View source for Alexander Petersson

{{short description|Icelandic handball player (born 1980)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Icelandic name|Alexander}}
{{Infobox handball biography
| name                = Alexander Petersson
| image               = Alexander Petersson 03.jpg
| nationality         = Latvian/Icelandic
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1980|7|2|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Riga]], [[Latvia SSR]]
| height              = 1.88 m
| position            = Right back
| currentclub         = 
| clubnumber          = 
| years1              = {{0|0000}}–1998
| clubs1              = Riga
| years2              = 1998–2003
| clubs2              = [[Íþróttafélagið Grótta|Grótta/KR]]
| years3              = 2003–2005
| clubs3              = [[HSG Düsseldorf]]
| years4              = 2005–2007
| clubs4              = [[TV Großwallstadt]]
| years5              = 2007–2010
| clubs5              = [[SG Flensburg-Handewitt]]
| years6              = 2010–2012
| clubs6              = [[Füchse Berlin (Handball)|Füchse Berlin]]
| years7              = 2012–2021
| clubs7              = [[Rhein-Neckar Löwen]]
| years8              = 2021
| clubs8              = [[SG Flensburg-Handewitt]]
| years9              = 2021–2022
| clubs9              = [[MT Melsungen]]
| years10             = 2023–2025
| clubs10             = [[Valur men's handball|Valur]]
| years11             = 2023
| clubs11             = → [[Al Arabi SC (handball)|Al Arabi]]
| nationalyears1      = 
| nationalteam1       = [[Latvia men's national handball team|Latvia]]
| nationalcaps1       = 40
| nationalgoals1      = 
| nationalyears2      = 2005–2021
| nationalteam2       = [[Iceland men's national handball team|Iceland]]
| nationalcaps2       = 186
| nationalgoals2      = 725
| medaltemplates      = 
{{MedalOlympic}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]]|[[Handball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Men's Handball Championship|European Championship]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2010 European Men's Handball Championship|2010 Austria]]|Team}}
}}
'''Alexander Petersson''' ({{langx|lv|Aleksandrs Pētersons}}; born 2 July 1980) is a Latvian-born Icelandic former [[handball]] player. He was a member of the [[Iceland men's national handball team|Icelandic national team]] from 2005 to 2021, appearing in 186 games.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Hjörvar Ólafsson |title=Glæsilegum ferli Alexanders lauk í kvöld |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20222274758d/glaesilegum-ferli-alexanders-lauk-i-kvold |access-date=12 June 2022 |work=[[Vísir.is]] |date=12 June 2022 |language=Icelandic}}</ref><ref name=WC2015>{{cite web|url=http://ihf.info/files/CompetitionData/153/pdf/ISL.pdf |title=2015 World Championship Roster |publisher=[[International Handball Federation|IHF]] |access-date=15 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218194722/http://www.ihf.info/files/CompetitionData/153/pdf/ISL.pdf |archive-date=18 December 2014 }}</ref> Before that he played for the [[Latvia men's national handball team|Latvian national team]].

Alexander was voted the [[Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year]] in 2010 by the Icelandic Sport Press Association. He is of Latvian and Baltic German origin.<ref name="sportsperson of the year">{{cite news |author1=Ingi Þór Ágústsson |title=Alexander Petersson leggur skóna á hilluna |url=https://www.ruv.is/frett/2022/05/26/alexander-petersson-leggur-skona-a-hilluna |access-date=12 June 2022 |work=[[RÚV]] |date=26 May 2022 |language=Icelandic}}</ref>

==Early life==
Alexander was born in [[Riga]] in [[Latvia SSR]] in 1980.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Atli Arason |title=Alexander Petersson leggur skóna á hilluna |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20222267943d |access-date=12 June 2022 |work=[[Vísir.is]] |date=25 May 2022 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> He emigrated to Iceland aged 18 in 1998 to play for [[Íþróttafélagið Grótta|Grótta/KR]]. 

==Career==
In 2003 Petersson joined German team [[HSG Düsseldorf]], followed by [[TV Großwallstadt]] in 2005 and [[SG Flensburg-Handewitt]] in 2007. In 2010 he joined [[Füchse Berlin (handball)|Füchse Berlin]]. The same year he was named Icelandic sportsperson of the year.<ref name="sportsperson of the year"/> In 2012 he joined [[Rhein-Neckar Löwen]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://handballmagazin.com/news/single/datum/2011/01/18/alexander-petersson-wechselt-2012-zu-den-rhein-neckar-loewen/ |title=Alexander Petersson wechselt 2012 zu den Rhein-Neckar Löwen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508103348/http://handballmagazin.com/news/single/datum/2011/01/18/alexander-petersson-wechselt-2012-zu-den-rhein-neckar-loewen/|archive-date=8 May 2011|publisher=HM - Das Handball-Magazin|language=de}}</ref> In his first season with the club he won the [[2012–13 EHF Cup]]. After two seasons, where he finished 2nd in the [[Handball-Bundesliga|Bundesliga]] both times, he won the league in 2016 and 2017 and the [[DHB-Pokal]] in 2018. He also won the [[DHB-Supercup]] in 2016 and 2018.

In January 2021 he returned to Flensburg-Handewitt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sg-flensburg-handewitt.de/news/artikel/rueckkehr-eines-alten-bekannten |publisher=[[SG Flensburg-Handewitt]] |title=Rückkehr eines alten Bekannten|access-date=21 January 2021|language=de}}</ref> The following summer he joined [[MT Melsungen]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.handball-world.news/o.red.r/news-1-1-1-131753.html |publisher=handball-world.news|title=Wechsel zur MT Melsungen: Alexander Petersson "noch immer nicht satt"|access-date=11 May 2021|language=de}}</ref> On 13 November 2021 he played his 500th game in the Bundesliga. After the 2021-22 season he retired.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.handball-world.news/o.red.r/news-1-1-1-142433.html |publisher=handball-world.news|title=Ein ganz Großer verlässt die HBL-Bühne": Alexander Petersson beendet Karriere|access-date=26 May 2022|language=de}}</ref>

In July 2023 he returned to handball and signed a one-year contract with [[Valur men's handball|Valur]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mbl.is/sport/handbolti/2023/07/13/alexander_aetlar_ad_ljuka_ferlinum_a_islandi/ |title=Alexander ætlar að ljúka ferlinum á Íslandi |publisher=mbl.is |date=2023-07-13 |language=is |access-date=2023-07-13}}</ref> Here he won the Icelandic cup<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20242541261d/-eg-gat-labbad-og-tha-getur-madur-hlaupid- |title=„Ég gat labbað og þá getur maður hlaupið“ |publisher=visir.is |language=is |date=2024-03-12 |access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref> and the [[EHF European Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ehfec.eurohandball.com/men/2023-24/news/en/valur-crowned-ehf-european-cup-winners-following-a-penalty-shoot-out/|title=Valur crowned EHF European Cup winners following a penalty shoot-out|website=ehfec.eurohandball.com}}</ref> This was the first time an Icelandic club won a European tournament.

In November 2023 he joined Qatari team [[Al Arabi SC (handball)|Al-Arabi]] on a one-month loan deal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.handball-world.news/o.red.r/news-1-1-20-155966.html |title=Alexander Petersson per Leihe von Valur nach Katar |publisher=handball-world.news |date=2023-10-31 |language=is |access-date=2023-10-31}}</ref> At the age of 44 he won another Icelandic championship title in the 2024-25 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20242611091d/45-ara-a-naesta-ari-en-spilar-a-fram-med-val-heppinn-ad-vera-med-skrokk-sem-heldur- |title=45 ára á næsta ári en spilar áfram með Val: „Heppinn að vera með skrokk sem heldur“ |publisher=visir.is |language=is |access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref>

In July 2025, he announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Anna Sigrún Davíðsdóttir |title=Alexander Petersson hættur |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/ithrottir/2025-07-01-alexander-petersson-haettur-447403 |access-date=1 July 2025 |work=[[RÚV]] |date=1 July 2025 |language=Icelandic}}</ref>

===Seasonal statistics===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#C0C0C0"
! Season || Team|| League|| Games|| Goals|| Penalty goals|| Outfield goals
<!--|-
| 2003/04
| HSG Düsseldorf
| align="center" | Bundesliga
| align="center" |
| align="center" |
| align="center" |
| align="center" |   -->
|-
| 2004/05
| HSG Düsseldorf
| align="center" | Bundesliga
| align="center" |   32
| align="center" |   154
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   154
|-
| 2005/06
| TV Großwallstadt
| align="center" | Bundesliga
| align="center" |   29
| align="center" |   139
| align="center" |   26
| align="center" |   113
|-
| 2006/07
| TV Großwallstadt
| align="center" | Bundesliga
| align="center" |   31
| align="center" |   188
| align="center" |   25
| align="center" |   163
|-
| 2007/08
| SG Flensburg-Handewitt
| align="center" | Bundesliga
| align="center" |   29
| align="center" |   111
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   111
|-
| 2008/09
| SG Flensburg-Handewitt
| align="center" | Bundesliga
| align="center" |   10
| align="center" |   28
| align="center" |   1
| align="center" |   27
|-
| 2009/10
| SG Flensburg-Handewitt
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   34
| align="center" |   84
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   84
|-
| 2010/11
| Füchse Berlin
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   33
| align="center" |   119
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   119
|-
| 2011/12
| Füchse Berlin
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   28
| align="center" |   96
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   96
|-
| 2012/13
| Rhein-Neckar Löwen
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   33
| align="center" |   142
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   142
|-
| 2013/14
| Rhein-Neckar Löwen
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   26
| align="center" |   90
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   90
|-
| 2014/15
| Rhein-Neckar Löwen
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   30
| align="center" |   118
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   118
|-
| 2015/16
| Rhein-Neckar Löwen
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   32
| align="center" |   87
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   87
|-
| 2016/17
| Rhein-Neckar Löwen
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   34
| align="center" |   116
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   116
|-
| 2017/18
| Rhein-Neckar Löwen
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   33
| align="center" |   82
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   82
|-
| 2018/19
| Rhein-Neckar Löwen
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   27
| align="center" |   94
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   94
|-
| 2019/20
| Rhein-Neckar Löwen
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   22
| align="center" |   47
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   47
|-
| 2020/21
| Rhein-Neckar Löwen
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   11
| align="center" |   21
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   21
|-
| 2020/21
| SG Flensburg-Handewitt
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   15
| align="center" |   10
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   10
|-
| 2021/22
| MT Melsungen
| align="center" |   Bundesliga
| align="center" |   33
| align="center" |   35
| align="center" |   0
| align="center" |   35
|- style="background:#FFE1C0"
| 2004–2022
| '''Total'''
| align="center" |  Bundesliga
| align="center" |   522
| align="center" |   1757
| align="center" |   52
| align="center" |   1705
|}

===National team===
Petersson initially played for the [[Latvia men's national handball team|Latvian national team]] before optaining Icelandic nationality in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.handball-planet.com/icelandic-player-of-2010-alexander-petersson/|publisher=Handball-Planet|title=Icelandic player of 2010 – Alexander Petersson|date=28 December 2010|access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>
In 2005, he played for the [[Iceland men's national handball team]] for the first time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alexander Petersson |url=https://www.mbl.is/greinasafn/grein/1362054/ |access-date=12 January 2020 |work=[[Morgunblaðið]] |date=29 December 2010 |language=is}}</ref>

At the [[2007 World Men's Handball Championship|2007 World Championship]] he finished 8th with Iceland, and was in the top ten goal scorers list. The following year he won silver medals at the [[2008 Olympics]], losing to France in the final. At the [[2010 European Men's Handball Championship|2010 European Championship]] he won bronze medals. 

At the [[2011 World Men's Handball Championship|2011 World Championship]] he was a part of the all star team, when Iceland finished 6th.<ref name=2011allstars>[https://archive.ihf.info/MediaCenter/News/NewsDetails/tabid/130/Default.aspx?ID=602 IHF.info - all star team 2011]</ref>

He also represented Iceland at the [[2012 Olympics]] where Iceland was knocked out in the quarterfinal by Hungary.

He had to withdraw from the [[2013 World Men's Handball Championship|2013 World Championship]] due to a shoulder injury. He was replaced by [[Olafur Stefansson]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.handball-planet.com/alexander-petersson-to-miss-wch-2013-olafur-is-back/|publisher=Handball-planet|title=Alexander Petersson to miss WCh 2013 – Olafur is back!|date=27 December 2012|access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>

At the [[2015 World Men's Handball Championship|2015 World Championship]] he was however back in the team.<ref name=WC2015 />

==Personal life==
Alexander's wife is Eivor Pála Blöndal who played 13 games for the [[Iceland women's national handball team]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Ívar Benediktsson |title=HM: Alexander Petersson |url=https://handbolti.is/hm-alexander-petersson/ |access-date=15 July 2023 |work=Handbolti.is |date=8 January 2021 |language=Icelandic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Ívar Benediktsson |title=Allt lagt í sölurnar til að fara upp |url=https://timarit.is/page/4158166#page/n0/mode/2up |access-date=15 July 2023 |work=[[Morgunblaðið]] |date=5 April 2007 |page=D1 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> His son [[Lúkas Petersson]] is a professional footballer in Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |last=PlÖsser |first=Kai |date=2023-08-16 |title=Lúkas Petersson: Auf Umwegen zum Torwart bei der TSG Hoffenheim II |url=https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de/sport_artikel,-sport-l%C3%BAkas-petersson-auf-umwegen-zum-torwart-bei-der-tsg-hoffenheim-ii-_arid,2115789.html |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=Mannheimer-Morgen |language=de}}</ref>

==Individual awards==
*[[Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year]]: 2010<ref name="sportsperson of the year" />
*All-Star Right back of the World Championship: [[2011 World Men's Handball Championship|2011]]<ref name=2011allstars />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Sports links}}
*[http://www.rhein-neckar-loewen.de/team/spielerkader/detail/alexander-petersson Alexander Peterssons profile] at rhein-neckar-loewen.de

{{Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year}}
{{Iceland squad 2010 European Men's Handball Championship}}
{{Iceland squad 2011 World Men's Handball Championship}}
{{Iceland squad 2012 European Men's Handball Championship}}
{{Iceland handball squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}
{{Iceland squad 2015 World Men's Handball Championship}}
{{Iceland squad 2016 European Men's Handball Championship}}
{{Iceland squad 2020 European Men's Handball Championship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Petersson, Alexander}}
[[Category:Latvian male handball players]]
[[Category:Icelandic male handball players|Alexander Petersson]]
[[Category:21st-century Icelandic sportsmen|Alexander Petersson]]
[[Category:Handball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Handball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic handball players for Iceland|Alexander Petersson]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Iceland|Alexander Petersson]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Falcon]]
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in handball]]
[[Category:Icelandic people of Latvian descent|Alexander Petersson]]
[[Category:Icelandic people of German descent|Alexander Petersson]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Riga]]
[[Category:SG Flensburg-Handewitt players]]
[[Category:Füchse Berlin Reinickendorf HBC players]]
[[Category:Rhein-Neckar Löwen players]]
[[Category:Handball-Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Icelandic expatriate handball players in Germany]]
[[Category:Grótta men's handball players]]
[[Category:Immigrants to Iceland]]
[[Category:Latvian emigrants]]
[[Category:Latvian people of German descent]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of Iceland]]
[[Category:Naturalised handball players]]
[[Category:Latvian expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]