Heiðar Helguson

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Hatnote". Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Heiðar Helguson (Script error: No such module "IPA".; born 22 August 1977) is an Icelandic former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Heiðar started his career in the Icelandic league system, with UMFS Dalvík and Þróttur. Following a one-season spell in Norway with Lillestrøm SK, Heiðar moved to England to play for Watford in 1999, with Lillestrøm receiving a transfer fee of £1.5 million. The English media anglicised his name to Heidar when he joined Watford – it is by this given name that he is commonly known in England.

Although Watford were relegated from the Premier League during his first season at the club, Heiðar was a prolific goalscorer, finishing as the team's top scorer in the 1999–2000, 2002–03 and 2004–05 seasons, before being sold to Fulham in 2005. He played Premier League for them between 2005 and 2007, and Bolton until 2009, before transferring to Championship side QPR in 2009. After a return to Watford on loan in the 2009–10 season, Heiðar played regularly for QPR in 2010–11, as they secured promotion to the Premier League as champions. In QPR's first Premier League season since 1995–96, Heiðar finished as the team's top scorer, helping them to secure Premier League survival on the last day of the 2011–12 season. He subsequently joined Cardiff City.

Heiðar played and scored for his country at under-19 and under-21 levels, before making his debut for the senior team in 1999. He earned 55 caps for the Iceland national team, scoring 13 goals, before retiring from international football in 2011.

Club career

Early career

Heiðar was born in Akureyri, in northern Iceland.[1] He joined his first club, UMFS Dalvík, at the age of eight in 1985. He spent a further eight years in the club's development squads, progressing through the different youth team age brackets (Under-10s, Under-12s, Under-15s, etc.) and debuting for the club's reserves whilst he was still only 13. He was handed his first team debut in 1993 when he was 15 years old. He scored five goals in 11 league appearances before his performances earned him a transfer to Þróttur in 1994, aged 16.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In three seasons, Heiðar scored 31 goals in 54 league appearances for Þróttur, his performances generating interest from several European clubs.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Lillestrøm

Heiðar arrived at Lillestrøm in the autumn of 1998. He made his first team debut in October, curiously wearing number 1 on his shirt. The next season Heiðar became one of the great surprises in Norwegian football when he scored sixteen league goals. In his debut season for Lillestrøm, he had managed only two goals. Heiðar was a very popular player, and even had his own fan-club named "The Helgusonsons".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Watford

File:Heiðar Helguson.jpg
Heiðar playing for Watford in 2010

Heiðar was signed by Watford manager Graham Taylor midway through the 1999–2000 season for a club record £1.5m. Brought in to boost the struggling club's striking department, Heiðar had a good debut at home to Liverpool, where he played well. Heiðar scored in his first game. He later picked up the display of the season award for this goal-scoring debut.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He scored five more times that season. His goals were not enough to keep Watford up, and the Hertfordshire club were relegated after only one year in the Premier League.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Back in the First Division, Heiðar was part of a Watford team that was undefeated for the first 15 games of the season, topping the league. However, when the team's form slumped in late 2000, Heiðar suffered a crisis of confidence – one of several during his first few years at Watford – and was well below his best for a large amount of that campaign. At the end of the season Taylor retired and was replaced by Gianluca Vialli, who used Heiðar as a wing back.[2]

With Ray Lewington in charge for the 2002–03 season, Heiðar showed a marked improvement. Although still prone to injury (he did not start the season until late September), he finished the season Watford's top goal scorer with 13, including goals in Watford's run to the FA Cup semi-Finals. In 2003–04 injury kept Heiðar out of most of the first half of the season. On his return he put in some notable performances, the most notable being his leading of the line against Chelsea in the FA Cup.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

2004–05 was Heiðar's best season in a Watford shirt. Relatively free of injury, he scored 20 goals and picked up the "Goal of the Season," "Display of the Season" and "Player of the Season" awards at the end of season awards ceremony. Inevitably, his goal tally brought about interest from Premier League clubs and with Watford needing money, the offer from Fulham was accepted.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Fulham

Heiðar signed for Fulham on 27 June 2005[3] and was largely confined to the bench at the beginning of the campaign. He scored his first goal for Fulham in the 5–4 League Cup victory over Lincoln. The front pair of Heiðar and Brian McBride caused trouble to the best defences in the Premier League. Heiðar scored against Chelsea (penalty), Aston Villa (penalty), West Ham (open play – left foot) and Manchester United (open play – header), a double in a 6–1 win over West Brom, Bolton Wanderers (header as a result of a free kick) and against Middlesbrough (penalty). For the start of the 2006–07 season he was moved from No. 10 to No. 9 at Fulham.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Bolton Wanderers

On 20 July 2007, it was announced that Heiðar was leaving Fulham to join Bolton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee, as part of manager Sammy Lee's squad restructuring. Heiðar reportedly signed a three-year contract with the Trotters, having been forced to consider his options following the signings of David Healy and Diomansy Kamara.[4]

He made his Bolton debut as a substitute for the injured Kevin Davies on 11 August 2007 with Wanderers already trailing to Newcastle United. Four days later he returned to Fulham for the first time since leaving and got on the scoresheet in a 2–1 Bolton defeat.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

It was the end of January 2008 by the time Heiðar got any more playing time, but his return was welcome with Bolton desperately short of firepower having sold Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea earlier on that month. His first appearance back in the team was a goalless draw against old club Fulham where he came off the substitutes bench for the last eight minutes of the game. He scored his first goal for Bolton since coming back from injury four days later against Reading in a 2–0 win.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Bolton confirmed in May 2008 that they had sent Heiðar over to Belgium for more surgery in order to have him back for pre-season training.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Queens Park Rangers

File:Heiðar Helguson - qpr.jpg
Heiðar playing for Queens Park Rangers in 2011

On 20 November, it was announced that Heiðar had joined Queens Park Rangers on an emergency loan until the end of January 2009.[5] However, the loan did not go through until the following Friday.[6]

After failing to score on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers and in his second match against Sheffield Wednesday, Heiðar scored once against Plymouth Argyle and braces against both Preston North End and Blackpool to bag himself five goals in his first ten games. On 2 January, the deal was made permanent for an undisclosed fee.[7]

After spending a nearly a season out on loan to Watford, Heiðar returned to QPR. After regaining his place in the starting XI, scoring 13 goals as Rangers won the Championship in the 2010–11 season including a late winner against London rivals Crystal Palace at Loftus Road.[8] Heiðar featured regularly under Neil Warnock for QPR in the Premier League, Heiðar became a Rangers legend by scoring the winning goal from a penalty in a 1–0 victory against arch rivals Chelsea. This was QPR's first win over Chelsea in over 15 years. He then went on to score two goals against Stoke in a 3–2 victory away from home. He headed in a sublime goal, whilst the other goal was a tap in.

On 3 December 2011, he managed to equal the Queens Park Rangers record for most goals at home in a row. He scored with a header in a 1–1 draw with West Bromwich Albion.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Despite missing most of the second half of the season with a groin injury, Heiðar finished as QPR's top goalscorer for the 2011–12 season with nine goals in all competitions. These goals proved crucial as Rangers avoided relegation on the final day of the season despite a 3–2 defeat away to Champions Manchester City.[9]

Return to Watford

On 15 September 2009, Watford successfully acquired the services of Heiðar, on a three-month loan from Queens Park Rangers,[10] meaning the player returned to the club who he played for between 2000 and 2005. He made an immediate impact on his return, assisting one and scoring a brace during his substitute appearance against Leicester City, before being substituted due to injury. He made his fourth appearance of his loan spell at Vicarage Road against Scunthorpe United, scoring his fourth and fifth goal.[11] Whilst the original loan spell ended on 28 December, there was constant speculation about the player resigning for the club on loan.[12] On 11 January, both clubs confirmed that the loan deal was to be extended until the end of the season.[13][14]

Cardiff City

On 2 August 2012, Heiðar signed for Cardiff City on a one-year deal for an undisclosed fee and was given the number 22 shirt.[15] Heiðar scored his first goal for Cardiff in a pre-season friendly against Bournemouth and his second came from the spot against Northampton Town in the League Cup on 14 August. He scored his first league goal in a Cardiff shirt in the Severnside derby on 25 August in a 4–2 loss. He then went on to score a brace against Ipswich Town, which kept Cardiff top of the table. Heiðar collected further goals for City at both Nottingham Forest and Charlton Athletic and at home against Hull City. Despite helping Cardiff secure promotion to the Premier League, Heiðar left the club when his contract expired at the end of the season.[16]

Skautafélag Reykjavíkur

In May 2015, Heiðar signed with Skautafélag Reykjavíkur.[17] He appeared in two games for SR, netting one goal.

International career

Heiðar made his debut for Iceland in an April 1999 friendly match against Malta, coming on as a substitute for Ríkharður Daðason, and as of October 2010 has earned 52 caps, scoring 12 goals.[18] He was top scorer in the 2004 FA Summer Tournament with three goals. After playing in a friendly against Spain in August 2006, a long spell outside the national team followed during which Heiðar announced his retirement from international football, in June 2007.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

On 28 August 2008, Heiðar announced his return to international football and was immediately selected in the Icelandic team to face Norway and Scotland a few days later. He scored a goal against Norway in the world cup qualifier as the match ended 2–2.[19]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Watford 1999–2000 Premier League 16 6 0 0 0 0 — 16 6
2000–01 First Division 33 8 1 0 3 1 — 37 9
2001–02 34 6 1 0 5 1 — 40 7
2002–03 30 11 4 2 0 0 — 34 13
2003–04 22 8 1 1 1 0 — 14 9
2004–05 Championship 39 16 2 1 5 3 — 46 20
Total 174 55 9 4 14 6 0 0 197 65
Fulham 2005–06 Premier League 27 8 0 0 2 2 — 29 10
2006–07 30 3 3 0 1 1 — 34 4
Total 57 11 3 0 3 3 0 0 63 14
Bolton Wanderers 2007–08 Premier League 6 2 0 0 0 0 2Template:Efn 0 8 2
2008–09 1 0 0 0 1 0 — 2 0
Total 7 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 10 2
Queens Park Rangers (loan) 2008–09 Championship 20 5 1 0 — — 21 5
Queens Park Rangers 2009–10 Championship 5 1 1 0 0 0 — 5 1
2010–11 34 13 0 0 0 0 — 34 13
2011–12 Premier League 16 8 2 1 1 1 — 19 10
Total 75 28 5 0 0 0 0 0 80 28
Watford (loan) 2009–10 Championship 29 11 — 0 0 — 29 11
Cardiff City 2012–13 Championship 38 8 0 0 1 1 — 39 9
Career total 380 114 17 4 18 9 2 0 418 129

Template:Notelist

International

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 16 October 2002 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland {{ Template:Yesno alias = Lithuania flag alias = Flag of Lithuania.svg flag alias-1918 = Flag of Lithuania 1918-1940.svg flag alias-1988 = Flag of Lithuania (1988-2004).svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Lithuania.svg link alias-naval = Lithuanian Naval Force flag alias-military=Flag of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.png link alias-military=Lithuanian Armed Forces flag alias-army = Flag of the Lithuanian Army.svg link alias-army = Lithuanian Land Force flag alias-navy=Flag of Lithuania (state).svg link alias-navy = Lithuanian Naval Force flag alias-air force=Air Force Ensign of Lithuania.svg link alias-air force=Lithuanian Air Force size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center| 3–0 || UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying

2. 30 May 2004 City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, England {{ Template:Yesno alias = Japan flag alias = Flag of Japan.svg flag alias-1870 = Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg link alias-1870 = Empire of Japan flag alias-1945 = Flag of Allied Occupied Japan.svg border-1945 = flag alias-1947 = Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg flag alias-ryukyu = Civil ensign of the Ryukyu Islands (1952–1967).svg border-ryukyu = flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Japan.svg flag alias-coast guard = Ensign of the Japanese Coast Guard.svg link alias-coast guard = Japan Coast Guard link alias-naval = Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force flag alias-army = Flag of JSDF.svg link alias-army = Japan Ground Self-Defense Force flag alias-air force = Flag of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.svg link alias-air force = Japan Air Self-Defense Force flag alias-air force-1955 = Flag of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (1955-1957).png link alias-air force-1955 = Japan Air Self-Defense Force flag alias-air force-1957 = Flag of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (1957-1972).png link alias-air force-1957 = Japan Air Self-Defense Force flag alias-air force-1972 = Flag of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (1972-2001).png link alias-air force-1972 = Japan Air Self-Defense Force flag alias-military=Flag of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.svg link alias-military=Japan Self-Defense Forces flag alias-marines=Flag of JSDF.svg link alias-marines=Japanese Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Japan.svg link alias-navy = Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force empty = Junior Japan size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align=center|1–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 2–3 || rowspan=3| 2004 FA Summer Tournament

3. 2–2
4. 5 June 2004 {{ Template:Yesno alias = England flag alias = Flag of England.svg flag alias-naval = English White Ensign 1620.svg link alias-naval = Royal Navy flag alias-navy = English White Ensign 1620.svg link alias-navy = Royal Navy link alias-cricket = England cricket team empty = England Saxons size = name = variant = altlink = national football team altvar = football

}} || align=center|1–3 || align=center| 1–6

5. 6 September 2008 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway {{safesubst: Template:Yesno alias = Norway flag alias = Flag of Norway.svg flag alias-old kingdom = Royal Standard of Norway.svg flag alias-1814 = Flag of Norway (1814–1821).svg flag alias-1818 = Swedish and Norwegian merchant flag 1818-1844.svg flag alias-1844 = Norge-Unionsflagg-1844.svg flag alias-state = Flag of Norway, state.svg border-state = flag alias-army = Flag of the Norwegian Army.svg border-army = link alias-army = Norwegian Army flag alias-war = Flag of Norway, state.svg link alias-war = Norwegian Armed Forces border-war = flag alias-naval = Naval Jack of Norway.svg border-naval = link alias-naval = Royal Norwegian Navy flag alias-air force = Royal Norwegian Air Force Flag.svg border-air force = link alias-air force = Royal Norwegian Air Force flag alias-navy = Flag of Norway, state.svg border-navy = link alias-navy = Royal Norwegian Navy flag alias-coast guard = Norwegian Coast Guard Racing Stripe.svg link alias-coast guard = Norwegian Coast Guard border-coast guard = size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center| 2–2 || 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

9. 29 May 2010 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland {{ Template:Yesno alias = Andorra flag alias = Flag of Andorra.svg flag alias-1806 = Flag of Andorra (1806–1866).svg flag alias-1866 = Flag of Andorra (1866–1934).gif flag alias-1934 = Flag of Andorra (1934–1939).svg flag alias-civil = Flag of Andorra (civil).svg var2 = 1866 var3 = 1934 var4 = civil size = name = variant = altlink = national football team

}} || align=center|1–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 4–0 || rowspan=2| Friendly

10. 2–0
11. 3 September 2010 {{safesubst: Template:Yesno alias = Norway flag alias = Flag of Norway.svg flag alias-old kingdom = Royal Standard of Norway.svg flag alias-1814 = Flag of Norway (1814–1821).svg flag alias-1818 = Swedish and Norwegian merchant flag 1818-1844.svg flag alias-1844 = Norge-Unionsflagg-1844.svg flag alias-state = Flag of Norway, state.svg border-state = flag alias-army = Flag of the Norwegian Army.svg border-army = link alias-army = Norwegian Army flag alias-war = Flag of Norway, state.svg link alias-war = Norwegian Armed Forces border-war = flag alias-naval = Naval Jack of Norway.svg border-naval = link alias-naval = Royal Norwegian Navy flag alias-air force = Royal Norwegian Air Force Flag.svg border-air force = link alias-air force = Royal Norwegian Air Force flag alias-navy = Flag of Norway, state.svg border-navy = link alias-navy = Royal Norwegian Navy flag alias-coast guard = Norwegian Coast Guard Racing Stripe.svg link alias-coast guard = Norwegian Coast Guard border-coast guard = size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align=center|1–0 || align=center| 1–2 || rowspan=2| UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying

12. 12 October 2010 {{ Template:Yesno alias = Portugal flag alias = Flag of Portugal.svg flag alias-1248 = PortugueseFlag1248.svg flag alias-1385 = PortugueseFlag1385.svg flag alias-1495 = Flag Portugal (1495).svg flag alias-1578 = Flag Portugal (1578).svg flag alias-1640 = Flag Portugal (1640).svg flag alias-1707 = Flag Portugal (1707).svg flag alias-1750 = Flag of Portugal (1750).svg flag alias-1816 = Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.svg flag alias-1830 = Flag Portugal (1830).svg flag alias-civil = Flag Portugal sea (1830).svg flag alias-air force=Portugal Air force fin flash.svg flag alias-army = Military flag of Portugal.svg link alias-air force = Portuguese Air Force link alias-army = Portuguese Army link alias-naval = Portuguese Navy flag alias-navy=Naval Jack of Portugal.svg link alias-navy = Portuguese Navy flag alias-marines=Naval Jack of Portugal.svg link alias-marines=Portuguese Marine Corps size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || align=center|1–1 || align=center| 1–3

Honours

Queens Park Rangers

Cardiff City

References

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  1. ↑ Template:Hugman
  2. ↑ "Where are they now? Part 4". Watford F.C. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Íslenski landsliðshópurinn – Heiðar Helguson að nýju í hópnum, Icelandic national team selection – Heiðar Helguson back Retrieved 28 August 2008
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:Sister project

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