Valur, Iceland
Björgvin Páll Gústavsson, born 24 May 1985, is an Icelandic handball player that started his handball career at the age of nine with HK. He now plays with Valur Reykjavík, and the Icelandic national team.
G O A L K E E P E R
Björgvin Páll developed a keen interest in handball at the age of nine when he joined HK, a team based in Kópavogur, Iceland. Throughout his career as a handball player, he has been associated with various clubs both in Iceland and abroad, including Fram, TV Bittenfeld, Kadetten Schaffhausen, SC Magdeburg, Bergischer HC, Haukar, Skern, and currently, Valur.
In 2008, Björgvin Páll showed the workd his skills as a goalkeeper for the Icelandic national team during the Olympics in Beijing, playing a crucial role with 75 saves that contributed to the team reaching the finals.
Furthermore, he continued to represent Iceland on the international stage, participating in the 2021 World Men's Handball Championship.
Björgvin Páll is recognised as one of the most experienced players in the national team. Can you tell us when your journey with handball began and what drew you to the sport?
Well, it all started when I was just nine years old. I joined HK, a team in Kópavogur, Iceland. Strangely enough, I found it quite amusing to have a ball thrown at me. As a kid, I appreciated the protection of the defense, preventing me from getting into fights. Plus, there was nothing like the joy of celebrating after a save, especially when my team was leading the attack.
Do you have any special rituals you follow before games? I have a few rituals, but one thing I never skip is kissing my palms and touching the goal posts and goal line for my kids. After that, I always make the sign of the cross for my grandmothers.
Any favorite places in Iceland and Germany? In Iceland, it has to be the home stadium of Valur and its surroundings. In Germany, I would definitely say Bergisches Land.
How about your favorite handball player? I have to go with the Croatian player, Ivano Balić. His skills and dedication to the game have always inspired me.
What music gets you in the zone? Any specific genre or artist? I'm a big fan of Icelandic rap, especially BlazRoca; that's what I listen to about 90% of the time. But just before stepping onto the field, I always listen to "Zombie" by The Cranberries. It's my pre-game ritual.
Any hidden talents you want to share with your fans? I need to keep them hidden for a bit longer!
For every game, the last thing I do is listening to "Zombie" by The Cranberries.
