Einarsson: Gylfi

2004- 2007 (Player Details)

Midfield

Born: Reykjavik, Iceland: 27-10-1978

Debut v Crewe Alexandra (h) (substitute): 01-01-2005

6’1” 12st 8lb (2005)

Einarsson began as a trainee with KR Reykjavik and played for Fylkir fifty-four times and scored eighteen goals before moving to Norwegian club Lillestrom FK in 2000. In the 2004 season he scored thirteen goals in twenty-six matches for them. He had sixteen goals to his credit and had played eighty-three games when he left to join Leeds United. He signed after impressing during a short trial period, and on a Bosman free transfer after falling out of contract with the Norwegian side, but FIFA regulations meant he could not actually sign for the club until the transfer window reopened on January 1st 2005. He was brought to the attention of Leeds Manager Kevin Blackwell by a Scandanavian Leeds fan. He had a reputation as a goalscoringmidfielder and was particularly good in the air. A regular scorer for Lillestrom, he scored the headed winner against Burnley at Turf Moor on 5th February 2005, in only his third game for Leeds and only his second full game. Frank Sinclair of Burnley was also sent off for kicking out at him following a midfield clash in the same game. Einarsson was never more than a bit player for Leeds, due mainly to the injury problems he suffered in his time with the club. On 6th September 2006, Gylfi had an hip operation to remove floating bone and was out of contention for the squad for eight weeks. In January 2007, Einarsson was subject to interest from Norwegian team, Strømsgodset. Einarsson left Leeds United on the final day of the summer transfer window in the 2007/08 campaign, with his contract being terminated. He signed a two year contact with the reigning Norwegian champions, SK Brann, on 25th January 2008, after a short trial. He made his debut on 30th March 2008 and has scored four times in forty-seven appearances in all games, of which twenty-nine were as a substitute. He left SK Brann in December 2010, when his contract ran out, and returned to his first team Fylkir. He scored on debut against UMF Grindavik on 2nd May 2011 and had started fourteen games for them by September 2011. He has represented Iceland twenty-four times and has scored once, in a famous 2-0 victory over Italy in August 2004.