Maren Mjelde
Maren Nævdal Mjelde (born 6 November 1989) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for Women's Super League club Chelsea and captains the Norway national team. She previously played for Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC of the Swedish Damallsvenskan, Turbine Potsdam of the Frauen-Bundesliga and both Arna-Bjørnar and Avaldsnes IL of the Norwegian Toppserien.
![]() Mjelde playing for Chelsea in 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Maren Nævdal Mjelde | |||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 6 November 1989 | |||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Bergen, Norway | |||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Defender, midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||
Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Chelsea | |||||||||||||||||||
Number | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||
1995–2004 | Fri IL | |||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||
2005–2012 | Arna-Bjørnar | 144 | (42) | |||||||||||||||||
2013–2014 | Turbine Potsdam | 31 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||
2014 | Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC | 9 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
2015–2016 | Avaldsnes IL | 44 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||
2016– | Chelsea | 72 | (13) | |||||||||||||||||
International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||
2007– | Norway | 165 | (20) | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:15, 27 May 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 July 2023 (UTC) |
She has won several titles with Chelsea, including the Super League and the FA Cup. In addition, she played for Norway both in the Euro in 2009 and 2013, where Norway got bronze and silver, respectively.
Club career
Arna-Bjørnar (2005–2012)
Mjelde was born in Bergen. She joined the Norwegian club, Arna-Bjørnar, as a 15-year-old in 2005. The club finished the 2012 Toppserien league in third place, earning the bronze medal that year.
Turbine Potsdam (2013–2014)
Mjelde transferred to the German club Turbine Potsdam before the 2013 season.[1] She played all the club's matches in the latter part of the season, when they reached the runner-up position in the German Cup and League competitions.
Chelsea (2016–present)
On 22 November 2016, Mjelde signed for Chelsea Ladies on a deal until 2018.[2]
On 16 November 2019, Mjelde scored the only goal in Chelsea Women's historic win versus Manchester United Women, the first game ever played between these two female teams in the WSL 1.[3]
On 30 March 2023, Chelsea played the second leg in the quarter final in Champions League against Lyon, last year’s winner. The aggerated score was 1–1 after full-time, so the match went to extra time and Däbritz scored for Lyon in the 110th minute, so Chelsea had to score. At the end of the added time for the second period, Chelsea got a penalty. Mjelde took the penalty and scored. The penalty was the last kick of the match, so it continued to penalty shoot-out, where Mjelde took the first penalty and scored again. Ann-Katrin Berger saved two penalties, which meant that Chelsea was through to the semi-final. During and after the match, Mjelde’s performance was praised by several, including the DAZN commentator, Emma Hayes and Ian Wright.[4] Hayes said that Mjelde is a Chelsea legend and that you can count on her in the biggest moments.[5]
International career
In October 2007, Mjelde made her senior international debut for Norway against Russia. She was selected for UEFA Women's Euro 2009, and the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Mjelde scored her first goal for Norway against Ukraine in a qualifying play–off for the latter competition.[6]
Mjelde was Norway's vice captain during 2011 and 2012 through the team's qualification campaign for the UEFA Women's Euro 2013 and captained the side in many matches. In the tournament she played at right-back for the first time ever, and captained the team in their match in group B when Norway beat Germany 1–0 on 17 July. Norway lost the final 0–1 to Germany, and Mjelde was included in UEFA's Squad of the Tournament.
Mjelde was selected in Even Pellerud's squad for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[7] She scored against Germany in a 1–1 draw in the group stage and played in Norway's second round defeat by England.
On 19 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player Norwegian squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.[8]
Personal life
Mjelde's elder brother, Erik Mjelde, is a former footballer.[9]
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | National cup[lower-alpha 1] | League cup[lower-alpha 2] | Continental[lower-alpha 3] | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Arna-Bjørnar | 2005 | Toppserien | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 4 | 0 | ||
2006 | Toppserien | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 18 | 0 | |||
2007 | Toppserien | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 22 | 3 | |||
2008 | Toppserien | 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 22 | 8 | |||
2009 | Toppserien | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 15 | 6 | |||
2010 | Toppserien | 21 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 21 | 6 | |||
2011 | Toppserien | 22 | 11 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 23 | 11 | |||
2012 | Toppserien | 22 | 8 | 3 | 3 | – | – | 25 | 11 | |||
Total | 144 | 42 | 6 | 3 | – | – | 150 | 45 | ||||
Turbine Potsdam | 2012–13 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 13 | 0 | ||
2013–14 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 8 | 2 | 29 | 4 | ||
Total | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | – | 8 | 2 | 42 | 4 | |||
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC | 2014 | Damallsvenskan | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 9 | 0 | ||
Avaldsnes IL | 2015 | Toppserien | 22 | 4 | 5 | 2 | – | – | 27 | 6 | ||
2016 | Toppserien | 22 | 5 | 3 | 5 | – | 5 | 1 | 30 | 11 | ||
Total | 44 | 9 | 8 | 7 | – | 5 | 1 | 57 | 17 | |||
Chelsea | 2017 | FA WSL | 8 | 2 | ? | ? | – | – | 8 | 2 | ||
2017–18 | FA WSL | 17 | 4 | ? | ? | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 30 | 4 | |
2018–19 | FA WSL | 7 | 0 | ? | ? | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 2 | |
2019–20 | FA WSL | 14 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | – | 21 | 5 | ||
2020–21 | FA WSL | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 4 | |
2021–22 | FA WSL | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
2022–23 | WSL | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 18 | 4 | |
Total | 72 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 34 | 6 | 121 | 21 | ||
Career total | 300 | 66 | 25 | 11 | 17 | 1 | 47 | 9 | 379 | 87 |
- Includes Norwegian Women's Cup, DFB Pokal, Svenska Cupen Damer, Women's FA Cup
- Includes FA Women's League Cup
- Includes UEFA Women's Champions League
International
- As of match played 23 February 2023[12]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Norway | 2007 | 1 | 0 |
2009 | 11 | 0 | |
2010 | 14 | 1 | |
2011 | 12 | 0 | |
2012 | 10 | 4 | |
2013 | 16 | 1 | |
2014 | 15 | 4 | |
2015 | 16 | 2 | |
2016 | 13 | 4 | |
2017 | 15 | 2 | |
2018 | 9 | 1 | |
2019 | 14 | 0 | |
2020 | 4 | 0 | |
2022 | 10 | 1 | |
2023 | 3 | 0 | |
Total | 163 | 20 |
- Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mjelde goal.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 16 June 2012 | Sarpsborg Stadion, Sarpsborg, Norway | ![]() |
3–0 | 11–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying |
2 | 5–0 | |||||
3 | 20 June 2012 | ![]() |
2–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying | |
4 | 19 September 2012 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | ![]() |
1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying |
5 | 26 October 2013 | Sarpsborg Stadion, Sarpsborg, Norway | ![]() |
3–0 | 7–0 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
6 | 14 June 2014 | Brann Stadion, Bergen, Norway | ![]() |
3–0 | 6–0 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
7 | 18 June 2014 | Estádio Marcolino de Castro, Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal | ![]() |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
8 | 13 September 2014 | Niko Dovana Stadium, Durres, Albania | ![]() |
2–0 | 11–0 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
9 | 6–0 | |||||
10 | 11 June 2015 | TD Place Stadium, Ottawa, Canada | ![]() |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup |
12 | 23 October 2015 | Color Line Stadion, Ålesund, Norway | ![]() |
4–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying |
13 | 5 March 2016 | Het Kasteel, Rotterdam, Netherlands | ![]() |
2–0 | 4–1 | 2016 UEFA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
14 | 2 June 2016 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | ![]() |
1–1 | 2–2 | UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying |
15 | 15 September 2016 | Aker Stadion, Molde, Norway | ![]() |
5–0 | 10–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying |
16 | 7–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying | ||||
17 | 11 July 2017 | Stade Louis-Dugauguez, Sedan, France | ![]() |
1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
18 | 19 September 2017 | Sarpsborg Stadion, Sarpsborg, Norway | ![]() |
5–0 | 6–1 | 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
19 | 2 March 2018 | VRS António Sports Complex, Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal | ![]() |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2018 Algarve Cup |
20 | 6 September 2022 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | ![]() |
3–0 | 5–0 | 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
Honours
Club
Arna-Bjørnar
- Kniksens Minnefond 2006
- Young player of the year 2007
Chelsea
National teams
U19
- Silver in the Euro 2009
Norway's national team
- Bronze in the Euro 2009
- Silver in 2013
- All star team in Euro 2009
- Algarve Cup 2019
References
- Holyman, Ian (28 January 2013). "Norway's Mjelde up for Germany". UEFA.com. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- "Maren Mjelde: Chelsea Ladies sign Norway captain until 2018". BBC Sport. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- "Women's Super League: Chelsea 1–0 Manchester United". 17 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- Lokøy, Christian Dehlie (30 March 2023). "Maren Mjelde reddet Chelsea: – For en leder hun er". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- "Chelsea 1–2 Lyon (Agg: 2–2) (Penalties 4–3): Maren Mjelde scores controversial spot-kick before Blues hold their nerve". Sky Sports. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- Patkevich, Konstantin (11 September 2010). "Mjelde earns Norway the edge". UEFA.com. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- "List of Players – Norway" (PDF). FIFA. 5 June 2015. p. 19. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- updated, Jessy Parker Humphreys last (6 June 2023). "Norway Women's World Cup 2023 squad: full 23-player team". fourfourtwo.com. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- "Erik Mjelde har startet jobben i Arna Bjørnar". Toppserien (in Norwegian Bokmål). 18 January 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- "Maren Nævdal Mjelde". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- "Maren Nævdal Mjelde – Profil". fotball.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- "Maren Nævdal Mjelde – Profil". fotball.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 23 March 2023.
External links

- Maren Mjelde – FIFA competition record (archived)
- NFF profile (in Norwegian)
- Turbine Potsdam profile (in German)
- Maren Mjelde at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish) (archived)
- Maren Mjelde at Soccerway