Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir
Icelandic footballer (born 1990)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir (born 29 September 1990) is an Icelandic professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Saudi Women's Premier League club Al Qadsiah.
|
Sara Björk in October 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir | ||
| Date of birth | 29 September 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Iceland | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Al Qadsiah | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2008 | Haukar | 0 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Breiðablik | 41 | (17) |
| 2011–2016 | FC Rosengård | 111 | (34) |
| 2016–2020 | VfL Wolfsburg | 68 | (12) |
| 2020–2022 | Olympique Lyonnais | 17 | (3) |
| 2022–2024 | Juventus | 34 | |
| 2024– | Al Qadsiah | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007 | Iceland U17 | 4 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Iceland U19 | 13 | (4) |
| 2007–2023 | Iceland | 145 | (24) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:21, 19 March 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18:12, 24 February 2023 (UTC) | |||
Sara Björk was part of the Iceland women's national football team from 2007 to 2022 and represented her country at the 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2022 editions of the UEFA Women's Championship. She is the only woman to have been named the Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year twice, in 2018[1] and 2020.[2] In August 2020, she became the first Icelander to win the UEFA Women's Champions League.[3]
Club career
Sara Björk joined local team Haukar at the age of six and remained until she was 18.
FC Malmö
After three subsequent seasons with Breiðablik, she left Iceland in 2011, to sign a three-year professional contract with Swedish club LdB FC Malmö.[4] She was an immediate success in Sweden, contributing 12 goals as Malmö won the Damallsvenskan title.[5] In August 2013 she announced the extension of her Malmö contract for another two and a half seasons via Twitter.[6]
VfL Wolfsburg
In May 2016, Sara Björk announced that she would not extend her contract with Malmö (now known as FC Rosengård) and planned to leave Sweden after winning four Damallsvenskan titles in five years. At that stage she did not confirm speculation that she was heading for German club VfL Wolfsburg.[7] Shortly afterwards the transfer to Wolfsburg was made official, ahead of their 2016–17 season.[8] In her four seasons with Wolfsburg, the club won the Frauen-Bundesliga and the German Cup each year.[9]
Olympique Lyonnais
On 1 July 2020, she joined Olympique Lyonnais.[10] On 9 August, she won her first title with the club when it defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France after penalties.[11] On 30 August, she scored one goal in Olympique Lyonnais' 3–1 win against her former club, Wolfsburg, in the UEFA Women's Champions League final.[12]
In December 2020, Sara was named the Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year, becoming the first woman to win it twice.[2] In April 2021, she announced that she was pregnant with her first child. She returned to the pitch in March 2022. In May the same year, she confirmed that she would leave Lyon at the end of the season.[13]
Juventus
On 1 July 2022, Sara joined Juventus.[14] She achieved the 2022–23 Coppa Italia with her club following a 1–0 win over Roma in the final.[15]
Al Qadsiah
On 3 August 2024, Sara signed for Saudi Women's Premier League side Al Qadsiah.[16]
International career
Sara Björk was included in Iceland's senior national squad in August 2007, aged 16.[17] She had recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury after having to delay surgery because she was too young and her bones were not yet fused.[18]
Still a month short of her 17th birthday, she made her national team debut in a UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying match versus Slovenia in Dravograd. Sara Björk substituted in for Katrín Ómarsdóttir on 87 minutes.
Sara Björk scored twice in Iceland's 3–1 win over Norway at the 2009 Algarve Cup and was selected in the squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2009 finals in Finland.[19] She played in all three group matches as Iceland were eliminated in the first round.
Women's national team coach Siggi Eyjólfsson selected Sara Björk in the Iceland squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013,[20] where she played in all four matches including the 4–0 quarter-final defeat to hosts Sweden.
With Margrét Lára Viðarsdóttir on maternity leave, incoming national coach Freyr Alexandersson appointed Sara Björk as Iceland's new team captain in 2014.[21]
Sara Björk limped out of the 2018 UEFA Women's Champions League Final with an injury. She was ruled out of Iceland's match with Slovenia in June 2018, which was the first national team fixture she had missed since 2009.[22]
On 13 January 2023, she announced her retirement from the Icelandic national team.[23]
Personal life
Sara Björk is married to fellow footballer Árni Vilhjálmsson; the couple have a son together.[24]
In January 2023, Sara Björk wrote an article in the Player's Tribune publicizing Lyon's neglect of maternal care for her while she was pregnant and postpartum, including failure to properly pay her.[25]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental[c] | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Haukar | 2004 | Besta deild kvenna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2007 | Besta deild kvenna | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 13 | — | — | 12 | 13 | |||
| 2008 | Besta deild kvenna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | — | — | 8 | 5 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 18 | — | — | 23 | 18 | ||||
| Breiðablik | 2008 | Besta deild kvenna | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 5 | |||
| 2009 | Besta deild kvenna | 17 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 7 | |||
| 2010 | Besta deild kvenna | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | — | 24 | 9 | ||
| Total | 41 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | — | 51 | 21 | |||
| FC Rosengård | 2011 | Damallsvenskan | 21 | 12 | 2 | 0 | — | 6 | 5 | 1[d] | 0 | 30 | 17 | |
| 2012 | Damallsvenskan | 20 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | 5 | 1 | 1[d] | 0 | 29 | 5 | ||
| 2013 | Damallsvenskan | 20 | 8 | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | — | 26 | 10 | |||
| 2014 | Damallsvenskan | 19 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | — | 28 | 4 | |||
| 2015 | Damallsvenskan | 21 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 2 | 1[d] | 0 | 29 | 9 | ||
| 2016 | Damallsvenskan | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 1[d] | 0 | 14 | 3 | |||
| Total | 111 | 34 | 14 | 4 | — | 27 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 156 | 48 | |||
| Vfl Wolfsburg | 2016–17 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 17 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 6 | 1 | — | 27 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 19 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | 9 | 6 | — | 32 | 12 | |||
| 2018–19 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 16 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | 5 | 0 | — | 25 | 4 | |||
| 2019–20 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 16 | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 22 | 7 | |||
| Total | 68 | 12 | 15 | 5 | — | 23 | 8 | — | 106 | 25 | ||||
| Olympique Lyonnais | 2019–20 | D1 Féminine | — | — | — | 3[e] | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | ||||
| 2020–21 | D1 Féminine | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | — | 17 | 3 | |||
| 2021–22 | D1 Féminine | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| Total | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 1 | — | 26 | 4 | ||||
| Juventus | 2022–23 | Serie A | 10 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | 1[f] | 0 | 20 | 3 | |
| Career total | 247 | 67 | 39 | 11 | 19 | 18 | 69 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 382 | 119 | ||
- Includes Icelandic League Cup
- All appearances in UEFA Women's Champions League
- Appearance in Svenska Supercupen
- 2019-20 UEFA Women's Champions League was postponed due to ongoing COVID 19 pandemic before being restarted in August 2020. Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir was transferred to Olympique Lyonnais in July 2020.
- Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
International
- As of match played 12 October 2022[28]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland | 2007 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 12 | 3 | |
| 2009 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2010 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2011 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2013 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 9 | 2 | |
| Total | 145 | 22 | |
- Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gunnarsdóttir goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 March 2008 | Municipal Stadium, Lagos, Portugal |  Republic of Ireland |
3–0 | 4–1 | 2008 Algarve Cup | [29] |
| 2 | 28 May 2008 | Čika Dača Stadium, Kragujevac, Serbia |  Serbia |
2–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying | [30] |
| 3 | 26 June 2008 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland |  Greece |
1–0 | 7–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying | [31] |
| 4 | 4 March 2009 | Estádio José Arcanjo, Olhão, Portugal |  Norway |
1–0 | 3–1 | 2009 Algarve Cup | [32] |
| 5 | 2–1 | ||||||
| 6 | 17 September 2009 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland |  Estonia |
9–0 | 12–0 | 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | [33] |
| 7 | 19 June 2010 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland |  Northern Ireland |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | [34] |
| 8 | 25 August 2010 | Rakvere Linnastaadion, Rakvere, Estonia | Estonia |
3–0 | 5–0 | 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | [35] |
| 9 | 5–0 | ||||||
| 10 | 19 May 2011 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland |  Bulgaria |
2–0 | 6–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying | [36] |
| 11 | 21 June 2012 | Lovech Stadium, Lovech, Bulgaria | Bulgaria |
2–0 | 10–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying | [37] |
| 12 | 10–0 | ||||||
| 13 | 13 March 2013 | Bela Vista Municipal Stadium, Parchal, Portugal |  Hungary |
1–0 | 4–1 | 2013 Algarve Cup | [38] |
| 14 | 1 June 2013 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland |  Scotland |
1–2 | 2–3 | Friendly | [39] |
| 15 | 13 September 2014 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland |  Israel |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | [40] |
| 16 | 7 June 2016 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland |  North Macedonia |
4–0 | 8–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying | [41] |
| 17 | 18 September 2017 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland |  Faroe Islands |
4–0 | 8–0 | 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | [42] |
| 18 | 4 March 2019 | Bela Vista Municipal Stadium, Parchal, Portugal | Scotland |
1–3 | 1–4 | 2019 Algarve Cup | [43] |
| 19 | 26 November 2020 | NTC Senec, Senec, Slovakia |  Slovakia |
2–1 | 3–1 | UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying | [44] |
| 20 | 3–1 | ||||||
| 21 | 2 September 2022 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland |  Belarus |
1–0 | 6–0 | 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | [45] |
| 22 | 2–0 |
Honours
Rosengård
- Damallsvenskan: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015
- Svenska Cupen: 2015–16
- Svenska Supercupen: 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016
VfL Wolfsburg
Olympique Lyonnais
- Division 1 Féminine: 2021–22
- Coupe de France: 2019–20
- UEFA Women's Champions League: 2019–20,[46] 2021–22[47]
Juventus
Individual
- Sport Person of the Year in Haukar in 2008
- Icelandic Women's Footballer of the Year: 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
- Icelandic Sportsperson of the Year: 2018, 2020
