Maria Karlsson (footballer, born 1985)

Maria Josefina Karlsson De Cecco (born 8 February 1985) is a Swedish former footballer. Her last club was AS Saint-Étienne of France's Division 1 Féminine, where she played as a defender. Karlsson De Cecco currently works as CEO and agent for the global football agency CMG, representing players and coaches within women's football.

Not to be confused with Maria Karlsson (footballer, born 1983).

Maria Karlsson De Cecco (before Karlsson)
Personal information
Full name Maria Josefina Karlsson De Cecco[1]
Date of birth (1985-02-08) 8 February 1985
Place of birth Gothenburg, Sweden
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender / Midfielder
Youth career
1999–2001 Sätila SK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2008 Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 112 (13)
2009–2010 Linköpings FC 38 (4)
2011 Doncaster Rovers Belles 13 (0)
2011 Jitex BK 6 (1)
2012–2014 Bardolino Verona 74 (15)
2014–2015 Brescia 25 (1)
2015–2016 AS Saint-Étienne 21 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:35, 10 February 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:35, 10 February 2018 (UTC)

Club career

Karlsson De Cecco played for Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC (2002–2008) and Linköpings FC (2009–2010). After signing for Linköpings, Karlsson De Cecco was known as Maria Karlsson II,[1] or Maria "Kalle" Karlsson due to the presence of senior teammate and namesake Maria "Kia" Karlsson.[3] Karlsson De Cecco made 154 appearances in the Damallsvenskan, the highest level of women's football in Sweden. She won a League, Super cup and Cup triple with Linköping in 2009. She also played in the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2015.[1]

In January 2011 Karlsson De Cecco became the first Swede to sign for a club in the new FA WSL.[4] After a successful trial, she signed a deal to play for Doncaster Rovers Belles while living at the Ramada Jarvis hotel in Doncaster.[5] At the end of the English season Karlsson returned to Sweden, signing for Jitex BK.[6] After six Damallsvenskan appearances and one goal,[7] in November 2011 Karlsson De Cecco revealed she had departed Jitex and was considering a contract offer from Italian club Bardolino Verona.[8] She signed a six-month deal to commence on 1 January 2012.[9]

After moving on to Brescia, Karlsson De Cecco transferred to French Division 1 Féminine team AS Saint-Étienne in August 2015.[10]

International career

Karlsson De Cecco won a total of 57 caps with Sweden at youth level.[2] These comprised eight caps at Under–17 level, 24 at Under–19 level and 25 at Under–21/23 level.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Maria Karlsson De Cecco II". UEFA. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  2. "#16 Maria Karlsson". Linköpings Fotboll Club. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  3. "Fyra lämnar LFC" (in Swedish). Linköpings Fotboll Club. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  4. "Swede dreams for Belles". TheFA.com. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  5. "Interview: John Buckley / Manager / Doncaster Rovers Belles". She Kicks. 12 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  6. "Jitex sign Karlsson". Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC. 15 September 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  7. "Maria Karlsson" (in Swedish). Svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  8. "Maria Karlsson till italiensk klubb" (in Swedish). Damfotboll.com. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  9. "Maria Karlsson joins Bardolino Verona". Connect World Football. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  10. "Maria Karlsson (Brescia) à Saint-Étienne" (in French). L'Équipe. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  11. "6. Maria Karlsson". Kopparberg Göteborg FC. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2011.


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