Kosovare Asllani

Kosovare Asllani (born 29 July 1989) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays for Spanish Primera División club Real Madrid[4] and the Sweden women's national team. Nicknamed "Kosse", Asllani is a proficient striker, possessing great speed and technique in her game. Her playing abilities and Balkan heritage have drawn comparisons with Zlatan Ibrahimović, who captained the Sweden men's national team.[5][6]

Kosovare Asllani
Kosovare Asllani with the Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in December 2012
Personal information
Full name Kosovare Asllani[1]
Date of birth (1989-07-29) 29 July 1989[1]
Place of birth Kristianstad, Sweden[2]
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Real Madrid
Number 9
Youth career
Vimmerby IF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Linköpings FC 37 (21)
2010 Chicago Red Stars 13 (2)
2010–2011 Linköpings FC 26 (7)
2012 Kristianstads DFF 15 (7)
2012–2016 Paris Saint-Germain 59 (39)
2016–2017 Manchester City 15 (2)
2017–2019 Linköpings FC 27 (8)
2019–2020 CD Tacón 17 (5)
2020– Real Madrid 15 (12)
National team‡
2008– Sweden 144[3] (37[3])
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 December 2020 (UTC)
Asllani (R) playing for PSG against FCF Juvisy in December 2012

Asllani began her club career with Vimmerby IF and has played in the Damallsvenskan for Linköpings FC and hometown club Kristianstads DFF. In the 2010 season she played in the United States, with Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). She returned to Sweden to Kristianstads, before moving to Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and then back to Linköping.

Club career

Childhood and early career

Asllani is of Kosovar-Albanian descent, born in Kristianstad to Kosovar parents who had migrated to Sweden. Asllani grew up playing both football and ice hockey, but chose to focus her talents on football. At the age of 15, Asllani started her career at second division team Vimmerby IF. During her time at Vimmerby, she scored 49 goals in 48 matches,[7] establishing herself as a football prodigy. Former coach Cecilia Wilhelmsson praised Asllani's football technique and fitness.[8] After receiving offers from many clubs, Asllani accepted a move to Damallsvenskan team Linköpings FC in 2007,[9] where she made quick progress.[10][11]

Linköpings FC

During Asllani's first season, she generally came off the substitutes' bench early in the games to help her settle into the Damallsvenskan. During the following season, Asllani established herself as a regular starter and was an increasingly valuable member of the squad. In 2009, she helped Linköping win both the Svenska Cupen and the club's first ever Damallsvenskan title. On 4 December 2009 American Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) club Chicago Red Stars confirmed that they had signed Asllani from Linköpings FC.[12]

Chicago Red Stars

Asllani spent a single season in the WPS. She was established as a fan's favourite and in the 7th week of the season, Asllani received the WPS Player of the Week award after Chicago Red Stars' defeat of FC Gold Pride. After her season with the Red Stars, Asllani returned to Sweden and Linköpings FC.

Return to Linköping

Asllani's presence boosted Linköping, especially in the UEFA Women's Champions League. She scored goals against Sparta Praha and Arsenal. However, her season was disrupted by a thigh injury and she departed Linköping at the end of the campaign.

Kristianstad DFF

In December 2011, she moved back to her hometown Kristianstad to play with Kristianstads DFF who had finished seventh in the previous year's Damallsvenskan.

Paris Saint-Germain

When Asllani had a month left on her contract with Kristianstads she was subject to a transfer bid from Paris Saint-Germain. Although the teams were in dispute over the size of the transfer fee, Asllani flew to Paris and signed a two-year contract in September 2012, after completing a medical.[13] At PSG Asllani was presented to the media by sporting director Leonardo and player Zlatan Ibrahimović, who declared: "If you want to win you need a Swedish striker."[14] Asllani scored 17 goals in her 19 appearances in the 2012–13 Division 1 Féminine, as PSG finished second in the table behind Lyon.[15] On 4 January 2016, Asllani announced on her Instagram account that she had ended her contract with Paris Saint-Germain, where she had played for three-and-a-half years.[16]

Manchester City

On 22 January 2016, English FA WSL club Manchester City revealed that they had signed Asllani to a two-year contract.[17]

Second return to Linköpings FC

On 10 August 2017, it was announced a two and a half-year contract had been agreed for Asllani to return to Linköpings FC. She departed the club by mutual consent on 15 July 2019.[18]

CD Tacón/Real Madrid

After her departure from Linköpings FC, Asllani signs with CD Tacón/Real Madrid on 18 July 2019.[19] Upon Real Madrid's purchase of their license, CD Tacón will operate as Real Madrid's women's team starting from 2020,[20] making Asllani the first Galáctica.[21]

Asllani scored 5 goals in 17 league appearances for Tacón in the prematurely ended 19-20 Primera Iberdrola season. After the rebrand of the team to Real Madrid CFF, she started the season explosively, scoring 8 goals in the first 8 league appearances despite playing in an unfamiliar out-and-out-striker role.

International career

In September 2008 Asllani made her debut for the Swedish national team against Romania,[22] and in 2009 she was called up to represent Sweden in UEFA Women's Euro 2009.[23] Asllani was an important member of the national team during the qualification rounds of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup but coach Thomas Dennerby controversially did not select her in the squad sent to Germany for the finals. Football pundits, including Pia Sundhage, the Swedish coach of the United States national team, expressed surprise at Asllani's omission.[24]

Asllani playing for Sweden in 2012

Dennerby recalled Asllani to the national squad for the 2012 London Olympics.[25]

Asllani played for Sweden at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where the team won a silver medal.[26] She only scored one goal during a penalty shootout against the United States in the quarterfinals, in which Sweden won the shootout 4-3 after being tied 1-1 during extra time.

As of 2017, Asllani has made more than 90 appearances for her national team.[27] She scored in the 5–1 win over Thailand at the 2019 Women's World Cup.[28]

Matches and goals scored at World Cup and Olympic tournaments

Kosovare Asllani has appeared in two FIFA Women's World Cups: Canada 2015, and France 2019. She has also been on the Sweden squad for two Olympic tournaments, in London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Asllani was selected among the penalty takers in both the Quarter-Final and Semi-Final of the 2016 Rio Olympics, when drawn scores after extra time forced penalty kick shoot-outs to decide which side progressed. Though she made her kick in the Quarter-Final against the Americans, her attempt against Brazil in the Semi-Final was saved by Bárbara. Despite the miss, Sweden won the shootout, progressing to the Final where they took home the silver medal.

In the 2019 World Cup, Asllani scored three goals to lead all Swedish players, including her team's first goal of the tournament in the 83rd minute of Sweden's opening match against Chile. After being stretchered off the pitch in the Semi-Final of that tournament, she returned for the third place match and tallied the first goal in a 2–1 victory over England.[29]

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 parenthesis; 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
London 2012 Women's Olympic Football Tournament
1
 2012-7-25[m 1] Coventry  South Africa 73.

on 73' (off Schelin)

4–1 W

 Group match
2
 2012-7-28[m 2] Coventry  Japan 63.

on 63' (off Almgren)

0–0 D

 Group match
3
 2012-7-31[m 3] Newcastle  Canada 63.

off 63' (on Almgren)

2–2 D

 Group match
Canada 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
4
 2015-6-8[m 4] Winnipeg  Nigeria 46.

off 46' (on Schough)

3–3 D

 Group match
5
 2015-6-16[m 5] Edmonton  Australia 74.

on 74' (off Nilsson)

1–1 D

 Group match
6
 2015-6-20[m 6] Ottawa  Germany 67.

on 67' (off Rubensson)

1–4 L

 Round of 16
Rio de Janeiro 2016 Women's Olympic Football Tournament
7
 2016-8-3[m 7] Rio de Janeiro  South Africa Start

1–0 W

 Group match
8
 2016-8-6[m 8] Rio de Janeiro  Brazil 74.

off 74' (on Appelqvist)

1–5 L

 Group match
9
 2016-8-9[m 9] Brasília  China PR 62.

on 62' (off Dahlkvist)

0–0 D

 Group match
10
 2016-8-12[m 10] Brasília  United States Start

1–1 (pso 4–3) (W)

 Quarter-Final
11
 2016-8-16[m 11] Rio de Janeiro  Brazil Start

0–0 (pso 4–3) (W)

 Semi-Final
12
 2016-8-19[m 12] Rio de Janeiro  Germany 68.

off 68' (on Hammarlund)

1–2 L

 Gold Medal Match
France 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
1
13
 2019-6-11[m 13] Rennes  Chile Start 83 1–0

2–1 W

 Group match
2
14
 2019-6-16[m 14] Nice  Thailand Start 19 2–0

5–1 W

 Group match
15
 2019-6-20[m 15] Le Havre  United States 79.

off 79' (on Hurtig)

0–2 L

 Group match
16
 2019-6-24[m 16] Paris  Canada Start

1–0 W

 Round of 16
17
 2019-6-29[m 17] Rennes  Germany Start

2–1 W

 Quarter-Final
18
 2019-7-3[m 18] Lyon  Netherlands Start

0–1 L

 Semi-Final
3
19
 2019-7-6[m 19] Nice  England 46.

off 46' (on Zigiotti Olme)

 11 1–0

2–1 W

 3rd Place Match

Matches and goals scored at European Championship tournaments

Kosovare Asllani has competed in three European Championship tournaments: Finland 2009, Sweden 2013, and The Netherlands 2017.

Goal Match Date Location Opponent Lineup Min Score Result Competition
2009 European Championship
1
 2009-8-25[m 20] Turku  Russia 76.

off 76' (on Nilsson)

3–0 W

 Group match
1
2
 2009-8-28[m 21] Turku  Italy 79.

off 79' (on Liljegärd)

 19 2–0

2–0 W

 Group match
3
 2009-8-31[m 22] Turku  England 68.

off 68' (on Nilsson)

1–1 D

 Group match
4
 2009-9-4[m 23] Helsinki  Norway 46.

off 46' (on Nilsson)

1–3 L

 Quarter-Final
2013 European Championship
5
 2013-7-10[m 24] Gothenburg  Denmark Start

1–1 D

 Group match
2
6
 2013-7-13[m 25] Gothenburg  Finland 72.

off 72' (on Hjohlman)

 38 3–0

5–0 W

 Group match
7
 2013-7-16[m 26] Halmstad  Italy 72.

off 72' (on Sjögran)

3–1 W

 Group match
8
 2013-7-21[m 27] Halmstad  Iceland Start

4–0 W

 Quarter-Final
9
 2013-7-24[m 28] Gothenburg  Germany Start

0–1 L

 Semi-Final
2017 European Championship
10
 2017-7-17[m 29] Breda  Germany Start

0–0 D

 Group match
11
 2017-7-21[m 30] Deventer  Russia Start

2–0 W

 Group match
12
 2017-7-25[m 31] Doetinchem  Italy 46.

off 46' (on Rolfö)

2–3 L

 Group match
13
 2017-7-29[m 32] Doetinchem  Netherlands Start

0–2 L

 Quarter-Final

Personal life

Asllani has a tattoo of a black double-headed eagle, symbolising Albania, on her ankle.[30] She also has the words "Stay Strong" tattooed on the inside of her right biceps.[31]

Honours

Club
Linköpings FC
Champion: 2009, 2017
Champion: 2009
Champion: 2008, 2009
Manchester City
Champion: 2016
Champion: 2016

International

Sweden

Individual

Notes

    References
    1. "List of Players – 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
    2. "Profile". Svenska Fotbollförbundet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
    3. Caps and goals
    4. @CD_Tacon (18 July 2019). "🙌 ¡@KosovareAsllani es nueva jugadora del @CD_TACON! #BienvenidaAsllani | #GoTACON" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2019 – via Twitter.
    5. "Asllani slog Zlatans rekord med 1 sekund". Retrieved 20 August 2016.
    6. "Kosovare Asllani". UEFA.com. UEFA. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
    7. "Damallsvenskan 2008" (in Swedish). SvD.se. 10 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
    8. Walltin, Stenåke O. (10 March 2009). "Bittert att missa guldet 2008 – nu tar "Kosse" och LFC ny fart!" (in Swedish). Svensk Damfotboll. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
    9. "Damallsvenskan 2007" (in Swedish). SvD.se. 10 April 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
    10. "Allsvensk debut för Asllani" (in Swedish). Kindaposten.se. 12 April 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
    11. "Kosovare siktar högt" (in Swedish). Vimmerbytidning.se. 24 December 2008. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
    12. "Red Stars Sign Sweden's Kosovare Asllani". womensprosoccer.com. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
    13. Josefsson, Åsa (22 September 2012). "Asllani slumpas till PSG för fyndpris" (in Swedish). Expressen. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
    14. Frändén, Johanna (26 September 2012). "Här presenteras Asllani för Leonardo av Zlatan" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
    15. "Kosovare Asllani" (in French). Footofeminin.fr. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
    16. Kassouf, Jeff (4 January 2016). "PSG terminates contracts of Horan, Asllani". The Equalizer. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
    17. Kassouf, Jeff (22 January 2016). "Asllani signs two-season deal with Manchester City". The Equalizer. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
    18. @LinkopingsFC (15 July 2019). "LFC och Kosovare Asllani har i samförstånd enats om att bryta kontraktet fem månader i förtid" (Tweet) (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 July 2019 – via Twitter.
    19. @KosovareAsllani (18 July 2019). "Proud to announce that I'll be the first official signing for Real Madrid/Cd Tacon" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 July 2019 – via Twitter.
    20. "Real Madrid to have women's team starting in 2020". DW. 25 June 2019.
    21. "Kosovare Asllani confirms CD Tacón/Real Madrid move". as.com. 18 July 2019.
    22. "Enkel svensk kvalseger mot Rumänien" (in Swedish). DN.se. 27 September 2008. Archived from the original on 30 July 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
    23. "Truppen till EM uttagen – Sverige het medaljkandidat" (in Swedish). Nyheter24.se. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
    24. "Petningen av Asllani förvånar Sundhage" (in Swedish). fotboll.expressen. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 21 September 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
    25. "Women's Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 – List of Players Sweden" (PDF). FIFA. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
    26. "Sweden's women pipped by Germany in Olympic final". 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
    27. "Kosovare Asllani's official Manchester City FC Profile". Manchester City FC. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
    28. "Sweden book place in last 16 of World Cup as Thailand endure another rout". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
    29. "Sweden secures Women's World Cup bronze medal after topping England in third-place game". USA Today. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
    30. Laul, Robert (17 July 2009). "Hon visar sin hemliga tatuering" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
    31. "YouTube". Retrieved 20 August 2016.
    Match reports
    1. "2012 Olympic Games: MATCH Report: Sweden - South Africa: Group Matches". FIFA.
    2. "2012 Olympic Games: MATCH Report: Japan - Sweden: Group Matches". FIFA.
    3. "2012 Olympic Games: MATCH Report: Canada - Sweden: Group Matches". FIFA.
    4. "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: MATCH Report: Sweden-Nigeria: Group matches". FIFA.
    5. "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: MATCH Report: Australia - Sweden: Group matches". FIFA.
    6. "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: MATCH Report: Germany - Sweden: Round of 16". FIFA.
    7. "2016 Olympic Games: MATCH Report: Sweden - South Africa: Group match". FIFA.
    8. "2016 Olympic Games: MATCH Report: Brazil - Sweden: Group match". ESPN.
    9. "2016 Olympic Games: MATCH Report: China - Sweden: Group match". ESPN.
    10. "2016 Olympic Games: MATCH Report: USA - Sweden: Quarter-Finals". ESPN.
    11. "2016 Olympic Games: MATCH Report: Brazil - Sweden: Semi-Finals". ESPN.
    12. "2016 Olympic Games: MATCH Report: Sweden - Germany: Gold Medal Match". ESPN.
    13. "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019: MATCH Report: Chile - Sweden: Group matches". FIFA.
    14. "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019: MATCH Report: Sweden - Thailand: Group matches". FIFA.
    15. "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019: MATCH Report: Sweden - USA: Group match". FIFA.
    16. "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019: MATCH Report: Sweden - Canada: Round of 16". FIFA.
    17. "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019: MATCH Report: Germany - Sweden: Quarter-Finals". FIFA.
    18. "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019: MATCH Report: Netherlands - Sweden: Semi-Finals". FIFA.
    19. "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019: MATCH Report: England - Sweden: 3rd Place Match". FIFA.
    20. "2009 European Championship: MATCH Report: Sweden - Russia: Group match". worldfootball.net.
    21. "2009 European Championship: MATCH Report: Italy - Sweden: Group match". worldfootball.net.
    22. "2009 European Championship: MATCH Report: Sweden - England: Group match". worldfootball.net.
    23. "2009 European Championship: MATCH Report: Sweden - Norway: Quarter-Finals". worldfootball.net.
    24. "2013 European Championship: MATCH Report: Sweden - Denmark: Group match". UEFA.
    25. "2013 European Championship: MATCH Report: Finland - Sweden: Group match". UEFA.
    26. "2013 European Championship: MATCH Report: Sweden - Italy: Group match". UEFA.
    27. "2013 European Championship: MATCH Report: Sweden - Iceland: Quarter-Finals". UEFA.
    28. "2013 European Championship: MATCH Report: Sweden - Germany: Semi-Finals". UEFA.
    29. "2017 European Championship: MATCH Report: Germany - Sweden: Group matches". UEFA.
    30. "2017 European Championship: MATCH Report: Sweden - Russia: Group matches". UEFA.
    31. "2017 European Championship: MATCH Report: Sweden - Italy: Group matches". UEFA.
    32. "2017 European Championship: MATCH Report: Netherlands - Sweden: Quarter-Finals". UEFA.
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