Linnea Viktoria Liljegärd (born 8 December 1988) is a Swedish former footballer who played for the Sweden women's national football team as well as professional clubs in Sweden, Norway and Russia.

Linnea Liljegärd
Personal information
Full name Linnea Viktoria Liljegärd[1]
Date of birth (1988-12-08) 8 December 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth Arvika, Sweden
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Midfielder, Forward
Youth career
Skogsbygdens IF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Falköpings KIK
2008–2012 Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 101 (65)
2012–2013 WFC Rossiyanka 2 (0)
2013 Avaldsnes IL 10 (3)
2013–2014 Kristianstads DFF 25 (5)
International career
2009–2011 Sweden 18 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:29, 27 November 2014 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:29, 27 November 2014 (UTC)

Club career

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Liljegärd was raised in Vårgårda and began her career with Skogsbygdens IF. After three years with Falköpings KIK, she joined Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC in 2008.[2] In 2009 Liljegärd was the top scorer in the Damallsvenskan with 22 goals. She turned down approaches from WPS club Sky Blue FC and Swedish champions Linköpings FC in order to stay with Göteborg.[3]

In September 2012 Göteborg accepted an offer for Liljegärd from WFC Rossiyanka and she transferred to the Russian club. In January 2013 she opted out of her contract and returned to Sweden for surgery on a foot injury. After recovering she signed for Norwegian Toppserien club Avaldsnes IL.[4]

She returned to Sweden with Damallsvenskan club Kristianstads DFF in August 2013.[5] Liljegärd announced her retirement from playing in November 2014, aged 25, to focus on coaching Division 2 team Bergdalens IK. She had lost her motivation but did not rule out a comeback.[6]

International career

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Liljegärd represented Sweden at all youth levels, then won her first senior cap in a 5–1 friendly win over Norway in January 2009.[7] She was subsequently named in the Sweden squad for Euro 2009.

Despite good form at domestic level, in June 2011 Liljegärd was left out of Sweden's squad for the World Cup in Germany.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Association player list" (PDF). UEFA.com. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  2. ^ "The making of Linnea Liljegärd". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  3. ^ Ludwig Holmgren (2 April 2010). "Linnea Liljegärd nobbade mästarlaget - för spel i Svrige" (in Swedish). Expressen.se. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  4. ^ "Liljegärd till norsk klubb" (in Swedish). Svenska Dagbladet. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  5. ^ Nilsson, Robin (2 August 2013). "KDFF värvar Linnea Liljegärd" (in Swedish). Kristianstadsbladet. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  6. ^ Landén, Petter (25 November 2014). "Linnea Liljegärd slutar spela – 25 år gammal" (in Swedish). Expressen. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Dam: Schelin fyramålsskytt mot Norge". svenskfotboll.se. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Liljegärd gav svar på tal" (in Swedish). DN.se. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
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