{{short description|Danish footballer (born 1973)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Merete Pedersen |image = |caption = |full_name = |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1973|6|30}} |birth_place = Sæby, Denmark<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pe/merete-pedersen-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418050601/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pe/merete-pedersen-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-18|title=Merete Pedersen|accessdate=2012-10-07|publisher=SR/Olympic Sports}}</ref> |height = |position = Striker |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Jerlev |youthyears2 = |youthclubs2 = Ammitsbøl |youthyears3 = |youthclubs3 = Jelling |years1 = {{0|0000}}–1995 |clubs1 = Vejle |caps1 = |goals1 = |years2 = 1995–1999 |clubs2 = OB |caps2 = |goals2 = |years3 = 1999–2000 |clubs3 = Siegen |caps3 = |goals3 = |years4 = 2000–2003 |clubs4 = OB |caps4 = |goals4 = |years5 = 2003–2006 |clubs5 = Torres |caps5 = |goals5 = |years6 = 2006–2009 |clubs6 = OB |caps6 = |goals6 = |totalcaps = |totalgoals = |nationalyears1 = 1993–2009 |nationalteam1 = Denmark |nationalcaps1 = 136 |nationalgoals1 = 65 |medaltemplates = }}
'''Merete Pedersen''' (born 30 June 1973) is a Danish former international footballer who played as a striker in Denmark, Germany, Italy, and for the Danish national team.
Pedersen started playing football with clubs Jerlev and Ammitsbøl in her youth, before starting her professional career with Elitedivisionen club Vejle BK in the '90s. In 1995 Pedersen moved to another Elitedivisionen club, OB, where she played until 1999. Pedersen made her first move abroad to German Bundesliga club TSV Siegen in 1999 where she played for one season before returning to OB in 2000 for another three seasons. Pedersen moved abroad once more in 2003 to sign with Italian Serie A club Torres CF, whom she would represent until 2006. Following this, Pedersen concluded her playing career with a final return to OB in 2006 where she played until 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-06-20 |title=Merete Pedersen stopper karrieren {{!}} fyens.dk |url=https://fyens.dk/sport/merete-pedersen-stopper-karrieren |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=fyens.dk |language=da}}</ref> Pedersen participated in the UEFA Women's Cup while with both Odense and Torres.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151017145719/http://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/teams/player=31621/profile/index.html Profile] in UEFA's website</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-09-08 |title=Merete Pedersen |url=http://www.ob.dk/artikel/merete-pedersen.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525064539/http://www.ob.dk/artikel/merete-pedersen.aspx |archive-date=2015-05-25 |access-date=2025-09-20 |language=en}}</ref>
Pedersen represented the Danish national team for fifteen years, taking part in the 1999 and 2007 World Cups, the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 1997, 2001 and 2005 European Championships.<ref>[http://www.dbu.dk/landshold/landsholdsdatabasen/PlayerInfo/4361&teamtypeid=330#match Profile and list of appearances] in the Danish Football Association's website</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-05-13 |title=Landsholdstopscorer stopper |url=https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/landsholdstopscorer-stopper |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=DR |language=da-DK}}</ref> She temporarily quit the national team following the disappointment of the missed qualification for the 2007 World Cup in China.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-11-12 |title=Merete Pedersen dropper landsholdet {{!}} fyens.dk |url=https://fyens.dk/sport/merete-pedersen-dropper-landsholdet |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=fyens.dk |language=da}}</ref> She won 136 caps with and scored 65 for the Danish national team.
In 2024 Pedersen was inducted into the Danish Football Hall of Fame, the first OB player to receive the hounour.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-01 |title=Merete Pedersen |url=https://www.dbu.dk/om-dbu/fodboldpriser/fodboldens-hall-of-fame/merete-pedersen/ |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=DBU |language=DA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-16 |title=Signalværdien i drømmen om den stribede trøje |url=https://ob.dk/nyheder/2025/februar/signalvaerdien-i-drommen-om-den-stribede-troje |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=ob.dk |language=da}}</ref>
==International career== In September 2008 Pedersen scored the only goal in Denmark's 1–0 win over Ukraine to secure her country's place at UEFA Women's Euro 2009. It was her tenth goal of the qualifying series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01d2-0e10bec99fb8-766d2961f6b1-1000--pedersen-goal-takes-denmark-to-finals/|title=Pedersen goal takes Denmark to finals|first=Peter|last=Bruun|access-date=2012-10-07|publisher=UEFA|location=Copenhagen|date=2008-10-01}}</ref> Ahead of the final tournament she retired from international football, stating that she did not wish to sit on the substitute's bench as a 36–year–old and would prefer to concentrate on her career as a teacher. With 65 goals in 136 senior internationals she was the team's all–time top goalscorer,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dbu.dk/Nyheder/2009/Maj/merete_pedersen_stopper_paa_landsholdet.aspx|title=Merete Pedersen stopper på landsholdet|first=Jacob|last=Wadland|accessdate=2012-10-07|publisher=Danish Football Association|location=Copenhagen|date=2009-05-13|language=Danish}}</ref> before her record was broken by Pernille Harder on 16 September 2021 with Harder's 66th goal. {{clear}}
==International goals== {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1. |- | 2. || 3 July 1997 || Lillestrøm, Norway || {{fbw|ITA}} || align=center|'''2'''–1 || align=center| 2–2 || UEFA Women's Euro 1997 |- | 3. || 18 March 1999 || Albufeira, Portugal || {{fbw|POR}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 5–0 || rowspan=2| 1999 Algarve Cup |- | 4. || 20 March 1999 || Loulé, Portugal || {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''2'''–2 || align=center| 2–2 (1–4 p) |- | 5. || 29 September 1999 || rowspan=3| Odense, Denmark || {{fbw|RUS}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 2–4 || rowspan=3| UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying |- | 6. || rowspan=2| 10 November 1999 || rowspan=2| {{fbw|SRB}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 6–0 |- | 7. || align=center|'''4'''–0 |- | 8. || 16 March 2000 || lagos, Portugal || {{fbw|POR}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || align=center| 2–0 || rowspan=2| 2000 Algarve Cup |- | 9. || 18 March 2000 || Lagoa, Portugal || {{fbw|CAN}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 2–3 |- | 10. || 24 May 2000 || Novi Sad, Serbia || {{fbw|SRB}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 8–0 || UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying |- | 11. || 13 March 2001 || Olhão, Portugal || {{fbw|FIN}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 6–0 || 2001 Algarve Cup |- | 12. || 30 September 2001 || Malmö, Sweden || {{fbw|SWE}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–4 || rowspan=4| 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |- | 13. || rowspan=2| 13 October 2001 || rowspan=2| Vantaa, Finland || rowspan=2| {{fbw|FIN}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 6–0 |- | 14. || align=center|'''6'''–0 |- | 15. || 20 April 2002 || Gossau, Switzerland || {{fbw|SUI}} || align=center|'''3'''–1 || align=center| 4–1 |- | 16. || 18 April 2004 || Lucena, Spain || {{fbw|ESP}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 || rowspan=6| UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying |- | 17. || rowspan=4| 26 September 2004 || rowspan=4| Aalborg, Denmark || rowspan=4| {{fbw|BEL}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=4 align=center| 6–0 |- | 18. || align=center|'''2'''–0 |- | 19. || align=center|'''3'''–0 |- | 20. || align=center|'''6'''–0 |- | 21. || 29 September 2004 || Katwijk, Netherlands || {{fbw|NED}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 5–1 |- | 22. || 15 March 2005 || Algarve, Portugal || {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–2 || 2005 Algarve Cup |- | 23. || rowspan=4| 27 August 2005 || rowspan=4| Słupsk, Poland || rowspan=4| {{fbw|POL}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=4 align=center| 5–1 || rowspan=10| 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |- | 24. || align=center|'''2'''–0 |- | 25. || align=center|'''4'''–0 |- | 26. || align=center|'''5'''–0 |- | 27. || rowspan=2| 25 September 2005 || rowspan=2| Farum, Denmark || rowspan=2| {{fbw|BEL}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 3–0 |- | 28. || align=center|'''2'''–0 |- | 29. || rowspan=2| 26 March 2006 || rowspan=2| Ath, Belgium || rowspan=2| {{fbw|BEL}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 2–0 |- | 30. || align=center|'''2'''–0 |- | 31. || 27 April 2006 || Viborg, Denmark || {{fbw|ESP}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 5–0 |- | 32. || 7 May 2006 || Brøndbyvester, Denmark || {{fbw|POL}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–1 |- | 33. || 7 March 2007 || Silves, Portugal || {{fbw|FRA}} || align=center|'''4'''–0 || align=center| 4–0 || 2007 Algarve Cup |- | 34. || rowspan=2| 27 October 2007 || rowspan=2| Viborg, Denmark || rowspan=2| {{fbw|POR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 5–1 || rowspan=3| UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying |- | 35. || align=center|'''5'''–1 |- | 36. || 31 October 2007 || Perth, Scotland || {{fbw|SCO}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 |- | 37. || 5 March 2008 || Faro, Portugal || {{fbw|GER}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 || 2008 Algarve Cup |- | 38. || 27 April 2008 || Viborg, Denmark || {{fbw|SCO}} || align=center|'''2'''–1 || align=center| 2–1 || rowspan=7| UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying |- | 39. || rowspan=2| 8 May 2008 || rowspan=2| Fão, Portugal || rowspan=2| {{fbw|POR}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 4–0 |- | 40. || align=center|'''4'''–0 |- | 41. || rowspan=3| 28 May 2008 || rowspan=4| Viborg, Denmark || rowspan=3| {{fbw|SVK}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 6–1 |- | 42. || align=center|'''4'''–1 |- | 43. || align=center|'''6'''–1 |- | 44. || 1 October 2008 || {{fbw|UKR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 |- | 45. || 6 March 2009 || Lagos, Portugal || {{fbw|NOR}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 2–0 || 2009 Algarve Cup |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{DBU|4361}} * {{sports links}}
{{Danish Football Hall of Fame}} {{Danish Women's Football Player of the Year}} {{Denmark women's football squad 1996 Summer Olympics}} {{Denmark Squad 1999 Women's World Cup}} {{Denmark Squad 2001 UEFA Women's European Championship}} {{Denmark Squad 2005 UEFA Women's European Championship}} {{Denmark Squad 2007 Women's World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pedersen, Merete}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Danish women's footballers Category:21st-century Danish sportswomen Category:Danish expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Germany Category:Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic footballers for Denmark Category:Denmark women's international footballers Category:FIFA Women's Century Club Category:Odense Boldklub Q players Category:A-Liga players Category:Torres Calcio Femminile players Category:Serie A (women's football) players Category:Women's association football forwards Category:Frauen-Bundesliga players Category:1999 FIFA Women's World Cup players Category:2007 FIFA Women's World Cup players Category:People from Sæby Category:Footballers from the North Jutland Region