Gretar Steinsson

At 42 years old, Gretar Steinsson has this physical status:

Club career

Grétar was born in Siglufjör, Grétar, and was playing "seven-a-side football" in his hometown, prompting him to join a youth team. Grétar began his career with a local team in Siglufjör, where he was a student at the time. Until joining A Akranes in 2000, he was a student at the University of Akranes.

In a 1–0 win over KF on 18 May 2000, Grétar made his A Akranes debut in the first game of the season. He made 13 appearances before the end of 2000, while his youth captainship was promoted. His debut in the first team attracted attention from European clubs, including Heerenveen, 1860 Munich, and Sheffield United.

Grétar made his debut in the first team in 2001, the first team's Grétar. He started the season well, scoring three times in the first five league games. He scored three more goals, including a brace against Valur on August 13, 2001. His success at A Akranes earned him a two-year contract extension. Grétar's team won the Icelandic championship in 31 appearances and 7 times in the season. At the time, he was also named Most Promising Player and Team of the Year.

Grétar stayed in the first team and scored on 29 May 2002, beating Grindavk in a 3–1 victory. Grétar had made the most appearances and scoring 2 times in all competitions by the end of the 2002 season. He made two goals 17 appearances in the 2003 season, during which he scored two goals 17 times.

Grétar's decision to leave A.A.A. The resignation was enforced in January and transferred to BSC Young Boys in Switzerland. The length of his deal was announced as two years after joining the club.

Grétar made his Young Boys debut playing 22 minutes after being brought on as a replacement in a 1–1 draw against Grasshoppers on February 27, 2005. In a 1–1 draw against Basel on April 17, he scored his first Young Boys goal in his first appearance for the side. In a 2–2 draw against St. Gallen, there was a goal followed by a draw. In a 3–2 win over Grasshoppers on May 18, he scored his third goal for the club. Grétar had made 15 appearances scoring three times by the end of the season.

Grétar became the team's first team regular in the 2005–06 season, making 8 appearances at the start of the season. In the UEFA Cup, he scored in both legs against Lokeren.

Grétar has signed for AZ Alkmaar as a replacement for Jan Kromkamp, according to the company's announcement on August 31, 2005.

In a 5–3 loss to Krylia Sovetov Samara in a UEFA Cup Match, Grétar made his AZ Alkmaar debut on September 15, 2005, starting the entire match in a right-back position. In a 4–2 win over Ajax on 18 September 2005, he made his league debut and appeared as a late substitute and played 6 minutes. In a 5–1 victory over Willem II, he scored his first goal for AZ Alkmaar on October 23, 2005. In a 3–0 victory over RKC Waalwijk on December 18, he scored twice more. In a 1–1 draw against Vitesse on February 4, Grétar scored again on February 4, 2006. Grétar scored on his return to action in a 3-1 victory over Willem II after missing three league matches in March due to international service. Grétar played for all three seasons but made his first season at AZ Alkmaar, making a total of 28 appearances and scoring four times.

Grétar did not get off the ground for the season in 2006-07 because they were on the substitute bench. Despite this, Grétar won by 2–0 over Sparta Rotterdam on October 14, 2006, earning his first team position and his first goal of the season. He scored in a 2–2 draw against Slovan Liberec after being featured in a few first team appearances in the first half of the season. His success in December 2006 led him to his transfer to Hearts, which he characterized as a "step backwards" on his career. However, Grétar sustained a shoulder injury during a 2–1 victory over Sevilla in a UEFA Cup match on December 15, 2006. Grétar will be out for the remainder of 2006, but hopes are to return in the winter break. He recovered his defensive position in the first team after returning from injury in January before being rested for a match against Newcastle United. Grétar lost by 4–2 in a UEFA Cup match against Newcastle United on March 8, 2007. Grétar predicted two goals in the next leg after the match, but that he would not be correct. Grétar was included in the KNVB Cup Final against Ajax after being suspended for 90 minutes and scoring in the penalty shootout, leading to a loss of 8–7 as a result. Grétar played in both legs in the Play-offs against Ajax after injuring himself ahead of a match against FC Twente, leaving him out two games, but lost 4–2 on aggregate. Despite this, Grétar finished the 2006–07 season, with a total of 45 appearances and scoring three times.

AZ Alkmaar announced on July 2nd, 2007, a €3.5 million bid from Middlesbrough ahead of the 2007–08 season. Gareth Southgate had envisioned him as the perfect replacement for Stuart Parnaby. However, after the bid was accepted, AZ backtracked, saying that the price wasn't high enough and demanded Middlesbrough to raise their bid to £4 million. Middlesbrough instead turned to Charlton Athletic right back Luke Young, who ended up making the move, putting an end to Middlesbrough's interest in Grétar. Grétar continued to excel in a 4–0 victory over VVV-Venlo in the season's first game after a failed transfer attempt in the summer. In a 3–0 victory over Excelsior on 31 August 27, then scored his first goal of the season. Grétar made a return from injury for a match against N.E.C. after suffering from a back injury that bounded his international career in October. Nijmegen defeated Nijmegen 4–0 on November 3, 2007, where he set up two goals in a 4–0 win. In a 1–0 victory over Heracles Almelo on December 30, 2007, he scored once more. In a 6–1 loss to Ajax, he made his last appearance for the club, despite a transfer transfer to Bolton Wanderers on January 13, 2008. Grétar had made 21 appearances and scoring 3 times as of his retirement.

Following the conclusion of an AZ Alkmaar match, three months later, Grétar was given a farewell sendoff.

Grétar agreed to Bolton Wanderers on January 16, 2008 for a £3.5 million fee despite signing a new four-and-a-half year with the AZ in November 2007. He had been attached to the club six years ago and had been linked by then manager Sam Allardyce by compatriot Guni Bergsson, but he declined to join him but decided against signing him.

Grétar made his debut against Newcastle United on 19 January 2008. He set up one of Bolton Wanderers' goals in a 3–2 loss to Arsenal on March 29, 2008, but it was overshadowed when Abou Diaby made a studs-up tackle on Grétar, resulting in Diaby's dismissal. Following a studs-up tackle from Diaby, he confessed to not having suffered a serious injury after the match. The club then found themselves in the relegation zone, but managed to avoid it after winning against Middlesbrough, a draw against Sunderland, and a 1–1 draw against Chelsea to keep the team up. He made 16 appearances for the team from 2007-08 to 2009. Gary Megson praised him for his quick impact and success at the club.

Grétar's first goal for Bolton, on August 16, 2008, was his first goal for the season. Grétar has been playing in the right-back role since being in the first team at the start of the season. In a 3–1 victory over Middlesbrough on Tuesday, he scored and set up one of the goals. Since signing a four-year contract with Bolton Wanderers in March 2009, he played a major role for the team and helped Bolton Wanderers advance to the top of the table. Grétar's victory in a 1–1 draw against Hull City in the final but one game of the season confirmed Bolton's Premier League survival. Despite missing out on one game due to suspension, Grétar made the most appearances (37 appearances in the league) and scoring 3 times in all competitions.

Grétar found himself in a competition with new signing Sam Ricketts over a right-back spot and the club's decision to reshuffle the defense in the 2009–10 season. Grétar played in a midfield match against Portsmouth and was a central figure in the 9–2 triumph on September 12, 2009 despite being a part-time player. However, Grétar's first team position in the right-back position by December was restored in a 1–1 draw against Fulham on November 28, 2009. In a 2–0 victory over Sheffield United in the second round of the FA Cup last month, he scored his first goal of the season. Grétar continued to play his tactics for the remainder of the season, and Owen Coyle's new reign said he loves to play his tactics. However, he was suspended in the 70th minute against Everton on March 20, 2010 for a professional foul on Yakubu. Grétar returned to the first team and regained his first team position for the remainder of the season after serving a match suspension. Despite suffering from an illness later in the season, he finished the 2009–10 season, totaling 31 appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

Grétar underwent minor surgery in Iceland ahead of the 2010-11 season, citing knee pains. Grétar's first team position under new owner Coyle was regained at the start of the season. In a 4–2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on November 6, 2010, he scored his first goal of the season. This week, he was named part of the Sky Sports Team of the Week. Grétar, on the other hand, lost his first team spot to in-form Ricketts just short of being suspended. In a 2–0 victory over West Brom on November 26, he didn't return to his first position until December 26, 2010. Grétar was however suspended from the first squad on three occasions during the season due to injuries. Grétar continued to make the most appearances and scoring once more during the 2010-11 season.

Grétar had hoped to be a member of the first team in the 2011–12 season. He appeared in the first three games before suffering from a bruised foot. Grétar was further sidelined in the first half of the season due to opposition from new signing Dedryck Boyata But Grétar was called by Coyle in November and spent time in the right-back role. In the 3–1 home victory over Liverpool on January 21, 2012, he scored in the 3–1 win. Despite being in and out of the first as the 2011-12 season progressed, Grétar finished the season in all competitions, making the total of 26 appearances and scoring once.

Bolton was relegated to the club not to offer Grétar a new deal at the end of the 2011–12 season, and the club did not decide not to offer Grétar a new contract. Grétar confessed that he had no intention of remaining at Bolton Wanderers when his deal was due to come to an end.

Grétar has agreed a two-year deal with Turkish Süper Lig club Kayserispor, after considering taking his time over his next club. It came after he failed his medical exam.

In a 1–1 draw with Akhisar Belediyespor, Grétar made his Kayserispor debut on September 1, 2012, playing the entire game. In a 2–1 victory over Mersin dmanyurdu a month later, he scored his first goal for the club on October 7, 2012. Grétar was regular until he sustained an injury in a 1–1 draw against Gaziantepspor on November 18, 2012. Grétar was initially out between four and six weeks after surgery but was later sidelined for the remainder of the season. Despite this, he went on to make a total of nine appearances and scoring once.

Grétar left the club by mutual consent on July 1, 2013, with a year remaining on his deal. Two months after struggling to find a club, Grétar revealed on September 27 that he had withdrawn from football.

Post-playing career

Grétar completed his studies on Football Management at Johan Cruyff Institute and currently holds the Level 5 (Technical Director) from the English FA following his release.

Grétar returned to English football after joining AZ Alkmaar on January 21, 2015, having been named as the technical director at Fleetwood Town in League One. His job as a technical director was to oversee scouting, player recruitment, and player development for the club. He joined Everton as Head of Recruitment and Development in December 2018.

Grétar went from a position as Technical Advisor to the Iceland FA on July 2nd, 2022, and as Performance Director.

International career

Grétar was called up for the senior team in February 2002 after being active at all the youth levels for Iceland. On hearing his call back, he described it as a nightmare come true.

In a 6–1 loss, he made his debut in a March 2002 friendly match against Brazil as a replacement and scored after being only 17 minutes on the field. Grétar has become the third player from Sikulfjör's to play for them, with his first appearance on the national team.

Grétar was called back to the senior squad three years after making his senior squad debut. In a 4–0 loss to Croatia on March 26, 2005, his first appearance in three years came in the form of a 3–0 loss. Grétar scored two goals against South Africa and Bulgaria later this year. Grétar scored again in a 1-1 draw against Azerbaijan three years ago, on August 20, 2008. In a 2-0 loss to Macedonia on June 10, Grétar was appointed captain for the first time a year later. Grétar was featured four times out of five matches for Iceland in 2012.

Grétar made 46 appearances in total and was scoring four times since being established in the team in 2005.

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