Gro Espeseth
FullnameGro Espeseth[1]
Birth date30 October 1972 (age 53)
Birth placeStord Municipality, Norway
Height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
PositionCentre-back
Youthclubs 1Ådnamarka
Youthyears 21989–1990
Youthclubs 2IL Bjørnar
Years 11991–1998
Clubs 1IL Sandviken
Years 21999–2000
Clubs 2Trondheims-Ørn
Caps 28
Goals 20
Years 32001
Clubs 3New York Power
Caps 320
Goals 31
Years 42007
Clubs 4IL Sandviken
Caps 41
Goals 40
Nationalyears 11991–2000
Nationalteam 1Norway
Nationalcaps 1105
Nationalgoals 19
Pcupdate14:16, 20 September 2014 (UTC)
Ntupdate14:16, 20 September 2014 (UTC)

Gro Espeseth (born 30 October 1972) is a former Norwegian footballer, world champion and olympic champion.

She played for the clubs Sandviken and Trondheims-Ørn, debuted for the Norwegian national team in 1991, and played 105 matches for the national team.

She received a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.[2]

Club career

With Sandviken Espeseth won the 1995 Norwegian Women's Cup, scoring twice in the 3–2 final win over Trondheims-Ørn, including the extra time winner. She had an offer to join Japanese L. League club Suzuyo Shimizu F.C. Lovely Ladies, but the transfer fell through when she failed the medical.

Espeseth signed for the professional Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) ahead of the inaugural season in 2001. She was allocated to New York Power alongside compatriot Ann Kristin Aarønes. Knee damage meant that she was only able to play for one season before retiring.[3]

In 2007 Espeseth returned to football as an assistant coach with her former club Sandviken. Due to the unavailability of several players, she made a guest appearance as a player in July 2007, six years after her retirement.[4] She was substituted after 40 minutes of Sandviken's Toppserien 9–0 defeat by Røa IL.

Honours

Olympics

FIFA Women's World Cup

Personal life

Espeseth gave birth to son Brage in 2002.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Gro Espeseth". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  2. ^ "2000 Summer Olympics – Melbourne, Australia – Soccer" Archived 11 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved on 15 May 2008)
  3. ^ "Norway duo announce retirement". UEFA. 15 October 2001. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  4. ^ Langeland, Knut (6 July 2007). "- En ren gjesteopptreden" (in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  5. ^ Jørstad, Atle (10 February 2014). "Gro Espeseth: Derfor er tiden med fotball forbi" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. Retrieved 20 September 2014.