Ívar Ingimarsson
A composed Icelandic defender who became a cult hero at Reading, anchoring the defence during the club's golden era in the Premier League.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Icelandic footballer·Birthday: August 20·Generation X
Biography
Ívar Ingimarsson brought a slice of Nordic calm to the frantic pace of English football. The Icelandic centre-back began his career at his hometown club, ÍBV, before his talents took him to the English leagues. It was at Reading, however, where he etched his name into club lore. Arriving in 2003, he formed a formidable partnership at the heart of a record-breaking Royals side that stormed to the Championship title in 2006 with a staggering 106 points. Ingimarsson's quiet authority, intelligent positioning, and left-footed elegance were crucial as Reading held their own in the Premier League. He was a player of understated class, respected by teammates and supporters alike for his consistency and professionalism over more than 200 appearances for the club, embodying the spirit of a memorable underdog story.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ívar was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ívar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Ívar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Football League Championship with Reading in 2005-06, setting a record points total (106).
- Captained the Icelandic national team on multiple occasions.
- Made over 200 appearances for Reading across all competitions.
Did You Know?
He played alongside his brother, Þórður, for ÍBV in Iceland.
Ingimarsson scored his only Premier League goal in a 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in December 2006.
He represented Iceland at the under-21 level before earning 30 senior caps.
“I was never the quickest, so I had to read the game two steps ahead.”
