Milan-Genoa, Gudmundsson and great-grandfather Albert in red and black

Michele Antonelli

May 5 – 8.47am – MILAN

There is a family thread that links Albert Gudmundsson to Milan and football. He is the namesake great-grandfather Albert. He was a pioneer of Icelandic football, who in 1948 became the first Northern European footballer to set foot in Serie A, signing with the Rossoneri. On Sunday, his great-grandson will play for the first time at San Siro against the Devil. And he will rekindle a plot over seventy years long.

great-grandfather albert

—

Jump to the post-World War II years. Albert Sigurdur Gudmundsson – born in Reykjavik on 5 October 1923 and passed away in 1994 – a midfielder by profession, chose the path of football at a time that was still not easy for a Europe in reconstruction. When he turned twenty he left Iceland, went to study in Scotland and was signed up by Rangers. Then came the move to England with Arsenal, the move to Nancy, in France, and the arrival in Italy. At Milan. It was 1948 and Albert Senior wore the Rossoneri shirt in a not exactly memorable season, which ended in third place. The few faded photos of that time tell of a boy with icy eyes, like his great-grandson, and with a jaunty quiff far removed from the rigidity of the North. Giuseppe Bigogno was on the bench and the club then decided to buy foreign players again. Together with the Icelandic, Gunnar Nordahl also arrived in that transfer session.

debut with goals

—

Milan played at the Arena Civica, while San Siro was only used for home matches. Gudmundsson senior remained in Milan for one season: the old scoresheets and newspaper pages tell of 14 appearances and 2 goals. One of these was scored in the debut match against Atalanta: 3 October 1948, at San Siro, third matchday of the championship. It was a goal that paved the way for Milan’s 3-0 success.

the other albert

—

Seventy-six years later, his great-grandson is one of the revelations of the current Serie A, he bears the same name and that Milan will face him at San Siro. It will be the first time, given that the ’97 class has already been to Milan to play against Inter and has challenged the Rossoneri on two occasions. Always in Marassi. A question of connections, which keep football at the center of everything in the family: “My great-grandfather? Above all, my mother told me about him – the Genoa striker explained to Sportweek -. My whole family is involved in football: maternal grandfather, My dad and mom were all professional footballers. My parents also made it to the national team. It’s clear that they influenced my decision to play football.” Question of DNA. Now it’s the turn of young Albert to flesh out a season’s tally of 16 goals and 4 assists and look ahead. Scoring at San Siro, against Milan, would be special. More than anywhere else.