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Before Eidur Gudjohnsen graced the Premiership, Gudni Bergsson could
justifiably claim to be Iceland's most famous export into top flight
English football. After playing for Valur Reykjavik in his homeland and a
brief loan spell at German club TSV Munchen 1860, Bergsson arrived at
White Hart Lane in December 1988. Primarily a full-back during his time
at Spurs, the Icelandic international was signed by Terry Venables to
increase the competition for places in the back four. Gudni made his
debut on Boxing Day 1988 in a 0-0 draw against Luton Town at White Hart
Lane, but any illusions that his transition into the English game would
be smooth were soon dashed. He became a victim of the team's wretched
run of form, surrendering his place in the starting line up as Spurs
managed just one win from the next seven games.
Unfortunately for
Bergsson his withdrawal coincided with an upturn in the team's fortunes,
as they put together a run of six victories and two draws in the next
nine games. He managed just one more league appearance during his first
season at White Hart Lane as Tottenham finished sixth in the First
Division. Despite starting the first game of the 1989/90 campaign, the
arrival of Pat Van Den Hauwe from Everton further intensified the
competition for the full back berths and Bergsson again found himself
out of favour for much of the season. His perseverance however was
rewarded towards the end of term as he started the final eight league
games - Spurs managing to secure seven victories and finish in a highly
creditable third place. Evidently impressed by Bergsson's late season
form, Venables selected him as his first choice right back when the
1990/91 season kicked off. Fate, though, was again to conspire against
the Icelander when, despite being ever present as Spurs opened the
campaign undefeated over the first seven games, he picked up an injury
in a 2-1 home win against Aston Villa and lost his place to Mitchell
Thomas. As his season petered out Gudni managed just five more first
team appearances, most notably at Wimbledon, where in an otherwise
forgettable game for Spurs fans he registered his first Tottenham goal
in a 5-1 defeat.
Whilst the team went on to lift the FA Cup, Bergsson
played no part in the run to Wembley or a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest
in the final itself. The following campaign, however, was to bring un
upturn in Gudni's fortunes and in terms of appearances it was most
successful in a Tottenham shirt. Under the management of Peter Shreeve
he made 28 league appearances, even finding the back of the net as a
substitute in a 3-1 win at Forest. The writing appeared to be on the
wall, however, when, in 1992/93, as the Ray Clemence/Doug Livermore
partnership took the managerial reigns, Gudni's five league appearances
all came from the substitutes bench.
Suffering with a back injury,
Bergsson returned to his native Iceland in 1993 but remained on
Tottenham's books and it was not until March 1995 that he departed White
Hart Lane, Bolton manager Bruce Rioch snapping up the Icelander for
what would prove to be a bargain fee of £65, 000. Reverting to centre
back he became a mainstay of the side during his eight seasons there, as
the Lancashire club yo-yo'd between the Premiership and the First
Division. Eighty international caps, spanning an 18 year playing career,
pay testimony to a player who, whilst never scaling the heights of
fellow countryman Gudjohnsen, nonetheless forged a very decent career in
the English game. (Dan Kleinman)
1988–1994 Tottenham Hotspur 72 League games (2 goals)
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