Kosovare Asllani
Encyclopedia
Kosovare Asllani is a Swedish
footballer of Kosovo
-Albanian
descent, who currently plays for Linköpings FC
in the Damallsvenskan
and Sweden women's national football team
. Asllani is a proficient striker, possessing great speed and technique in her game. Due to her Balkan roots, her skills are often compared to that of Zlatan Ibrahimovic
.
to Kosovar
parents that migrated to Sweden
. Asllani grew up playing both football and hockey, but chose to focus on football. Asllani started her career in second division team, Vimmerby IF, at the age of 15. During her time at Vimmerby, she scored 49 goals in 48 matches, establishing herself as a football prodigy. Former coach, Cecilia Wilhelmsson, noted that Kosovare's football technique and fitness was astounding. After receiving offers from many clubs, Asllani agreed a move to Damallsvenskan team Linköpings FC in 2007, where she made quick progress.
in 2009 and the clubs first ever Damallsvenskan
title in 2009. On 4 December 2009 American WPS
club Chicago Red Stars
confirmed that they had signed Kosovare Asllani from Linköpings FC.
. She was established as a fan favourite and on the 7th week of the season, Asllani received the WPS Player of the Week award after Chicago Red Stars
defeated FC Gold Pride
. After one season with the Red Stars
, Asllani returned to Linköpings FC.
and Arsenal
. However, her season was marred by injury.
in 2008 against Romania
and in 2009 she was called up to represent Sweden in UEFA Women's Euro 2009. Asllani was a important member of the national team during the qualification rounds of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, however, coach Thomas Dennerby
did not select Asllani for squad sent to Germany. Former footballer and coach of the USA womans national football team, Pia Sundhage
, stated she was surprised that Kosovare was not selected, along with many other football pundits.
Linköpings FC
:
Chicago Red Stars
:
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
footballer of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
-Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
descent, who currently plays for Linköpings FC
Linköpings FC
Linköpings FC is an association football club from Linköping, Sweden. The club was established in 2003 when Kenty DFF women's football club decided to merge with the premier division ice hockey club Linköpings HC under the new name Linköpings FC...
in the Damallsvenskan
Damallsvenskan
The Damallsvenskan, Swedish for ladies' all-Swedish, is the highest division of women's football in Sweden. It is also referred as to the women's Allsvenskan, this term being used alone to refer to the men's division....
and Sweden women's national football team
Sweden women's national football team
Sweden women's national football team are a football team officially representing Sweden in women's football. They won the unofficial European Championships in 1984, a success the team has not managed to repeat, it has however won one World Cup-silver as well as three European Cup-silvers...
. Asllani is a proficient striker, possessing great speed and technique in her game. Due to her Balkan roots, her skills are often compared to that of Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimović is a Swedish footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Milan and the Swedish national team for which he is captain....
.
Childhood and early career
Kosovare Asllani was born in KristianstadKristianstad
Kristianstad is a city and the seat of Kristianstad Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 35,711 inhabitants in 2010.-History:The city was founded in 1614 by King Christian IV of Denmark, the city's name literally means 'Town of Christian', as a planned city after the burning of the town of Vä...
to Kosovar
Kosovar
Kosovar/Kosovan may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Kosovo, a landlocked region in the Balkans, the majority of which is governed by the partially-recognised Republic of Kosovo....
parents that migrated to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Asllani grew up playing both football and hockey, but chose to focus on football. Asllani started her career in second division team, Vimmerby IF, at the age of 15. During her time at Vimmerby, she scored 49 goals in 48 matches, establishing herself as a football prodigy. Former coach, Cecilia Wilhelmsson, noted that Kosovare's football technique and fitness was astounding. After receiving offers from many clubs, Asllani agreed a move to Damallsvenskan team Linköpings FC in 2007, where she made quick progress.
Linköpings FC
During Asllani's first season, she was generally coming off the bench early in the games to help her settle into the Damallsvenskan. In the next season, Asllani established herself as a regular starter and was an esteemed member of the squad. Being one of the most crucial players in the team, she helped Linköping win the Svenska CupenSvenska Cupen
Svenska Cupen , is a knockout cup competition in Swedish football and the main Swedish football cup. Svenska Cupen usually refers to the men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held. Each year 98 teams compete, comprising the 16 teams from Allsvenskan and the 16 teams of Superettan...
in 2009 and the clubs first ever Damallsvenskan
Damallsvenskan
The Damallsvenskan, Swedish for ladies' all-Swedish, is the highest division of women's football in Sweden. It is also referred as to the women's Allsvenskan, this term being used alone to refer to the men's division....
title in 2009. On 4 December 2009 American WPS
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
club Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
confirmed that they had signed Kosovare Asllani from Linköpings FC.
Chicago Red Stars
Asllani only spent one season in the WPSWomen's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
. She was established as a fan favourite and on the 7th week of the season, Asllani received the WPS Player of the Week award after Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
defeated FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area...
. After one season with the Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
, Asllani returned to Linköpings FC.
Return to Linköping
Asllani's presence helped Linkoping, especially in the UEFA Women's Champions League. She scored goals against Sparta PrahaAC Sparta Praha
AC Sparta Prague is a Czech football club based in Prague. It is the most successful club in the Czech Republic and one of the most successful in Central Europe, having reached the semifinals of the European Cup in 1992...
and Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
. However, her season was marred by injury.
National team
She made her debut for the Swedish national teamSweden women's national football team
Sweden women's national football team are a football team officially representing Sweden in women's football. They won the unofficial European Championships in 1984, a success the team has not managed to repeat, it has however won one World Cup-silver as well as three European Cup-silvers...
in 2008 against Romania
Romania women's national football team
The Romania women's national football team represents Romania in international women's football.-World Cup record:-Current squad:-See also:* Romania national football team...
and in 2009 she was called up to represent Sweden in UEFA Women's Euro 2009. Asllani was a important member of the national team during the qualification rounds of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, however, coach Thomas Dennerby
Thomas Dennerby
Thomas Dennerby, born on August 13, 1959 in Enskede, is a Swedish football coach, currently heading Sweden women's national football team.Dennerby was previously a player in Hammarby IF and Spårvägens IF, as well as the national U21 team. He has also worked as a police officer...
did not select Asllani for squad sent to Germany. Former footballer and coach of the USA womans national football team, Pia Sundhage
Pia Sundhage
Pia Mariane Sundhage is a Swedish former professional football player who is currently the head coach of the United States Women's National Team. While she played most of her career as a forward, she had stints as a midfielder as well as a sweeper.- Club :...
, stated she was surprised that Kosovare was not selected, along with many other football pundits.
Club
Linköpings FC
Linköpings FC is an association football club from Linköping, Sweden. The club was established in 2003 when Kenty DFF women's football club decided to merge with the premier division ice hockey club Linköpings HC under the new name Linköpings FC...
:
- DamallsvenskanDamallsvenskanThe Damallsvenskan, Swedish for ladies' all-Swedish, is the highest division of women's football in Sweden. It is also referred as to the women's Allsvenskan, this term being used alone to refer to the men's division....
:
- Champion (1): 2009
- SupercupenSupercupen (women)Supercupen is a one-off fixture in Swedish football played between the Damallsvenskan champions and the winners of Svenska Cupen. The fixture is played before the start of Damallsvenskan...
:
- Champion (1): 2009
- Svenska Cupen Damer:
- Champion (2): 2008, 2009
Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
:
- Women's Professional SoccerWomen's Professional SoccerWomen's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
:
- Player of the Week (1): 2010