{{Short description|Swedish footballer}} {{for|the American biomedical engineer|Lina Nilsson (scientist)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Lina Nilsson | image = Lina Nilsson June 2013 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Nilsson playing for the Swedish Women's National team in 2013 | fullname = Lina Therese Nilsson<ref>{{cite web|title=Lina Nilsson|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ni/lina-nilsson-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417204716/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ni/lina-nilsson-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|publisher=Sports-Reference.com|accessdate=10 June 2013}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|6|17|df=y}}<ref name="FIFA 2015">{{cite news |url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWWC/2015/pdf/FWWC_2015_SquadLists.pdf |title= List of Players - 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup |work=[[FIFA|Fédération Internationale de Football Association]] |accessdate=24 June 2015}}</ref> | birth_place = [[Ystad]], [[Sweden]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://svenskfotboll.se/landslag/damer/spelarportratt/?profile=27327 |title= Profile |language=Swedish |work=[[Swedish Football Association|Svenska Fotbollförbundet]] |accessdate=25 June 2015}}</ref> | height = 1.70 m<ref name="FIFA 2015"/> | position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]] | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = IFK Ystad | youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = IK Pandora | years1 = 2002–2006 | clubs1 = Sjöbo IF | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 2006–2017 | clubs2 = [[FC Rosengård|Malmö]]{{efn|Swedish Football Association source includes 2008 and subsequent seasons only. It does not include figures for the 2006 or 2007 Damallsvenskan seasons.}} | caps2 = 160 | goals2 = 8 | nationalyears1 = 2008–2016 | nationalteam1 = [[Sweden women's national football team|Sweden]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/players/player=298803/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629070554/http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/players/player=298803/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |title= Profile |publisher= FIFA.com |accessdate=23 June 2015}}</ref> | nationalcaps1 = 72 | nationalgoals1 = 3 | pcupdate = 16:43, 4 October 2015 (UTC) | ntupdate = 16:43, 4 October 2015 (UTC) | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Women's [[Association football|football]]}} {{Medal|Country| {{SWE}}}} {{Medal|Competition|[[FIFA Women's World Cup]]}} {{Medal|Bronze|[[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup|2011 Germany]]|Team}} }}

'''Lina Therese Nilsson''' (born 17 June 1987) is a Swedish retired [[Association football|footballer]] who played for [[FC Rosengård]] and the [[Sweden women's national football team|Sweden national team]]. Normally a [[Defender (association football)#Full-back|full-back]], she can also play as a wide [[midfielder]]. She joined Malmö FF Dam in 2006 and has remained with the club through its different guises as LdB FC and FC Rosengård. Since winning her first Sweden [[Cap (sports)|cap]] in July 2009, Nilsson has represented her country in the [[UEFA Women's Euro 2009|2009]] and [[UEFA Women's Euro 2013|2013]] editions of the [[UEFA Women's Championship]], as well as the [[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup|2011]] and [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup|2015]] [[FIFA Women's World Cup]]s. She also played at the [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2012]] [[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic football tournament]].

On 5 October 2017, she announced her retirement from her playing career.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/sport/fotboll/rosengardsveteranen-lagger-av/|title=Rosengårdsveteranen lägger av|publisher=Dagens nyheter|language=Swedish|date=5 October 2017|accessdate=5 October 2017}}</ref>

==Club career== Nilsson began her career with smaller teams in her native [[Skåne County]], before she arrived at local [[Damallsvenskan]] club Malmö FF Dam in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hardenberger|first1=Martin|title=Kapten Lina Nilsson stannar i Rosengård|url=http://www.expressen.se/kvp/sport/kapten-lina-nilsson-stannar-i-rosengard/|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Expressen]]|date=18 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> She had already been training once a week with Malmö while playing for Sjöbo IF in the lower leagues.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Andersson|first1=Jan|title=Sjöbolöftet Lina Nilsson drömmer om sol – och snö|url=http://www.ystadsallehanda.se/sport/sjoboloftet-lina-nilsson-drommer-om-sol-och-sno/|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=Ystads Allehanda|date=1 March 2005|language=Swedish}}</ref>

[[File:Lina Nilsson (21770424545).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Playing for FC Rosengård in September 2015]]

Consistent right-back Nilsson was one of four players to collect winner's medals from each of the club's championship wins in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jönsson|first1=Jan|title=Lina Nilsson i guldsits på bänken ikväll|url=http://www.sydsvenskan.se/sport/fotboll/fcr/lina-nilsson-i-guldsits-pa-banken-ikvall/|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Sydsvenskan]]|date=25 September 2014|language=Swedish}}</ref> In August 2015, team [[Captain (association football)|captain]] Lina Nilsson signed a two-year contract extension with the club, now known as FC Rosengård.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rosengård förlänger med lagkaptenen|url=http://www.gp.se/sport/1.2805634-rosengard-forlanger-med-lagkaptenen|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Göteborgs-Posten]]|date=18 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref>

==International career== As a member of the [[Sweden women's national under-19 football team|Sweden under-19 team]], Nilsson played in three matches at the [[2006 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship]] in Switzerland. She made her senior debut in July 2009, as a 55th-minute [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] for [[Anna Paulson (footballer)|Anna Paulson]] in a 2–0 [[Exhibition match|friendly]] win over [[China women's national football team|China]] at [[Stadsparksvallen]], [[Jönköping]]. She almost marked her debut with a goal, but her shot hit the [[Goal (sport)#Structure|crossbar]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Dam: Sverige dominerade mot ett blekt Kina|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/arkiv/landslag/2009/07/dam-sverige-dominerade-mot-kina/|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Swedish Football Association]]|date=19 July 2009|language=Swedish}}</ref>

National [[Coach (sports)|coach]] [[Thomas Dennerby]] selected Nilsson for [[UEFA Women's Euro 2009]], where she appeared in three matches.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lina Nilsson|url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/woco/players/Player=93213/index.html|publisher=[[UEFA]]|accessdate=4 October 2015|date=10 September 2009}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> She retained her squad place for the [[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup]] in Germany, but [[Annica Svensson]] was installed as the first-choice right-back. Nilsson did not feature until the quarter-final, where she was a late substitute in Sweden's 3–1 win over [[Australia women's national soccer team|Australia]].

Sweden's third-place finish at the World Cup ensured qualification for the [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2012 London Olympics]]. Nilsson started two of [[Sweden]]'s [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament – Group F|Group F]] games and was a substitute in the other one. Her two [[Penalty card#yellow card|yellow cards]] meant she was suspended for the quarter-final and Annica Svensson played in the 2–1 defeat by [[France women's national football team|France]] at [[Hampden Park]] in [[Glasgow]].

Incoming national coach [[Pia Sundhage]] retained Nilsson and selected her in the squad for [[UEFA Women's Euro 2013]], which Sweden hosted. After recovering from a foot injury,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bergström|first1=Kristoffer|last2=Thorén|first2=Petra|title=Seger okej – Lina Nilsson fotskadad|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/landslagsfotboll/em2013/article17100348.ab|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Aftonbladet]]|date=9 July 2013|language=Swedish}}</ref> Nilsson played in two of Sweden's three [[UEFA Women's Euro 2013 Group A|Group A]] matches. Sundhage selected youngster [[Jessica Samuelsson (footballer)|Jessica Samuelsson]] at right-back for the knockout matches against [[Iceland women's national football team|Iceland]] and [[Germany women's national football team|Germany]].

In April 2014, Nilsson scored her first international goal, on the occasion of her 50th cap. It came in Sweden's 4–0 [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|World Cup qualifying]] win over [[Northern Ireland women's national football team|Northern Ireland]] at [[Shamrock Park]] in [[Portadown]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tre säkra poäng i Portadown|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/arkiv/landslag/2014/04/dam-mot-nordirland-i-portadown/|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Swedish Football Association]]|date=5 April 2014|language=Swedish}}</ref> She added further goals in the return match with Northern Ireland and against [[Bosnia and Herzegovina women's national football team|Bosnia and Herzegovina]].

Ahead of the [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup]], Sundhage experimented with Nilsson in an unfamiliar left-back role.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hasselgren|first1=Fredrik|title=Lina Nilsson på rätt kant i VM|url=http://www.damfotboll.com/nyheter/2015/06/lina-nilsson-pa-ratt-kant-i-vm|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=Damfotboll.com|date=5 June 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> The move was designed to accommodate converted forward [[Elin Rubensson]] at right-back. Nilsson adapted quickly to her new role, although her momentary "blackout" cost the team a goal in a 2–1 pre-tournament friendly defeat by the [[Netherlands women's national football team|Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Edwinsson|first1=Lisa|title=Svenska VM-backen: Jag fick en blackout|url=https://www.dn.se/sport/svenska-vm-backen-jag-fick-en-blackout/|access-date=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Dagens Nyheter]]|date=6 June 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref>

Nilsson started Sweden's opening World Cup match at left-back, but struggled to contain [[Nigeria women's national football team|Nigeria]]'s [[Winger (sports)|winger]] [[Asisat Oshoala]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lukins|first1=Emma|title=Sverige kryssade i VM-premiären|url=http://m.gp.se/sport/fotboll/damlandslaget/1.2740694-sverige-kryssade-i-vm-premiaren|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Göteborgs-Posten]]|date=9 June 2015|language=Swedish}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Sweden surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 3–3. In Sweden's next match an improved performance secured a 0–0 draw with the [[United States women's national soccer team|United States]], with Nilsson pushed into a left-sided [[midfield]] role.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mållöst mellan Sverige och USA|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/landslag/damer/arkiv/landslag/2015/06/usa-sverige/|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Swedish Football Association]]|date=13 June 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> In Sweden's 4–1 defeat by Germany in the second round, Nilsson replaced beleaguered left-back Samuelsson at half-time.<ref>{{cite news|title=VM över för Sverige|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/landslag/damer/arkiv/landslag/2015/06/ger-swe/|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Swedish Football Association]]|date=20 June 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref>

===International goals=== :''Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first.'' {| class="wikitable" ! Goal !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1. || 5 April 2014 || [[Shamrock Park]], [[Portadown]], Northern Ireland|| {{fbw|NIR}} ||align=left| '''4'''–0 ||align=left| 4–0 || [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|World Cup 2015 qualification]] |- | 2. || 8 May 2014 || [[Myresjöhus Arena]], [[Växjö]], Sweden|| {{fbw|NIR}} ||align=left| '''3'''–0 ||align=left| 3–0 || [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|World Cup 2015 qualification]] |- | 3. || 13 September 2014 || [[Gamla Ullevi]], [[Gothenburg]], Sweden || {{fbw|BIH}} ||align=left| '''1'''–0 ||align=left| 3–0 || [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|World Cup 2015 qualification]] |- |}

==Playing style== While naming his national team in 2009, coach Thomas Dennerby said of newly included Nilsson: "Lina is an attacking full-back who dares to go forward without neglecting her defensive duties."<ref>{{cite news|title=Uncapped Nilsson gets Sweden chance|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01db-0e119c5a84d2-b2f377f98e75-1000--uncapped-nilsson-gets-sweden-chance/|access-date=4 October 2015|publisher=[[UEFA]]|date=14 July 2009}}</ref> A ''[[Sveriges Radio]]'' preview of UEFA Women's Euro 2013 described Nilsson as more attacking and technical than her right-back rival Jessica Samuelsson, who was said to be more solid defensively.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kampen om högerbacken hårdnar|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=2835&grupp=19589&artikel=5580935|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Sveriges Radio]]|date=2 July 2013|language=Swedish}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> When handing Nilsson the FC Rosengård captaincy in 2015, coach Markus Tilly praised her on-pitch communication skills.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Åkesson|first1=Richard|title=Kapten Nilsson har en segersvit att försvara|url=http://www.sydsvenskan.se/sport/kapten-nilsson-har-en-segersvit-att-forsvara/|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=[[Sydsvenskan]]|date=14 March 2015|language=Swedish|archive-date=29 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129210548/http://www.sydsvenskan.se/sport/kapten-nilsson-har-en-segersvit-att-forsvara/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Honours== [[File:13 Nilsson Lina 130406 Sve-Isl 2-0 164543 0144.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Playing for Sweden in 2013]]

===Club=== ;LdB FC Malmö / Rosengård *[[Damallsvenskan]] (4): 2010, [[2011 Damallsvenskan|2011]], [[2013 Damallsvenskan|2013]], [[2014 Damallsvenskan|2014]] *[[Svenska Supercupen (women)|Svenska Supercupen]] (3): 2011, [[2012 Svenska Supercupen (women)|2012]], 2015

=== International === ;[[Sweden women's national football team|Sweden]]

*[[FIFA Women's World Cup]] Third place: [[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup|2011]]

== Notes == {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Twitter}} * {{FIFA player|298803}} * {{UEFA player|93213}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20150626121731/https://svenskfotboll.se/landslag/damer/spelarportratt/?profile=27327 National team profile] at [[Swedish Football Association]] (SvFF) {{in lang|sv}} * {{Svenskfotboll|fid=288458|pid=5553}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20170928001315/http://svenskfotboll.se/damallsvenskan/person/?playerid=5553 archive]) * {{Soccerway|lina-nilsson/7690}}

{{navboxes |title=Sweden squads |bg= #FFF01C |fg= #005B99 |bordercolor= #005B99 |list1= {{Sweden squad UEFA Women's Euro 2009}} {{Sweden squad 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup}} {{Sweden women's football squad 2012 Summer Olympics}} {{Sweden squad UEFA Women's Euro 2013}} {{Sweden squad 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nilsson, Lina}} [[Category:1987 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Swedish women's footballers]] [[Category:Sweden women's international footballers]] [[Category:2011 FIFA Women's World Cup players]] [[Category:2015 FIFA Women's World Cup players]] [[Category:Footballers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Olympic footballers for Sweden]] [[Category:FC Rosengård players]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Ystad]] [[Category:Women's association football defenders]] [[Category:Damallsvenskan players]] [[Category:Footballers from Skåne County]] [[Category:21st-century Swedish sportswomen]] [[Category:UEFA Women's Euro 2013 players]] [[Category:UEFA Women's Euro 2009 players]]