Magnús Helgi Jónsson Bergs (born 27 August 1956) is an Icelandic former international footballer who played as a midfielder. He won 16 caps and scored two goals for the

Iceland national football team The Iceland national football team () represents Iceland in men's international Association football, football. The team is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland, and have been a FIFA member since 1947 and a UEFA member since 1957. ...

between 1980 and 1985. During his career he played for clubs in Iceland, Germany, Belgium and Spain.

Personal life

Magnús was born in the Icelandic capital,

Reykjavík Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...

, on 27 August 1956, the son of Jón Helgason Bergs and Gyða Scheving. He graduated from the

Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík (MR; official name in English: Reykjavik College) is collegein Iceland. It is located in Reykjavík. The school traces its origin to 1056, when a school was established in Skálholt, and it remains one of the oldest ...

in 1976, and attained a degree in

civil engineering Civil engineering is a regulation and licensure in engineering, professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads ...

from the

University of Iceland The University of Iceland ( ) is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern co ...

four years later. Magnús married Jóhanna Hreinsdóttir, a pastor's daughter, on 30 August 1980. The couple had three children—Gyða (born 1983), Steinunn (born 1985) and Hreinn (born 1991)—but later divorced.

Club career

Away from his career as an engineer, Magnús was a keen footballer. He started his senior career with Reykjavík-based club Valur in 1974, and spent six years there before moving to Germany to join

Borussia Dortmund Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund, often known simply as Borussia Dortmund () or by its initialism BVB (), or just Dortmund by International fans, is a German professional sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is ...

. However, he made only two league appearances in two seasons and subsequently joined Belgian side K.S.K. Tongeren in 1982. The following summer, Magnús switched countries again; he signed for Spanish club

Racing de Santander Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. (), also known as Racing de Santander () or simply Racing, is a football club based in Santander, Spain, Santander, Cantabria, Spain, that currently competes in Segunda División, the second tier of the Spani ...

, where he spent a single season. In 1984, he returned to German football with

Eintracht Braunschweig Braunschweiger Turn- und Sportverein Eintracht von 1895 e.V., commonly known as Eintracht Braunschweig () or BTSV (), is a German football and sports club based in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony. They compete in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier o ...

, but was again with the club for only one year, and played just six matches for them. Magnús then returned to Iceland, where he had spells with Þróttur and

Stjarnan Ungmennafélagið Stjarnan (, ), commonly known as Stjarnan (), is an Icelandic multi-sports club specialising in handball, football, basketball, volleyball and gymnastics located in Garðabær. Basketball Men's basketball As of the 2017–2 ...

before retiring in 1990.

International career

While playing for Valur, Magnús was called up to the Iceland national under-19 side in 1974 and won two caps for the team. Magnús made his debut for the senior national team on 25 June 1980 in the 1–1 draw with

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

at the

Laugardalsvöllur Laugardalsvöllur (, or more precisely 'Laugardalur Stadium') is Iceland's national stadium, national football stadium and the home venue for the Iceland national football team located in Reykjavík. It has a seating capacity of 9,500 and about ...

. On 27 May 1981, he scored his first international goal in the 6–1 defeat away to

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...

in a qualifying match for the

1982 FIFA World Cup The 1982 FIFA World Cup was the 12th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial Association football, football tournament for men's senior national teams, and was played in Spain from 13 June to 11 July 1982. The tournament was won by Italy national footbal ...

. Despite winning a further five caps that year, he then spent almost three years out of the Iceland team. Upon his return to the national side in September 1984, he scored the only goal of the game in the 1–0 home win against

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

. Magnús went on to win a total of 16 caps for his country. His final game for Iceland came on 12 June 1985, in the 2–1 loss to

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bergs, Magnus 1956 births Living people Magnus Bergs Magnus Bergs Magnus Bergs Men's association football midfielders Magnus Bergs Magnus Bergs Borussia Dortmund players Racing de Santander players Eintracht Braunschweig players Bundesliga players Belgian Pro League players Segunda División players Expatriate men's footballers in West Germany Expatriate men's footballers in Spain Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Magnus Bergs Magnus Bergs Magnus Bergs Magnus Bergs Magnus Bergs Magnus Bergs Magnus Bergs 20th-century Icelandic sportsmen