Caroline Seger

Caroline Seger
Seger playing for Sweden in 2013
Personal information
Full name Sara Caroline Seger
Date of birth (1985-03-19) 19 March 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth Helsingborg, Sweden
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
FC Rosengård
Number 17
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 46 (11)
2014–2016 Paris Saint-Germain 37 (8)
2016–2017 Lyon 18 (0)
2017– FC Rosengård 112 (14)
International career
2001–2002 Sweden U17 12 (3)
2002–2004 Sweden U19 23 (3)
2005–2023 Sweden 240 (32)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 February 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5:59, 21 February 2024 (UTC)

Sara Caroline Seger (born 19 March 1985) is a Swedish footballer who plays as a midfielder and club captain for Damallsvenskan club FC Rosengård. She was the long-standing captain of the Swedish national football team until she announced her retirement from international football in December 2023. At 240 caps, Seger is the most capped player in Europe, male or female.

Club career

Linköping

An industrious central midfielder, Seger played for Linköpings FC from 2005 to 2009 and served as the club's captain. Linköping 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 Linköping, Seger was honoured as the Damallsvenskan's Rookie of the Year in 2005 and Midfielder of the Year in 2006 and 2009.

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 Linköping in the autumn of 2008. 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.

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

United States

In September 2009, the expansion team Philadelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) announced their intention to draft Seger with their first pick in the 2009 international draft. In December 2009, she signed a three-year contract with Philadelphia. 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. She underwent surgery on a heel injury after the season.

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. 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.

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. 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. 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. Seger and Tyresö were upset in the final of the Svenska Cupen, by Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC who won 2–1 after extra time. In early 2014 it became clear that Tyresö were in financial difficulty and could not afford to keep Seger and their other leading players.

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.

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.

Olympique Lyon

On 2 July 2016, Lyon announced the signing of Seger. In the 2016/17 season Seger helped Lyon win the Division 1 Feminine, the Coupe de France Feminine and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

FC Rosengård

In 2017 Seger returned to Sweden by joining FC Rosengård in the Damallsvenskan league. She helped Rosengård win the Svenska Cupen Damer and finish second in the league.

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.

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. In July 2008 she overcame a thigh injury to take her place in the squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 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. 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.

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, 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. Sundhage named Seger in the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013, which Sweden hosted. Seger was disappointed when Sweden lost 1–0 to Germany in the semi-final.

Seger appeared in all 6 matches for Sweden at the 2016 Summer Olympics and won the Silver Medal after a 2–1 loss to Germany.

Seger became the sole captain of the National team after Lotta Schelin’s retirement from international football.

Seger led Sweden to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup hosted in France. On 6 July 2019, Seger played her 200th match with Sweden, facing England. The match was a 2–1 victory for Sweden, giving them third place in the World Cup.

On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

International goals


Goal
Date Location Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 2005-03-13 Loulé, Portugal  Norway

0–1

1–1

2005 Algarve Cup
2 2006-06-18 Minsk, Belarus  Belarus

0–3

0–6

2007 World Cup qualification
3 2007-05-05 Trento, Italy  Italy

0–1

0–2

UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying
4 2007-11-08 Viborg, Denmark  Denmark

1–3

2–4

2008 Olympic play-off
5 2009-08-25 Turku, Finland  Russia

3–0

3–0

UEFA Women's Euro 2009
6 2009-10-24 Baku, Azerbaijan  Azerbaijan

0–1

0–3

2011 World Cup qualification
7

0–3

8 2009-10-28 Heverlee, Belgium  Belgium

0–1

1–4

9

0–2

10 2010-06-23 Gothenburg, Sweden  Azerbaijan

5–0

17–0

11

7–0

12 2010-08-21 Prague, Czech Republic  Czech Republic

0–1

0–1

13 2012-03-31 Malmö, Sweden  Canada

1–0

3–1

Friendly
14 2013-07-04 Ljungskile, Sweden  England

3–1

4–1

15 2013-09-21 Malmö, Sweden  Poland

1–0

2–0

2015 World Cup qualification
16 2014-05-08 Växjö, Sweden  Northern Ireland

2–0

3–0

17 2014-06-14 Motherwell, Scotland  Scotland

0–1

1–3

18 2014-06-19 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands  Faroe Islands

0–1

0–5

19 2015-03-04 Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal  Germany

2–1

2–4

2015 Algarve Cup
20

2–3

21 2015-04-08 Stockholm, Sweden  Denmark

3–2

3–3

Friendly
22 2015-10-27 Gothenburg, Sweden

1–0

1–0

Euro 2017 qualifying
23 2016-03-05 Rotterdam, Netherlands  Switzerland 2016 UEFA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
24 2017-06-13 Växjö, Sweden  Scotland Friendly
25 2017-10-24 Borås, Sweden  Hungary

4–0

5–0

2019 World Cup qualification
26 2018-04-05 Szombathely, Hungary

0–1

1–4

27 2019-04-06 Stockholm, Sweden  Germany

1–2

1–2

Friendly
28 2019-09-03 Liepāja, Latvia  Latvia

1–3

1–4

Euro 2022 qualifying
29 2021-04-13 Łódź, Poland  Poland

2–3

2–4

Friendly
30 2021-09-21 Gothenburg, Sweden  Georgia

3–0

4–0

2023 World Cup qualification
31

4–0

32 2022-02-23 Lagos, Portugal  Italy

1–1

1–1(pso 6–5)

2022 Algarve Cup

Matches and goals scored at World Cup and Olympic tournaments

Key (expand for notes on "world cup and olympic goals")
Location Geographic location of the venue where the competition occurred
Lineup Start – played entire match
on minute (off player) – substituted on at the minute indicated, and player was substituted off at the same time

off minute (on player) – substituted off at the minute indicated, and player was substituted on at the same time
(c) – captain

Min The minute in the match the goal was scored. For list that include caps, blank indicates played in the match but did not score a goal.
Assist/pass The ball was passed by the player, which assisted in scoring the goal. This column depends on the availability and source of this information.
penalty or pk Goal scored on penalty-kick which was awarded due to foul by opponent. (Goals scored in penalty-shoot-out, at the end of a tied match after extra-time, are not included.)
Score The match score after the goal was scored.
Result The final score.

W – match was won
L – match was lost to opponent
D – match was drawn
(W) – penalty-shoot-out was won after a drawn match
(L) – penalty-shoot-out was lost after a drawn match

aet The score at the end of extra-time; the match was tied at the end of 90' regulation
pso Penalty-shoot-out score shown in parentheses; the match was tied at the end of extra-time
Orange background color – Olympic women's football tournament
Blue background color – FIFA women's world cup final tournament
Goal Match Date Location Opponent Lineup Min Score Result Competition
China China 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup
1
2007-9-11 Chengdu  Nigeria Start

1–1 D

Group match
2
2007-9-14 Chengdu  United States Start

0–2 L

Group match
3
2007-9-18 Tianjin  North Korea Start

2–1 W

Group match
China Beijing 2008 Women's Olympic Football Tournament
4
2008-8-6 Tianjin  China Start

1–2 L

Group match
5
2008-8-9 Tianjin  Argentina 80.

off 80' (on Landström)

1–0 W

Group match
6
2008-8-12 Beijing  Canada Start

2–1 W

Group match
7
2008-8-15 Shenyang  Germany Start

0–2 L

Quarter-Final
Germany Germany 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
8
2011-6-28 Leverkusen  Colombia 69.

off 69' (on Fischer)

1–0 W

Group match
9
2011-7-2 Augsburg  North Korea Start

1–0 W

Group match
10
2011-7-10 Augsburg  Australia Start

3–1 W

Quarter-Final
United Kingdom London 2012 Women's Olympic Football Tournament
11
2012-7-25 Coventry  South Africa Start

4–1 W

Group match
12
2012-7-28 Coventry  Japan Start

0–0 D

Group match
13
2012-7-31 Newcastle  Canada Start

2–2 D

Group match
14
2012-8-3 Glasgow  France Start

1–2 L

Quarter-Final
Canada Canada 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
15
2015-6-8 Winnipeg  Nigeria Start

3–3 D

Group match
16
2015-6-12 Winnipeg  United States Start

0–0 D

Group match
17
2015-6-16 Edmonton  Australia Start

1–1 D

Group match
18
2015-6-20 Ottawa  Germany Start

1–4 L

Round of 16
Brazil Rio de Janeiro 2016 Women's Olympic Football Tournament
19
2016-8-3 Rio de Janeiro  South Africa Start

1–0 W

Group match
20
2016-8-6 Rio de Janeiro  Brazil Start

1–5 L

Group match
21
2016-8-9 Brasília  China Start

0–0 D

Group match
22
2016-8-12 Brasília  United States Start

1–1(pso 4–3) (W)

Quarter-Final
23
2016-8-16 Rio de Janeiro  Brazil Start

0–0(pso 4–3) (W)

Semi-Final
24
2016-8-19 Rio de Janeiro  Germany Start

1–2 L

Gold Medal Match
France France 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
25
2019-6-11 Rennes  Chile Start

2–1 W

Group match
26
2019-6-16 Nice  Thailand 69.

off 69' (on Schough)

5–1 W

Group match
27
2019-6-20 Le Havre  United States 63.

off 63' (on Glas)

0–2 L

Group match
28
2019-6-24 Paris  Canada Start

1–0 W

Round of 16
29
2019-6-29 Rennes  Germany Start

2–1 W

Quarter-Final
30
2019-7-3 Lyon  Netherlands Start

0–1 L

Semi-Final
31
2019-7-6 Nice  England Start

2–1 W

3rd Place Match
Japan Tokyo 2020 Women's Olympic Football Tournament
32
2021-7-21 Tokyo  United States Start

3–0 W

Group match
33
2021-7-24 Saitama  Australia Start

4–2 W

Group match
34
2021-7-27 Rifu  New Zealand 72.

on 72' (off Angeldal)

2–0 W

Group match
35
2021-7-30 Saitama  Japan Start

3–1 W

Quarter-Final
36
2021-8-2 Yokohama  Australia Start

1–0 W

Semi-Final
37
2021-8-6 Yokohama  Canada Start

1–1(pso 2–3) (L)

Gold Medal Match

Matches and goals scored at European Championship tournaments

Goal Match Date Location Opponent Lineup Min Score Result Competition
England 2005 European Championship
1
2005-6-5 Blackpool  Denmark 55.

off 55' (on Sjögran)

1–1 D

Group match
2
2005-6-11 Blackburn  England 54.

off 54' (on Östberg)

1–0 W

Group match
3
2005-6-16 Warrington  Norway 46.

off 46' (on Östberg)

2–3 L

Semi-Final
Finland 2009 European Championship
1
4
2009-8-25 Turku  Russia Start 82 3–0

3–0 W

Group match
5
2009-8-28 Turku  Italy Start

2–0 W

Group match
6
2009-8-31 Turku  England Start

1–1 D

Group match
7
2009-9-4 Helsinki  Norway Start

1–3 L

Quarter-Final
Sweden 2013 European Championship
8
2013-7-10 Gothenburg  Denmark Start

1–1 D

Group match
9
2013-7-13 Gothenburg  Finland Start

5–0 W

Group match
10
2013-7-16 Halmstad  Italy 64.

off 64' (on Nilsson)

3–1 W

Group match
11
2013-7-21 Halmstad  Iceland Start

4–0 W

Quarter-Final
12
2013-7-24 Gothenburg  Germany Start

0–1 L

Semi-Final
Netherlands 2017 European Championship
13
2017-7-17 Breda  Germany Start

0–0 D

Group match
14
2017-7-21 Deventer  Russia Start

2–0 W

Group match
15
2017-7-25 Doetinchem  Italy 46.

off 46' (on Dahlkvist)

2–3 L

Group match
16
2017-7-29 Doetinchem  Netherlands Start

0–2 L

Quarter-Final

Personal life

Seger is an out lesbian, telling QX magazine in December 2013 that she was proud of her girlfriend. In previous years Seger had concealed her orientation, but decided to speak out to be a role model for others. She used to be in a relationship with fellow professional football player Malin Levenstad. She is currently in a relationship with her Rosengård teammate and fellow Swedish international Olivia Schough.

Honours

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

, Linköpings FC

Western New York Flash

LdB FC Malmö

Tyresö FF

Olympique Lyon

Sweden

Sweden U19

  • Nordic Cup: runner-up 2004

Sweden U17

  • Nordic Cup: runner-up 2001, 2002

Individual


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