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Steinsson Profile

Gretar Rafn Steinsson, Bolton Wanderers 

Gretar Steinsson

Born: 9th January 1982, Siglufjordur, Iceland

International Honours: Full level

Position: Right Back

Squad Number: 15

Former Clubs: IA Akranes (Iceland), Young Boys of Berne (Switzerland), AZ Alkmaar (Holland), Bolton Wanderers

It was a case of second time lucky for Gretar Steinsson when he completed his £3.5 million move from AZ Alkmaar to Bolton Wanderers in January 2008 for the Icelandic international had been rejected by the club some five years previously after a trial.

In 2002 whilst playing for IA Akranes, Steinsson was recommended to former Bolton manager Sam Allardyce by the Trotters then captain Gudni Bergsson but Allardyce decided against signing the versatile defender.

Steinsson carried on regardless, making over 70 appearances for Akranes and hitting the net twelve times prior to making the move to Switzerland with Young Boys of Berne in 2004.

In just over two years with the Swiss club he was in and out of the side and a transfer to Dutch club AZ Alkmaar in 2006 really helped his career to move forward.

AZ surprised many people due to their 2005 exploits in the UEFA Cup and under Louis Van Gaal's guidance they continued to flourish and so did Steinsson's career.

He helped the club to the final of the KNVB Cup in 2007 where Alkmaar held Ajax to a 1-1 draw and later lost the game in a penalty shoot out and it was around this time that the English scouts began to gather.

Bolton's Premier League rivals Middlesbrough and Newcastle United both tried to get the player to join them with Boro being particularly keen before opting to sign England defender Luke Young instead.

However Wanderers manager Gary Megson kept tabs on the player and made him the second most expensive defensive purchase in Bolton history behind fellow new arrival Gary Cahill, thus eclipsing the £2.5 million shelled out for Mark Fish a decade ago.

He made a useful start to his Bolton career and made the right back position his own, occasionally covering in the middle of the park if required. His will to win attitude, long thrown ins and darts forward to support the attack are all major reasons why the Wanderers fans have quickly taken to the man who once had to live in a garage to make ends meet.

Along with club mate Heidar Helguson, Steinsson is a full Icelandic international and he scored on his debut for his country in a friendly against Brazil in the 2001-2002 campaign.

BOLTON RECORD: 16 APPEARANCES, 0 GOALS

BY MARK HEYS

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