Laura Österberg Kalmari

Laura Österberg Kalmari

Laura Österberg Kalmari
Personal information
Full name	Laura Elina Österberg Kalmari[1]
Date of birth	(1979-05-27) 27 May 1979
Place of birth	Kirkkonummi, Finland
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position	Forward
Youth career
1984–1995	KyIF
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–1996	PuiU
1997	MPS
1998–1999	HJK
2000	University of Portland
2000–2001	HJK
2002	Boston Renegades
2003–2004	Umeå IK
2005–2006	Djurgården/Älvsjö
2007–2009	AIK
2010–2011	Sky Blue FC	33	(7)
National team
1996–2011	Finland	130	(41)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Laura Elina Österberg Kalmari (née Kalmari; born 27 May 1979) is a Finnish former professional football (soccer) player. Immediately prior to her retirement in early 2012, she had been playing as a forward for American Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) team Sky Blue FC. She is the Finland women's national football team's most capped player and all-time record goalscorer.

Club career

Österberg Kalmari played in Finnish clubs Puistolan Urheilijat, Malmin Palloseura and HJK before moving University of Portland in 2000. Kalmari returned to HJK to play in the inaugural UEFA Women's Cup in 2001–2002. HJK reached the semi-finals and then she moved back to the United States to play with Boston Renegades in the W-League. In 2002 she moved to Swedish Damallsvenskan club Umeå IK, where she won the UEFA Women's Cup two years in succession. Österberg Kalmari also played for Djurgården/Älvsjö in 2005 and 2006 before moving to AIK in 2007.

With Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) team Sky Blue FC Österberg Kalmari scored seven goals in 33 appearances across the 2010 and 2011 seasons.^[2] After the failure of the professional league in America, Österberg Kalmari announced her retirement from playing in April 2012.^[3]

Österberg Kalmari playing for the Finland national team.

International career

Following her senior debut in March 1996, Österberg Kalmari represented the Finland women's national football team 130 times, scoring 41 goals.^[4] She is the all-time leading goalscorer of the national team.^[5] In 2005, Österberg Kalmari played in the finals of the 2005 European Championships in North West England. Finland reached the semi-finals, which remains her nation's best achievement in women's football.

After a break from international football which included the birth of her daughter, Österberg Kalmari was recalled to the national team in January 2009 having last played in September 2006.^[6] She went on to represent hosts Finland in the 2009 European Championships, where they reached the quarter-finals.

Österberg Kalmari is a five time winner of the Women's Finnish Footballer of the Year—more times than any other player. She collected the award in 1999, 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2010.^[7][8]

Österberg Kalmari (R) playing for NJ Sky Blue against St.Louis Athletica, 2010

Personal life

Österberg Kalmari married Niko Österberg in 2007. Their daughter Meja was born in March 2008.^[9]

References

v t e Finland squad – 2005 UEFA Women's European Championship 1 Kunnas 2 Vaelma 3 Julin 4 Valkonen 5 Salmén 6 Sarapää 7 Mäkinen 8 Mustonen 9 Kalmari 10 Rantanen 11 Kackur 12 Junkkari 13 Thorn 14 Ahonen 15 Malaska 16 Uusi-Luomalahti 17 Lindqvist 18 Talonen 19 Lindström 20 Matikainen Coach: Käld

v t e Finland squad – 2009 UEFA Women's European Championship 1 Meriluoto 2 Vaelma 3 Julin 4 Valkonen 5 Niemi 6 Salmén 7 Mäkinen 8 Nokso-Koivisto 9 Kalmari 10 Rantanen 11 Lehtinen 12 Häkkinen 13 Hyyrynen 14 Korpela 15 Malaska 16 Westerlund 17 Hirvonen 18 Sällström 19 Sainio 20 Sjölund 21 Talonen 22 Saari Coach: Käld