Caroline Seger

Caroline Seger
Personal information
Full name Sara Caroline Seger[1]
Date of birth (1985-03-19) 19 March 1985[2]
Place of birth Helsingborg, Sweden[3]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Olympique Lyon
Number 27
Youth career
Gantofta IF
1998–2000 Rydebäck IF
2001–2004 Stattena IF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2009 Linköpings FC 139 (39)
2010 Philadelphia Independence 21 (2)
2011 Western New York Flash 13 (5)
2011 LdB FC Malmö 7 (3)
2012–2014 Tyresö FF 41 (11)
2014–2016 Paris Saint-Germain 20 (7)
2016- Olympique Lyon 0 (0)
National team‡
2005– Sweden 142[4] (21)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:11, 25 June 2015 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:00, 23 June 2015 (UTC)

Sara Caroline Seger (born 19 March 1985) is a Swedish footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Sweden women's national football team and Olympique Lyon of the French Division 1 Féminine. She serves as captain for her club and national team. Seger, who is from Helsingborg, played for Linköpings FC for five seasons from 2005 until 2009. In 2011, she returned to Sweden with LdB FC Malmö after spending two seasons in the American Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) with Philadelphia Independence and Western New York Flash. Ahead of the 2012 season she signed a two-year contract with Tyresö FF, moving to France in 2014 to play for Paris Saint-Germain. Seger won the Diamantbollen in 2009, which is awarded annually to the best Swedish women's soccer player.

Since making her debut for the Sweden women's national football team in March 2005, Seger has won over a century of caps. She was appointed captain of Sweden in 2009 and later shared the role with Lotta Schelin. Seger represented her country in the 2005, 2009 and 2013 editions of the UEFA Women's Championship, as well as the 2007, 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women's World Cups. She also played at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Football Tournaments.

Club career

Linköpings

An industrious central midfielder, Seger played for Linköpings FC from 2005 to 2009 and served as the club's captain. Linköpings finished in the top four of the Damallsvenskan in four of Seger's five seasons with the team. Their highest finishes were second place in 2008 and first place in 2009. The team also captured the Svenska Cupen on three occasions in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

While playing for Linköpings Seger was honoured as the Damallsvenskan's Rookie of the Year in 2005 and Midfielder of the Year in 2006 and 2009.[5]

Seger in October 2007

After the team finished second and qualified for the UEFA Women's Champions League, Seger signed a new one-year contract with Linköpings in the autumnn of 2008.[6] She was proud to lead the club to a league and cup "double" in her final campaign with the team. Seger also won the 2009 Diamantbollen, awarded to the year's best Swedish women's soccer player.[7]

Seger's last game for Linköpings was a 2–0 defeat by Duisburg in the 2009–10 UEFA Women's Champions League.[8]

United States

In September 2009, the expansion team Philadelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) announced their intention[9] to draft Seger with their first pick in the 2009 international draft. In December 2009, she signed a three-year contract with Philadelphia.[10] Her first season with the Independence began in April 2010 and culminated in a 4–0 defeat to FC Gold Pride in the WPS Championship game. Seger scored one goal and posted five assists in her 18 appearances.[11] She underwent surgery on a heel injury after the season.[12]

Seger (9) in the 2011 WPS Championship

Seger was traded to Western New York Flash in December 2010 in exchange for draft picks. She joined the franchise in their first season in the WPS and wore the captain's armband.[13] On 14 August 2011 the Seger-led Flash secured the best record in the league, a bye in the playoffs, and played at home for the league championship on 27 August. They beat Seger's former club Philadelphia Independence in the Championship game, 5–4 in PKs after a 1–1 draw.

Seger played just 12 matches for the Flash, as the FIFA Women's World Cup took place during the season. She scored five goals and served one assist. Coach Aaran Lines was very happy with Seger's contribution, but her contract contained a release clause which allowed her to leave for a team outside the United States after one year.[14]

Tyresö FF

In August 2011 Seger announced that she would join LdB FC Malmö on a short-term contract to cover the remainder of the 2011 Damallsvenskan season, although she remained undecided about her subsequent destination.[15] Later that same month it was confirmed that Seger would join Tyresö FF on a two-year deal to start in the 2012 Damallsvenskan season.[16] Her three goals in seven league games helped Malmö secure the 2011 Damallsvenskan title.

Seger playing for Tyresö in 2013

Seger collected her third Damallsvenskan title in 2012, after Tyresö's dramatic last day win over Malmö. Madelaine Edlund scored the winning goal after Seger's shot had hit the post.[17] Seger and Tyresö were upset in the final of the Svenska Cupen, by Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC who won 2–1 after extra time.[18] In early 2014 it became clear that Tyresö were in financial difficulty and could not afford to keep Seger and their other leading players.[19]

In May 2014 Seger had been approached by Seattle Reign FC, who had obtained her rights for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and two other American teams had expressed interest. She was also in transfer negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain Féminines.[20]

Paris Saint-Germain

Seger sealed her move to Paris Saint-Germain in June 2014, signing a two-year contract. She left as Tyresö withdrew from the league and released all their players.[21]

Olympique Lyon

On 2 July 2016, Olympique Lyon announced the signing of Seger.[22]

International career

Seger made her first appearance for the senior Swedish national team in March 2005; a 2–1 defeat by Germany at that year's Algarve Cup. She intended to score the winning goal at UEFA Women's Euro 2005 in North West England. Although Seger was part of the team, she failed to score as Sweden lost to rivals Norway in extra time of the semi final.[23]

Seger continued to be selected under new coach Thomas Dennerby and was part of the Sweden team surprisingly eliminated in the first round of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. After that failure some experienced players retired and Seger was given a prominent role in the team.[24] In July 2008 she overcame a thigh injury to take her place in the squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.[25] In China she participated in the Swedes' 2–0 quarter-final defeat by Germany.

Captaining Sweden in World Cup 2011

Impressed by Seger's work rate and positive attitude, Dennerby had appointed her as national team captain for a qualifying match with Italy in May 2008, when regular captain Victoria Sandell Svensson was injured.[26] Sandell Svensson retired after Sweden's 3–1 defeat by Norway in the quarter-final of UEFA Women's Euro 2009 and Seger took over as full-time captain.[27]

Seger led Sweden to third place at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. She featured in Sweden's 3–1 semi-final defeat to eventual winners Japan in Frankfurt. Sweden secured third place by beating France 2–1 in Sinsheim, although Seger missed the game with a calf injury. Third place also ensured Sweden's qualification for the 2012 Olympic football tournament in London. Dennerby kept Seger in Sweden's Olympic squad for London,[28] where they lost to France in the quarter-finals.

In October 2012, new national team coach Pia Sundhage decided that Seger and Lotta Schelin would share the captaincy.[29] Sundhage named Seger in the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013, which Sweden hosted.[30] Seger was disappointed when Sweden lost 1–0 to Germany in the semi-final.[31]

Personal life

Seger is an out lesbian, telling QX magazine in December 2013 that she was proud of her girlfriend.[32] In previous years Seger had concealed her orientation, but decided to speak out to be a role model for others.[33] Her longtime girlfriend is fellow professional football player Malin Levenstad.

Honours

Seger playing her first game for new coach Pia Sundhage at Växjö's Myresjöhus Arena

Club

Linköpings FC
Western New York Flash
LdB FC Malmö
Tyresö FF

International

Sweden

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Goalscorers" (PDF). UEFA.com. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  2. 1 2 "List of Players - 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "Profile". Svenska Fotbollförbundet (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "Profile". FIFA.com. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Övriga utmärkelser" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "Linköpings Fotboll Club". Linkopingfc.com. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  7. ↑ "Diamantbollen" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Archived from the original on 17 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  8. ↑ Agö, Jenny (10 November 2009). "Caroline Seger taggar för en sista vinst" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "BUILDING A TEAM New Philly coach Riley: 'We're starting from scratch. We have nothing to lose'". Bigapplesoccer.com. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  10. ↑ "Caroline Seger Officially Signs 3 Year Contract During Visit to Philadelphia | Philadelphia Independence". Wpsphillyindependence.com. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  11. ↑ "Caroline Seger traded from Philadelphia to WNY Flash". Our Game Magazine. 19 December 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  12. ↑ Larsson, Micke (20 June 2011). "Seger kräver 110 procent" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "WNY acquire Caroline Seger; sign USNT Player Yael Averbuch; Western New York Flash". Wnyflash.com. 20 December 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  14. ↑ Di Veronica, Jeff (1 September 2011). "Flash lose Captain Caroline Seger to Swedish team". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  15. ↑ Dutt, Sujay (26 August 2011). "Malmö strengthen with Seger". UEFA. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  16. ↑ Lindmark, Stig (31 August 2011). "Caroline Seger till Tyresö 2012" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  17. ↑ Cleris, Johannes (3 November 2012). "Tyresö vann SM-guld efter dramatik" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  18. ↑ Averbuch, Yael (18 October 2012). "'Small Team With Enormous Heart'". New York Times. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  19. ↑ Edwinsson, Lisa (8 April 2014). "Marta lämnar Tyresö". DN.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  20. ↑ Nilsson, Alva (15 May 2014). "Seger på nytt om PSG-ryktet". Damfotboll.com (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "Seger signs for Paris Saint-Germain" (in French). Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  22. ↑ "Mercato : Cinq nouvelles joueuses rejoignent l'OL Féminin" (in French). Olympique Lyonnais. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  23. ↑ "Caroline Seger". UEFA.com. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  24. ↑ Molinaro, John F. (15 June 2011). "Caroline Seger part of Sweden's new generation". CBC Sports. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Dam: Caroline Seger tror på spel i OS" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Kapten Seger redo att segra" (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  27. ↑ Bengtsson, Janne (5 September 2009). "Seger ny landslagskapten" (in Swedish). Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  28. ↑ "Women's Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 – List of Players Sweden" (PDF). FIFA. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  29. ↑ "Seger och Schelin nya lagkaptener" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  30. ↑ "Sjögran och Hjohlman i Sundhages EM-trupp" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  31. ↑ Gatu, Anja (25 July 2013). "Seger:"Just nu är allt tomt"" (in Swedish). Sydsvenskan. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  32. ↑ Lundgren, Jessica (December 2013). "Seger Ärvår" (PDF) (in Swedish). QX (magazine). p. 21. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  33. ↑ Wahlberg, Malin (11 June 2013). "Det tog lång tid att acceptera att det var tjejer jag tände på" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
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