Sundhage luring Welsh and Boxx to Örebro??

Kristine Lilly and Kate Markgraf were essential parts of KIF Örebro during the spring and Pia Sundhage is working hard to find replacements. Local daily Nerikes Allehanda reports that Sundhage has already been turned down by England's Kelly Smith, who said "maybe next year", and France's Marinette Pinchon. But Sundhage is fairly confident that Christie Welsh will reappear for Örebro (she played the last part of the 2004 season for Örebro) already in the match against Hammarby the first weekend of August, even if no papers are signed yet. She is also in talks with US national team midfielders Shannon Boxx (who seems like the preferred alternative) and Angela Hucles. The possible schedule for the US national team, which seems unknown after the friendlies against Ukraine (July 10) and Iceland (July 24), plays a big role here, since that seems to be Örebro's only competition for these players time.

No link, since this only appeared in the printed edition (big thanks to annso at uikfans.se for the heads-up!).

Turbine Potsdam: Jane Törnqvist retracts agreement

At Turbine Potsdam's official website the club has published a statement, appropriately headlined "Confusion around Jane Törnqvist". According to the statement Törnqvist, who had made a verbal agreement with Turbine's president Günter Baaske last Thursday, contacted the club again on Saturday to retract her agreement. Her reasons for her change of mind, which came as a surprise to Turbine, was both personal and her clubs present situation in Damallsvenskan. Her participation in the Damallsvenskan match against Själevad also made the transfer impossible. Turbine Potsdam will now look elsewhere for a reinforcement of their defense line.
Turbine Potsdam

New players to Själevad

Själevad announces that they have signed two new players, 19 year old defensive midfielder Moa Eriksson from 2nd division Piteå IF and brasilian forward Almirene dos Santos Ferreira, a.k.a. Pequena. Moa Eriksson has, in spite of her age, already Damallsvenskan experience (with Alvik the 2002 season) and has been a very influental midfielder with Piteå. Pequena has been signed on the recommendations from Umeå's Marta and Själevad's own Marina and is described as fast and technical 27 year old forward. Pequena's papers are currently being processed and Själevad hopes she'll be in Sweden in time to play the home match against AIK next weekend.
Örnsköldsviks Allehanda: Själevad förstärker

Törnqvist-Potsdam story continues

Turbine Potsdam still seems pretty convinced that they have an agreement with Jane Törnqvist. Their official website today headlines with the news "Prominenter Neuzugang - Jane Törnqvist kommt" - which roughly translates to "Outstanding aquisition - Jane Törnqvist is coming". The story is, almost word by word, the same as the local newspaper PNN printed yesterday.

The story claims that Törnqvist has been in frequent contact with Potsdam since the UEFA Women's Cup final in May and that she is impressed with the club. According to the story Turbine has also been in contact with Djurgården/Älvsjö and been promised that she will not be fielded by Djurgården in the upcoming Damallsvenskan matches.

Still no official comments from Djurgården/Älvsjö.

Turbine Potsdam

Jane Törnqvist denies Potsdam transfer rumour

In an interview with swedish news-site Damfotboll.com, Jane Törnqvist denies any deal with Turbine Potsdam: "I don't know where they got that", she says and adds that a transfer is not on her immediate agenda. "Right now I'm only focusing on Saturday's match against Själevad in Damallsvenskan."
Damfotboll.com

The origin of this rumour is probably to be found in an article in Potsdam's local paper PNN. It has today a long story on how Turbine changed their focus from Norway's Ingvild Stensland to Jane Törnqvist during the Euros in England. It seems pretty well researched and places Törnqvist in the middle of the negotiations, but the only first hand information in it are quotes from Turbine's head coach Bernd Schröder.
PNN: Clou gelungen: Jane Törnquist kommt

Jane Törnqvist leaves Djurgården/Älvsjö for Turbine Potsdam

The german women's football site FFNews.de reports that swedish national team and Djurgården/Älvsjö defender Jane Törnqvist has agreed to join Turbine Potsdam for the 2005/06 Bundesliga season. Turbine coach Bernd Schröder says they have a verbal agreement and the papers will be signed mid July.
FFNews.de: Schwedin Jane Törnquist verstärkt Turbine-Elf

Örebro's americans will not return

In an interview at Damfotboll.com KIF Örebro's head coach Pia Sundhage reveals that the club's three americans - Kristine Lilly, Kate Markgraf and Mary Frances Monroe - will not return to play. Lilly has a lot of commitment with the national team and her own soccer academy, while Markgraf will go to law school. Monroe wasn't offered a renewal of her contract, as KIF Örebro already has better players. At the present the club don't have any new players to replace the americans, but will move players from the youth team to the 1st team.
Damfotboll.com

Jessica Julin signs with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC

As expected Jessica Julin has now signed with Kopparbergs/Göteborg. At least QBIK and Själevad also had offers to Julin, but Göteborg was her first choice.
SVT: Umeås Jessica Julin till Göteborg
Värmlands Folkblad: Qbik har fått nobben
Örnsköldsviks Allehanda: Själevad förlorade dragkampen

Jessica Julin leaves Umeå IK

Finnich national team midfielder Jessica Julin and Umeå IK has mutually decided to terminate Julin's contract. This means that Julin is free to make a deal with another club without any transfer fee. Julin will leave the club June 30. New club is not decided, but Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC and QBIK are interested. Göteborg is probably Julin's favourite suitor, since her compatriot Heidi Kackur plays there.

Umeå IK will try to find a replacement for Julin, but it will be a young talent, not a seasoned veteran as Julin.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Julin lämnar UIK

Christie Welsh coming back to Örebro?

US national team forward Christie Welsh, presently with New Jersey Wildcats in the american W-league, will probably return to Örebro. Welsh played in Örebro the last part of the 2004 season and then moved to Olympique Lyonnaise in France this winter. This according to local daily Nerikes Allehanda, that has been talking to KIF Örebro head coach Pia Sundhage. They also reveal that Kristine Lilly, Kate Markgraf and Mary Frances Monroe, that spent the spring with the club, will not return but that Pia is in talks with "an american world class midfielder".

Nerikes Allehanda: KIF Örebro hoppas på comeback av Welsh


Valkonen wants to move to a bigger town

Umeå IK's and Finland's defender Sanna Valkonen confirms to a Umeå newspaper that she most probably will be leaving the club after this season. The football environment in Umeå is great, but after more than three years, she thinks it's time to try something new. "I want to play professional next year too and I don't think I'll return to Finland. But if I'll play in Germany or stay in Sweden, we'll see." She says she would like to live in a bigger city, with more life to it than Umeå.
Västerbottens Folkblad: Valkonens sista säsong

QBIK signs Hawkins sisters

QBIK has taken the advise from their coach and reinforced their team during the Euro break. In addition to german Jennifer Meier and Djurgården/Älvsjö's Annica Svensson they have now also signed the twins Sarah and Annie Hawkins. The Hawkins sisters had a trial with the club a short time ago (check here and here if you don't remember), but turned down. Now they have returned and can finance their stay in Sweden themselves. Coach Dave Mosson says they atre not certain starters, but will definitely add depth to the squad.

The club also reveals that they will be looking at yet another, so far unnamed, american player before the season restarts in July.
Värmlands Folkblad: Hawkins på väg vill tillbaka till Qbik
QBIK

Mallbacken signs american midfielder

Mallbacken has signed with american midfielder Lindsay Greco, college player for UCLA and this spring with (now relegated) Wolfsburg in the german Bundesliga. Mallbacken hopes that Greco, who is called a fast teamplayer that's dangerous in front of the goal, will help them in their attacking game.
Värmlands Folkblad: Målskytten är här

Three top players to leave Umeå IK?

Sanna Valkonen, Umeå IK's 27 year old finnish national team defender, tells finnish daily Vasabladet that she will not renew her contract with Umeå when it expires in november. Valkonen, who is on her 4th season with the club and is one of their most valuable players, says it is time to try something else. Not completely clear if she plans to continue with football elsewhere or if she intends to concentrate on her business studies.
Vasabladet: EM tände en ny gnista

Midfielder Jessica Julin, also on the finnish national team, has had problems getting a spot om Umeå's team after the club signed Finland's 2004 Player of the Year Anne Mäkinen and brasilian international Elaine. She tells her hometown paper Jakobstads Tidning that she has already decided she will not play for the club 2006, but might leave, possibly on loan, already this summer.
Jakobstads Tidning: Nu väntar det stora äventyret  

Sweden's national team defender Karolina Westberg left Malmö FF for Umeå IK this winter, but have since lost her starting position with both club and country. She tells Malmö local daily Sydsvenskan that she will return to Malmö FF, but avoids questions on when that will happen. The newspaper's guess is that it will be already this summer.
No link, since this only appeared in the printed edition.

Djurgården player to QBIK

Annica Svensson, midfielder and two times swedish champion with Djurgården-Älvsjö, will probably spend the last part of the season with QBIK. Svensson, who has been having difficulties getting playing time in Djurgården's first team, had QBIK's head coach Dave Mosson as her coach in highschool. There are some details left to solve between the teams, but the transfer seems pretty much set.

Värmlands Folkblad: Djurgårdens landslagstjej väljer Qbik 


Schelin stays in Göteborg

Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC's star forward Lotta Schelin has extended her contract with the club to include the 2006 season. The club's chairman Peter Bronsman says Lotta is one of the best players in Sweden and plays an essential part in Kopparbergs/Göteborg's plans.
Göteborgsposten: Schelin stannar i Göteborg

The swedish network TV4 made an interview with "the female Zlatan". Lotta says she is honoured by the nickname and is very excited about the European Championships. "We're going there to win the gold"
TV4 (video clip)

QBIK signs Jennifer Meier

QBIK has signed german attacking midfielder Jennifer Meier for the rest of the 2005 season. The club is certain that Meier, with 9 caps for Germany and experience from both WUSA and the german Bundesliga, will make a major contribution. Even if they turned down the american trialists Annie and Sarah Hawkins they have not finished looking for new players and expects to sign at least another one.

Dave Mosson, QBIK's coach, talks in a five minute interview with a local TV station about his team and himself. He says that the season so far has been a big learning experience, and that they will do better when the league restarts in July. Jennifer Meier's experience will be a big asset for the club. Mosson, who is a big local profile in football, has never coached a women's side before. He says that at this level the main difference is that for men football is a job while women needs to find other motivation than financial compensation. Team spirit, finding friends and spending time together in the team becomes much more important.

Värmlands Folkblad: Tyska Jennifer Meier skriver på för Qbik
SVT: Dave Mosson interview (Real video, 5 minutes)

Nora Jåfs leaves Sunnanå

Nora Jåfs, finnish U21 midfielder, leaves Sunnanå and moves back to Finland, citing personal reasons.
Damfotboll.com


German international trying out for QBIK

The first five matches for the season has shown QBIK that there is a big difference between Damallsvenskan and the 1st divison they won undefeated last year. They need to recruit new players and this week they have three foreigners trying out: Jennifer Meier from the german Bundesliga club FSV Frankfurt and with 7 caps for Germany and two american college players, the twin sisters Annie and Sarah Hawkins. "We have recieved a lot of offers, but these three are the ones we want to look closer at" says QBIK chairman Lars-Inge Hallstensson. Coach Dave Mosson says they are looking for qualities that they are missing in the team, mainly attacking midfield and forward. "We're going to evaluate this now, but Meier is a kind of player that would be a starter in most Damallsvenskan teams. The americans have really good potential, but they are nothing close to the ones playing in Örebro and Sunnanå." 

Värmlands Folkblad: Trio på prov
Värmlands Folkblad: Qbik siktar på att behålla tyska Meier

Norwegian team looking for players in Värmland

Janne Jansson, former Mallbacken coach and now with norwegian top side Team Strömmen, tells a local newspaper that he will go looking for a forward during the summer break and that Mallbacken and QBIK players are likely targets. Both Mallbacken and QBIK's home town Karlstad are fairly close to the norwegian border.
Värmlands Folkblad: Jansson letar i Mallbacken och Qbik

Tidigare inlägg Nyare inlägg