Bengaluru: The fourth official stood on the touchline with his cards next to a nervous 17-year-old with dirty blond hair, awaiting a break in play so that Iceland could make their substitution.
Soon the numbers went up and out came Arnor Gudjohnsen to be replaced by his son Eidur. A historic moment for Iceland and, perhaps in the grand scheme of things, for football. This was in April ’96.
“It’s a long time ago now. It was strange and I was just a young boy so I didn’t know how big of a moment it was at the time. Now, 20 years later, people talk more about that they did at that time,” remarks Eidur.
The father-son duo never played together as a career threatening injury to the latter put paid to any hopes of that happening before the former retired. “It’s a shame we couldn’t play together,” he adds. “In long term injuries you get to know yourself and character. That’s what gave me even more motivation to keep playing.”
While indeed a shame, for the next two decades, Eidur Smari Gudjohnsen, blessed with silky touch and awareness on the field, became the poster boy for Iceland football, carrying the hopes of a nation more popular for their volcanoes.
While success at the grand stage was hard to come by for much of his international career, it did arrive finally at Euro 2016 where the smallest team in the tournament made the biggest noise and maximum impact.
Defying odds in stunning fashion
The minnows defied all odds in reaching the quarterfinals, where they were knocked out by France, and pulled off the biggest upset in decades when they outfoxed and shamed England in the knockout stages.
Oh, they also introduced the world to the Viking clap, a cheer that’s as bone chilling as it is deafening. While the country rejoiced their heroes’ triumph, for Gudjohnsen it was something more.
“It was very important (for me) to be part of the national team that took part in the Euros. It was fantastic way to represent the entire country. The people got to see Icelandic football and what the Icelandic footballers were about,” stressed the 37-year-old.
“It was always a dream for me, 20 years, and finally it became reality. It was an amazing experience and a memory that will last a lifetime.”
The Icelandic legend, who considers Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Brazilian striker Ronaldo among the best attackers he played with, boasts of a resume that includes successful stints at clubs like Chelsea and Barcelona among others in what could be loosely termed as a journeyman career towards it’s later stages.
Trail leads to ISL
And it is that trail which brought him to India for his latest adventure as he was named marquee player for Indian Super League side FC Pune City for the forthcoming season.
“I was contacted by the club a few weeks ago about coming to India. I then spoke to the coach and the management and I was very interested about what they had to say and it sounded something that I wanted to be part of,” he revealed on an exclusive chat with this newspaper.
As part of the league winning side, during Jose Mourinho’s first stint at Chelsea and the treble winning Barcelona side under Pep Guardiola, the attacker is one of the few to have worked under both managers.
Heart beats for Blues
“Chelsea was my favourite time (during my career). Because it’s where I developed the most as a player and won my first league title. The club is closest to my heart. Talking about the atmosphere in the stadium, it was amazing in China and at times it was crazy at Barcelona. But in general the atmosphere is best in the Premier League.
“When it comes to derby games, the biggest derby in the world is Barcelona and Real Madrid. I don’t know how many millions of people watch that. That was always a special one,” the former Spurs striker opines before moving onto the two managers.
“The difference is mainly their personality. They are very similar in the way how they anticipate the game and their intensity. They are very good in getting the message across to the players in how they want to play and they also analyse the opponent very well.”
