Segerström to Göteborg and other player news
Stina Segerström and Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC today confirmed the expected move from Kif Örebro by the national team defender. The 26 year old has played in Örebro since the team was called Karlslund and resided in the second level of the Swedish league system. Segerström, capped 40 times, says that if she ever was going to try something else, this was the time.
Göteborgsposten: Göteborg värvar landslagsback
Nerikes Allehanda: Stina Segerström lämnar Kif Örebro
Another Swedish national team defender, Charlotte Rohlin, announced that she has renewed her contract with Linköping FC. Rohlin, who is one of very few local players, has signed a one year contract and hopes 2009 will be the year when the club takes the next step and wins the Swedish championship.
Linköping: Lotta spelar i LFC 2009
Four Kif Örebro players has extended their contracts: midfielder Marie Hammarström, forward Emilia Erixon and the young twins Emma and Sara Fogelqvist.
Kif Örebro: Tre "nya" klara!, En till…
LDB FC Malmö has brought up 16 years old Michaela Johnsson from the youth team. Michaela played her first Damallsvenskan match in October against Bälinge, but will now be a regular member of the seniors.
LDB FC: Ytterligare en lärling klar för LdB FC
Emma Sjödahl from 1st division side Vittsjö has decided that she will leave her club. The 21 years old successful goalscorer is talking to nearby Kristianstad, but has also recieved interest from Swedish Cup winners Linköping FC. No contract has been offered yet. Linköping's Anders Nilsson says that she is an interesting player but that Linköping has contacted several players for preliminary talks, as they usually do this time of the season.
Norra Skåne: Emma Sjödahl på väg till Linköping
Corren: LFC i kontakt med Sjödahl
Göteborgsposten: Göteborg värvar landslagsback
Nerikes Allehanda: Stina Segerström lämnar Kif Örebro
Another Swedish national team defender, Charlotte Rohlin, announced that she has renewed her contract with Linköping FC. Rohlin, who is one of very few local players, has signed a one year contract and hopes 2009 will be the year when the club takes the next step and wins the Swedish championship.
Linköping: Lotta spelar i LFC 2009
Four Kif Örebro players has extended their contracts: midfielder Marie Hammarström, forward Emilia Erixon and the young twins Emma and Sara Fogelqvist.
Kif Örebro: Tre "nya" klara!, En till…
LDB FC Malmö has brought up 16 years old Michaela Johnsson from the youth team. Michaela played her first Damallsvenskan match in October against Bälinge, but will now be a regular member of the seniors.
LDB FC: Ytterligare en lärling klar för LdB FC
Emma Sjödahl from 1st division side Vittsjö has decided that she will leave her club. The 21 years old successful goalscorer is talking to nearby Kristianstad, but has also recieved interest from Swedish Cup winners Linköping FC. No contract has been offered yet. Linköping's Anders Nilsson says that she is an interesting player but that Linköping has contacted several players for preliminary talks, as they usually do this time of the season.
Norra Skåne: Emma Sjödahl på väg till Linköping
Corren: LFC i kontakt med Sjödahl
This just in: the Sol stands by their offer
Just to add to our Marta of the Day:
Umeå IK's general manager Britta Åkerlund tells broadcaster SVT that she has been in contact with both Marta's agent Fabiano Farah and the management of the WPS club Los Angeles Sol today. The conclusion is that LA Sol is still offering Marta a contract.
Åkerlund tells Dagens Nyheter, Sweden's leading daily, that there is a 50/50 chance that Marta will stay in Umeå. "It's up to us now. We will return with a new offer by the end of the week".
Åkerlund also says that she really would like to be able to sign a multi year deal this time. And, as fun as this is watching, I do understand her.
SVT: "Los Angeles står fast vid Marta-bud"
Dagens Nyheter: "50-50 att Marta stannar"
And did you remember to read papyrus comment? So on the spot!
Umeå IK's general manager Britta Åkerlund tells broadcaster SVT that she has been in contact with both Marta's agent Fabiano Farah and the management of the WPS club Los Angeles Sol today. The conclusion is that LA Sol is still offering Marta a contract.
Åkerlund tells Dagens Nyheter, Sweden's leading daily, that there is a 50/50 chance that Marta will stay in Umeå. "It's up to us now. We will return with a new offer by the end of the week".
Åkerlund also says that she really would like to be able to sign a multi year deal this time. And, as fun as this is watching, I do understand her.
SVT: "Los Angeles står fast vid Marta-bud"
Dagens Nyheter: "50-50 att Marta stannar"
And did you remember to read papyrus comment? So on the spot!
Margret Lara Vidarsdottir signs with Linköping
Iceland's prolific goalscorer Margret Lara Vidarsdottir - 175 goals in 101 matches for Icelandic champions Valur - has according to the Icelandic broadcaster RUV signed a contract with Damallsvenskan's Linköping FC.
More to follow.
Ruv.is: Margrét Lára til Linköping
Los Angeles gives up on Marta?
The Marta of the Day:
An unnamed source, close to the Women's Professional Soccer league in USA, claims that Los Angeles Sol, the club that has been negotiating with Marta's agent Fabiano Farah for at least a month, has withdrawn from the negotiations and taken back their contract offer. The club is according to the same source simply not prepared to pay the kind of money Farah has been demanding for Marta.
If this is true, it would put Umeå in an entire different position, being the only remaining alternative for Marta. She has earlier stated that if she stays in Sweden, she stays in Umeå. But Umeå's general manager Britta Åkerlund says that she has not heard anything about Los Angeles giving up on Marta: "Fabiano Farah doesn't call me that often". And Umeå isn't unaffected by the current bad economy. The Swedish sponsor market is smaller than it was last year and Umeå is reported to have to work hard to secure their finances for 2009.
Danfotboll.com: "USA-klubben drar sig ur Marta-värvning"
And honestly people, if you haven't already, do read signature papyrus comments on the whole wps situation here. It sums it up eloquently.
WPS club gives up Stensland and Schelin, shows interest in Sara Larsson
The American WPS club St. Louis has retracted from their earlier interest in Swedish star Lotta Schelin, presently at Lyon, as well as Kopparbergs/Göteborg's Norwegian midfielder Ingvild Stensland. In Schelin's case it makes sense, as she is tied to Lyon until summer 2010, but Stensland has publicly shown interest in going to USA. No explanation is given by St. Louis.
Instead, the Mid Western club has claimed the WPS signing rights for Linköping's Sara Larsson. Larsson, Swedish national team defender with 82 caps and 7 goals, is one of the Linköping players that still hasn't renewed her contract.
No further details, but interesting.
WPS: Transactions
EDIT: Sara Larsson tells Damfotboll.com that she is talking to both St. Louis and Linköping. She is tempted by the adventure it will be playing abroad, but a bit worried how playing in USA will effect her position on the national team.
Damfotboll.com: Sara Larsson förhandlar med S:t Louis
Instead, the Mid Western club has claimed the WPS signing rights for Linköping's Sara Larsson. Larsson, Swedish national team defender with 82 caps and 7 goals, is one of the Linköping players that still hasn't renewed her contract.
No further details, but interesting.
WPS: Transactions
EDIT: Sara Larsson tells Damfotboll.com that she is talking to both St. Louis and Linköping. She is tempted by the adventure it will be playing abroad, but a bit worried how playing in USA will effect her position on the national team.
Damfotboll.com: Sara Larsson förhandlar med S:t Louis
Damallsvenskan players invited to WPS try-outs
The American professional league WPS has announced the names of 118 players who have accepted invitations to the WPS Combine in December, a big try-out for positions on WPS teams.
Seven of those listed played for Damallsvenskan teams 2008: Noelle Keselica, Temryss Lane and Natalie Spilger (Bälinge), Fanta Cooper, Jennifer Nobis and Nikki Cross (Umeå Södra) and Kia McNeill (Kristianstad). Kia McNeill is the only one that has an offer to return to her Swedish club next season. Just promoted Piteå's Kim Bonilla has also accepted to try out for WPS and Piteå's management, who are looking at the American market for players, has stated that they will wait out the WPS signing process before they make any offers.
With the earlier drafts of Joanna Lohman (Bälinge) and Ifeoma Dieke (Kristianstad), this means that all American based players who played for Damallsvenskan sides the 2008 season, could be playing in WPS the 2009 season.
WPS: Women’s Professional Soccer announces initial list of WPS Combine attendees in advance of 2009 WPS Draft
Seven of those listed played for Damallsvenskan teams 2008: Noelle Keselica, Temryss Lane and Natalie Spilger (Bälinge), Fanta Cooper, Jennifer Nobis and Nikki Cross (Umeå Södra) and Kia McNeill (Kristianstad). Kia McNeill is the only one that has an offer to return to her Swedish club next season. Just promoted Piteå's Kim Bonilla has also accepted to try out for WPS and Piteå's management, who are looking at the American market for players, has stated that they will wait out the WPS signing process before they make any offers.
With the earlier drafts of Joanna Lohman (Bälinge) and Ifeoma Dieke (Kristianstad), this means that all American based players who played for Damallsvenskan sides the 2008 season, could be playing in WPS the 2009 season.
WPS: Women’s Professional Soccer announces initial list of WPS Combine attendees in advance of 2009 WPS Draft
Malmö and Umeå signs U-17 players
LDB FC Malmö and Umeå IK has picked up a couple of promising teenagers, both capped for Sweden's U17 team.
Malmö's decision to give a contract to goalkeeper Hilda Carlén has received more media attention than the signing of a high schooler usually does. But the name Carlén is a well known name in Swedish handball. Her father Per is a legendary World Cup winner and her brother Oscar plays professionally in Germany, so it makes sense that she has chosen the only position where she is allowed to use her hands. She will train with Malmö's seniors, but likely play with another team, possibly her present Hammenhög.
SVT: Hilda - familjen Carléns tredje landslagsspelare
Umeå has signed 16 years old defender Sara Eliasson from Alvik. She will, like Carlén, play her matches with a lower division team, probably Umeå Södra or Mariehem in the 1st division.
Norrbottenskuriren: Eliasson till svenska mästarna
Malmö's decision to give a contract to goalkeeper Hilda Carlén has received more media attention than the signing of a high schooler usually does. But the name Carlén is a well known name in Swedish handball. Her father Per is a legendary World Cup winner and her brother Oscar plays professionally in Germany, so it makes sense that she has chosen the only position where she is allowed to use her hands. She will train with Malmö's seniors, but likely play with another team, possibly her present Hammenhög.
SVT: Hilda - familjen Carléns tredje landslagsspelare
Umeå has signed 16 years old defender Sara Eliasson from Alvik. She will, like Carlén, play her matches with a lower division team, probably Umeå Södra or Mariehem in the 1st division.
Norrbottenskuriren: Eliasson till svenska mästarna
New hope for Marta in Umeå
"We are considering Umeå our number one and I am currently in talks with a possible Swedish sponsor" says Marta's agent Fabiano Farah in an interview with an Umeå newspaper. "This is the biggest club in Europe today, Marta has been there for more than four years, she has adapted, she likes the team, she likes the town and it's a competitive team".
Umeå hasn't changed the offer they made a month ago. Marta needs to belong to a club where she can continue to be the world's best player, but she also needs economic security, said Farah. There is of course a limit to how much money she can turn down, which is why Farah is investigating the possibility to find personal sponsors for Marta.
Umeå's general manager Britta Åkerlund says that Marta already has a personal sponsor contract with Samsung and as long as her contracts doesn't clash with the club's sponsors, she doesn't mind her finding more endorsments.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Martas agent: Umeå IK är nummer 1
Umeå hasn't changed the offer they made a month ago. Marta needs to belong to a club where she can continue to be the world's best player, but she also needs economic security, said Farah. There is of course a limit to how much money she can turn down, which is why Farah is investigating the possibility to find personal sponsors for Marta.
Umeå's general manager Britta Åkerlund says that Marta already has a personal sponsor contract with Samsung and as long as her contracts doesn't clash with the club's sponsors, she doesn't mind her finding more endorsments.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Martas agent: Umeå IK är nummer 1
Djurgården players finding new clubs
Most of Djurgården's foreign stars have decided to leave the Stockholm club and are slowly finding their new addresses.
Germany's Ariane Hingst, who left after completing her two year contract, has, somewhat surprising to me, agreed on a two and a half year contract with FFC Frankfurt.
FFNews: Transfer-Coup: Frankfurt verpflichtet Hingst
Belgian Femke Maes leaves after only half a season, home-sick according to Djurgården. She was spotted in the crowd attending the UEFA Women's Cup quarter final between Duisburg and Frankfurt and immediately surrounded by rumors about a shift to Duisburg, a town that actually is within commuting distance from Maes' Belgian home. Maes herself ducked all questions: "I have time until the end of [the transfer window in] January to make up my mind about a new club".
RevierSport: Maes lächelte und lächelte
Nadine Angerer has declared her interest in playing a year in the new American league. Her agent Siegfried Dietrich is trying to get the best possible offer for her, but has no doubts where it would be best for Angerer to play. Financially, she would be better off in Germany. The salary cap placed on the American clubs, according to Dietrich € 420,000 a year for the entire roster, makes it hard for the WPS league to offer really competetive wages. He is also wary about the durability of the new league, in particular with the recent economic recession, and the short season doesn't make for good conditions for a top player. Still, Angerer is keen on living in USA for a period and seems prepared to take a pay cut. But she has to have landed a deal before the end of January, when the transfer window for the German and most European leagues close.
FFNews: Angerer-Wechsel: Dietrich zweifelt an US-Profiliga
Germany's Ariane Hingst, who left after completing her two year contract, has, somewhat surprising to me, agreed on a two and a half year contract with FFC Frankfurt.
FFNews: Transfer-Coup: Frankfurt verpflichtet Hingst
Belgian Femke Maes leaves after only half a season, home-sick according to Djurgården. She was spotted in the crowd attending the UEFA Women's Cup quarter final between Duisburg and Frankfurt and immediately surrounded by rumors about a shift to Duisburg, a town that actually is within commuting distance from Maes' Belgian home. Maes herself ducked all questions: "I have time until the end of [the transfer window in] January to make up my mind about a new club".
RevierSport: Maes lächelte und lächelte
Nadine Angerer has declared her interest in playing a year in the new American league. Her agent Siegfried Dietrich is trying to get the best possible offer for her, but has no doubts where it would be best for Angerer to play. Financially, she would be better off in Germany. The salary cap placed on the American clubs, according to Dietrich € 420,000 a year for the entire roster, makes it hard for the WPS league to offer really competetive wages. He is also wary about the durability of the new league, in particular with the recent economic recession, and the short season doesn't make for good conditions for a top player. Still, Angerer is keen on living in USA for a period and seems prepared to take a pay cut. But she has to have landed a deal before the end of January, when the transfer window for the German and most European leagues close.
FFNews: Angerer-Wechsel: Dietrich zweifelt an US-Profiliga
Kristianstad signs Icelandic players
Kristianstad's signing of Icelandic champions Valur's coach Elisabet Gunnarsdottir as their new head coach has opaid off. Today they could announce two Icelandic internationals joining the club, Holmfridur Magnusdottir and Gudny Odinsdottir. Magnusdottir has already experience playing abroad for Fortuna Hjørring in the Danish league. Both Djurgården and Örebro has been competing with Kristianstad for her signature. 20 years old Odinsdottir, who has played for Gunnarsdottir in Valur, is a full back/winger who was named most promising Icelandic player 2006.
Kristianstad's 2009 roster is far from finalized. Among other things, they need a second goalkeeper. Göteborg's Jenny Olsson has been mentioned as a possible signing, at least if Sweden's national team keeper Hedvig Lindahl joins Torbjörn Nilsson's team.
Norra Skåne: KDFF värvar isländskt
Kristianstad's 2009 roster is far from finalized. Among other things, they need a second goalkeeper. Göteborg's Jenny Olsson has been mentioned as a possible signing, at least if Sweden's national team keeper Hedvig Lindahl joins Torbjörn Nilsson's team.
Norra Skåne: KDFF värvar isländskt
Öqvist stays in Linköping, Vidarsdottir uncertain
After negotiations with Umeå and some deliberations, Linköping's Josefine Öqvist has decided to remain with her club. She signed a two year contract today.
Corren: Öqvist kvar i Linköping
Linköping had Iceland's prolific goalscorer Margret Lara Vidarsdottir visiting the club last week. Club manager Anders Mäki calls her a rare to find player with great scoring stats, but she might be too expensive for the club. She is also drafted by the American WPS club Los Angeles Sol.
Still, from what I, with my limited understanding of Icelandic, can figure out from an interview with Vidarsdottir on the news site Visir, she seems to prefer to go to Linköping.
Damfotboll.com: Islands bästa för dyr för Linköping
Visir: Reikna með því að geyma Los Angeles í bili
Corren: Öqvist kvar i Linköping
Linköping had Iceland's prolific goalscorer Margret Lara Vidarsdottir visiting the club last week. Club manager Anders Mäki calls her a rare to find player with great scoring stats, but she might be too expensive for the club. She is also drafted by the American WPS club Los Angeles Sol.
Still, from what I, with my limited understanding of Icelandic, can figure out from an interview with Vidarsdottir on the news site Visir, she seems to prefer to go to Linköping.
Damfotboll.com: Islands bästa för dyr för Linköping
Visir: Reikna með því að geyma Los Angeles í bili
Örebro, Sunnanå and Kristianstad update
Hanna Ågren, one of the leading goalscorers in the 1st division, has signed for Kif Örebro. The former Gideonsberg forward scored 11 goals this season.
VLT: GIF:s Hanna Ågren till allsvenskan
Örebro's winger Caroline Näfver, who didn't agree on a renewed contract with her club, seems close to signing for 1st divisioon side Eskilstuna United.
Eskilstunakuriren: Landslagstjej aktuell för Eskilstuna United
Sunnanå SK has signed a new coach, Janne Hallberg, to replace Rainer Eskelinen who recently left the club. Hallberg was the club's head coach 2000-2003. Sunnanå has also managed to resign defender Sanna Frostevall and forward Lisa Renberg.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Han tränar Sunnanå nästa år
Norra Västerbotten: Sanna och Lisa stannar i Sunnanå
Kristianstads DFF lost their keeper Maria Edman to Stattena, but managed, after some negotiating, to keep their other keeper Sandra Wahldén. They also got Göteborg winger Sofie Andersson, who has 5 seasons and 81 matches for Göteborg, and Sweden U19 defender Mia Carlsson from nearby 1st division club Vittsjö. A third player, Vittsjö's forward Emma Sjödahl has been in talks with Kristianstad but also has offers from other, unnamed, Damallsvenskan sides and will think it over during her vacation.
And, as far as I can tell with my really limited understanding of Icelandic, Iceland's national team winger Hólmfríður Magnúsdóttir has returned from her Kristianstad visit with a contract offer.
Kristianstadsbladet: Wahldén fortsätter – och fler namn är på väg, KDFF förstärker – ny anfallare klar
Norra Skåne: Vittsjö tappar spelare
Visir: Hólmfríður með samning í höndunum
VLT: GIF:s Hanna Ågren till allsvenskan
Örebro's winger Caroline Näfver, who didn't agree on a renewed contract with her club, seems close to signing for 1st divisioon side Eskilstuna United.
Eskilstunakuriren: Landslagstjej aktuell för Eskilstuna United
Sunnanå SK has signed a new coach, Janne Hallberg, to replace Rainer Eskelinen who recently left the club. Hallberg was the club's head coach 2000-2003. Sunnanå has also managed to resign defender Sanna Frostevall and forward Lisa Renberg.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Han tränar Sunnanå nästa år
Norra Västerbotten: Sanna och Lisa stannar i Sunnanå
Kristianstads DFF lost their keeper Maria Edman to Stattena, but managed, after some negotiating, to keep their other keeper Sandra Wahldén. They also got Göteborg winger Sofie Andersson, who has 5 seasons and 81 matches for Göteborg, and Sweden U19 defender Mia Carlsson from nearby 1st division club Vittsjö. A third player, Vittsjö's forward Emma Sjödahl has been in talks with Kristianstad but also has offers from other, unnamed, Damallsvenskan sides and will think it over during her vacation.
And, as far as I can tell with my really limited understanding of Icelandic, Iceland's national team winger Hólmfríður Magnúsdóttir has returned from her Kristianstad visit with a contract offer.
Kristianstadsbladet: Wahldén fortsätter – och fler namn är på väg, KDFF förstärker – ny anfallare klar
Norra Skåne: Vittsjö tappar spelare
Visir: Hólmfríður með samning í höndunum
Linköping renews contract with Maria Karlsson, re-opens talks with Daniela
It took some time for Linköping, but now they seems to have geared up in their efforts to sign a competetive team for 2009.
Their important winger Maria Karlsson, capped 11 times for Sweden and with 160 matches for Linköping, has decided to extend her stay with the Swedish Cup winners.
Linköping has also reopened the talks with their Brazilian midfielder Daniela Alves, one of their most important players 2008. Daniela has been drafted by the American club St. Louis and Linköping at one point deemed it impossible to offer a competitive contract. They have now, in the light of the financial unrest in USA, decided to have another go at it and will get in touch with her agent.
Linköping also made an effort to lure away the promising full back Sara Fröjdefelt from Kif Örebro, but after some deliberation Fröjdefelt decided to stay in Örebro. And Linköping's own 19 year old defender Pernilla Ekroth has drawn interest from Djurgården and might accept their offer.
Corren: Karlsson kvar i LFC, LFC tar ny kontakt med Daniela, Fröjdfeldt säger nej till LFC, Ekroth till Djurgården?
Their important winger Maria Karlsson, capped 11 times for Sweden and with 160 matches for Linköping, has decided to extend her stay with the Swedish Cup winners.
Linköping has also reopened the talks with their Brazilian midfielder Daniela Alves, one of their most important players 2008. Daniela has been drafted by the American club St. Louis and Linköping at one point deemed it impossible to offer a competitive contract. They have now, in the light of the financial unrest in USA, decided to have another go at it and will get in touch with her agent.
Linköping also made an effort to lure away the promising full back Sara Fröjdefelt from Kif Örebro, but after some deliberation Fröjdefelt decided to stay in Örebro. And Linköping's own 19 year old defender Pernilla Ekroth has drawn interest from Djurgården and might accept their offer.
Corren: Karlsson kvar i LFC, LFC tar ny kontakt med Daniela, Fröjdfeldt säger nej till LFC, Ekroth till Djurgården?
AIK looking for goalkeepers
AIK recently lost their goalkeeper, Swedish international Sofia Lundgren, who after a very successful season was picked up by Linköping. Since then they've been looking for replacement. A few days ago they signed Johanna Baecklund from Jitex. The 23 year old served as back-up keeper in Umeå IK 2005 and 2006 before she transfered to Jitex.
But this probably isn't enough. They have also had talks with former Djurgården and Bälinge Maja Åström. Åström left Bälinge after the 2007 season and has taken a year off football. She says that if she makes a come-back, she wants to do it with a top level team. I think AIK qualifies as that.
AIK: Målvakten Johanna Baecklund till AIK
Upsala Nya Tidning: Förra Bälingemålvakten på väg till AIK
But this probably isn't enough. They have also had talks with former Djurgården and Bälinge Maja Åström. Åström left Bälinge after the 2007 season and has taken a year off football. She says that if she makes a come-back, she wants to do it with a top level team. I think AIK qualifies as that.
AIK: Målvakten Johanna Baecklund till AIK
Upsala Nya Tidning: Förra Bälingemålvakten på väg till AIK
I have not played my last match for Umeå, says Marta
"I don't think I've played my last match for Umeå", said Marta when interviewed after her brilliant performance in Umeå's 6-0 defeat of Arsenal in the second leg of the UEFA Women's Cup quarter finals. But the 22 years old continued "I'm planning to play for at least eight more years", which I interpreted as that she might return to Umeå before retiring from football, and when pressed on an answer about her present negotiations with Umeå and Los Angeles Sol, she decided it was wiser not to comment at all.
Still, this prompted a new wave of speculations about the chance that she will stay in Umeå for the 2009 season. There was even a rumor that Umeå had secured funding for an offer to Marta that would match the money from the American Los Angeles Sol club. Umeå's general manager Britta Åkerlund swiftly denied this, claiming that she is still a seven figure amount from that.
But comments from the Umeå camp are sounding a bit more optimistic than before. Åkerlund says that she is still talking to Marta's agent Fabiano Farah and his interest seems to have grown the last few days. Her picture is that things are fairly quiet on the American side and that there is an amount of uncertainty and cautiousness that could be in Umeå's favour. A local paper also published a long analysis of the emerging American league, focusing on the problems financing it during what seems to be the biggest recession since the great depression in the 1930's.
In spite of this, Marta has been very much treated as a player retiring from the Swedish league. She was interviewed in a big prime time talk show where people like IKEA's founder Ingvar Kamprad and former prime minister Göran Persson also have been guests and the local newspaper Västerbottenskuriren published a 16 page insert about her career in Umeå.
The one that actually did play her last match got much less attention. 31 years old Frida Östberg explained her decision to leave football after 14 seasons at the highest level with a simple "sooner or later you have to move on" and she would like to be able to spend more time with her boyfriend Andreas, who lives and works in Holland.
Expressen: Nu kan Marta stanna i Umeå
Aftonbladet: Umeås hopp – finanskris
Expressen: Frida Östberg slutar - flyttar till Holland
Still, this prompted a new wave of speculations about the chance that she will stay in Umeå for the 2009 season. There was even a rumor that Umeå had secured funding for an offer to Marta that would match the money from the American Los Angeles Sol club. Umeå's general manager Britta Åkerlund swiftly denied this, claiming that she is still a seven figure amount from that.
But comments from the Umeå camp are sounding a bit more optimistic than before. Åkerlund says that she is still talking to Marta's agent Fabiano Farah and his interest seems to have grown the last few days. Her picture is that things are fairly quiet on the American side and that there is an amount of uncertainty and cautiousness that could be in Umeå's favour. A local paper also published a long analysis of the emerging American league, focusing on the problems financing it during what seems to be the biggest recession since the great depression in the 1930's.
In spite of this, Marta has been very much treated as a player retiring from the Swedish league. She was interviewed in a big prime time talk show where people like IKEA's founder Ingvar Kamprad and former prime minister Göran Persson also have been guests and the local newspaper Västerbottenskuriren published a 16 page insert about her career in Umeå.
The one that actually did play her last match got much less attention. 31 years old Frida Östberg explained her decision to leave football after 14 seasons at the highest level with a simple "sooner or later you have to move on" and she would like to be able to spend more time with her boyfriend Andreas, who lives and works in Holland.
Expressen: Nu kan Marta stanna i Umeå
Aftonbladet: Umeås hopp – finanskris
Expressen: Frida Östberg slutar - flyttar till Holland
Margret Lara Vidarsdottir to Linköping?
More hard-to-decipher Icelandic news. As far as I can understand, Iceland's stand-out goalscorer Margret Lara Vidarsdottir has been to Linköping for talks and a look at things. Nothing set, as far as I can understand, but Margret Lara seems excited and has her mind set on joining a strong team in order to be in best possible form when Iceland plays the European Championships next fall.
From a Linköping perspective, this seems like a great deal if they have to replace Josefine Öqvist, who is still mulling over her offers from Linköping and Umeå.
Visir: Margrét Lára vonast til að semja við Linköpings
Damfotboll.com reveals that Iceland keeper Gudbjörg Gunnarsdottir never showed up in Kristianstad as expected, but went to see Djurgården directly after she landed in Sweden. Kristianstad's sport director Ulf Berglund is less than pleased with this and says he is very disappointed with Djurgården's behavior, but refuses to go into any kind of bidding war for players.
Damfotboll.com: Djurgården tog Islands landslagsmålvakt
LATE EDIT: Djurgården confirms that they have reached an agreement with Gudbjörg Gunnarsdottir. Gunnarsdottir will visit Djurgården again next week to finalize the agreement, including taking a medical test.
Djurgården: Ny målvakt till Djurgården
From a Linköping perspective, this seems like a great deal if they have to replace Josefine Öqvist, who is still mulling over her offers from Linköping and Umeå.
Visir: Margrét Lára vonast til að semja við Linköpings
Damfotboll.com reveals that Iceland keeper Gudbjörg Gunnarsdottir never showed up in Kristianstad as expected, but went to see Djurgården directly after she landed in Sweden. Kristianstad's sport director Ulf Berglund is less than pleased with this and says he is very disappointed with Djurgården's behavior, but refuses to go into any kind of bidding war for players.
Damfotboll.com: Djurgården tog Islands landslagsmålvakt
LATE EDIT: Djurgården confirms that they have reached an agreement with Gudbjörg Gunnarsdottir. Gunnarsdottir will visit Djurgården again next week to finalize the agreement, including taking a medical test.
Djurgården: Ny målvakt till Djurgården
Asllani renews contract with Linköping
Linköping's sought-after young forward Kosovare Asllani has decided to extend her contract with Linköping one year. She has been courted by both Umeå and Malmö, but "in the end it wasn't a very hard decision", she said. Playing in Europe with Linköping weighed heavy when she made up her mind to stay. "And I'm getting much better paid than I did before". She adds that Linköping wanted to sign a longer contract, but she felt that a one year deal was the right thing for her right now.
Linjköping also finalized extensions of the contracts with back-up keeper Mia Cederholm, full back Marie-Louise Skålberg, and the young up-and-coming Maja Krantz, Lisa Nilsson and Tilda Heimersson.
Corren: Asllani stannar i LFC
Another young woman with many suitors, Umeå Södra's 20 years old midfielder Hanna Folkesson, finally decided for AIK. The Sweden U21 player said that she knows it will be hard work to get in to the starting eleven, but she is prepared for that.
AIK: 20-årig landslagsspelare till AIK
Linjköping also finalized extensions of the contracts with back-up keeper Mia Cederholm, full back Marie-Louise Skålberg, and the young up-and-coming Maja Krantz, Lisa Nilsson and Tilda Heimersson.
Corren: Asllani stannar i LFC
Another young woman with many suitors, Umeå Södra's 20 years old midfielder Hanna Folkesson, finally decided for AIK. The Sweden U21 player said that she knows it will be hard work to get in to the starting eleven, but she is prepared for that.
AIK: 20-årig landslagsspelare till AIK
Iceland's keeper to Djurgården?
According to Icelandic media, Iceland's national team goalkeeper Gudbjörg Gunnarsdottir is close to signing with Djurgården. The experienced keeper has told her club Valur, that she will be playing abroad next year and visited Kristianstad last weekend. According to the unconfirmed news, Gunnarsdottir continued to Stockholm and Djurgården. According to an Icelandic news site, she has agreed to replace Nadine Angerer in Djurgården's goal. Gunnarsdottir has however refused to comment on the news.
mbl.is: Guðbjörg að semja við Djurgården
visir: Guðbjörg á leið í atvinnumennsku
By the way, my Icelandic is really, really bad. If I have misunderstood anything, please let me know.
mbl.is: Guðbjörg að semja við Djurgården
visir: Guðbjörg á leið í atvinnumennsku
By the way, my Icelandic is really, really bad. If I have misunderstood anything, please let me know.
Nothing new on the Marta front
Yet another Swedish newspaper makes yet another try to find out where Marta will go and to what price. This time by working the American side of the negotiations. But still with the same result: nothing confirmed, lots of rumours.
Robert Penner at WPS didn't want to comment: "It's up to each team to negotiate with the players. We don't comment on those negotiations". Los Angeles Sol also declined to comment and it was completely quiet from the club's main financier AEG. On the other hand, it is said the closer AEG gets to signing a contract, the more quiet they get.
So, we're back to the usual "sources close to the negotiations". According to these, Marta's wage demands are high; USD 500,000 a year according to some information, close to USD 1 million according to other.
What is supposed to complicates the negotiations, should be that Marta wants a guaranteed three year contract. If she gets sick or injured, she should still get paid for the full three years. If the club or the league folds, she should still get paid for the entire contract period. It is unclear whether Marta will sign a deal with LA Sol or with AEG or with both. But a guarantee would have to be backed up by AEG, not LA Sol.
Västerbottenskuriren: Marta vill ha miljonlön i Los Angeles
Robert Penner at WPS didn't want to comment: "It's up to each team to negotiate with the players. We don't comment on those negotiations". Los Angeles Sol also declined to comment and it was completely quiet from the club's main financier AEG. On the other hand, it is said the closer AEG gets to signing a contract, the more quiet they get.
So, we're back to the usual "sources close to the negotiations". According to these, Marta's wage demands are high; USD 500,000 a year according to some information, close to USD 1 million according to other.
What is supposed to complicates the negotiations, should be that Marta wants a guaranteed three year contract. If she gets sick or injured, she should still get paid for the full three years. If the club or the league folds, she should still get paid for the entire contract period. It is unclear whether Marta will sign a deal with LA Sol or with AEG or with both. But a guarantee would have to be backed up by AEG, not LA Sol.
Västerbottenskuriren: Marta vill ha miljonlön i Los Angeles
LDB Malmö plus and minus
LDB FC Malmö has signed Bälinge's U18 forward Sara Storck, "a speedy winger/attacker who without doubt will reinforce the team", according to Malmö coach Jörgen Petersson. Storck is still in school and will not move south until she graduates in June. She will however participate in Malmö's training camp (probably in South Africa again) and in the winter indoor tournament LDB Sport Cup.
Skånska Dagbladet: LDB FC förstärker från Bälinge
At the same time the club announced that the talented young defender Emelie Ölander leaves the club as she moves to Stockholm. Ölander has 22 caps for Sweden at youth level and started 6 matches in Damallsvenskan the 2008 season. No mention of a new club, but if she wants to continue playing, there ought to be lots of interested teams in Stockholm.
LDB FC: Emelie Ölander till Stockholm
Skånska Dagbladet: LDB FC förstärker från Bälinge
At the same time the club announced that the talented young defender Emelie Ölander leaves the club as she moves to Stockholm. Ölander has 22 caps for Sweden at youth level and started 6 matches in Damallsvenskan the 2008 season. No mention of a new club, but if she wants to continue playing, there ought to be lots of interested teams in Stockholm.
LDB FC: Emelie Ölander till Stockholm