*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 former footballer who played as a midfielder and club captain for Damallsvenskan club FC Rosengård.[5] She was the long-standing captain of the Swedish national football team until she announced her retirement from international football in December 2023.[6] At 240 caps, Seger is the most capped player in Europe, male or female.[7][8]
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.[9]
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.[10] 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.[11]
In September 2009, the expansion teamPhiladelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) announced their intention[13] to draft Seger with their first pick in the 2009 international draft. In December 2009, she signed a three-year contract with Philadelphia.[14] 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.[15] She underwent surgery on a heel injury after the season.[16]
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.[17] 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.[18]
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.[19] 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.[20] 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.[21] Seger and Tyresö were upset in the final of the Svenska Cupen, by Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC who won 2–1 after extra time.[22] In early 2014 it became clear that Tyresö were in financial difficulty and could not afford to keep Seger and their other leading players.[23]
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.[25]
In 2017 Seger returned to Sweden by joining FC Rosengård in the Damallsvenskan league.[28] She helped Rosengård win the Svenska Cupen Damer and finish second in the league.[29] On saturday November 9, 2024 she played the last game of her career, as Resengard beat Djurgården 3–0. At the end of the game the whole crowd gave her a standing ovation for her outstanding football career.[30]
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.[32] In July 2008 she overcame a thigh injury to take her place in the squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.[33] 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.[34] 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.[35]
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,[36] 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.[37] Sundhage named Seger in the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013, which Sweden hosted.[38] Seger was disappointed when Sweden lost 1–0 to Germany in the semi-final.[39]
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.[40]
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.[41]
On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[42] At the end of that year, on December 2023 she announced her retirement due to her struggle with a calf injury.[30]
Personal life
Seger is an outlesbian, telling QX magazine in December 2013 that she was proud of her girlfriend.[43] In previous years Seger had concealed her orientation, but decided to speak out to be a role model for others.[44] She used to be in a relationship with fellow professional football player Malin Levenstad.[45]
Career statistics
International
Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Seger goal.
List of international goals scored by Caroline Seger
^Edwinsson, Lisa (8 April 2014). "Marta lämnar Tyresö". DN.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
^Nilsson, Alva (15 May 2014). "Seger på nytt om PSG-ryktet". Damfotboll.com (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
