Jessica Landström

Jessica Landström

Landström with Frankfurt in 2011
Personal information
Full nameJessica Elin Maria Landström[1]
Date of birth12 December 1984
Place of birthNacka, Sweden
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Forward
Club information
Current team
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC
Number10
Youth career
1995–1997Lira Luleå BK
1998–1999Vallentuna BK
2000Täby FF
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2001–2004Djurgårdens IF[lower-alpha 1]
2005–2007Hammarby IF DFF
2007–2009Linköpings FC33(23)
2010Sky Blue FC9(0)
2010–20121. FFC Frankfurt29(1)
2012Djurgårdens IF15(6)
2013–Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC
National team‡
2005–2007Sweden U-239(3)
2007–Sweden58(18)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 December 2011

Jessica Elin Maria Landström (born 12 December 1984) is a Swedish football forward who plays for Damallsvenskan club Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC and the Swedish national team.

Club career

After starting her career with four years at Djurgårdens, Landström played for Hammarby IF DFF as a forward from 2005–2007. A few weeks after her debut and first goal for the Swedish national team, she was signed by Linköpings FC to replace the departing Frida Östberg.[2] The transfer multiplied her salary by nearly six times; when with Hammarby, she made about $500 a month, whereas she reportedly banked up to $3,000 playing for Linköpings.[3] Her plans after the transfer included trying to earn a spot on the national squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She decided to stay with Linköpings for the 2009 season.

In November 2009 Landström signed a professional contract with American WPS team Sky Blue FC.[4] After starting three of nine appearances for Sky Blue, Landström negotiated a release and accepted a two year contract from FFC Frankfurt in July 2010. She criticised the American club for a lack of leadership and expressed the hope that playing in Germany would provide better preparation for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[5]

Landström agreed a deal to return to Djurgårdens in April 2012, but with Frankfurt still in the UEFA Women's Champions League, the German club insisted on her staying until the end of their season[6] before she was eventually allowed to complete the move.

When Djurgårdens were relegated at the end of the 2012 season, Landström transferred to Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC. She was signed as a direct replacement for Christen Press, Göteborg's top goalscorer who had departed for Tyresö FF.[7]

International career

Landström's "dreams were crushed"[8] when she was overlooked for the youth national teams, after finishing as top–scorer in a regional Under–15 tournament. She debuted for the senior Swedish national team against Denmark on 8 November 2007, starting at forward and scoring her first international goal in a 4–2 win.[9] She had also played for the U21/23 national team.

Landström with her World Cup bronze medal

At the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Landström scored the winning goal in the group stage win over Colombia,[8] as Sweden reached the semi final. She featured as a substitute in Sweden's 3–1 defeat to eventual winners Japan in Frankfurt. Sweden secured third place by beating France 2–1 in Sinsheim, though Landström remained an unused substitute.

Landström was named as an alternate for the Sweden squad at the 2012 London Olympics.[10]

Playing style

In signing Landström for Sky Blue FC, the American club's general manager Gerry Marrone said:[4]

“ Jessica is the prototypical target: she can play with her back to the goal, is commanding in the air and a big physical presence. This season in Sweden, she was one of the leading goal scorers, and more importantly, scored some big goals in big games. ”

Personal life

Landström is lesbian and came out publicly in November 2008, to acknowledge the support she had received from her partner.[11] Before turning professional, she had studied for a master's degree in mechanical engineering.[11]

Honours

Club

Djurgårdens IF
Linköpings FC
1. FFC Frankfurt

Individual

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 2003–2004 as Djurgården/Älvsjö.

References

  1. ↑ "Goalscorers". UEFA.com. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  2. ↑ Anders Nilsson. "'Jessica Landström till LFC'". linkopingfc.com. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
  3. ↑ Mats Bråstedt. "'Löneklippet'". expressen.se. Retrieved 11 December 2007.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sky Blue FC (30 November 2009). "Sky Blue FC Adds Swedish International Jessica Landström". Women's Professional Soccer. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  5. ↑ Av Jens Brandberg (21 July 2010). "Landström bryter kontraktet - klar för Frankfurt" (in Swedish). Expressen. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "1. FFC Frankfurt rejects Jessica Landström early release from contract to join Djurgårdens". Women's Soccer United. 8 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "Landström in for Press at Göteborg". UEFA.com. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Sweden's striking duo". FIFA.com. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  9. ↑ Johan Lundell. "'Sverge körde över Danmark'". SVT.se. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
  10. ↑ "Women's Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 – List of Players Sweden". FIFA. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Magda Gad (18 November 2008). "Jessica Landström, Årets nykomling" (in Swedish). QX. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  12. ↑ http://www.difarkivet.se/dif_sm_guld_seniorer.pdf
  13. ↑ http://fogis.se/fotbollsgalan/tidigare-vinnare/ovriga-utmarkelser/

External links