Kári Árnason

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 Kári.
Kári Árnason

Árnason in 2014
Personal information
Full nameKári Árnason[1]
Date of birth13 October 1982
Place of birthGothenburg, Sweden
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing positionMidfielder / Defender
Club information
Current team
Rotherham United
Number4
Youth career
1999–2001Víkingur
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2001–2004Víkingur41(3)
2004–2006Djurgården35(0)
2006–2009AGF Aarhus51(3)
2009→ Esbjerg fB (loan)8(0)
2009–2011Plymouth Argyle72(3)
2011–2012Aberdeen33(3)
2012–Rotherham United115(5)
National team‡
2005–Iceland38(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:31, 30 April 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 March 2015

Kári Árnason (born 13 October 1982) is a professional footballer who plays for Rotherham United. He has also played for Víkingur, Djurgården, AGF Aarhus, Esbjerg fB, Plymouth Argyle and Aberdeen.[2] Capable of playing in midfield or defence, he has represented Iceland at international senior level since 2005, having made his debut against Italy.

Club career

Early years

Born in Gothenburg,[3] Kári began his career as a youngster in 1999 with Víkingur at his home town of Reykjavik, where he spent the first five years in his career. After putting together a string of impressive performances in midfield with Víkingur at an early age in the 2004 season, Kári was signed by Swedish Allsvenskan club Djurgårdens IF in 2004, where he won the Swedish league and cup double in 2005. He was signed by Danish club AGF Aarhus in 2007 and spent two years with the club, along with a spell on loan at fellow Superliga club Esbjerg fB.

Plymouth Argyle

He had a trial at English Football League Championship side Plymouth Argyle in the summer of 2009, and after impressing in a couple of friendly matches he signed a one-year contract with the club. He made his debut in August 2009 against Derby County and established himself as a first-team regular at the heart of the club's defence. He scored his first goal for the club against Reading on 28 December 2009 at Home Park,[4] to become the 500th player to score a league goal since the club became professional in 1903. Kári signed a two-year contract extension in January 2010, after a string of consistent performances, to keep him at the club until the summer of 2012.[5]

Aberdeen

Kári joined Heart of Midlothian on trial during their pre-season trip to Italy in June 2011,[6] having been released by Plymouth's administrator after refusing to defer his wages for June.[7] Kári was not offered a contract by Hearts and then began a trial with fellow Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen.[8] He signed for Aberdeen on 18 July and received international clearance four days later.[9] He made his debut in a 0–0 draw against St. Johnstone on 23 July and scored his first goal for Aberdeen on 15 October, the opener in a 3–1 win against Dundee United.[10] In the return New Firm fixture on 2 January 2012, Kári scored the winning goal from 30-yards at Tannadice.[11] He was offered a new contract in December to extend his stay with the club beyond the 2011–12 season.[12]

His goal against Rangers in a 1–1 draw at Ibrox Stadium took his tally for the campaign to three.[13] Kári rejected Aberdeen's offer of a new contract towards the end of January and manager Craig Brown said that he expected him to leave in the summer.[14] "We made Kári an exceptionally good offer. However, the player believes he can earn a better deal elsewhere," said an Aberdeen spokesperson.[15][16]

Rotherham United

Kári joined Rotherham United in 2012 and has the role of club captain.

International career

Kári was called up to the senior Iceland squad in March 2005 for the game against Croatia and he made his debut four days later against Italy.[17] He scored his first goal for his country seven months later in October 2005 against Sweden at Råsunda.[18]

 International Goals
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 12 October 2005 Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden  Sweden 1 – 0 1 – 3 2006 World Cup Qualifying
2. 7 September 2012 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland  Norway 1 – 0 2 – 0 2014 World Cup Qualifying

Honours

Djurgården

Rotherham United

References

  1. ↑ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 70. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Kári Árnason". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  3. ↑ Atla Sævarsson (12 August 2004). "'Ætlaði aldrei að æfa fótbolta'" (in Icelandic). Retrieved 19 July 2011. Ég fæddist í Gautaborg í Svíþjóð og átti heima þar þangað til ég var fimm ára en þá fluttist ég ásamt fjölskyldu minni til Íslands. (I was born in Gothenburg in Sweden and lived there until I was five years old, and then I moved with my family to Iceland.)
  4. ↑ Plymouth 4–1 Reading BBC. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  5. ↑ New Deal For Arnie Plymouth Argyle FC. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  6. ↑ "Kari on for JJ". Hearts FC. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  7. ↑ "Arnason starts trial with Hearts after being 'dismissed' by Argyle". Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  8. ↑ "Deveronvale 0 v 2 Aberdeen". Aberdeen F.C. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "Kari Arnason completes move to Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Aberdeen 3–1 Dundee Utd". BBC Sport. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  11. ↑ "Dundee Utd 1–2 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  12. ↑ "Aberdeen await contract response from Kari Arnason". BBC Sport. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  13. ↑ Briggs, Nial (21 January 2012). "SPL round-up: Kari Arnason scores as Aberdeen hold Rangers at Ibrox". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  14. ↑ Orr, Ian (26 January 2012). "Kari Arnason set to quit Aberdeen after Dons reject his £5k-a-week demands". Daily Record. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  15. ↑ "Arnason set to leave". Aberdeen F.C. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  16. ↑ "Kari Arnason rejects Aberdeen's offer of new contract". BBC Sport. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  17. ↑ Appearances KSI. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  18. ↑ Match Report FIFA. Retrieved 21 February 2010.

External links

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