1. Early Life and Background
Alfreð Finnbogason was born on 1 February 1989 in Reykjavík, Iceland, though he also spent part of his childhood in Grindavík. His early life included an impactful period in Scotland where he lived for two years in the capital, Edinburgh, while his father was studying at a university there. During this time, Alfreð developed a fondness for Scottish football and became a fan of Hibernian. In 2007, he also spent five months as an exchange student in Sardinia, Italy, where he played for Sassari Torres and notably scored in a match against the Italy U-17 national team.
1.1. Childhood and Youth Career
Alfreð began his football journey in Iceland, playing for the youth teams of Fjölnir and Grindavík. His time in Scotland saw him join the reputable boys' club Hutchison Vale. In 2005, he joined Breiðablik, where he was part of a highly successful youth team. This team featured several future international players and expatriates, including Gylfi Sigurðsson, Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson, Elfar Freyr Helgason, Guðmundur Kristjánsson, Kristinn Steindórsson, and Kristinn Jónsson. He also had a loan spell at Augnablik in 2007.
2. Club Career
Alfreð Finnbogason's professional club career began in Iceland before taking him across various European leagues, including Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Germany, and Denmark, where he consistently demonstrated his prowess as a goalscorer.
2.1. Breiðablik
Alfreð made his senior debut for Breiðablik in 2008. The 2009 season marked a significant breakthrough for him, as he scored 13 goals in 18 league games in the 2009 Úrvalsdeild. His impressive performance led to him being voted the Young Player of the Year by his fellow players. That same year, Breiðablik also secured their first-ever major title, winning the Icelandic Cup. Following the 2009 season, Alfreð underwent trials with several European clubs, including Tippeligaen side Viking, English Championship side Blackpool, and Jupiler League club Genk.
In 2010, Alfreð continued his strong form, finishing as a joint league top goalscorer with 14 goals. He was also voted Player of the Year by his peers, playing a crucial role as Breiðablik clinched their first Úrvalsdeild league title. The club's success also saw them participate in the UEFA Europa League for the first time, where they faced Scottish side Motherwell.
2.2. Lokeren
On 3 November 2010, Breiðablik confirmed that they had accepted an offer for Alfreð from Belgian club Lokeren. After successfully completing his medical examination, Alfreð officially signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Lokeren on 20 November 2010. He made his debut for the club as a substitute on 23 January 2011, in a match against Gent. His first goal for Lokeren came on 12 February, scoring to secure a draw against Charleroi.
2.3. Helsingborgs IF (loan)
On 6 March 2012, Alfreð joined Swedish champions Helsingborgs IF on a six-month loan deal, which concluded on 15 August 2012. During his loan spell, Alfreð proved to be a valuable asset, notably scoring one goal and providing five assists in a dominant 6-1 aggregate victory against Polish champions Śląsk Wrocław in the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round. By the end of his loan period, Alfreð had become Helsingborg's top scorer in 2012, netting 12 goals in 17 matches across all competitions.
2.4. SC Heerenveen
On 16 August 2012, Alfreð signed a three-year contract with Dutch Eredivisie club Heerenveen after an agreement was reached for his transfer from Lokeren. He made a promising start at his new club, scoring two goals in his home debut against top side Ajax in a 2-2 draw. He continued his impressive form by scoring all four goals in an away KNVB Cup match against third-division side Kozakken Boys.
Alfreð concluded his first season as the third-highest goalscorer in the Eredivisie, having scored 24 goals out of Heerenveen's 50 league goals. His second season, 2013-14, was even more remarkable, as he became the Eredivisie's top scorer with 29 goals. On 22 March 2014, he surpassed Gerard Sibon's record to become Heerenveen's all-time leading scorer. On 19 April 2013, Alfreð set a national record for the most goals scored in a season by an Icelandic footballer playing in a top division in any country when he scored his 24th goal of the season. This achievement surpassed the previous record of 23 goals set by Pétur Pétursson for Feyenoord in the 1979-80 Eredivisie. Over his two years in the Netherlands, he maintained an impressive record of 53 goals in 64 league matches.
2.5. Real Sociedad
On 2 July 2014, Alfreð signed with Spanish La Liga club Real Sociedad. The transfer fee was 7.50 M EUR, which could rise to 10.00 M EUR with add-ons. He made his debut for the club later that month, starting in a 2-0 home victory against Aberdeen in the season's UEFA Europa League.
2.6. Olympiacos (loan)
Greek champions Olympiacos had previously attempted to sign the 26-year-old Icelander from Heerenveen but were unsuccessful in reaching an agreement. Despite rival interest from PAOK, Olympiacos officially announced on 26 July 2015 that they had signed Alfreð on loan from Real Sociedad. He scored his first goal for the club in a friendly match against Beşiktaş on 9 August 2015.
Alfreð scored his first competitive goal and the winning goal for Olympiacos against Arsenal on 29 September 2015, in their Champions League Group F clash. This goal secured Olympiacos their first-ever victory on English soil with a 3-2 win at Emirates Stadium. On 5 December 2015, he scored his first Super League goal from a penalty kick in a 4-3 away victory against Panthrakikos. Alfreð's contributions helped Olympiacos secure the Super League Greece title during his loan spell.
2.7. FC Augsburg
Alfreð was loaned to FC Augsburg on 1 February 2016. He made his debut as a substitute five days later in a 2-1 defeat against Ingolstadt. He scored his first goal in his third appearance on 28 February, contributing to Augsburg's 2-2 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach. He went on to score 7 goals in 14 appearances during his loan period, leading to the move being made permanent on 1 July 2016.
He continued to be a key player for Augsburg. On 9 September 2017, Alfreð scored a hat-trick in a Bundesliga game against FC Köln, which Augsburg won by 3-0. He repeated this feat on 16 December 2017, scoring another hat-trick in a 3-3 draw against SC Freiburg. He remained with FC Augsburg until 2022.
2.8. Lyngby Boldklub
On 1 September 2022, Finnbogason signed a one-year contract with recently promoted Danish Superliga club Lyngby. He made his debut three days later, coming off the bench in the 64th minute for Tochi Chukwuani in a 2-0 home loss to Randers.
2.9. K.A.S. Eupen and Retirement
On 18 August 2023, Alfreð moved to Belgian Pro League club Eupen on a deal until June 2025. He made his debut for the club on 20 August, starting in a 3-1 away victory against Kortrijk. On 17 September, he scored his first goal for the club, a consolation goal in the 80th minute of a 3-1 home loss to Standard Liège. Following Eupen's relegation to the Challenger Pro League, Alfreð reached an agreement with the club to terminate his contract on 5 September 2024. He subsequently announced his retirement from professional football on 21 November 2024.
3. International Career
Alfreð Finnbogason represented Iceland at both youth and senior international levels, making significant contributions throughout his career, including scoring Iceland's first-ever goal in a FIFA World Cup.
3.1. Youth National Team
Alfreð earned 11 caps and scored 5 goals for the Iceland U-21 national team. His first goal for the U-21 squad came on 8 September 2009, in a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier where Iceland achieved a 6-2 win against Northern Ireland U-21s at The Showgrounds in Coleraine. He also notably scored two goals against the San Marino U-21 national team on 13 November 2009, in a 6-0 victory at Stadio Olimpico in Serravalle.
3.2. Senior National Team
Alfreð won his first cap for the Iceland national team in 2010, coming on as a substitute in a friendly match against the Faroe Islands. He scored on his full debut for Iceland against the Israel national team on 17 November 2010, in a 3-2 loss at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.
He was selected for the UEFA Euro 2016 squad, marking a historic participation for Iceland in a major international tournament. In May 2018, Alfreð was also named in Iceland's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. In Iceland's opening match at the tournament, on 16 June 2018, Alfreð scored the equalizing goal as Iceland drew 1-1 with Argentina. This goal made him the first Icelander to score a goal in the FIFA World Cup. He earned a total of 73 caps and scored 18 goals for the senior national team before announcing his retirement from international football in August 2024.
4. Personal Life
Beyond his professional career, Alfreð Finnbogason's personal life includes unique experiences that shaped his journey. In 2007, he spent five months as an exchange student in Sardinia, Italy. During this period, he played for Sassari Torres, where he managed to score in a victory against the Italy U-17 national team.
On 19 April 2013, Alfreð achieved a significant personal milestone by setting a record for the most goals scored in a season by an Icelandic footballer playing in a top division in any country. His 24th goal of the season surpassed the previous record of 23 goals set by Pétur Pétursson, who had played for Feyenoord in the 1979-80 Eredivisie.
Alfreð's cousin, Berglind Baldursdóttir, is also a footballer, playing as a midfielder for Breiðablik. He is also known to be a supporter of the Zambian club Power Dynamos F.C., a team that won the 1990 CAF Cup Winners' Cup.
5. Career Statistics
5.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Augnablik (loan) | 2007 | 3. deild | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | |||
| Breiðablik | 2008 | Úrvalsdeild | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 8 | 1 | |
| 2009 | Úrvalsdeild | 18 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | - | 26 | 15 | ||
| 2010 | Úrvalsdeild | 21 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 19 | |
| Total | 43 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 64 | 35 | ||
| Lokeren | 2010-11 | Belgian Pro League | 15 | 3 | - | - | - | 15 | 3 | |||
| 2011-12 | Belgian Pro League | 7 | 1 | 3 | 2 | - | - | 10 | 3 | |||
| Total | 22 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 6 | ||
| Helsingborgs IF | 2012 | Allsvenskan | 17 | 12 | 1 | 0 | - | 4 | 1 | 22 | 13 | |
| Heerenveen | 2012-13 | Eredivisie | 33 (including 2 Europe play-off matches) | 24 | 2 | 4 | - | - | 35 | 28 | ||
| 2013-14 | Eredivisie | 32 | 29 | 3 | 2 | - | - | 35 | 31 | |||
| Total | 65 | 53 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 59 | ||
| Real Sociedad | 2014-15 | La Liga | 23 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | 2 | 0 | 27 | 4 | |
| Olympiacos | 2015-16 | Super League Greece | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 3 | 1 | 13 | 2 | |
| FC Augsburg (loan) | 2015-16 | Bundesliga | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 14 | 7 | ||
| FC Augsburg | 2016-17 | Bundesliga | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 14 | 3 | ||
| 2017-18 | Bundesliga | 22 | 12 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 23 | 12 | |||
| 2018-19 | Bundesliga | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 20 | 11 | |||
| 2019-20 | Bundesliga | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 21 | 3 | |||
| 2020-21 | Bundesliga | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 18 | 1 | |||
| 2021-22 | Bundesliga | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 12 | 2 | |||
| Total | 115 | 37 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 39 | ||
| Lyngby | 2022-23 | Danish Superliga | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 5 | ||
| Eupen | 2023-24 | Belgian Pro League | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 17 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 311 | 143 | 27 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 362 | 164 | ||
5.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland | 2010 | 2 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2013 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2016 | 10 | 4 | |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 10 | 3 | |
| Total | 73 | 18 | |
5.3. International Goals
Scores and results list Iceland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Alfreð goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 November 2010 | Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel | 2 |  ISR | 1-3 | 2-3 | Friendly |
| 2 | 29 February 2012 | Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro | 7 |  MNE | 1-1 | 1-2 | Friendly |
| 3 | 7 September 2012 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 9 |  NOR | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 7 June 2013 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 15 |  SLO | 2-1 | 2-4 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 12 November 2014 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium | 23 |  BEL | 1-1 | 1-3 | Friendly |
| 6 | 13 November 2015 | National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland | 29 |  POL | 2-2 | 2-4 | Friendly |
| 7 | 17 November 2015 | Štadión pod Dubňom, Žilina, Slovakia | 30 |  SVK | 1-0 | 1-3 | Friendly |
| 8 | 6 June 2016 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 34 |  LIE | 3-0 | 4-0 | Friendly |
| 9 | 5 September 2016 | Olimpiyskyi National Sports Complex, Kyiv, Ukraine | 38 |  UKR | 1-0 | 1-1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 6 October 2016 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 39 |  FIN | 2-2 | 3-2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 9 October 2016 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 40 |  TUR | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12 | 2 June 2018 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 46 | NOR | 1-1 | 2-3 | Friendly |
| 13 | 7 June 2018 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 47 |  GHA | 2-0 | 2-2 | Friendly |
| 14 | 16 June 2018 | Otkritie Arena, Moscow, Russia | 48 |  ARG | 1-1 | 1-1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup |
| 15 | 15 October 2018 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 52 |  SUI | 1-2 | 1-2 | 2018-19 UEFA Nations League A |
| 16 | 17 June 2023 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 66 | SVK | 1-1 | 1-2 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 17 | 11 September 2023 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 69 |  BIH | 1-0 | 1-0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 18 | 16 October 2023 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 71 | LIE | 2-0 | 4-0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualification |
6. Honours
Alfreð Finnbogason's successful career was marked by numerous team and individual accolades across various leagues.
6.1. Club Honours
- Breiðablik
- Úrvalsdeild: 2010
- Icelandic Cup: 2009
- Olympiacos
- Super League Greece: 2015-16
6.2. Individual Honours
- Icelandic Premier League Young Player of the Year: 2009
- Icelandic Premier League Player of the Year: 2010
- Icelandic Premier League Silver Boot: 2010
- Icelandic Premier League Bronze Boot: 2009
- Icelandic Premier League Team of the Year: 2009, 2010
- Eredivisie Top Scorer: 2013-14 (29 goals)
- Danish Superliga Team of the Month: July 2023