Icelandic-American striker, Aron Jóhannsson, has made the United States National Team 23 man roster ahead of their trip to Brazil this summer for the World Cup. He will be the first Icelander to compete at the World Cup as the USA was drawn into the ´Group of Death´ with the likes of world juggernauts Germany, Ghana and Portugal.
Jóhannsson was born to Icelandic parents in Alabama, but moved to Iceland at the age of 3. Aron played for local Icelandic club, Fjölnir, until he was spotted by Danish side AGF Aarhus in 2010. After playing 3 seasons and scoring 23 goals in 65 appearances for AGF Aarhus, Jóhannsson transferred to AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch 1st division. For AZ, the Icelander scored 20 goals in his first season, putting him on the radar of Jurgen Klinsmann and the US national team.
Jóhannsson´s decision to represent the United States at the international level came as a surprise to Icelanders due to the fact that he had grown up in the Icleandic youth system, and that he had represented Iceland as an Under-21 international. During CONCACAF qualifying, Aron scored his first goal for the US against Panama in a 3-2 win that eliminated the Panamanians from contention. Jóhannsson is expected to compete with Sunderland striker, Jozy Altidore, for playing time in Brazil.
Icelandic-American striker, Aron Jóhannsson, has made the United States National Team 23 man roster ahead of their trip to Brazil this summer for the World Cup. He will be the first Icelander to compete at the World Cup as the USA was drawn into the ´Group of Death´ with the likes of world juggernauts Germany, Ghana and Portugal.
Jóhannsson was born to Icelandic parents in Alabama, but moved to Iceland at the age of 3. Aron played for local Icelandic club, Fjölnir, until he was spotted by Danish side AGF Aarhus in 2010. After playing 3 seasons and scoring 23 goals in 65 appearances for AGF Aarhus, Jóhannsson transferred to AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch 1st division. For AZ, the Icelander scored 20 goals in his first season, putting him on the radar of Jurgen Klinsmann and the US national team.
Jóhannsson´s decision to represent the United States at the international level came as a surprise to Icelanders due to the fact that he had grown up in the Icleandic youth system, and that he had represented Iceland as an Under-21 international. During CONCACAF qualifying, Aron scored his first goal for the US against Panama in a 3-2 win that eliminated the Panamanians from contention. Jóhannsson is expected to compete with Sunderland striker, Jozy Altidore, for playing time in Brazil.
