Niklas Gunnarsson

Niklas Gunnarsson (born 27 April 1991) is a Norwegian footballer, who plays as a defender for Strømsgodset. Gunnarsson has previously played for Odd, Swedish clubs Elfsborg and Djurgårdens IF, Scottish club Hibernian, Italian club Palermo, Norwegian club Vålerenga and Sarpsborg 08.

Niklas Gunnarsson
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-04-27) 27 April 1991
Place of birth Tønsberg, Norway
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Strømsgodset
Number 5
Youth career
Pors
Walsall
Odd
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Odd 48 (3)
2014–2016 Vålerenga 41 (4)
2015 → Elfsborg (loan) 11 (1)
2016 → Hibernian (loan) 15 (2)
2016–2018 Djurgårdens IF 55 (2)
2019 Palermo 0 (0)
2019 Sarpsborg 08 10 (0)
2020– Strømsgodset 8 (0)
National team
2013 Norway U23 4 (0)
2016 Norway 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 July 2020

He is the son of former football manager Ronny Geson Gunnarsson.[1] He is known for his trademark long throw-ins, good crossing ability and offensive play.

Career

Gunnarsson made his senior debut on 25 March 2012 against Sogndal, they lost the game 0–4.[2]

His contract with Odd expired after the 2013 season, and in October 2013 he signed a three-year contract with Vålerenga and joined the club in January 2014.[3]

Gunnarsson was Vålerengas first choice right back during the 2014 season, starting 29 out of 30 matches in the Norwegian Premier League.[4] Gunnarsson fell out of the team in the following season, after coach Kjetil Rekdal made several changes after a poor display from the team in the Norwegian Football Cup.[5] Gunnarsson later left for Swedish side IF Elfsborg on a loan, a move that left several of Vålerengas fans dismayed after his several good performances in the previous season.[6]

In Sweden Gunnarsson played 11 matches in the Allsvenskan, scoring one goal and assisting another.

"Niklas is an extremely professional player both on and off the pitch and he has done a great job for Elfsborg in his time here. He has been held in high esteem by his team mates and I would like to give him the best recommendations and wish him the best of luck in the future"' – Elfsborg head coach Magnus Haglund speaking about Gunnarsson leaving the club.[7]

On 5 January 2016, he joined Scottish Championship side Hibernian on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season.[8] He made his debut on 9 January in a Scottish Cup fourth round 2–0 win against Raith Rovers.[9] His first goal for the club was the third goal in a 3–2 win against Rangers on 20 April.[10] Gunnarsson also recorded a goal against Queen of the South on 1 May.[11] He appeared as a substitute when Hibs won the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1902 in the 2016 Scottish Cup Final.[12]

On 9 August 2016, he joined Allsvenskan side Djurgårdens IF on a ​2 1⁄2-year deal. He was given number 28.[13] Ahead of 2017 Gunnarsson had his shirt number changed from 28 to 5. On 10 May 2018 he played as Djurgarden beat Malmo FF 3-0 in the Swedish Cup Final.[14]

On 1 March 2019, Gunnarsson signed a 1.5-year contract with Italian club Palermo.[15] Following Palermo's exclusion from the Serie B, he was released together with all other players, without making any single appearances during his short stay at the club.

On 2 September 2019, Gunnarsson joined Sarpsborg 08 on a contract until the end of the 2019 season.[16]

International career

Gunnarsson received his first international call-up from the Norway national football team for friendlies against Portugal and Belgium in May 2016, coming on as a substitute in the 86th minute against Portugal.[17][18]

Career statistics
As of 16 July 2020
Club Season Division League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Odd 2012 Tippeligaen 22140–261
2013 26240–302
Total 4838000563
Vålerenga 2014 Tippeligaen 29220–312
2015 12210–132
Total 4143000444
Elfsborg 2015 Allsvenskan 11100–111
Hibernian 2015–16 Scottish Championship 15250–152
Djurgårdens IF 2016 Allsvenskan 13200–132
2017 22000–220
2018 20071–271
2019 00001010
Total 5527110633
Palermo 2018–19 Serie B 0000–00
Total 00000000
Sarpsborg 08 2019 Eliteserien 10000–100
Total 1000000100
Strømsgodset 2020 Eliteserien 8000–80
Total 80000080
Career Total 188122311021213

Honours
Hibernian
Djurgårdens IF
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References
  1. Enger, Erik (12 August 2012). "Som far så sønn". Porsgrunns Dagblad. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  2. "Niklas Gunnarsson". altomfotball.no (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  3. Berge, Grete Ingebjørg; Ekeli, Fredrik Laland; Hansen, Lars (8 October 2013). "– Veldig skuffet over Niklas' avgjørelse". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  4. "Altomfotball". Altomfotball.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  5. Flygind, Kjetil (7 May 2015). "Viser total mangel på riktige holdninger". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  6. "Niklas Gunnarsson til Elfsborg". VPN. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  7. "Niklas Gunnarsson lämnar Elfsborg" (in Swedish). 24 November 2015. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  8. "GUNNARSSON SIGNS FOR HIBERNIAN". Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  9. "Raith Rovers 0-2 Hibernian". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  10. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35684231
  11. Mullen, Scott (1 May 2016). "Hibs 2 Queen of the South 0: It's the hope that kills as road to redemption gets longer for Easter Road club". The Herald Scotland. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  12. "Scottish Cup final: Rangers 2-3 Hibernian - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  13. "Niklas Gunnarsson klar för DIF" (in Swedish). 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  14. http://dif.se/djurgarden-cupmastare-malmo-kordes-over/
  15. "GUNNARSSON È ROSANERO OGGI ALLE 16.15 LA PRESENTAZIONE" (in Italian). Palermo. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  16. "NIKLAS GUNNARSSON KLAR FOR SARPSBORG 08". sarpsborg08.no/ (in Norwegian). Sarpsborg 08 FF. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  17. Marshall, Alan (24 May 2016). "Hibs Scottish Cup hero Niklas Gunnarsson earns Norway call-up for Portugal clash". dailyrecord. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  18. SANDBERG, FREDRIK ØKSTAD (30 May 2016). "Reagerer på Portugals skitne triks: - Det undergraver fotballen". Dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
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