Maria Karlsson (footballer, born 1985)

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Maria Karlsson De Cecco (before Karlsson)
Personal information
Full name Maria Josefina Karlsson De Cecco[1]
Date of birth (1985-02-08) 8 February 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Gothenburg, Sweden
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender / Midfielder
Youth career
1999–2001 Sätila SK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2008 Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 112 (13)
2009–2010 Linköpings FC 38 (4)
2011 Doncaster Rovers Belles 13 (0)
2011 Jitex BK 6 (1)
2012–2014 Bardolino Verona 74 (15)
2014–2015 Brescia 25 (1)
2015–2016 AS Saint-Étienne 21 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:35, 10 February 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:35, 10 February 2018 (UTC)

Maria Josefina Karlsson De Cecco (born 8 February 1985) is a Swedish former footballer. Her last club was AS Saint-Étienne of France's Division 1 Féminine, where she played as a defender. Karlsson De Cecco currently works as CEO and agent for the global football agency CMG, representing players and coaches within women's football.

Club career[edit]

Karlsson De Cecco played for Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC (2002–2008) and Linköpings FC (2009–2010). After signing for Linköpings, Karlsson De Cecco was known as Maria Karlsson II,[1] or Maria "Kalle" Karlsson due to the presence of senior teammate and namesake Maria "Kia" Karlsson.[3] Karlsson De Cecco made 154 appearances in the Damallsvenskan, the highest level of women's football in Sweden. She won a League, Super cup and Cup triple with Linköping in 2009. She also played in the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2015.[1]

In January 2011 Karlsson De Cecco became the first Swede to sign for a club in the new FA WSL.[4] After a successful trial, she signed a deal to play for Doncaster Rovers Belles while living at the Ramada Jarvis hotel in Doncaster.[5] At the end of the English season Karlsson returned to Sweden, signing for Jitex BK.[6] After six Damallsvenskan appearances and one goal,[7] in November 2011 Karlsson De Cecco revealed she had departed Jitex and was considering a contract offer from Italian club Bardolino Verona.[8] She signed a six-month deal to commence on 1 January 2012.[9]

After moving on to Brescia, Karlsson De Cecco transferred to French Division 1 Féminine team AS Saint-Étienne in August 2015.[10]

International career[edit]

Karlsson De Cecco won a total of 57 caps with Sweden at youth level.[2] These comprised eight caps at Under–17 level, 24 at Under–19 level and 25 at Under–21/23 level.[11]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Maria Karlsson De Cecco II". UEFA. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  2. ^ a b "#16 Maria Karlsson". Linköpings Fotboll Club. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Fyra lämnar LFC" (in Swedish). Linköpings Fotboll Club. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  4. ^ "Swede dreams for Belles". TheFA.com. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  5. ^ "Interview: John Buckley / Manager / Doncaster Rovers Belles". She Kicks. 12 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Jitex sign Karlsson". Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC. 15 September 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Maria Karlsson" (in Swedish). Svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  8. ^ "Maria Karlsson till italiensk klubb" (in Swedish). Damfotboll.com. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  9. ^ "Maria Karlsson joins Bardolino Verona". Connect World Football. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  10. ^ "Maria Karlsson (Brescia) à Saint-Étienne" (in French). L'Équipe. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  11. ^ "6. Maria Karlsson". Kopparberg Göteborg FC. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2011.

External links[edit]