Product Code Database
Charlotta Eva Schelin (born 27 February 1984) is a Swedish former professional footballer who most recently played as a striker for FC Rosengård of the Damallsvenskan. She made her debut for the Sweden national team in March 2004 and was appointed joint captain alongside Caroline Seger in October 2012. Schelin has represented her country in the 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2017 editions of the UEFA Women's Championship, as well as the 2007, 2011, and 2015 FIFA Women's World Cups. She also played at the Olympic football tournaments in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.
In October 2014, Schelin became Sweden's all time record goalscorer by scoring her 73rd international goal in a Exhibition game defeat by Germany.
Schelin began her senior club career with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC (then known as Landvetter FC) in 2001. She developed into a prolific goalscorer in the Damallsvenskan then made a lucrative transfer to Lyon in 2008, rejecting a competing offer from the American Women's Professional Soccer league. During her eight-season stay at Lyon, she won eight consecutive Division 1 Féminine titles, five Coupes de France Féminine, three UEFA Women's Champions Leagues and was the top goalscorer in the 2012–13 and 2014–15 Division 1 Féminine seasons. In 2013, she became the first foreign UNFP Player of the Year. In 2016, she returned to Swedish football with FC Rosengård, departing Lyon as the French club's all time record goalscorer with 225 goals in 225 appearances. She has been awarded Diamantbollen ( the Diamond Ball), given to the Swedish player of the year, a record five times, including four consecutive times from 2011 to 2014.
On 30 August 2018, she announced her retirement due to chronic head and neck pain resulting from an injury suffered while playing for FC Rosengård in 2017.
Schelin arrived in Lyon in poor condition, after a thigh injury disrupted her 2008 spring season with Göteborg and migraines and stomach aches afflicted her at the 2008 Olympic Games. When she told Lyon's coach Farid Benstiti that she could also play on the wing, he shook his head and replied that he had signed her to score goals. Alongside Brazil's Kátia Cilene Teixeira, Schelin formed a productive attack for Lyon as the club defended its French title and reached the 2008–09 UEFA Women's Cup semi-final, where they lost to FCR 2001 Duisburg. The following season, Schelin was afflicted by injuries and was ruled out of Lyon's 2010 UEFA Women's Champions League Final defeat by Turbine Potsdam with ligament damage.
Schelin did play in the 2011 final, as Lyon avenged the previous year's defeat to beat Turbine Potsdam 2–0 at Craven Cottage and secure their first continental title. She had scored nine times on Lyon's route to the final, including twice in the semi-final, to bring about what she termed "the proudest moment" of her career. Lyon won a domestic double in 2011–12 and retained their European title by beating Frankfurt 2–0 in the 2012 final at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. In 2012–13 Schelin was in the best form of her career and finished as Division 1 Féminine top scorer with 24 goals in 16 appearances. She was also named French Player of the Year for the first time, but missed out on a third successive Champions League winner's medal when Lyon lost the final 1–0 to VfL Wolfsburg at Stamford Bridge. In May 2013 she signed a new three-year contract with Lyon, reportedly worth an annual 2 million kr.
In 2013–14 Schelin contributed 12 league goals to another domestic double but Lyon lost to Turbine Potsdam in the Champions League round of 16. Her form had slumped after a breakdown in her working relationship with coach Patrice Lair. She rebounded the following season, scoring Lyon's 1000th Division 1 Féminine goal in a 7–0 home win over Rodez on 16 November 2014. Her second goal in the same match drew her level with Sandrine Brétigny as Lyon's all-time record scorer. She finished 2014–15 as Division 1 Féminine top scorer with 34 goals in 21 games, but Lyon were upset by French rivals Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16.
Towards the end of another successful season in 2015–16, Lyon announced that Schelin would depart the club at the end of her contract. Her final game for the club was the 2016 UEFA Women's Champions League Final; in which she scored in the penalty shootout win over Wolfsburg. With Lyon Schelin won eight consecutive Division 1 Féminine titles, five Cups and three Champions Leagues. She left as the team's all-time record goalscorer with 225 goals in 225 appearances. Schelin's 41 goals for Lyon in the UEFA Women's Champions League left her fourth in the competition's all-time top scorer list. She held the record for Champions League goals for a single club, since Anja Mittag (49), Conny Pohlers (48) and Marta (46) all accrued their totals with more than one club.
Schelin made her senior national team debut for Sweden on 16 March 2004; a 3–0 Algarve Cup defeat by France. In the fifth place play-off against China, Schelin was praised for scoring in Sweden's penalty shootout win after a 1–1 draw. She had been called into the squad as a replacement for Sara Johansson who had Influenza. Schelin retained her place and represented her nation at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Throughout this period, Schelin endured injuries to the groin and hamstring, which required extensive rest. She was selected by coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors for UEFA Women's Euro 2005 in North West England. She entered play as a second-half substitute but failed to score as Sweden lost 3–2 to rivals Norway in extra time of the semi-final in Warrington.
Schelin was a key player in the 2006 edition of the Algarve Cup; leading Sweden to their third-place finish. She scored the only goal in the bronze medal victory over France. After overcoming her injury problems, Schelin was awarded the Diamantbollen as the country's best female football player. That same year, she was named the Forward of the Year in the Damallsvenskan. Schelin's success brought her to mainstream attention in her country and she was rewarded with selection to attend the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup draw in China on behalf of Sweden.
At the World Cup in China, Schelin scored two goals in three matches (one start) but Sweden unexpectedly failed to progress out of their group. After that failure some experienced players retired and coach Thomas Dennerby gave Schelin and other younger players a more prominent role in the team. Back in China the following year for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she contributed three goals in four games but the Swedes lost 2–0 to Germany in the quarter-final.
Schelin helped Sweden to a bronze medal position at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany and was named in the All-Star Team. She featured in Sweden's 3–1 semi-final defeat to eventual winners Japan in Frankfurt. Sweden secured third place by beating France 2–1 in Sinsheim, Schelin scoring her second goal of the tournament. Third place also ensured Sweden's qualification for the 2012 Olympic football tournament in London. Dennerby kept Schelin in Sweden's Olympic squad for London, where they lost to France in the quarter-finals. Schelin scored twice in four matches but felt Dennerby's emphasis on defence had left her isolated in Sweden's attack.
In October 2012, new national team coach Pia Sundhage decided that Schelin and Caroline Seger would share the captaincy. Sundhage named Schelin in the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013, which Sweden hosted. Schelin finished as the tournament top scorer with five goals but was disappointed when Sweden lost 1–0 to Germany in the semi-final. She criticised the decision of Swiss referee Esther Staubli, who disallowed her equalising goal for a very questionable foul on Germany's centre-back Annike Krahn. Schelin's goal against Germany in October 2014's 2–1 home Exhibition match defeat was her 73rd goal for Sweden, which broke the national record previously set by Hanna Ljungberg.
Schelin arrived at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup suffering from persistent knee pain. In Sweden's opening game she was unable to make any impression on Nigeria's defence, as the Africans recovered from 3–1 down to draw 3–3. In the team's 4–1 second round loss to Germany, goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl made several saves to prevent an even heavier defeat for the disorganised Swedes.
With 165 caps and 84 goals, Schelin was the most experienced member of Sweden's 18-player squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics. When the team suffered a record 5–1 defeat by hosts Brazil in the second match, Schelin scored the late consolation goal and tried to lift the spirits of her demoralised teammates. In the quarter-final against the United States, captain Schelin had an extra-time goal incorrectly ruled out for offside and the match finished 1–1. She scored in Sweden's penalty shootout win. Sweden reached the gold medal match, but lost 2–1 to Germany. Schelin was disappointed by the defeat but proud to win a silver medal.
Schelin is capable of playing as a winger. But when Dennerby deployed her wide in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, her Göteborg coach Martin Pringle called for her to be given a more central role: "she is too good a player to play out there". China's coach Shang Ruihua highlighted Schelin as Sweden's best player ahead of the countries' opening match at the 2008 Summer Olympics: "Schelin has fast pace and excellent technique, and few defenders could keep up with her." Although tall and slender, she is also physically strong; England captain Steph Houghton rated Schelin as the "toughest opponent" of her career.
As a tall, skilful and prolific Swedish forward, Schelin has frequently drawn comparison with the contemporary male footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović. Former Denmark national team manager Peter Bonde branded Schelin "the female Zlatan" in 2005. In December 2013, Ibrahimović made an outspoken rejection of any comparison: "I was asked by in the summer who was the better player, me or Lotta Schelin. You're kidding me, right? When I've broken all these records, this goal record, the goals in the national team, who shall I compare it to? Shall I compare it to whoever has the record, or the ladies?" Schelin's national team coach Pia Sundhage described his comments as sad and boring. Johanna Frändén, a journalist specialising in coverage of Ibrahimović, noted Schelin's contrasting temperament: "She is polite, charming, she does not have the same arrogance".
| Göteborg | 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 3 | |
| 2003 | 12 | |
| 2004 | 14 | |
| 2005 | 12 | |
| 2006 | 29 | |
| 2007 | 27 | |
| 2008 | 0 | |
| Lyon | 2008–09 | 25 |
| 2009–10 | 16 | |
| 2010–11 | 22 | |
| 2011–12 | 38 | |
| 2012–13 | 38 | |
| 2013–14 | 23 | |
| 2014–15 | 41 | |
| 2015–16 | 22 | |
| Rosengård | 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 8 | |
| 2017 | 5 | |
| 3–2 |
| 2–1 |
| 4–1 |
| 2–0 |
| 2–0 |
| 3–0 |
| 4–0 |
| 5–1 |
| 3–0 |
| 4–0 |
| 3–1 |
| 2–0 |
| 4–1 |
| 2–0 |
| 4–1 |
| 5–0 |
| 4–0 |
| 4–0 |
| 4–0 |
| 3–0 |
| 3–0 |
| 2–2 |
| Athens 2004 Women's Olympic Football Tournament | |||||||||
| 17 August 2004 | Volos | Group match | |||||||
| 23 August 2004 | Patras | Semi Final | |||||||
| 26 August 2004 | Piraeus | Bronze Medal Match | |||||||
| China 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup | |||||||||
| 11 September 2007 | Chengdu | Group match | |||||||
| 14 September 2007 | Chengdu | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 1 | 18 September 2007 | Tianjin | Start | 4 | 1–0 | Group match | |||
| 2 | 54 | 2–1 | |||||||
| Beijing 2008 Women's Olympic Football Tournament | |||||||||
| 3 | 6 August 2008 | Tianjin | Start | 38 | 1–1 | Group match | |||
| 9 August 2008 | Tianjin | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 4 | 12 August 2008 | Beijing | Start | 19 | 1–0 | Group match | |||
| 5 | 51 | 2–0 | |||||||
| 15 August 2008 | Shenyang | Start | Quarter-Final | ||||||
| Germany 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup | |||||||||
| 28 June 2011 | Leverkusen | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 2 July 2011 | Augsburg | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 6 July 2011 | Wolfsburg | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 6 | 10 July 2011 | Augsburg | Start | 52 | 3–1 | Quarter-Final | |||
| 13 July 2011 | Frankfurt | Start | Semi-Final | ||||||
| 7 | 16 July 2011 | Sinsheim | Start | 29 | 1–0 | Third Place Match | |||
| London 2012 Women's Olympic Football Tournament | |||||||||
| 8 | 25 July 2012 | Coventry | 21 | 3–0 | Group match | ||||
| 9 | 63 | 4–1 | |||||||
| 28 July 2012 | Coventry | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 31 July 2012 | Newcastle | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 3 August 2012 | Glasgow | Start | Quarter-Final | ||||||
| Canada 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup | |||||||||
| 8 June 2015 | Winnipeg | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 12 June 2015 | Winnipeg | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 16 June 2015 | Edmonton | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 20 June 2015 | Ottawa | Start | Round of 16 | ||||||
| Rio de Janeiro 2016 Women's Olympic Football Tournament | |||||||||
| 3 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 10 | 6 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | Start | 89 | 1–5 | Group match | |||
| 9 August 2016 | Brasília | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 12 August 2016 | Brasília | Start | Quarter-Final | ||||||
| 16 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | Start | Semi-Final | ||||||
| 19 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | Start | Gold Medal Match | ||||||
| 2005 European Championship | |||||||||
| 5 June 2005 | Blackpool | Group match | |||||||
| 8 June 2005 | Blackpool | Group match | |||||||
| 16 June 2005 | Warrington | Semi-Final | |||||||
| 2009 European Championship | |||||||||
| 25 August 2009 | Turku | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 1 | 28 August 2009 | Turku | Start | 9 | 1–0 | Group match | |||
| 31 August 2009 | Turku | Group match | |||||||
| 4 September 2009 | Helsinki | Start | Quarter-Final | ||||||
| 2013 European Championship | |||||||||
| 10 July 2013 | Gothenburg | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 2 | 13 July 2013 | Gothenburg | Start | 60 | 4–0 | Group match | |||
| 3 | 87 | 5–0 | |||||||
| 4 | 16 July 2013 | Halmstad | Start | 49 | 2–0 | Group match | |||
| 5 | 21 July 2013 | Halmstad | 19 | 3–0 | Quarter-Final | ||||
| 6 | 59 | 4–0 | |||||||
| 24 July 2013 | Gothenburg | Start | Semi-Final | ||||||
| 2017 European Championship | |||||||||
| 17 July 2017 | Breda | Start | Group match | ||||||
| 7 | 21 July 2017 | Deventer | Start | 22 | 1–0 | Group match | |||
| 8 | 25 July 2017 | Doetinchem | Start | 14 | 1–1 | Group match | |||
| 29 July 2017 | Doetinchem | Start | Quarter-Final | ||||||
In 2021 Schelin participated in the Swedish version of the South Korean game show Masked Singer as Jokern (The Joker).
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> archive 1, archive 2)
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> archive 2)
|
|
