Elaine out for 6 months with knee injury
Umeå's Brazilian national team player Elaine will probably miss the Olympics in August. The knee injury she suffered in the match against LDB FC Malmö last weekend was examined today and team physician Anders Eriksson revealed that the anterior cruciate ligament was torn. There are also additional damage to other ligaments in the knee.
"Injuries like this demands at least 6 months rehabilitation", said Eriksson, who added that Elaine will undergo surgery as soon as the swelling has gone down.
Västerbottenskuriren: Korsbandet av på Elaine
A third Finnish international to Umeå Södra
Damallsvenskan newcomers Umeå Södra FF has signed their third Finnish international, 21 years old Elina Sormunen from HJK Helsinki. Coach Torbjörn Nordström, who had the Finnish youth international on trial earlier in January, is happy that it worked out and believes that Sormunen will contribute to giving the team a very strong centre midfield.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Sormunen klar för Umeå Södra FF
Västerbottens Folkblad: Sormunen klar för Umeå Södra FF
Bälinge's experienced midfielder Linda Blom has, after lengthy negotiations, agreed to sign for another year with the club.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Linda Blom fortsätter i Bälinge
Sweden hosts USA in Olympic preparation match
The Swedish Football Association could reveal that the match against USA this summer, that was mentioned as a possibility late last year, now has been confirmed and will be played July 5. It is still not decided where in Sweden it will take place.
The lack of really tough matches against good opposition has been named as one of the mistakes in the Swedish build-up for the World Cup last year. With matches against both Norway (July 20) and USA this summer it looks like this won't be the case for the 2008 Olympic tournament.
Dagens Nyheter: Sveriges damer mot USA
The lack of really tough matches against good opposition has been named as one of the mistakes in the Swedish build-up for the World Cup last year. With matches against both Norway (July 20) and USA this summer it looks like this won't be the case for the 2008 Olympic tournament.
Dagens Nyheter: Sveriges damer mot USA
Dennerby names 6 debutants for Cyprus camp
National team coach Thomas Dennerby has named six players, who most probably will get their first full national team caps, for the Cyprus camp February 10-17. The camp includes friendlies against Norway and England.
Dennerby decided to leave all the members of the 100 caps club at home and instead take a look at several untried youngsters. "The Cyprus camp is a great opportunity to test young players", explained assistant coach Lillie Persson. "The older ones will benefit more from staying at home and continue with the pre season training".
A couple of the presumptive debutants are a bit surprising. While Örebro's Kristin Hammarström and Maria Nordbrandt were on the short-list already for the World Cup squad last year and Malin Levenstad (Malmö) and Lisa Dahlqvist (Umeå) impressed with their clubs last season, Linda Sembrandt (AIK) and in particular Hammarby's 18 year old Anna Lindblom were more unexpected.
It's also good to see Göteborg's Johanna Almgren back on the national team. The 23 year old midfielder, who got her first cap 2005, has suffered several serious injuries during her career, the last one 2006 when a difficult knee cartilage injury kept her on the sidelines for more than a year. She was chocked and very happy to be called up and her coach Torbjörn Nilsson praised her: "She has got everything; ball skills, vision, ambition" and said that if only she can keep healthy she should be on the national team.
Svensk fotboll: Sex debutanter till Cypern-lägret
Borås Tidning: Almgren tillbaka i landslaget igen
Göteborgsposten: Almgren tillbaka i landslaget
Dennerby decided to leave all the members of the 100 caps club at home and instead take a look at several untried youngsters. "The Cyprus camp is a great opportunity to test young players", explained assistant coach Lillie Persson. "The older ones will benefit more from staying at home and continue with the pre season training".
A couple of the presumptive debutants are a bit surprising. While Örebro's Kristin Hammarström and Maria Nordbrandt were on the short-list already for the World Cup squad last year and Malin Levenstad (Malmö) and Lisa Dahlqvist (Umeå) impressed with their clubs last season, Linda Sembrandt (AIK) and in particular Hammarby's 18 year old Anna Lindblom were more unexpected.
It's also good to see Göteborg's Johanna Almgren back on the national team. The 23 year old midfielder, who got her first cap 2005, has suffered several serious injuries during her career, the last one 2006 when a difficult knee cartilage injury kept her on the sidelines for more than a year. She was chocked and very happy to be called up and her coach Torbjörn Nilsson praised her: "She has got everything; ball skills, vision, ambition" and said that if only she can keep healthy she should be on the national team.
Club | DOB | Caps | Goals | U21 | U19 | U17 | |
Goalkeepers | |||||||
Kristin Hammarström | Kif Örebro | 820329 | - | - | 8 | 1 | 1 |
Hedvig Lindahl | Linköpings FC | 830429 | 26 | - | 5 | 7 | 6 |
Sofia Lundgren | AIK | 820920 | 19 | - | 7 | 1 | 2 |
Defenders | |||||||
Sara Larsson | Linköpings FC | 790513 | 69 | 6 | 12 | 8 | - |
Malin Levenstad | LDB FC Malmö | 880913 | - | - | 5 | 20 | 9 |
Anna Lindblom | Hammarby IF | 890711 | - | - | - | 6 | - |
Anna Paulson | Umeå IK | 840229 | 15 | - | 21 | 22 | 7 |
Charlotte Rohlin | Linköpings FC | 801202 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - |
Stina Segerström | Kif Örebro | 820617 | 20 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 7 |
Sara Thunebro | Djurgården | 790426 | 21 | 2 | 32 | 9 | 10 |
Frida Östberg | Umeå IK | 771210 | 62 | 2 | 3 | - | - |
Midfielders/forwards | |||||||
Johanna Almgren | Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC | 840322 | 5 | - | 14 | 11 | 3 |
Lisa Dahlkvist | Umeå IK | 870206 | - | - | 7 | 26 | 9 |
Madelaine Edlund | Umeå IK | 850915 | 1 | - | 18 | 7 | 1 |
Nilla Fischer | LDB FC Malmö | 840802 | 24 | 2 | 14 | 24 | 12 |
Maria Karlsson | Linköpings FC | 830514 | 8 | - | 15 | 1 | - |
Jessica Landström | Linköpings FC | 841212 | 2 | 1 | 9 | - | - |
Maria Nordbrandt | Kif Örebro | 850406 | - | - | 24 | 22 | 8 |
Frida Nordin | LDB FC Malmö | 820523 | 35 | 3 | 17 | 15 | 8 |
Lotta Schelin | Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC | 840227 | 47 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
Linda Sembrandt | AIK | 870515 | - | - | 8 | 25 | 7 |
Svensk fotboll: Sex debutanter till Cypern-lägret
Borås Tidning: Almgren tillbaka i landslaget igen
Göteborgsposten: Almgren tillbaka i landslaget
Umeå wins LDB Sports Cup
There are a lot of indoor tournaments in Sweden in the winter, usually five-a-side or futsal on small indoor courts. Even if clubs like Hammarby usually have big success competing in these, most Damallsvenskan sides don't care much about them. But LDB Sports Cup is different. Four major European sides - Kolbotn from Norway, Brøndby from Denmark, Umeå IK and hosting LDB FC Malmö - compete for a cash prize of USD 10,000, with full teams on a full size indoor field.
The tournament was more than just four matches. Hosting LDB FC had made an effort making it a major event. There were a series of lectures and football clinics, led by among others national team coach Thomas Dennerby, and autograph signings downtown with Marta and other stars and it made quite an impact in the small town of Växjö, where it was held.
But the matches are of course the most important. All of the team coaches had stressed how important it is to get good competition and to be able to play real matches early in the season. The matches did however show that it was early (most of the players hadn't played a real match for three months) and the players often seemed a bit uncomfortable with the ball and had problems making the right decisions, as the case often is in the early preseason matches.
Umeå won the Cup and the big cash prize after first defeating Brøndby in the semifinal 1-0 and then Malmö, with an extratime penatly kick by Marta. Malmö's defender Emma Wilhelmsson had been successful containing Umeå's world class forward, but in the last minute of extra-time Marta managed to get inside the penalty area and create a fairly soft penalty for herself.
The match unfortunately saw two injuries. Umeå's Elaine had to leave early in the match with a knee injury, that might be serious and Malmö's Nilla Fischer got a neck injury, that probably is less serious.
This is still early days and you shouldn't make to much out of it, but both Umeå and Malmö showed some interesting set-ups. In the Brøndby match, Umeå had a 4-2-3-1 formation with Marta on the wing, Madeleine Edlund on top and Frida Östberg playing defensive mid, while Malmö used a more defensive 4-5-1 against Umeå with new forward Maria Aronsson as target.
Looking at the teams, you could see that Norwegian Kolbotn seemed weakened by their recent player losses, both to other teams and to injury, and were definitely number four in the competition while the three others were fairly equally matched.
LDB FC Malmö - Kolbotn 3 - 0 (1-0)
Malmö: Stephanie Öhrström - Therese Jönsson, Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Lina Nilsson - Frida Nordin (53 Emma Stålhammar), Nilla Fischer, Dora Stefansdottir (61 Aylin Yaren), Therese Sjögran (64 Antonia Göransson) - Therese Lundin (61 Maria Aronsson), Manon Melis
Goals: 1-0 Therese Lundin, 2-0 Manon Melis, 3-0 Therese Lundin
Umeå - Brøndby 1 - 0 (1-0)
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Johanna Frisk, Emma Berglund (36 June Pedersen) - Frida Östberg (50 Emma Åberg Zingmark), Lisa Dahlqvist - Ramona Bachmann, Hanna Ljungberg, Johanna Rasmusen (36 Marta) - Madeleine Edlund
Goals: 1-0 Madeleine Edlund
Brøndby - Kolbotn 3 - 0 (3-0)
Goals: 1-0 Tanja Mejer Christensen, 2-0 Cathrine Paaske Sørensen, 3-0 Lene Jensen
Umeå - LDB FC Malmö 1 - 0 (0-0)
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulsson, Emma Berglund, Johanna Frisk, June Pedersen - Marta, Frida Östberg (61 Ramona Bachmann), Elaine (13 Lisa Dahlqvist), Johanna Rasmusen - Madeleine Edlund (36 Sofia Jakobsson), Emelie Konradsson (36 Emma Åberg Zingmark)
Malmö: Stephanie Öhrström - Therese Jönsson, Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Emelie Ölander - Frida Nordin, Nilla Fischer (59 Aylin Yaren), Dora Stefansdottir, Therese Sjögran, Emma Stålhammar - Maria Aronsson (54 Therese Lundin)
Goals: 1-0 Marta
Smålandsposten: Världens bästa fotbollspelare mötte Växjöfansen, Bäddat för drömfinal i Växjö Tipshall, Martas finalkväll - trots allt
Sydsvenskan: Risig Lundin glänste i premiär,
Svt: a video with few words from Umeå's resigning manager Roland Arnqvist followed a by Marta-focused segment from the Sports Cup.
The tournament was more than just four matches. Hosting LDB FC had made an effort making it a major event. There were a series of lectures and football clinics, led by among others national team coach Thomas Dennerby, and autograph signings downtown with Marta and other stars and it made quite an impact in the small town of Växjö, where it was held.
But the matches are of course the most important. All of the team coaches had stressed how important it is to get good competition and to be able to play real matches early in the season. The matches did however show that it was early (most of the players hadn't played a real match for three months) and the players often seemed a bit uncomfortable with the ball and had problems making the right decisions, as the case often is in the early preseason matches.
Umeå won the Cup and the big cash prize after first defeating Brøndby in the semifinal 1-0 and then Malmö, with an extratime penatly kick by Marta. Malmö's defender Emma Wilhelmsson had been successful containing Umeå's world class forward, but in the last minute of extra-time Marta managed to get inside the penalty area and create a fairly soft penalty for herself.
The match unfortunately saw two injuries. Umeå's Elaine had to leave early in the match with a knee injury, that might be serious and Malmö's Nilla Fischer got a neck injury, that probably is less serious.
This is still early days and you shouldn't make to much out of it, but both Umeå and Malmö showed some interesting set-ups. In the Brøndby match, Umeå had a 4-2-3-1 formation with Marta on the wing, Madeleine Edlund on top and Frida Östberg playing defensive mid, while Malmö used a more defensive 4-5-1 against Umeå with new forward Maria Aronsson as target.
Looking at the teams, you could see that Norwegian Kolbotn seemed weakened by their recent player losses, both to other teams and to injury, and were definitely number four in the competition while the three others were fairly equally matched.
LDB FC Malmö - Kolbotn 3 - 0 (1-0)
Malmö: Stephanie Öhrström - Therese Jönsson, Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Lina Nilsson - Frida Nordin (53 Emma Stålhammar), Nilla Fischer, Dora Stefansdottir (61 Aylin Yaren), Therese Sjögran (64 Antonia Göransson) - Therese Lundin (61 Maria Aronsson), Manon Melis
Goals: 1-0 Therese Lundin, 2-0 Manon Melis, 3-0 Therese Lundin
Umeå - Brøndby 1 - 0 (1-0)
Umeå: Ulla-Karin Rönnlund - Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg, Johanna Frisk, Emma Berglund (36 June Pedersen) - Frida Östberg (50 Emma Åberg Zingmark), Lisa Dahlqvist - Ramona Bachmann, Hanna Ljungberg, Johanna Rasmusen (36 Marta) - Madeleine Edlund
Goals: 1-0 Madeleine Edlund
Brøndby - Kolbotn 3 - 0 (3-0)
Goals: 1-0 Tanja Mejer Christensen, 2-0 Cathrine Paaske Sørensen, 3-0 Lene Jensen
Umeå - LDB FC Malmö 1 - 0 (0-0)
Umeå: Carola Söberg - Anna Paulsson, Emma Berglund, Johanna Frisk, June Pedersen - Marta, Frida Östberg (61 Ramona Bachmann), Elaine (13 Lisa Dahlqvist), Johanna Rasmusen - Madeleine Edlund (36 Sofia Jakobsson), Emelie Konradsson (36 Emma Åberg Zingmark)
Malmö: Stephanie Öhrström - Therese Jönsson, Malin Levenstad, Emma Wilhelmsson, Emelie Ölander - Frida Nordin, Nilla Fischer (59 Aylin Yaren), Dora Stefansdottir, Therese Sjögran, Emma Stålhammar - Maria Aronsson (54 Therese Lundin)
Goals: 1-0 Marta
Smålandsposten: Världens bästa fotbollspelare mötte Växjöfansen, Bäddat för drömfinal i Växjö Tipshall, Martas finalkväll - trots allt
Sydsvenskan: Risig Lundin glänste i premiär,
Svt: a video with few words from Umeå's resigning manager Roland Arnqvist followed a by Marta-focused segment from the Sports Cup.
Umeå manager Roland Arnqvist quits
Roland Arnqvist, the man behind Umeå IK's long march from obscurity to world domination, has decided to leave his position as club manager.
"It's time", he says, "I've been working 25 years for the club and you have to leave some time". He calls the job "a suicide mission, it takes all your time". Taking up a position in another women's football club is not an option. It would be like starting over where he was ten years ago and he also wants to point out that he is not leaving the club: "I will always be a UIKer". He will stay on as club manager until the end of May 2008 and be part of the group that works out Umeå's new organisation.
Roland Arnqvist is Umeå IK's women's football, much more important than any Marta or Malin Moström. He started coaching the team when UIK decided to field a women's team 1984 and has since excelled in the position as club manager. His eye for talent, his tenacity and inventiveness has made the club to what it is. I can fully understand that he feels worn out, and maybe not always as appreciated as he deserves, but I also think that he has chosen a good time to leave. The club is now a model organisation for women's football and one of the strongest brand names in the sport. It shouldn't be impossible for the club to continue finding success without him.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Arnqvist slutar i Umeå IK
"It's time", he says, "I've been working 25 years for the club and you have to leave some time". He calls the job "a suicide mission, it takes all your time". Taking up a position in another women's football club is not an option. It would be like starting over where he was ten years ago and he also wants to point out that he is not leaving the club: "I will always be a UIKer". He will stay on as club manager until the end of May 2008 and be part of the group that works out Umeå's new organisation.
Roland Arnqvist is Umeå IK's women's football, much more important than any Marta or Malin Moström. He started coaching the team when UIK decided to field a women's team 1984 and has since excelled in the position as club manager. His eye for talent, his tenacity and inventiveness has made the club to what it is. I can fully understand that he feels worn out, and maybe not always as appreciated as he deserves, but I also think that he has chosen a good time to leave. The club is now a model organisation for women's football and one of the strongest brand names in the sport. It shouldn't be impossible for the club to continue finding success without him.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Arnqvist slutar i Umeå IK
Rumours and gossip
If you think that I've been inactive the last week, you're quite right, but it's not really my fault. There is simply nothing much happening at the moment. But just to give you some sign of life from the Swedish women soccer scene, here are some actual news, some rumours and a bit of gossip.
American winger/forward Jennifer Nobis (University of Missouri and River Cities in WPSL), who excelled for second level Danmarks IF last season, might be on her way to Damallsvenskan newcomers Umeå Södra FF. At least according to Danmark's coach Max Andersson, who also revealed that he tried to sign goalkeeper Laura Boyer, who is currently trying out at Kopparbergs/Göteborg.
Young goalkeeper Jenny Olsson, who filled in for Linköping's Hedvig Lindahl during her injury, has left the team and is looking at clubs in the Swedish second level (Stattena, Sjöbo) and in the Danish premier league (I'm guessing Skjold).
Kopparbergs/Göteborg has hired a goalkeeper coach, former Swedish international Thomas Wernersson. Wernersson is an old teammate of Göteborg head coach Torbjörn Nilsson and together they won the UEFA Cup 1982.
Newly retired Swedish international Hanna Marklund is pregnant and expecting to give birth this summer. If you count backwards from that, you could get the idea that this was a deciding factor when she made up her mind to retire. Hanna says she is still training with Sunnanå ("Because it's so fun"), which promts tabloid Expressen to ask her if the decision to retire was really final. "I can't know that now", she answers, but I don't think her fans should get their hopes up.
American winger/forward Jennifer Nobis (University of Missouri and River Cities in WPSL), who excelled for second level Danmarks IF last season, might be on her way to Damallsvenskan newcomers Umeå Södra FF. At least according to Danmark's coach Max Andersson, who also revealed that he tried to sign goalkeeper Laura Boyer, who is currently trying out at Kopparbergs/Göteborg.
Young goalkeeper Jenny Olsson, who filled in for Linköping's Hedvig Lindahl during her injury, has left the team and is looking at clubs in the Swedish second level (Stattena, Sjöbo) and in the Danish premier league (I'm guessing Skjold).
Kopparbergs/Göteborg has hired a goalkeeper coach, former Swedish international Thomas Wernersson. Wernersson is an old teammate of Göteborg head coach Torbjörn Nilsson and together they won the UEFA Cup 1982.
Newly retired Swedish international Hanna Marklund is pregnant and expecting to give birth this summer. If you count backwards from that, you could get the idea that this was a deciding factor when she made up her mind to retire. Hanna says she is still training with Sunnanå ("Because it's so fun"), which promts tabloid Expressen to ask her if the decision to retire was really final. "I can't know that now", she answers, but I don't think her fans should get their hopes up.
Törnqvist sees new start to her career
Jane Törnqvist tells local daily Göteborgsposten that she had already decided to end her career when the offer from Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC came. "I was a bit taken by that" she says and adds that it took her a couple of weeks to decide. The fact that Göteborg's offer was for a full-time professional position made the difference:
"Finally being able to play football without having anything on the side made the deal", Jane says, "But it is also exciting to change towns, I was a bit fed up with Stockholm".
Getting truly professional for the first time in her life, at 32 and after 14 years on the highest level, has changed Jane's plans for the future somewhat. Her contract with Göteborg has an option for second year and Jane doesn't even eliminate the possibility of playing for the national team:
"That's not something I'm thinking about now, but you should never say never", she says and continues "The performance has to decide, there is a lot of good defenders in Sweden."
Göteborgsposten: Jane nysatsar i Kopparbergs
Jane Törnqvist's new coach, Torbjörn Nilsson, reveals in another interview that he was offered the Göteborg job already three years ago, but turned it down: "It wasn't at the level I wanted, since I have been working at a very high level". But things have changed since: "Now there is a great environment around the club and they have their own stadium."
Nilsson predicts that more established coaches from the men's side will step over to women's football in the future. "It is easy to see it as a step down, but when I started to think about it I didn't see it that way. [...] Being a leader in Damallsvenskan might even demand more of you".
Dagens Nyheter: Ny utmaning för Torbjörn Nilsson
"Finally being able to play football without having anything on the side made the deal", Jane says, "But it is also exciting to change towns, I was a bit fed up with Stockholm".
Getting truly professional for the first time in her life, at 32 and after 14 years on the highest level, has changed Jane's plans for the future somewhat. Her contract with Göteborg has an option for second year and Jane doesn't even eliminate the possibility of playing for the national team:
"That's not something I'm thinking about now, but you should never say never", she says and continues "The performance has to decide, there is a lot of good defenders in Sweden."
Göteborgsposten: Jane nysatsar i Kopparbergs
Jane Törnqvist's new coach, Torbjörn Nilsson, reveals in another interview that he was offered the Göteborg job already three years ago, but turned it down: "It wasn't at the level I wanted, since I have been working at a very high level". But things have changed since: "Now there is a great environment around the club and they have their own stadium."
Nilsson predicts that more established coaches from the men's side will step over to women's football in the future. "It is easy to see it as a step down, but when I started to think about it I didn't see it that way. [...] Being a leader in Damallsvenskan might even demand more of you".
Dagens Nyheter: Ny utmaning för Torbjörn Nilsson
Aylin Yaren to Malmö, Amelie Rybäck to Göteborg
Turkish-German teenage talent Aylin Yaren has captured a contract with LDB FC Malmö. The 18 year old from the German 2nd liga leaders Te-Be Berlin has been on trial with Malmö for a week and impressed coach Jörgen Pettersson enough to get a one year deal with an option for a second year.
Coach Pettersson talks about Yaren as a player for the future, "She has a huge potential, but she is not a finished player", and points to her ball control, ambitions and sensitive left foot.
Sydsvenskan: Landslagsspelare förstärker LDB FC
LDB FC: Aylin Yaren klar för LdB FC
Defender Amelie Rybäck has finally decided to sign a contract with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC, turning down offers from Linköping and Kristianstad.
In other Göteborg news, goalkeeper trialist Laura Boyer has arrived for her two weeks with the team. The 22 year old has good reviews from her four years college soccer for Marquette University.
GöteborgFC: Amelie Rybeck klar för Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC
Coach Pettersson talks about Yaren as a player for the future, "She has a huge potential, but she is not a finished player", and points to her ball control, ambitions and sensitive left foot.
Sydsvenskan: Landslagsspelare förstärker LDB FC
LDB FC: Aylin Yaren klar för LdB FC
Defender Amelie Rybäck has finally decided to sign a contract with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC, turning down offers from Linköping and Kristianstad.
In other Göteborg news, goalkeeper trialist Laura Boyer has arrived for her two weeks with the team. The 22 year old has good reviews from her four years college soccer for Marquette University.
GöteborgFC: Amelie Rybeck klar för Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC
Therese Björk returns to Kristianstad
Fullback Therese Björk, who left Kristianstad 2006 for Jitex and played for Qbik 2007, has now made up her mind to return home and play for 2008 newcomers Kristianstads DFF. The club is happy with her decision, the more since two other of Kristianstad's targets has decided against joining the club. Björk's former team mate Amelie Rybäck will probably go to Linköping and Damallsvenskan veteran Jenny Engwall has just been announced as 1st division newcomers Tyresö FF's latest signing.
The Kristianstad club is still loking for a few more players, but there isn't many quality players available anymore on the domestic market. Sport director Ulf Berglund says that he at the moment is looking at three North American players.
Kristianstadsbladet: Björck ritade på när de andra tränade
Norra Skåne: Therese Björck klar för KDFF
Tyresö FF, that somewhat surprisingly managed to get Jenny Engwall's signature, is a 2008 1st division newcomers after only one year in the 2nd. They are trying to strangthen their squad with players with Damallsvenskan experience and has also tied AIK's 23 year old midfielder Lina Hedkvist to the club.
Damfotboll.com: Lina & Lina ny duo till Tyresö
The pre-season started bad for Hammarby's leftback Annica Svensson. She injured her knee in her club's last indoor tournament for the season and it has now been established that she has tore her ACL. The 24 year old has been one of Hammarby's key players the last seasons and the club is hoping for a speedy recovery.
Hammarby: Annica Svensson knäskadad
The Kristianstad club is still loking for a few more players, but there isn't many quality players available anymore on the domestic market. Sport director Ulf Berglund says that he at the moment is looking at three North American players.
Kristianstadsbladet: Björck ritade på när de andra tränade
Norra Skåne: Therese Björck klar för KDFF
Tyresö FF, that somewhat surprisingly managed to get Jenny Engwall's signature, is a 2008 1st division newcomers after only one year in the 2nd. They are trying to strangthen their squad with players with Damallsvenskan experience and has also tied AIK's 23 year old midfielder Lina Hedkvist to the club.
Damfotboll.com: Lina & Lina ny duo till Tyresö
The pre-season started bad for Hammarby's leftback Annica Svensson. She injured her knee in her club's last indoor tournament for the season and it has now been established that she has tore her ACL. The 24 year old has been one of Hammarby's key players the last seasons and the club is hoping for a speedy recovery.
Hammarby: Annica Svensson knäskadad
2008 schedule
The schedules for both Damallsvenskan and the national team are now set. There might be minor changes in the league schedule, it is still called preliminary, but probably not that much.
Preseason training started in all clubs this last week after being on a break for one or two months - the shorter break for the national team players, who played Denmark in November. The rest will look like this:
In February there is a national team camp 10-17 at Cyprus with matches against England and Norway. This is followed by the Algarve Cup in March. Before the league starts, Umeå will play UEFA Women's Cup semifinals, the 30th March away and 5th April at home.
The day after Umeå's Women's Cup semifinal, Damallsvenskan kicks off and plays the first 4 rounds of matches before a May break in the league for the two national team Euro qualifiers against Hungary and Italy, the 3rd and 7th. The 10th the league is on it's way again with three match days in May. In May there is also a possible UEFA Women's Cup final in two legs between May 17-24.
The league continues in June with 5 more rounds and the Swedish Cup plays two rounds until a break for another Euro qualifier, against Ireland on the 25th, followed by the Swedish Cup quarter-finals the 29th. The there are two more match-days in July before Damallsvenskan goes on the long break for the Olympics.
The national team starts with a domestic preparation camp the 19th July, including a friendly against Norway and possibly one against USA. They move camp to Japan for further preparations before going on to China and the Olympic tournament.
Damallsvenskan resumes activity 30th August and plays 5 more Damallsvenskan rounds plus Swedish Cup semifinals and final before there is another break for national team activities, the two final qualification matches for the 2009 European championships on 27th September and 1st October.
The final three Damallsvenskan rounds are then played with the final matches 19th October. I presume that the second qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Cup also will be played in October, although I haven't seen any schedule set yet and the season hopefully ends with UEFA Women's Cup Quarter-finals in November.
National team 2008 schedule
Damallsvenskan 2008 schedule
Preseason training started in all clubs this last week after being on a break for one or two months - the shorter break for the national team players, who played Denmark in November. The rest will look like this:
In February there is a national team camp 10-17 at Cyprus with matches against England and Norway. This is followed by the Algarve Cup in March. Before the league starts, Umeå will play UEFA Women's Cup semifinals, the 30th March away and 5th April at home.
The day after Umeå's Women's Cup semifinal, Damallsvenskan kicks off and plays the first 4 rounds of matches before a May break in the league for the two national team Euro qualifiers against Hungary and Italy, the 3rd and 7th. The 10th the league is on it's way again with three match days in May. In May there is also a possible UEFA Women's Cup final in two legs between May 17-24.
The league continues in June with 5 more rounds and the Swedish Cup plays two rounds until a break for another Euro qualifier, against Ireland on the 25th, followed by the Swedish Cup quarter-finals the 29th. The there are two more match-days in July before Damallsvenskan goes on the long break for the Olympics.
The national team starts with a domestic preparation camp the 19th July, including a friendly against Norway and possibly one against USA. They move camp to Japan for further preparations before going on to China and the Olympic tournament.
Damallsvenskan resumes activity 30th August and plays 5 more Damallsvenskan rounds plus Swedish Cup semifinals and final before there is another break for national team activities, the two final qualification matches for the 2009 European championships on 27th September and 1st October.
The final three Damallsvenskan rounds are then played with the final matches 19th October. I presume that the second qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Cup also will be played in October, although I haven't seen any schedule set yet and the season hopefully ends with UEFA Women's Cup Quarter-finals in November.
National team 2008 schedule
Damallsvenskan 2008 schedule
Rybäck gets contract offer from Linköping and other news
Former Qbik defender Amelie Rybäck, who just has finished her try-out with Linköping, has recieved an offer, sport director Bengt Ekholm says. "She is a good player that would increase the depth in the squad", he says and adds that she is welcome if she accepts the terms. Rybäck says she still hasn't made up her mind "I have some clubs to chose between and it's niot easy to decide".
Linköping are still looking for a strong offensive midfielder, but Ekholm says that they are not panicing, "we have a strong squad already".
Corren: Rybäck välkommen till LFC
Sunnanå have signed 17 year old local talent Sandra Fält Barbalace from nearby 1st division side Morön. Sunnanå's Sören Gustafsson is happy to have been able go get her to the team and says that she is one of the greatest talents northern Sweden, "it's pretty much up to herself exactly how good she will become". Gustafsson adds that Sunnanå are still looking for good players to add to the team, the more so after Hanna Marklund retired, but no names mentioned.
Sunnanå also signed a new assistant coach, Göran Hallberg from the club's men's team. The fairly late decision seems to have to do with that the club originally wanted Hanna Marklund for the position, but didn't manage to persuade her.
Norra Västerbotten: Sandra klar för Sunnanå, Nästa brorsa i Sunnanås damlag
Bälinge's young left fielder Ida Norström has left the club for local 1st division side Danmarks IF.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Ida Norström klar för Danmark
Salina Olsson, who recently returned home to Stockholm after two years with Kopparbergs/Göteborg, has not made up her mind about her future in football, but is in talks with AIK. She was bothered by a hurting knee most of last season and is now doing light rehab training to see how it will work out. She says that the door to AIK is open for her, if she decides to continue playing.
Damfotboll.com: Salina funderar på framtiden
Linköping are still looking for a strong offensive midfielder, but Ekholm says that they are not panicing, "we have a strong squad already".
Corren: Rybäck välkommen till LFC
Sunnanå have signed 17 year old local talent Sandra Fält Barbalace from nearby 1st division side Morön. Sunnanå's Sören Gustafsson is happy to have been able go get her to the team and says that she is one of the greatest talents northern Sweden, "it's pretty much up to herself exactly how good she will become". Gustafsson adds that Sunnanå are still looking for good players to add to the team, the more so after Hanna Marklund retired, but no names mentioned.
Sunnanå also signed a new assistant coach, Göran Hallberg from the club's men's team. The fairly late decision seems to have to do with that the club originally wanted Hanna Marklund for the position, but didn't manage to persuade her.
Norra Västerbotten: Sandra klar för Sunnanå, Nästa brorsa i Sunnanås damlag
Bälinge's young left fielder Ida Norström has left the club for local 1st division side Danmarks IF.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Ida Norström klar för Danmark
Salina Olsson, who recently returned home to Stockholm after two years with Kopparbergs/Göteborg, has not made up her mind about her future in football, but is in talks with AIK. She was bothered by a hurting knee most of last season and is now doing light rehab training to see how it will work out. She says that the door to AIK is open for her, if she decides to continue playing.
Damfotboll.com: Salina funderar på framtiden
LDB FC Malmö takes one step at the time
The local daily Sydsvenskan has done an interesting interview with Kent Widding Persson, LDB FC Malmö's main financer and, I'm just guessing here, most influental boardmember. He is not shy about the club's ambitions, they want to challenge for the Swedish and European championships. But it is important to take one step at the time.
"We need to build from the foundation", Widding Persson states. The first step was to sort out the club's financial problems. Widding Persson's company Hardford's 8 years long SEK 3 million a year sponsor deal was a conrnerstone.
The second step was to secure a stable and homogenous core squad. This was done already this last summer, when 12 of the most important players were signed on long-term contracts. Once that was done, the club went looking for good players to spice the squad with. So far we have seen Pavlina Scasna and Maria Aronsson.
Kent Widding Persson reveals that the club is still interested in the Brazilian national team players Cristiane and Daniela, but not with their current wage demands. "It's not just the money, we could afford that. But we can't sign a player that will earn two or three times more than anyone else does". He understands that some fans are getting impatient and wants to see a big signing, but says that it is important for the club to hold on to it's identity and long-term strategy.
Other important steps for the future includes putting artificial turf on Malmö's home ground. The idea is to get all LDB's teams, from the eight year olds to the seniors, together in one arena. A grass surface can't sustain that kind of daily usage. Widding Persson also wants to double Malmö's today 1,000 heads per game audience. "We need both good results and a good match environment to achieve that".
Widding Persson's involvment in the club has also opened new contacts. Last fall the club signed a deal with another local businessman, IT millionaire Dan Olofsson. The deal includes a pre-season training camp in South Africa including a match against the South African national team in February. In return the team will help develop and promote Olofsson's "Star School" programme, a SEK 12 million anti-HIV initiative where football will play a big part.
Sydsvenskan: LDB-sponsor vill ha konstgräs, IT-miljonär sponsrar LDB FC Malmö
More tryouts: Turkish ball-juggler at Malmö, American goalie to Göteborg
A couple of players trying to impress their way into the team showed up at the training sessions, as it is that time of the year:
Former Qbik player Amelie Rybäck, earlier connected to both Göteborg and Kristianstad, showed up at Linköping. Coach Daniel Pettersson calls the 25 year old fullback fast and sensible, but neither he nor the player has made any committments yet.
Corren: Rybäck tränade med LFC
18 year old Turkish-German talent Aylin Yaren visited LDB FC Malmö. The young midfielder, currently playing for TeBe Berlin in the German 2nd liga, definitely has some ball-skills and played for the German 17 year olds before she decided to switch to her other nationality. Malmö's coach Jörgen Pettersson first noticed her in a youth match between Germany and Sweden and is impressed by her technical abilities but also thinks that she needs to get stronger. Yaren doesn't know much about the Swedish league, except that it is highly rated in Germany, and hopes there will be a decision about a contract within a week.
If you want to find out more about Aylin Yaren you can start with her website at www.aylinyaren.com. If you continue to google around a while, you will see that her own self-characterization as "arrogant" isn't completely unfounded. In one article she explains that she switched from the German to the Turkish national side because she wanted to be a full international: "I'm already 18 years old". But ambition is good.
Sydsvenskan: Landslagsspelare tar chansen i Malmö
LDB FC: Bilder på Aylin Yaren
And finally: the American/Swedish not-really-an-agency-but-almost Connect DK Football announces that a client of theirs, former Marquette University goalkeeper Laura Boyer is going on trial with Kopparbergs/Göteborg. A quick google tells us that she made the 2006 short-list for the well-known and respected Hermann trophy. On the list were several USA national team players, so let's assume this is a quality player.
Connect
Former Qbik player Amelie Rybäck, earlier connected to both Göteborg and Kristianstad, showed up at Linköping. Coach Daniel Pettersson calls the 25 year old fullback fast and sensible, but neither he nor the player has made any committments yet.
Corren: Rybäck tränade med LFC
18 year old Turkish-German talent Aylin Yaren visited LDB FC Malmö. The young midfielder, currently playing for TeBe Berlin in the German 2nd liga, definitely has some ball-skills and played for the German 17 year olds before she decided to switch to her other nationality. Malmö's coach Jörgen Pettersson first noticed her in a youth match between Germany and Sweden and is impressed by her technical abilities but also thinks that she needs to get stronger. Yaren doesn't know much about the Swedish league, except that it is highly rated in Germany, and hopes there will be a decision about a contract within a week.
If you want to find out more about Aylin Yaren you can start with her website at www.aylinyaren.com. If you continue to google around a while, you will see that her own self-characterization as "arrogant" isn't completely unfounded. In one article she explains that she switched from the German to the Turkish national side because she wanted to be a full international: "I'm already 18 years old". But ambition is good.
Sydsvenskan: Landslagsspelare tar chansen i Malmö
LDB FC: Bilder på Aylin Yaren
And finally: the American/Swedish not-really-an-agency-but-almost Connect DK Football announces that a client of theirs, former Marquette University goalkeeper Laura Boyer is going on trial with Kopparbergs/Göteborg. A quick google tells us that she made the 2006 short-list for the well-known and respected Hermann trophy. On the list were several USA national team players, so let's assume this is a quality player.
Connect
Preseason training starts
It's the first week after the holidays and for most teams that means the start of the new season. The league kick-off is still three months away, but there will be "a couple of months of training 'til you puke", which Linköping's new signing Jessica Landström says she has been looking forward to.
Kopparbergs/Göteborgs FC attracted a lot of publicity, since new coach Torbjörn Nilsson had his first session with the team. He admitted being a bit tense, "it's really embarrassing when you get a player's name wrong", but most of all it feels really fun to be back working with a team again. Nilsson says he will focus on individual development and use his players strong sides to form his playing strategy.
Göteborgsposten: Nervös stjärntränare (video interview)
SVT: Torbjörn Nilsson tränar igen
With much less media attention, Djurgården's new coach Anders Johansson started the season. He is pleased with the way his players has worked with their training schedules during the break and will focus on technical training during the first weeks.
Djurgården: Träningen igång
Linköping signed a new assistant coach, Mikael Samuelsson, before the restart. Star forward Josefine Öqvist is almost back in shape after her ACL injury last year and is hoping for an injury-free 2008.
Corren: Öqvist siktar på bättre 2008, Samuelsson ny tränare i LFC, "Aldrig fel med några spymånader"
Bälinge started easy with passing exercises and attacking/defending one-on-one. The full squad is not yet in place and "real" pre-season training will not start until next week. Among those that won't show up until later are American Kacey White and Finnish Katri Nokso-Koivisto.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Traditionella övningar på första träningen
In Umeå Frida Östberg is back and she reveals that she was a lot more nervous the first time she went to a training session with Umeå, about a decade ago. Half of the team is gone since Östberg left for Linköping in 2005, "but that's ok as long as the group is motivated and good and wants to progress".
And defender Johanna Frisk, one of Damallsvenskan's many ACL victims last year, is right on schedule and back in training. "It feels great to play again".
Västerbottens Folkblad: Östberg sugen på att vinna igen, Johanna frisk efter ett långt halvår
Kopparbergs/Göteborgs FC attracted a lot of publicity, since new coach Torbjörn Nilsson had his first session with the team. He admitted being a bit tense, "it's really embarrassing when you get a player's name wrong", but most of all it feels really fun to be back working with a team again. Nilsson says he will focus on individual development and use his players strong sides to form his playing strategy.
Göteborgsposten: Nervös stjärntränare (video interview)
SVT: Torbjörn Nilsson tränar igen
With much less media attention, Djurgården's new coach Anders Johansson started the season. He is pleased with the way his players has worked with their training schedules during the break and will focus on technical training during the first weeks.
Djurgården: Träningen igång
Linköping signed a new assistant coach, Mikael Samuelsson, before the restart. Star forward Josefine Öqvist is almost back in shape after her ACL injury last year and is hoping for an injury-free 2008.
Corren: Öqvist siktar på bättre 2008, Samuelsson ny tränare i LFC, "Aldrig fel med några spymånader"
Bälinge started easy with passing exercises and attacking/defending one-on-one. The full squad is not yet in place and "real" pre-season training will not start until next week. Among those that won't show up until later are American Kacey White and Finnish Katri Nokso-Koivisto.
Upsala Nya Tidning: Traditionella övningar på första träningen
In Umeå Frida Östberg is back and she reveals that she was a lot more nervous the first time she went to a training session with Umeå, about a decade ago. Half of the team is gone since Östberg left for Linköping in 2005, "but that's ok as long as the group is motivated and good and wants to progress".
And defender Johanna Frisk, one of Damallsvenskan's many ACL victims last year, is right on schedule and back in training. "It feels great to play again".
Västerbottens Folkblad: Östberg sugen på att vinna igen, Johanna frisk efter ett långt halvår
Kristianstad in talks with Damallsvenskan veteran
30 years old Jenny Engwall, with more than 400 Damallsvenskan matches, is in talks with newcomers Kristianstads DFF. Late last year the veteran midfielder/defender turned down a contract offer from Göteborg FC, where she had started every match last season. She wanted to continue her nursing studies in Göteborg, but the school didn't approve her transfer from Malmö. She then decided to return to Malmö to finish her studies there.
Engwall says that after it became public that she wouldn't continue with Göteborg, she has recieved calls from 10 different clubs. But Kristianstads DFF is the only Damallsvenskan side that has shown their interest. If the club from Kristianstad, that is only an hour's drive from Malmö, will be able to make an offer that makes it possible for Engwall to combine studies and playing, she seems likely to accept.
Norra Skåne: Jenny Engwall till KDFF?
Engwall says that after it became public that she wouldn't continue with Göteborg, she has recieved calls from 10 different clubs. But Kristianstads DFF is the only Damallsvenskan side that has shown their interest. If the club from Kristianstad, that is only an hour's drive from Malmö, will be able to make an offer that makes it possible for Engwall to combine studies and playing, she seems likely to accept.
Norra Skåne: Jenny Engwall till KDFF?
Finnish hopeful on try-out at Umeå Södra
Finnish midfielder Elina Sormunen from HJK Helsinki is on trial at Umeå Södra. The 21 year old, who has experience from all Finnish youth national teams but has yet to earn her first cap at senior level, came in contact with the club through her friend Minna Meriluoto, Södra's newly signed goalkeeper. Sormunen was in Germany last fall for a try-out with Essen-Schönebeck and got a contract offer from SC Freiburg, but turned it down. Wisely, I would say, since Freiburg is rock bottom in the Bundesliga.
Sormunen isn't a player Umeå Södra has scouted, but coach Torbjörn Nordström says it will be interesting to watch her. However, he states that their demands on the player are high: "We don't need any players to fill out the roster, she has to qualify for the starting eleven to be interesting for us".
Västerbottenskuriren: Södras kolme som Gerrard
Västerbottens Folkblad: Södra har en ny finska på gång
Sormunen isn't a player Umeå Södra has scouted, but coach Torbjörn Nordström says it will be interesting to watch her. However, he states that their demands on the player are high: "We don't need any players to fill out the roster, she has to qualify for the starting eleven to be interesting for us".
Västerbottenskuriren: Södras kolme som Gerrard
Västerbottens Folkblad: Södra har en ny finska på gång
Hanna Marklund retires
Hanna Marklund played her last football match in a small local indoor tournament this past weekend. Her decision was a couple of weeks old, but she and the club management had decided to keep in quiet until the team was together after the holidays and could be told. "I have to think about the future", she says. "Football is still great fun, but there are other things I'll rather do now". She will continue to work for the human resource development company that Sunnanå owns and will also coach the football classes in a local highschool, but I'm not sure that's what she is talking about. She is currently renovating a house together with her boyfriend, so you might jump into your own conclusions.
30 year old Hanna Marklund made her national team debut 1997 and has been a mainstay in the Swedish team since the turn of the century. She played 118 matches for Sweden, won the Diamond Ball in 2005 and has been voted Damallsvenskan's best defender the last three years. National team coach Thomas Dennerby, who was told of Marklund's decision two weeks ago, says he had hoped that she would have played on over the Olympics. "She is one of the best centre defenders in the world and has only improved the last years". "We're losing a leader", he continues, "but when that happens somebody else usually steps up".
Sunnanå's new coach Rainer Eskelinen hopes that Marklund will be able to help the team in other ways than as a player: "We will do everything we can to use her experience and knowledge. We'll see if we can find a role that fits her". He adds that the club is keeping an eye on possible replacements, but also says that there are many good players on the team that will have to take more responsibility next season.
Dagens Nyheter: Hanna Marklund slutar
Norra Västerbotten: Hanna Marklund slutar, "Vi tappar en världsspelare"
A few more links; Hanna talks to broadcaster SVT about her decision to retire and the local paper Norra Västerbotten publishes a series of photos from her long career.
30 year old Hanna Marklund made her national team debut 1997 and has been a mainstay in the Swedish team since the turn of the century. She played 118 matches for Sweden, won the Diamond Ball in 2005 and has been voted Damallsvenskan's best defender the last three years. National team coach Thomas Dennerby, who was told of Marklund's decision two weeks ago, says he had hoped that she would have played on over the Olympics. "She is one of the best centre defenders in the world and has only improved the last years". "We're losing a leader", he continues, "but when that happens somebody else usually steps up".
Sunnanå's new coach Rainer Eskelinen hopes that Marklund will be able to help the team in other ways than as a player: "We will do everything we can to use her experience and knowledge. We'll see if we can find a role that fits her". He adds that the club is keeping an eye on possible replacements, but also says that there are many good players on the team that will have to take more responsibility next season.
Dagens Nyheter: Hanna Marklund slutar
Norra Västerbotten: Hanna Marklund slutar, "Vi tappar en världsspelare"
A few more links; Hanna talks to broadcaster SVT about her decision to retire and the local paper Norra Västerbotten publishes a series of photos from her long career.
Kif Örebro signs third Finnish international
Kif Örebro has signed midfielder Susanna Lehtinen, their third player from the Finnish national team after Sanna Valkonen and Leena Puranen. 24 year old Lehtinen, who has 19 caps for Finland, will probably play left back or left midfield in the Örebro team. She has played college football for four years in USA (Florida Atlantic University) and played for Jersey Sky Blue in the W-league last summer. She will join Örebro after she has graduated in May.
Nerikes Allehanda: Två gånger KIF Örebro i finska landslaget, Tredje finskan klar för KIF Örebro
Nerikes Allehanda: Två gånger KIF Örebro i finska landslaget, Tredje finskan klar för KIF Örebro
Kristin Bengtsson goes to Hammarby
Well, we didn't have to wait long. Really late last evening Hammarby and Kristin Bengtsson announced that she has signed a one year deal with the smaller Stockholm club. Bengtsson played for Hammarby between 1988 and 1996 and says that it feels good to return to the club that helped her start her career.
Hammarby's sport director Annelie Norén says that Kicki Bengtsson's experience will be invaluable for the club and that she still is one of the best players in Damallsvenskan.
Dagens Nyheter: Kicki Bengtsson från Dif till Bajen
Hammarby: Kicki Bengtsson till Hammarby Damfotboll
Hammarby's sport director Annelie Norén says that Kicki Bengtsson's experience will be invaluable for the club and that she still is one of the best players in Damallsvenskan.
Dagens Nyheter: Kicki Bengtsson från Dif till Bajen
Hammarby: Kicki Bengtsson till Hammarby Damfotboll
Kristin Bengtsson leaves Djurgården
36 year old Swedish veteran Kristin Bengtsson has decided to leave Djurgården. In a press release she says that she has done a lot of thinking, "which must come natural when you've been in the game as long as I have". She still wants to play "but you need to have the right conditions". Djurgården's sport director comments that Bengtsson has meant a lot to the club and hopes that she will continue to bring her competence to the game.
Kicki Bengtsson is one of Sweden's greatest players of all times. She has won the Diamond Ball, Sweden's Player of the Year award, two times and has 157 caps for Sweden (her first already 1991), more than any other Swedish player. She joined Djurgården from Göteborg and has played 4 seasons for the Stockholm side, winning one championship and two Swedish Cups.
The way I read this, it looks like Kicki Bengtsson wasn't satisfied with whatever it was that Djurgården offered her. I don't think she's the only one. Elin Ekblom voiced something similar when she left and Jane Törnqvist was obviously offered something by Göteborg that Djurgården couldn't match. There is a rumour that Djurgården is spending so much on their high profile players, that they can't afford to give competitive bids for experienced players like Bengtsson, Törnqvist and Ekblom.
Kicki Bengtsson says that she has closed the book on Djurgården and that there are new decisions to be made. I don't know if this means that we will see her in another club, but it doesn't sound unlikely.
Expressen: Kristin Bengtsson lämnar Djurgården
Djurgården: Inget femte år för Kicki i Djurgården
Kicki Bengtsson is one of Sweden's greatest players of all times. She has won the Diamond Ball, Sweden's Player of the Year award, two times and has 157 caps for Sweden (her first already 1991), more than any other Swedish player. She joined Djurgården from Göteborg and has played 4 seasons for the Stockholm side, winning one championship and two Swedish Cups.
The way I read this, it looks like Kicki Bengtsson wasn't satisfied with whatever it was that Djurgården offered her. I don't think she's the only one. Elin Ekblom voiced something similar when she left and Jane Törnqvist was obviously offered something by Göteborg that Djurgården couldn't match. There is a rumour that Djurgården is spending so much on their high profile players, that they can't afford to give competitive bids for experienced players like Bengtsson, Törnqvist and Ekblom.
Kicki Bengtsson says that she has closed the book on Djurgården and that there are new decisions to be made. I don't know if this means that we will see her in another club, but it doesn't sound unlikely.
Expressen: Kristin Bengtsson lämnar Djurgården
Djurgården: Inget femte år för Kicki i Djurgården
Hallstensson to Göteborg
Qbik defender Jenny Hallstensson, who has been attracting interest from several clubs, has signed with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC. The experienced 27 year old will probably help Göteborg's big new signing Jane Törnqvist to improve Göteborg's defense, their weakest side last season, but can also play midfield. This signing will be the last the club makes before the 2008 season with one exception; they still need another goalkeeper. Club chairman Peter Bronsman says that he doesn't want to comment on any names for the goalkeeping position.
Göteborg has also lost a couple of veteran players. Midfielder Salina Olsson returns to Stockholm (no club mentioned). Defender Jenny Engwall, who was on loan from LDB FC Malmö, returns home south but will not return to the club. In both cases it is unclear if they intend to continue playing at this level.
One of coach Torbjörn Nilsson's goals has been to trim his squad somewhat compared to last year to get more quality in the training sessions and it seems like he will settle for 20 players. At the same time the club establishes a development team for promising youngsters, where some of the younger 2007 players will find their place as well as a number of talented local youth.
Göteborgsposten: Mittback klar för Göteborgs FC
Damfotboll.com: Jenny Hallstenson till Göteborg
Göteborg has also lost a couple of veteran players. Midfielder Salina Olsson returns to Stockholm (no club mentioned). Defender Jenny Engwall, who was on loan from LDB FC Malmö, returns home south but will not return to the club. In both cases it is unclear if they intend to continue playing at this level.
One of coach Torbjörn Nilsson's goals has been to trim his squad somewhat compared to last year to get more quality in the training sessions and it seems like he will settle for 20 players. At the same time the club establishes a development team for promising youngsters, where some of the younger 2007 players will find their place as well as a number of talented local youth.
Göteborgsposten: Mittback klar för Göteborgs FC
Damfotboll.com: Jenny Hallstenson till Göteborg
Players talking
A couple of snippets from some end-of-the-year player interviews:
Sunnanå's Hanna Marklund has still not made up her mind about 2008. "I can't say it's boring with football, but you have to make decisions about the future", Hanna says but admits that it would be fun to play in the Olympics. If she continues to play, it will be with Sunnanå.
Västerbottens Folkblad: "Spelar jag nästa år så är det i Sunnanå"
Jane Törnqvist left the national team 2006 and also lost the stipends that comes with being a national team player. She has worked full-time since and had decided to round off her career with one last year in Djurgården 2007. But the offer from Göteborg's new coach Torbjörn Nilsson was too good to turn down. She gets a full professional contract and will (for the first time in her life?) be able to train and play without any job on the side.
Damfotboll.com: Nästa år ska Jane spela på heltid
Germany's and Djurgården's goalkeeper Nadine Angerer says in an interview that her life changed completely after the World Cup and her match-deciding penalty save in the final against Brazil. "I am completely empty in my head and my body also says that this is enough". She has been rushing from one engagement to the next and could have done an interview a day for the last four months. On top of that she fell ill in pneumonia followed by an allergic reaction to her medicine.
Angerer says she is uncomfortable with all the attention: "I am not a heroine. I don't like to celebrate myself. I'll rather stand in my place and bring my contribution". She hopes to be able to concentrate fully on her sport when she within short moves to Stockholm and Djurgården.
FFNews: Angerer: "Mein Leben hat sich total verändert"
Iceland's player of the year, the prolific goalscorer Margrét Lára Viðarsdóttir, will probably leave Icelandic champions Valur. She had a try-out with Djurgården last fall and has just returned to Iceland from a similar visit to FC Indiana in USA. My Icelandic is almost as bad as the available on-line translators, but as far as I understand, she hasn't made up her mind yet, but it seems like USA might be more interesting in 2009, when the new professional league should be up and running. She says that she will make up her mind in January.
Visir: Margrét Lára með yfirburðakosningu
An anonymous contributor sent me the link from a remailer. Thank's for the tip, but is all that cloak-and-dagger stuff really necessary?
Sunnanå's Hanna Marklund has still not made up her mind about 2008. "I can't say it's boring with football, but you have to make decisions about the future", Hanna says but admits that it would be fun to play in the Olympics. If she continues to play, it will be with Sunnanå.
Västerbottens Folkblad: "Spelar jag nästa år så är det i Sunnanå"
Jane Törnqvist left the national team 2006 and also lost the stipends that comes with being a national team player. She has worked full-time since and had decided to round off her career with one last year in Djurgården 2007. But the offer from Göteborg's new coach Torbjörn Nilsson was too good to turn down. She gets a full professional contract and will (for the first time in her life?) be able to train and play without any job on the side.
Damfotboll.com: Nästa år ska Jane spela på heltid
Germany's and Djurgården's goalkeeper Nadine Angerer says in an interview that her life changed completely after the World Cup and her match-deciding penalty save in the final against Brazil. "I am completely empty in my head and my body also says that this is enough". She has been rushing from one engagement to the next and could have done an interview a day for the last four months. On top of that she fell ill in pneumonia followed by an allergic reaction to her medicine.
Angerer says she is uncomfortable with all the attention: "I am not a heroine. I don't like to celebrate myself. I'll rather stand in my place and bring my contribution". She hopes to be able to concentrate fully on her sport when she within short moves to Stockholm and Djurgården.
FFNews: Angerer: "Mein Leben hat sich total verändert"
Iceland's player of the year, the prolific goalscorer Margrét Lára Viðarsdóttir, will probably leave Icelandic champions Valur. She had a try-out with Djurgården last fall and has just returned to Iceland from a similar visit to FC Indiana in USA. My Icelandic is almost as bad as the available on-line translators, but as far as I understand, she hasn't made up her mind yet, but it seems like USA might be more interesting in 2009, when the new professional league should be up and running. She says that she will make up her mind in January.
Visir: Margrét Lára með yfirburðakosningu
An anonymous contributor sent me the link from a remailer. Thank's for the tip, but is all that cloak-and-dagger stuff really necessary?