386: Brynjar Gunnarsson, Reading, Merlin’s F.A. Premier League Official Sticker Collection 2006/07

Today Emlyn Jones takes a look at a man who played a pivotal role in Reading’s rise, fall and rise again to the Premier League in the twenty-first century without necessarily receiving the praise he deserved. He didn’t get the glamour move to Chelsea granted to his midfield partner. He didn’t turn out to (probably) be The Secret Footballer. He didn’t even get caught on camera enjoying himself in the toilets of the local branch of Revolution. Sometimes just being a tireless worker is enough to win the hearts and minds. Over to Emlyn.

Most clubs have an unsung hero; someone who always puts a shift in, never plays below 6 out of 10, or is willing to play anywhere across the pitch. They're rarely the first name to come to mind when describing your team, yet the subject of today's blog played 142 games over eight years for Reading, all of them in the top two divisions – hardly a footnote.

Brynjar Gunnarsson began his career in his native Iceland, playing three seasons with his hometown club KR, before moving on to play in Norway and then Sweden. In 1999, he joined Stoke City, then of the third tier, and was a near ever present as Stoke narrowly missed out on promotion in the play-offs in consecutive seasons, before an injury hit season in which Stoke finally got over the line. He then played in every game bar one the following year as the Potters escaped relegation. With his contract up, Gunnarsson moved to Nottingham Forest, but was in and out of the side and loaned briefly back to Stoke before moving on to Watford. Despite a fine season, new manager Aidy Boothroyd considered him surplus to requirements, and allowed him to leave for Reading in the summer of 2005.

After a quiet start, Gunnarsson announced his arrival in October of that year. Reading, having made a middling start to the season, faced Sheffield United, who were on an eight-game winning streak. The Royals had just suffered a dire 0-0 draw with Southampton, and it looked like their season may be inconsistent yet again. Undeterred, Gunnarsson scored a sweetly struck volley early in the game, however, the Blades went on to equalise, and when Paddy Kenny was inexplicably shown only a yellow card for a handball outside the box, it looked like the game would go the way of United. Controversially, the referee evened things up by ignoring James Harper booting Keith Gillespie a few feet into the air inside the penalty area, and in the 89th minute Gunnarsson was able to rise above the defence and nod home a winner, starting a run of 58 points from 22 games, and more importantly severely pissing Neil Warnock off in the process. Reading would go on to win the League at a canter, with a record of 106 points that stands to this day.

Gunnarsson was a regular for Reading in the Premier League, and scored some key goals, including a header against Manchester United that gave Reading their first points against one of the top four sides (at the time). Over the next few years he gradually moved into a utility role, appearing in multiple positions for the team, and at the age of 34 found himself at right back against Liverpool in an FA Cup replay. Defying his years, he gave opposition fullback Emiliano Insúa a torrid time, nutmegging him twice on the way to setting up Shane Long's winner.

Gunnarsson stayed with Reading until 2013, again winning promotion to the Premier League in 2012, being one of only two players (alongside Long) to do so twice with the club. He moved back to his first club, KR, where he played on for a season before retiring. He later joined the coaching setup of Stjarnan before managing HK, remaining there to this day.

He remains part of three exclusive Reading FC clubs; “Promoted in 2006”, “Promoted in 2012”, and best of all, “Managed To Severely Piss Off Neil Warnock”. He'll certainly be ensured a warm welcome should he return as opposition manager, and his 142 appearances for the Royals (alongside 74 for Iceland) ensure he'll be remembered as far more than an unsung hero.