Fatawu’s 70-Yard Stunner – Remembering Guðjónsson’s Half-Way Strike

Seventy yards. One nutmeg and a swing of a boot. A moment that instantly took its place in Leicester City folklore – Abdul Fatawu was the man to write that particular line in our history on Saturday.

2025-12-15T09:30+00:00

by Sam Stevens

Published

15 Dec, 2025

Fatawu’s 70-Yard Stunner – Remembering Guðjónsson’s Half-Way Strike

Seventy yards. One nutmeg and a swing of a boot. A moment that instantly took its place in Leicester City folklore – Abdul Fatawu was the man to write that particular line in our history on Saturday.

Sam Stevens

2025-12-15T09:30+00:00

Fatawu’s 70-Yard Stunner – Remembering Guðjónsson’s Half-Way Strike

Seventy yards. One nutmeg and a swing of a boot. A moment that instantly took its place in Leicester City folklore – Abdul Fatawu was the man to write that particular line in our history on Saturday.

Sam Stevens

2025-12-15T09:30+00:00

Fatawu’s 70-Yard Stunner – Remembering Guðjónsson’s Half-Way Strike

Seventy yards. One nutmeg and a swing of a boot. A moment that instantly took its place in Leicester City folklore – Abdul Fatawu was the man to write that particular line in our history on Saturday.

Sam Stevens

2025-12-15T09:30+00:00

Fatawu’s 70-Yard Stunner – Remembering Guðjónsson’s Half-Way Strike

Seventy yards. One nutmeg and a swing of a boot. A moment that instantly took its place in Leicester City folklore – Abdul Fatawu was the man to write that particular line in our history on Saturday.

Sam Stevens

2025-12-15T09:30+00:00

The City No.7’s breathtaking strike from deep inside his own half against Ipswich Town was a rare blend of vision, bravery and flawless execution that turned a 3-1 victory into something unforgettable. Goals from distance are always celebrated, but efforts launched from near the half-way line belong to a far more exclusive club. In any other game, Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s earlier strike would own the headlines.

Across modern football, only the very bold – and very gifted – dare to try it. Names like Rivaldo, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney still echo whenever long-range brilliance is discussed. For Leicester City supporters, however, memories inevitably drift back to Filbert Way on 4 March, 2006, when Joey Guðjónsson etched his own name into that same illustrious conversation.

Nearly 20 years before Fatawu’s weekend wonder, City were locked in a tense Championship relegation battle under Rob Kelly, who had recently taken over from Craig Levein. Momentum had wavered after a brief upturn in form, with the threat looming of slipping further down the pyramid.

On a day rich with subplots, Leicester lined up with Henderson, Stearman, Gerrbrand, Kisnorbo, Johansson, Maybury, Guðjónsson, Williams, Hughes, Hume and Fryatt, eventually emerging with a vital 3-2 victory. Rufus Brevett made his sole appearance for the Club late on, while the return of former Manager Peter Taylor with Hull City added extra intrigue to proceedings.

Yet when the decisive moment arrived in the 64th minute, all other narratives faded. With the score level at 1-1 following Iain Hume’s opener and Stuart Elliott’s equaliser, Guðjónsson collected the ball from Patrick Kisnorbo deep in his own half. A touch. Then another. One glance up.

Seeing goalkeeper Boaz Myhill off his line as he crossed half-way, the Icelandic midfielder trusted instinct over hesitation. What followed was pure imagination – a perfectly weighted lob that sailed over Myhill and kissed the top corner, sending 22,835 supporters on Filbert Way into raptures.

“I looked once at the goal and at the goalkeeper, who wasn’t that far off his line,” Guðjónsson later recalled. “I saw an opportunity and just went for it. It wasn’t a proper thought process. It was just instinct.”

That goal proved pivotal, sparking another three-match winning run and helping City secure Championship safety. Guðjónsson would go on to collect the Club’s Player of the Year award before departing for AZ Alkmaar, later returning to England with Burnley and Huddersfield Town, and now forging a coaching career with Iceland.

Fast forward to Saturday, and Fatawu’s astonishing effort against Ipswich felt like history roaring back into the present.

Some goals are remembered for their importance. Others for their beauty. A very select few – from Guðjónsson to Fatawu – are remembered for their sheer audacity to be celebrated for generations.

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