Biography
Who is Aron Gunnarsson?
Early life and youth career
Aron Gunnarsson was born in Akureyri, Iceland. During his childhood, the harsh winter climate often left outdoor football pitches unplayable. Because of this, he spent time playing handball and even appeared in the Icelandic handball league at age fifteen. He eventually began training year-round after the Icelandic government invested in indoor facilities.
He started his football career with his local side, Þór Akureyri, in 2005. At seventeen, he moved to the Netherlands to join the youth academy at AZ Alkmaar. Although he initially struggled with homesickness, he settled into the club and made his debut appearance during the 2007–08 season.
Professional club career in England and Qatar
In June 2008, he signed a three-year contract with the English Championship team Coventry City. During his three seasons there, he made 133 appearances and scored several goals, including his first career goal against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup. He was voted the Coventry City Supporter's Player of the Year after his first season.
In July 2011, Aron joined Cardiff City on a free transfer. He played for the club for several years, including a stint in the Premier League during the 2013–14 season. He scored his first Premier League goal against Manchester City in August 2013. He helped the team earn promotion to the top flight again after scoring a winning goal against Nottingham Forest.
International football accomplishments
Aron Gunnarsson made his senior international debut for Iceland on February 2, 2008. He became a regular fixture for the national side and was named the permanent captain in 2012. Under his leadership, Iceland reached the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2016, which was the nation's first major international tournament. He played in every game during that competition.
He reached a significant milestone in November 2022 by playing his 100th match for Iceland against Saudi Arabia. In March 2023, he scored his first international hat-trick during a 7–0 victory over Liechtenstein, making him the oldest hat-trick scorer for his country. He served as the national team captain until March 2025, when the role was transferred to Orri Óskarsson.
Personal life
Aron Gunnarsson stands 181 centimeters tall. He has an older brother named Arnór Þór Gunnarsson who plays professional handball for the Icelandic national team. During his time at Coventry City, Aron changed his own jersey number to 17 specifically to match his brother's squad number.
Birthday and age
Aron Gunnarsson was born on April 22, 1989, which makes Aron 37 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Aron shares the date with 50 other famous people.
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