Gunnar Einarsson

Valur

Adept at playing anywhere in defence or as a defensive midfielder, Einarsson began his career at Úrvalsdeild side Valur, alongside fellow young players Eiður Guðjohnsen and Ívar Ingimarsson. He made his debut during the 1995 season, making 9 appearances. He played in 15 of Valur's 18 league games during the 1996 season and departed the club in January 1997.

Roda JC Kerkrade

Einarsson moved to the Netherlands in January 1997 to sign for Eredivisie side Roda JC Kerkrade. Einarsson spent the majority of his time with the club away on loan and failed to make an appearance before departing in April 2000.

MVV Maastricht (loans)

Shortly after signing for Roda JC Kerkrade, Einarsson was sent out on loan to Eerste Divisie side MVV Maastricht in February 1997. Einarsson made 10 league appearances in what remained of the 1996–97 season and won the first silverware of his career when MVV were crowned Eerste Divisie champions. He returned to Roda at the end of the season and went out on loan to MVV again for the 1997–98 season. Einarsson made his first Eredivisie appearance in a 6–1 defeat to FC Utrecht on 24 August 1997, replacing Roel Janssen after 65 minutes. He made his first start of the season in a 1–0 win over Willem II on 31 October, playing the full 90 minutes. Featuring predominantly as a substitute, Einarsson made 14 appearances during the 1997–98 season and returned to Roda at the end of the campaign. Einarsson went on loan to MVV again during the 1998–99 during the first half of the season, but failed to make an appearance. While with MVV, Einarsson was a teammate of future Netherlands internationals Wilfred Bouma and Denny Landzaat.

VVV-Venlo (loan)

Einarsson joined Eerste Divisie side VVV-Venlo on loan in March 1999. He made his debut in a 2–1 win over PEC Zwolle, replacing Edwin Linssen after 71 minutes. His first start for the club came on his second appearance 11 days later, in a 4–0 defeat to FC Groningen. In an unremarkable spell, Einarsson made seven appearances and returned to Roda at the end of the 1998–99 season.

Brentford (loan)

Einarsson moved to England to join Division Two side Brentford on a three-month loan in January 2000, linking up with former Valur teammate Ívar Ingimarsson. He received his first call into the first team for a league match versus Oldham Athletic on 15 January. Einarsson made his debut when he came on as a 58th-minute substitute for David Theobald during a 3–0 defeat. He again saw action as a substitute the following week, entering the fray for Andy Scott after 76 minutes of a 2–1 win over Bury at Griffin Park. Einarsson made his first appearance in the Football League Trophy on 25 January, coming on for Ijah Anderson after 66 minutes of a 2–0 quarter final first leg win over Oxford United. Einarsson was an unused substitute throughout the games played in February and dropped out of the squad altogether before being handed his first start for the club in a league match versus Cambridge United on 4 March. He lasted 50 minutes before being substituted for Carl Hutchings during the 1–1 draw. It was his final involvement for the first team and he returned to Roda in April after making just four appearances.

KR Reykjavík

Einarsson returned to Iceland to sign for reigning Úrvalsdeild champions KR Reykjavík in April 2000. He had a successful first season, making 19 appearances, scoring his first senior goal and winning the 2000 Úrvalsdeild title. Courtesy of KR's 1999 Úrvalsdeild success, Einarsson got his first taste of Champions League football, with KR entering the first qualifying round of the 2000–01 edition of the tournament. A 6–2 aggregate win over Maltese champions Birkirkara saw KR meet Danish heavyweights Brøndby in the second qualifying round. Despite a creditable 0–0 draw at home in the second leg, KR were knocked out 3–1 on aggregate. Einarsson was an ever-present during the 2001 season and again played Champions League football, with KR Reykjavík meeting Albanian champions KS Vllaznia Shkodër in the first qualifying round. Despite winning the first leg at home 2–1, KR went out on away goals after a 1–0 defeat in Shkodër. While KR failed to repeat their title success in the league, they managed to win the Icelandic League Cup. Einarsson had a good 2002 season, which saw him make 17 appearances, score one goal and regain the Úrvalsdeild title. Einarsson made 19 appearances during the 2003 season and took home his third Úrvalsdeild title in four seasons and the 2003 Icelandic Super Cup. He also played in his second Champions League campaign, going out to Armenian champions Pyunik 2–1 on aggregate in the first qualifying round. The 2004 season was a mixed bag for Einarsson, notching 18 appearances, but 6th place was all KR had to show for in the Úrvalsdeild. He once again played in the Champions League first qualifying round, but KR went out on away goals to Irish champions Shelbourne. Einarsson appeared in 13 league games during the 2005 season and took home a second League Cup. Einarsson played in only seven games during the 2006 season, as KR finished runners-up to FH. It was Einarsson's final campaign for KR and he left the club in January 2007 after amassing over 100 appearances and six pieces of silverware.

Return to Valur

Einarsson moved across Reykjavík to return to Valur in January 2007. He managed only ten appearances and one goal during the 2007 season, but won a fourth Úrvalsdeild title. He also played Intertoto Cup football with the club, but Valur would go out in the first round to Irish side Cork City 2–1 on aggregate. The 2008 season brought only five league appearances and a finish outside the European places in the league, but Valur still managed to bring home the League Cup, the Super Cup and the Atlantic Cup. Einarsson also got his chance to play for Valur in Europe, but they fell 3–0 on aggregate to Belarusian champions FC BATE Borisov in the first qualifying round. He left the club in May 2009, having made only 13 league appearances across two seasons.

Leiknir Reykjavík

Einarsson dropped down to the 1. deild karla to sign for Leiknir Reykjavík in a player/assistant manager role May 2009. He made 19 appearances and scored one goal during the 2009 season, but his efforts to secure promotion back to the Úrvalsdeild were in vain. Einarsson made his first appearance of the 2010 season in a 1–0 victory over Þór Akureyri on 14 May, starting the match and playing the full 90 minutes. He made regular appearances throughout the campaign and sent Leiknir on their way to a win over Þróttur with a goal in a 2–1 victory on 13 August. Einarsson finished the 2010 season with 15 appearances and one goal. Despite Einarsson being an ever-present, Leiknir had a torrid start to the 2011 season and managed four draws and six defeats during their first 10 games. Einarsson departed the club in July 2011, after making 44 league appearances and scoring two goals across his two-and-a-half season spell.

Víkingur

Einarsson moved back up to the Úrvalsdeild to sign a contract with Víkingur in July 2011. His debut came in a 1–0 defeat to Fram Reykjavík on 18 July, playing the full 90 minutes. He made 10 league appearances in what remained of the 2011 season and suffered relegation straight back to the 1. deild karla.

Return to Leiknir Reykjavík

Einarsson returned to Leiknir Reykjavík in November 2011, again in a player/assistant manager role. He retained his place in the Leiknir starting lineup for the 2012 season and scored his first goal of the campaign in a 4–3 defeat to BÍ/Bolungarvík on 7 July. He scored Leiknir's second in a 3–2 win over Höttur on 15 September. Einarsson ended the campaign with 31 appearances and three goals. He retired from football after the season, aged 36.

International career

Einarsson made appearances for the Iceland U21 team in their unsuccessful qualification campaign for the 1998 European U21 Championship. Iceland finished second in their group, but 11 points behind leaders Romania. Einarsson won his only cap for the senior side in a 1–1 friendly draw with South Africa on 6 June 1998, starting the match at right back and playing the full 90 minutes.

Management career

Einarsson was appointed assistant manager to Sigursteinn Gíslason at Leiknir Reykjavík in May 2009. Early in the 2011 season, Gíslason took sick leave after being diagnosed with cancer and Einarsson and former Leiknir boss Garðar Gunnar Ásgeirsson were installed as interim managers. Einarsson and Ásgeirsson were relieved of their duties in July 2011, after Gíslason was replaced by Zoran Miljkovic. Einarsson rejoined Leiknir as assistant manager to Willum Þór Þórsson in November 2011. After Þórsson was sacked in September 2012, Einarsson took over as interim manager until the end of the 2012 season.

As a player

MVV Maastricht

KR Reykjavík

Valur