Guðmundur Þórður Guðmundsson (born 23 December 1960) is an Icelandic retired handball player and current coach of the Icelandic national team.[1] In 2016, he guided Denmark men's team to gold in the 2016 Olympics. In 2008, he won silver with the Icelandic men's national team at the 2008 Olympic games in China.
Guðmundur Guðmundsson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Full name | Guðmundur Þórður Guðmundsson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born |
(1960-12-23) 23 December 1960 (age 61) Reykjavík, Iceland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Icelandic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing position | Left wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current club | Iceland (Manager) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior clubs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1967–1992 | Vikingur Reykjavik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1992–1995 | Afturelding Mosfellsbær | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iceland | 236 | (358) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Teams managed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1989–1992 | Vikingur Reykjavik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1992–1995 | Afturelding Mosfellsbær | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1995–1999 | Fram Reykjavik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1999–2001 | TSV Bayer Dormagen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2001–2004 | Iceland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2005–2007 | Fram Reykjavik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008–2012 | Iceland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009–2010 | GOG Svendborg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010–2014 | Rhein-Neckar Löwen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014–2017 | Denmark | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017–2018 | Bahrain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018– | Iceland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020–2021 | MT Melsungen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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He was the head coach of the Iceland men's national handball team 2001–2004 and again 2008–2012. Under his command the Iceland national team received a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and bronze medal at the 2010 European Championship in Austria.
Guðmundur is ranked with Dagur Sigurðsson his fellow countryman, who is the current national team coach of Japan's Men's team and another, Alfreð Gíslason, coach of THW Kiel amongst the best coaches of our era.[dubious – discuss] He has cited former coach Bogdan Kowalczyk as a major influence.[2]
In October 2013, it was announced that Guðmundur would take over as the head coach the Danish men's national handball team on 1 July 2014, replacing Ulrik Wilbek .[3] On 21 August 2016 Guðmundur led his team to the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[4] During the Olympics, Wilbek made two attempts to gain the consent of the Danish players to fire Guðmundur, once during the tournament and then the day after Denmark won the gold.[5][6] He announced in November 2016 that he would not renew his contract, which was set to expire on 1 July 2017.[7] After his departure from the Denmark team, Guðmundur criticized his predecessor Wilbek's, who was then the head of the Danish Handball Federation, repeated attempts to undercut his management of the team during the Olympics.[8]
It was reported in April 2017 that he would take over the Bahrain men's national handball team.[9]
In 2018 he returned to coach the Icelandic national team for the third time. He signed a contract for three years.[10] On 11 January 2020, he faced Denmark for the first time since his departure and guided Iceland to a 30–31 victory.[11]
In February 2020 Guðmundur took over as a coach at MT Melsungen in the German Bundesliga. He signed a contract to the end of the season but remained coach of the Icelandic national team.[12] In september 2021, he was sacked after 3 league matches only[13]
Iceland squad – Men's handball – 2010 European Championship – 3rd place | ||
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Iceland squad – Men's handball – 2011 World Championship – 6th place | ||
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Iceland squad – Men's handball – 2012 European Championship – 10th place | ||
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Iceland squad – 2012 Summer Olympics – 5th place | ||
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Denmark squad – Men's handball – 2015 World Championship – 5th place | ||
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Denmark squad – Men's handball – 2016 European Championship – 6th place | ||
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Denmark squad – 2016 Summer Olympics – Gold medal | ||
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Denmark squad – 2017 World Championship – 10th place | ||
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Iceland squad – 2019 World Championship – 11th place | ||
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Iceland squad – 2020 European Championship – 11th place | ||
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