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Kosovare Asllani

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Kosovare Asllani
Asllani training with Sweden in 2015
Personal information
Full name Kosovare Asllani[1]
Date of birth (1989-07-29) 29 July 1989 (age 35)[1]
Place of birth Kristianstad, Sweden[2]
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 London City Lionesses
Number 9
Youth career
2004–2007 Vimmerby IF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Linköpings FC 37 (21)
2010 Chicago Red Stars 13 (2)
2010–2011 Linköpings FC 26 (7)
2012 Kristianstads DFF 15 (7)
2012–2016 Paris Saint-Germain 59 (39)
2016–2017 Manchester City 15 (2)
2017–2019 Linköpings FC 27 (8)
2019–2022 Real Madrid 63 (24)
2022–2024 AC Milan 34 (15)
2024– London City Lionesses 4 (1)
International career‡
2005–2006 Sweden U17 6[3] (1[3])
2007–2008 Sweden U19 15[3] (5[3])
2008– Sweden 176[3] (45[3])
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  Sweden
FIFA Women's World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2019 France Team
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Australia/New Zealand Team
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 September 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 August 2023

Kosovare Asllani (born 29 July 1989) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker or an attacking midfielder for Women's Championship club London City Lionesses and the Sweden national team.[4][5]

Asllani began her club career with Vimmerby IF and has played in the Damallsvenskan for Linköpings FC and hometown club Kristianstads DFF. In the 2010 season she played in the United States, with Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). She returned to Sweden to play for Kristianstad, before moving to Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and then back to Linköping.

Club career

[edit]

Childhood and early career

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Asllani is of Kosovar Albanian descent, born in Kristianstad to Kosovar parents who had migrated to Sweden. Asllani grew up playing both football and ice hockey, but chose to focus her talents on football. At the age of 15, Asllani started her career at second division team Vimmerby IF. During her time at Vimmerby, she scored 49 goals in 48 matches,[6] establishing herself as a football prodigy. Former coach Cecilia Wilhelmsson praised Asllani's football technique and fitness.[7] After receiving offers from many clubs, Asllani accepted a move to Damallsvenskan team Linköpings FC in 2007,[8] where she made quick progress.[9][10]

Linköpings FC

[edit]

During Asllani's first season, she generally came off the substitutes' bench early in the games to help her settle into the Damallsvenskan. During the following season, Asllani established herself as a regular starter and was an increasingly valuable member of the squad. In 2009, she helped Linköping win both the Svenska Cupen and the club's first ever Damallsvenskan title. On 4 December 2009 American Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) club Chicago Red Stars confirmed that they had signed Asllani from Linköpings FC.[11]

Chicago Red Stars

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Asllani spent a single season in the WPS. She was established as a fan's favourite and in the 7th week of the season, Asllani received the WPS Player of the Week award after Chicago Red Stars' defeat of FC Gold Pride. After her season with the Red Stars, Asllani returned to Sweden and Linköpings FC.

Return to Linköping

[edit]

Asllani's presence boosted Linköping, especially in the UEFA Women's Champions League. She scored goals against Sparta Praha and Arsenal. However, her season was disrupted by a thigh injury and she departed Linköping at the end of the campaign.

Kristianstad DFF

[edit]

In December 2011, she moved back to her hometown Kristianstad to play with Kristianstads DFF who had finished seventh in the previous year's Damallsvenskan.

Paris Saint-Germain

[edit]
Asllani (right) playing for PSG against FCF Juvisy in December 2012

When Asllani had a month left on her contract with Kristianstads she was subject to a transfer bid from Paris Saint-Germain. Although the teams were in dispute over the size of the transfer fee, Asllani flew to Paris and signed a two-year contract in September 2012, after completing a medical.[12] At PSG Asllani was presented to the media by sporting director Leonardo and player Zlatan Ibrahimović, who declared: "If you want to win you need a Swedish striker."[13] Asllani scored 17 goals in her 19 appearances in the 2012–13 Division 1 Féminine, as PSG finished second in the table behind Lyon.[14] On 4 January 2016, Asllani announced on her Instagram account that she had ended her contract with Paris Saint-Germain, where she had played for three-and-a-half years.[15]

Manchester City

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On 22 January 2016, English FA WSL club Manchester City revealed that they had signed Asllani to a two-year contract.[16]

Second return to Linköpings FC

[edit]

On 10 August 2017, it was announced a two-and-a-half-year contract had been agreed for Asllani to return to Linköpings FC. She departed the club by mutual consent on 15 July 2019.[17]

CD Tacón/Real Madrid

[edit]

After her departure from Linköpings FC, Asllani signs with CD Tacón/Real Madrid on 18 July 2019.[18] Upon Real Madrid's purchase of their license, CD Tacón will operate as Real Madrid's women's team starting from 2020,[19] making Asllani the first Galáctica.[20] Asllani scored 5 goals in 17 league appearances for Tacón in the prematurely ended 2019–20 Primera Iberdrola season. After the rebrand of the team to Real Madrid CFF, she started the season explosively, scoring 8 goals in the first 8 league appearances despite playing in an unfamiliar out-and-out-striker role. In 2021-22, Asllani struggled for form, scoring just 3 league goals. She lost her place in the team, and when she did start games, was often substituted relatively early having made little impact.

AC Milan

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On 30 June 2022, Asllani joined Italian club AC Milan.[21] She scored 9 goals in her first season in Serie A. In January 2023, she missed a penalty against bitter rivals Inter, as Milan lost 4-1.

London City Lionesses

[edit]

Asllani joined the London City Lionesses of the Women's Championship on 28 June 2024.[22]

International career

[edit]

In September 2008 Asllani made her debut for the Sweden national team against Romania,[23] and in 2009 she was called up to represent Sweden in UEFA Women's Euro 2009.[24] Asllani was an important member of the national team during the qualification rounds of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup but coach Thomas Dennerby controversially did not select her in the squad sent to Germany for the finals. Football pundits, including Pia Sundhage, the Swedish coach of the United States national team, expressed surprise at Asllani's omission.[25]

Asllani playing for Sweden in 2012

Dennerby recalled Asllani to the national squad for the 2012 London Olympics.[26]

Asllani played for Sweden at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where the team won a silver medal.[27] She failed to score a single goal during the tournament, despite playing in all six of Sweden's games. She scored in the penalty shootout against the United States in the quarterfinals, in which Sweden won the shootout 4–3 after being tied 1–1 during extra time. She again stepped up to take a penalty against Brazil in the semi final, but her weak effort was saved.[28]

As of 2017, Asllani had made more than 90 appearances for the Sweden national team.[29]

She scored in the 5–1 win over Thailand at the 2019 Women's World Cup.[30]

In 2021, Asllani was selected for the Sweden squad at the 2021 Summer Olympics. Like in 2016, her only goal was a penalty, this time in the quarter final vs Japan. She took a crucial penalty in the final against Canada, but missed the target from twelve yards, as Sweden lost the shootout, and once again had to settle for silver medals.

On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.[31] She made the final goal in Sweden's match against Australia on 19 August 2023. Sweden won and secured the bronze medals for the team.

Personal life

[edit]

Kosovare Asllani is an ethnic Albanian from Koshutovë, Leposaviq, Kosovo.[32] Her parents moved to Sweden where she was born. Asllani has a tattoo of a black double-headed eagle, symbolising Albania, on her ankle.[33] She also has the words "Stay Strong" tattooed on the inside of her right biceps.[34]

Career statistics

[edit]
Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Asllani goal.
List of international goals scored by Kosovare Asllani
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 2009-08-28 Turku, Finland  Italy

2–0

2–0

Euro 2009
2 2009-09-23 Gothenburg, Sweden  Belgium

1–0

2–1

2011 World Cup qualification [35]
3 2010-02-26 Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal  Iceland

4–1

5–1

2010 Algarve Cup
4 2010-06-23 Gothenburg, Sweden  Azerbaijan

10–0

17–0

2011 World Cup qualification
5 2011-01-21 Chongqing, China  United States

2–1

2–1

2011 Four Nations Tournament
6 2012-03-31 Malmö, Sweden  Canada

3–0

3–1

Friendly
7 2012-09-15 Gothenburg, Sweden  Netherlands

2–1

2–1

Friendly
8 2012-10-23 Växjö, Sweden  Switzerland

2–0

3–0

Friendly
9 2013-03-08 Albufeira, Portugal  Iceland

1–0

6–1

2013 Algarve Cup
10

5–0

11 2013-03-13 Lagos, Portugal  Norway

1–0

2–2 (pso 4–5)

2013 Algarve Cup [36]
12 2013-07-13 Gothenburg, Sweden  Finland

3–0

5–0

UEFA Euro 2013 [37]
13 2013-10-31 Gothenburg, Sweden  Faroe Islands

3–0

5–0

2015 World Cup qualification [38]
14 2014-03-05 Albufeira, Portugal  Denmark

1–0

2–0

2014 Algarve Cup [39]
15 2014-04-05 Portadown, Northern Ireland  Northern Ireland

1–0

4–0

2015 World Cup qualification [40]
16 2014-06-14 Motherwell, Scotland  Scotland

2–1

3–1

2015 World Cup qualification [41]
17

3–1

18 2014-08-21 Starogard Gdański, Poland  Poland

2–0

4–0

2015 World Cup qualification [42]
19 2015-01-13 La Manga, Spain  Norway

1–2

3–2

Friendly
20

2–2

21 2015-03-09 Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal  China

1–0

3–0

2015 Algarve Cup
22 2015-05-30 Toronto, Canada  Netherlands

2–1

2–1

Friendly
23 2016-06-02 Łódź, Poland  Poland

3–0

4–0

Euro 2017 qualifying
24 2016-06-06 Gothenburg, Sweden  Moldova

2–0

6–0

Euro 2017 qualifying
25

4–0

26 2017-03-08 Albufeira, Portugal  Russia

1–0

4–0

2017 Algarve Cup
27

3–0

28 2017-09-19 Varaždin, Croatia  Croatia

2–0

2–0

2019 World Cup qualification
29 2017-10-24 Borås, Sweden  Hungary

3–0

5–0

2019 World Cup qualification
30

5–0

31 2018-08-30 Gothenburg, Sweden  Ukraine

3–0

3–0

2019 World Cup qualification
32 2019-02-27 Faro/Loulé, Portugal  Switzerland

3–1

4–1

2019 Algarve Cup
33 2019-06-11 Rennes, France  Chile

1–0

2–0

2019 FIFA World Cup
34 2019-06-16 Nice, France  Thailand

2–0

5–1

2019 FIFA World Cup
35 2019-07-06 Nice, France  England

1–0

2–1

2019 FIFA World Cup
36 2019-09-03 Liepāja, Latvia  Latvia

4–1

4–1

UEFA Euro 2022 qualifying
37 2019-10-08 Gothenburg, Sweden  Slovakia

1–0

7–0

UEFA Euro 2022 qualifying
38 2021-02-23 Paola, Malta  Malta

1–0

3–0

Friendly
39 2021-07-30 Saitama, Japan  Japan

3–1

3–1

2020 Summer Olympics [43]
40 2022-02-20 Algarve, Portugal  Portugal

3–0

4–0

2022 Algarve Cup
41 2022-04-07 Gori, Georgia  Georgia

13–0

15–0

2023 World Cup qualification [44]
42

14–0

43 2022-04-12 Gothenburg, Sweden  Republic of Ireland

1–1

1–1

2023 World Cup qualification [45]
44 2022-07-17 Leigh, Greater Manchester, England  Portugal

4–0

5–0

Euro 2022
45 2023-08-19 Brisbane, Australia  Australia

2–0

2–0

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
46 2023-12-05 Málaga, Spain  Spain

3–1

3–5

2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League

Honours

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Linköpings FC

Manchester City

Sweden

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c "List of Players – 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Profile". Svenska Fotbollförbundet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Kosovare Asllani – Spelarstatistik" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Asllani slog Zlatans rekord med 1 sekund". Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Kosovare Asllani". UEFA. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Damallsvenskan 2008" (in Swedish). SvD.se. 10 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  7. ^ Walltin, Stenåke O. (10 March 2009). "Bittert att missa guldet 2008 – nu tar "Kosse" och LFC ny fart!" (in Swedish). Svensk Damfotboll. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Damallsvenskan 2007". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 10 April 2007. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Allsvensk debut för Asllani". Kindaposten.se (in Swedish). 12 April 2007. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  10. ^ "Kosovare siktar högt". Vimmerbytidning.se (in Swedish). 24 December 2008. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  11. ^ "Red Stars Sign Sweden's Kosovare Asllani". womensprosoccer.com. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on 26 May 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  12. ^ Josefsson, Åsa (22 September 2012). "Asllani slumpas till PSG för fyndpris". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  13. ^ Frändén, Johanna (26 September 2012). "Här presenteras Asllani för Leonardo av Zlatan". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  14. ^ "Kosovare Asllani". Footofeminin.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  15. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (4 January 2016). "PSG terminates contracts of Horan, Asllani". The Equalizer. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  16. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (22 January 2016). "Asllani signs two-season deal with Manchester City". The Equalizer. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  17. ^ @LinköpingsFC (15 July 2019). "LFC och Kosovare Asllani har i samförstånd enats om att bryta kontraktet fem månader i förtid" (Tweet) (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 July 2019 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ @KosovareAsllani (18 July 2019). "Proud to announce that I'll be the first official signing for Real Madrid/Cd Tacon" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 July 2019 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "Real Madrid to have women's team starting in 2020". DW. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Kosovare Asllani confirms CD Tacón/Real Madrid move". as.com. 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  21. ^ "OFFICIAL STATEMENT: KOSOVARE ASLLANI". AC Milan. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Sweden international Kosovare Asllani agrees to join London City Lionesses". LondonCityLionesses.com. London City Lionesses. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Enkel svensk kvalseger mot Rumänien" (in Swedish). DN.se. 27 September 2008. Archived from the original on 30 July 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  24. ^ "Truppen till EM uttagen – Sverige het medaljkandidat". Nyheter24.se (in Swedish). 28 July 2009. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  25. ^ "Petningen av Asllani förvånar Sundhage" (in Swedish). fotboll.expressen. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 21 September 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  26. ^ "Women's Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 – List of Players Sweden" (PDF). FIFA. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  27. ^ "Sweden's women pipped by Germany in Olympic final". 20 August 2016. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  28. ^ "Brazil's women footballers eliminated by Sweden on penalties in semi-final".
  29. ^ "Kosovare Asllani's official Manchester City F.C. Profile". Manchester City F.C. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  30. ^ "Sweden book place in last 16 of World Cup as Thailand endure another rout". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  31. ^ "Sweden veteran Seger to play at fifth World Cup". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  32. ^ "Ekskluzive në "Prijmë" – Si u bë një Kosovare më e mira futbolliste në botë (VIDEO)". Klan Kosova (in Albanian). 14 December 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024. vajza me prejardhje nga Koshtova e Leposaviqit, Kosovare Asllani
  33. ^ Laul, Robert (17 July 2009). "Hon visar sin hemliga tatuering". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  34. ^ "YouTube". Retrieved 20 August 2016.[dead YouTube link]
  35. ^ "Sverige–Belgien – Matchfakta" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  36. ^ "Norge–Sverige – Matchfakta" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  37. ^ "Finland–Sverige – Matchfakta" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  38. ^ "Sverige–Färöarna – Matchfakta" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  39. ^ "Sverige–Danmark – Matchfakta" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  40. ^ "Nordirland–Sverige – Matchfakta" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  41. ^ "Skottland–Sverige – Matchfakta" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  42. ^ "Polen–Sverige – Matchfakta" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  43. ^ "Sverige–Japan – Matchfakta" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  44. ^ "Georgien–Sverige – Matchfakta" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  45. ^ "Sverige–Irland – Matchfakta" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  46. ^ Sinnott, John (6 July 2019). "Sweden secures bronze medal after narrow win over England". CNN. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  47. ^ "Asllani historisk: "Coolt att vara pionjär"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  48. ^ Théo, Théophile (26 December 2022). "Kosovare Asllani, première Golden Foot féminine de l'histoire". WORLD SPORTS ACTU (in French). Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
Match reports
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