Stefan Thordarson from Preston comes from a truly exceptional football family.
This midfielder is part of an impressive lineage, being the tenth international player in his family.
As the Icelandic footballer prepares for a match against Premier League giants Aston Villa at Deepdale this Sunday, he shared, “In our family, a football is the first toy you get!”
“It feels like almost everyone in my family has played for Iceland!”
Thordarson, 26, has earned 28 caps for his national team, including playing in the notable 1-0 victory over England at Wembley last June.
His father Thordur, his uncle Stefan (who played for Stoke), great-uncles Olafur and Teitur, and great-grandfather Thordur have all proudly represented Iceland on the international stage.
But the football heritage doesn`t end there.
Through his great-great-grandmother, he is related to Petur Petursson, a former Icelandic star who played for prestigious European clubs like Feyenoord, Anderlecht, and Royal Antwerp.
Additionally, through his great-grandmother, he is connected to Arni Sveinsson, Sveinn Teitsson, and Sigursteinn Gislason, all of whom have also been capped for Iceland.
Adding to the family`s football tapestry, his older brother, Thordur Thorsteinn Thordarson, is a professional footballer who has played in Iceland`s top league, and his cousin Oliver Stefansson currently plays for the Swedish team IFK Norrkoping.
Preston’s secret weapon, Stefan Thordarson, is ready to challenge Aston Villa. Raised with a mindset of overcoming big teams, the Icelandic midfielder aims to create an upset in the FA Cup against the Premier League side.
Aston Villa, who are heading to face the Championship team, should remember their defender Ezri Konsa`s experience. Last June, when Konsa`s England faced Thordarson`s Iceland, the Three Lions suffered a 1-0 defeat in their final প্রস্তুতি game for Euro 2024.
Thordarson commented, “It was a perfect moment to play and win against such a talented England team at the iconic Wembley in front of 81,000 fans.”
“I would love to return there for the semi-finals. Our ambition is to take this club to Wembley.”
“Villa boasts international players in every position, but we will aim to play our best – dominating the game in our style.”
If North End, currently 14th in the Championship, manage to cause a shock, it would mark the third consecutive year that a Championship team has reached the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.
Last season, Coventry reached the semi-finals but were controversially defeated by eventual champions Manchester United on penalties, after a VAR decision disallowed a potential winning goal in the 120th minute.
In 2023, Preston’s current boss, Paul Heckingbottom, led Sheffield United to the FA Cup semi-finals, where they were defeated by Manchester City, who also went on to win the trophy.
Earlier this season, Thordarson was part of the Preston team that defeated Fulham in the Carabao Cup after an exhilarating 16-15 penalty shootout victory.
He has always believed in the possibility of upsets, inspired by Iceland`s historic victory over England in the Euro 2016 Round of 16, a match widely considered one of England`s most embarrassing defeats in a major tournament.
Thordarson added, “It was the greatest day in Icelandic sports history, proving that upsets are always possible.”
“It was a monumental moment because we all admire the Premier League and England.”
“That Iceland team inspired a whole generation of footballers to believe that anything is achievable.”
“We recognize Villa as a top European team, evident from their Champions League performances.”
“However, as FA Cup history and our Iceland team have demonstrated, nothing is impossible.”
Collectively, his family has amassed 299 international caps and scored 42 goals for Iceland, with Thordarson contributing one goal.
Thordarson said, “I am fortunate to have a family who understands the life of a footballer and provides invaluable support.”
“My father, a former goalkeeper in Iceland who also played for two years in Sweden with IFK Norrkoping, is a key figure. Then there’s my uncle Stefan, after whom I am named, who played as a striker for Stoke City from 2000 to 2002.”
“My middle name, Teitur, comes from my great-uncle. He played for Lens and Cannes in France. He was a prolific scorer, netting 19 goals for Lens in the 1981-82 season, just three behind French legend Michel Platini, who played for Saint-Etienne that year.”
“Teitur also coached the Estonian national team and managed numerous clubs in Norway and Iceland, as well as the Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada. I greatly admire him.”
“Going further back, my great-grandfather Thordur was in the Iceland team for their first-ever competitive match against France, when Iceland was first allowed to participate in the qualifying rounds for the 1958 World Cup.”
Thordur also scored against an amateur England team in 1956, in a match considered a B international because Iceland was not yet a professional football nation at the time.
Thordarson added, “I am lucky to have so many role models. I constantly talk with my dad and my uncle who played for Stoke. I also meet my great-uncles once or twice a year. Everyone has been incredibly supportive throughout my career.”
Thordarson is the third player in Preston`s history to originate from Iceland, specifically from Akranes on the west coast.
This town, a 30-minute drive from Reykjavik, has also produced former Preston midfielders Bjarki Gunnlaugsson (1999-2002) and striker Thordur Gudjonsson (2002).
Akranes, with a population of just over 8,000, has also been the hometown of Joey Gudjonsson, who played for Aston Villa, Wolves, Leicester, Burnley, and Huddersfield, and Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson, a former Wolves striker.
Additionally, Arnar Gunnlaugsson, the current Iceland head coach, who played for Bolton, Leicester, and Stoke, also hails from Akranes.
Thordarson remarked, “There can’t be many places in the world that have produced so many professional footballers from such a small population.”
“Growing up there, football is everything. Our local team dominated in the 1980s and early 1990s.”
Unsurprisingly, his childhood idol was Eidur Gudjohnsen, Iceland`s most celebrated footballer, who played for Barcelona, Chelsea, and Bolton.
Thordarson was starstruck when Gudjohnsen became his Under-21s coach.
He said, “Eidur was a massive inspiration. For someone from Iceland to play for Barcelona alongside legends like Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Xavi, and Deco was incredible.”
“It was a great honor to play under his guidance.”
Thordarson is determined to follow Gudjohnsen’s path to the Premier League, saying, “That’s why I moved to England. It has always been my dream.”
Growing up, he watched English football and supported Arsenal, admiring Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, and especially Cesc Fabregas.
The Preston player shared, “I had an English coach back home named Dean Martin.”
“He still lives in Iceland but is from London and is a big Arsenal fan. He converted some of us into Gooners.”
“It was during the era of the Invincibles. The way that team played under Arsene Wenger, and Cesc? Amazing.”
“His style and movement on the field, influenced by his Barcelona background, were captivating.”
After playing for his local club, Thordarson moved to Denmark and spent four seasons with Silkeborg.
In the 2022-23 season, he played against West Ham in the Conference League group stage.
Thordarson joined Preston last July and has quickly become a favourite among the fans.
He said, “It’s been a busy first season. We lost manager Ryan Lowe, who signed me, after just one game.”
“We had a good Carabao Cup run, defeating Fulham 16-15 on penalties, and I had the opportunity to play against Arsenal.”
“Despite losing 3-0, it was a valuable experience.”
“And now, we are in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Beating Burnley 3-0 in the previous round created one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever experienced on the pitch.”
Marcus Bellamy