Albert Guðmundsson


Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson was the first Icelandic professional football player and played for, amongst others, Rangers, Arsenal, FC Nancy and A.C. Milan. After retiring from his sporting career he became a politician and was a member of Alþingi for 15 years, serving as Minister of Finance and Minister of Industry.

Sporting career

Albert played football from a young age with local club Valur. In 1944 he made his way to Scotland to study business at Skerry's College, Glasgow. He began his foreign footballing career with Rangers. After a short stint there he went to England where he played for Arsenal as an amateur; he played several friendly matches and two First Division matches in October 1946. He was only Arsenal's second foreign player.

Political career

In 1974, he was elected to the Alþingi, representing Reykjavík. He ran for president in 1980 election but only finished third and lost to Vigdís Finnbogadóttir. In 1983, he became Minister of Finance. In 1985, he was appointed Minister of Industry, a position he held until 1987, when a tax scandal forced his resignation.
Feeling that the Independence Party's leadership had failed to support him, he left the party soon after his resignation and only a few weeks before a general election.