Fiorentina’s Gudmundsson Vies for Icelandic Athlete of the Year Title

Albert Gudmundsson, the talented Fiorentina forward, has been shortlisted for Iceland’s Athlete of the Year 2024 award. The Icelandic Sports Journalists Association has included him among the ten outstanding athletes in contention for this prestigious honor.

Gudmundsson’s nomination comes on the heels of his exceptional performances for both Genoa and Fiorentina. Despite facing tough competition from Olympic athletes, the footballer has distinguished himself as a key figure in Icelandic sports.

In the past year, Gudmundsson has netted an impressive 11 goals for his clubs across various competitions, including Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the Conference League. His tally includes seven goals for Genoa and four for Fiorentina, a remarkable achievement considering he was sidelined for several weeks due to injury.

The striker’s prowess extended to the international stage, where he scored four crucial goals in Iceland’s Euro qualification playoff matches against Israel and Ukraine. These performances have solidified his status as a cornerstone of the Icelandic national team.

Gudmundsson’s nomination for this award is a family tradition of sorts. His great-grandfather, also named Albert, was the first Icelandic player to join an Italian club when he signed for AC Milan in the late 1940s. He too was nominated for the award in 1957. Following in these footsteps, Gudmundsson’s grandfather, Ingi Björn Albersson, was nominated twice in the 1970s.

The winner of the Icelandic Athlete of the Year award will be announced on January 4th at the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik. Regardless of the outcome, Gudmundsson’s nomination is a testament to his rising star in both Italian and Icelandic football.