  18. ↑
  19. ↑
  20. ↑
  21. ↑ Iceland – Record International Players – RSSSF
  22. ↑ Interview about upcoming managerial career (Icelandic)
  23. ↑ "Hermann Hreiðarsson". Soccerbase. 28 December 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  24. ↑ "Hermann Hreiðarsson". National Football Teams. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  25. ↑ "Hermann Hreiðarsson games in Iceland". Knattspyrnusamband Íslands. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  26. ↑ Heimaslóð Retrieved on 2007-10-01.

External links