Lotta Schelin


Charlotta Eva Schelin is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a forward.
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 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2008], 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2016].
In October 2014, Schelin became Sweden's all time record goalscorer by scoring her 73rd international goal in a friendly defeat by Germany.
Schelin began her senior club career with Kopparbergs/Göteborg 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 Coupe de [France Féminine|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, 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.

Early life

Although Schelin was born in Stockholm, her family moved away from the capital when she was two years old. With her father Kjell and mother Nina, she grew up in Kållered outside Gothenburg and began to play football for Kållereds SK along with her older sister, Camilla. She has also played for Hällesåkers IF and Mölnlycke IF. Schelin was also adept at sports including table-tennis, track and field, and snowboarding before opting to focus on football full-time. As a teenager, she developed problems with her spine and was advised to stop playing the sport. Schelin went through intensive strength training and recovered by the time she turned 17. She credited her sister and former teammate Camilla and Tina Nordlund as important role models for her.

Club career

Göteborg FC

In 2001, when she was 17 years old, Schelin made her debut in the Damallsvenskan for Landvetter FC, now known as Göteborg FC. Her debut season yielded eight goals in 19 appearances. After an injury in August 2002, she was out of the league for almost a year and a half, returning in June 2003. In 2004 Schelin was named Breakthrough Player of the Year after netting 14 goals in 15 games for Göteborg. In 2006, Schelin scored 21 goals in 21 league games. At the end of season Fotbollsgalan, she was named Forward of the Year, Player of the Year and Top Goalscorer. She was also shortlisted for the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year and was recognised by Swedish referees with a special award for her sporting treatment of opponents and officials. In 2007, she retained her top scorer title by scoring 26 league goals. Despite persistent interest from leading Damallsvenskan clubs including Umeå IK and Linköpings FC, Schelin opted to stay at her hometown team. She ultimately played in over 120 league matches with Göteborg, establishing herself as one of the club's most prominent players.

Lyon

After the re-branding and re-launch of the new United States-based league, Women's Professional Soccer, Schelin declared that she would be interested in playing in the league. However, after the 2008 Summer Olympics, Schelin announced that she would instead be joining Division 1 Féminine club Olympique Lyonnais in France. Upon signing her contract, it was reported by Göteborgs-Posten that Schelin would be earning over 1 million kr per year. The move to France was criticised in Sweden, as, although Lyon were a well-resourced club, the overall standard of the Division 1 Féminine was considered much weaker than the Damallsvenskan. On 24 September 2008, Schelin's American transfer rights were drafted by the Saint Louis Athletica in the 2008 WPS International Draft. She declined the chance to join WPS, citing her contract with Lyon as the primary reason. Saint Louis signed Schelin's compatriot Sara Larsson instead.
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 UEFA [Women's Champions League Final|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 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, Conny Pohlers and Marta all accrued their totals with more than one club.

Rosengård

On 8 June 2016, Schelin was presented as a player for Swedish champions FC Rosengård, of Malmö. She rejected an offer to rejoin Göteborg FC because they were unable to offer Champions League football. Schelin made her Rosengård debut slightly earlier than expected, substituting in for the injured Nataša Andonova after 22 minutes of a league fixture against Djurgården. Schelin scored a 90th-minute goal to salvage a 2–2 draw.

International career

In March 2004 Schelin scored twice on her debut for the Swedish under-21 team, in their 6–0 win over the full Republic of Ireland national team in Dublin. She previously scored three goals in six appearances for Sweden's under-16 team and two goals in seven appearances for the under-18s.
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 flu. 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 Diamond Ball 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 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 friendly 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.

Style of play

In June 2015 Schelin described herself as "not a typical center-forward" as she likes to drop deep or go wide in order to find space: "I always think of the collective because the danger can come from all players. Even if I do not score, I pass, I run to attract defenders. In the end, I want to win." She attributes her unselfish play to her upbringing in communal Swedish culture. After moving to Lyon, her instinct to pass to better-placed teammates annoyed her coach Farid Benstiti, who wanted her to concentrate on converting chances herself. Sweden's former coach Thomas Dennerby felt that Schelin became more comfortable on the ball after moving to Lyon, but retained her pace and ability in one-on-one situations.
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 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".

Personal life

Schelin came out publicly as a lesbian in August 2018. She has been married to her wife Rebecca since 2018.

In popular culture

Schelin featured in the Sveriges Television documentary television series The Other Sport from 2013.
In 2021 Schelin participated in the Swedish version of the South Korean game show Masked Singer as Jokern.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
128 August 2005Nobelstadion, Karlskoga, Sweden2–12–22007 [FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification]
224 September 2005Norrvalla, Skellefteå, Sweden3–06–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
315 March 2006Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal1–01–02006 Algarve Cup
422 April 2006Stadion Františka Kloze, Kladno, Czech Republic2–13–22007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
522 April 2006Stadion Františka Kloze, Kladno, Czech Republic3–23–22007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
67 May 2006Vångavallen, Trelleborg, Sweden2–15–12007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
718 June 2006Darida Stadium, Minsk, Belarus1–06–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
812 February 2007GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus1–02–2Friendly
916 June 2007Stadionul Mogoșoaia, Mogoșoaia, Romania7–07–0UEFA [Women's Euro 2009 qualifying]
1018 September 2007Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin, China1–02–12007 FIFA Women's World Cup
1118 September 2007Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin, China2–12–12007 FIFA Women's World Cup
128 November 2007Energi Viborg Arena, Viborg, Denmark2–14–22008 Summer Olympics qualification
138 November 2007Energi Viborg Arena, Viborg, Denmark4–14–22008 Summer Olympics qualification
1428 November 2007Råsundastadion, Solna, Sweden1–03–12008 Summer Olympics qualification
1512 February 2008Dasaki Stadium, Dasaki Achnas, Cyprus1–02–0Friendly
1612 February 2008Dasaki Stadium, Dasaki Achnas, Cyprus2–02–0Friendly
1716 February 2008Paralimni Stadium, Paralimni, Cyprus1–02–0Friendly
1825 June 2008Carlisle Grounds, Bray, Ireland5–05–0UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying
1920 July 2008Komplett Arena, Sandefjord, Norway1–02–0Friendly
206 August 2008Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin, China1–11–22008 Summer Olympics
2112 August 2008Beijing Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China1–02–12008 Summer Olympics
2212 August 2008Beijing Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China2–02–12008 Summer Olympics
2331 January 2009Marbella Football Centre, Marbella, Spain1–05–1Friendly
2431 January 2009Marbella Football Centre, Marbella, Spain3–05–1Friendly
2531 January 2009Marbella Football Centre, Marbella, Spain4–05–1Friendly
2631 January 2009Marbella Football Centre, Marbella, Spain5–15–1Friendly
279 March 2009Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal2–03–22009 Algarve Cup
289 March 2009Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal3–03–22009 Algarve Cup
2911 March 2009Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal1–01–1
3025 April 2009Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden3–13–1Friendly
3128 August 2009Veritas Stadion, Turku, Finland1–02–0UEFA Women's Euro 2009
3225 August 2010Värendsvallen, Växjö, Sweden1–05–12011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
3325 August 2010Värendsvallen, Växjö, Sweden4–05–12011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
3411 September 2010Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden2–02–12011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification - UEFA play-offs
3526 October 2010Falkenbergs IP, Falkenberg, Sweden2–03–1Friendly
3626 October 2010Falkenbergs IP, Falkenberg, Sweden3–13–1Friendly
377 March 2011Estádio José Arcanjo, Olhão, Portugal1–01–02011 Algarve Cup
3816 June 2011Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden2–02–0Friendly
3910 July 2011Impuls Arena, Augsburg, Germany3–13–12011 FIFA Women's World Cup
4016 July 2011Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany1–02–12011 FIFA Women's World Cup
412 March 2012Desportivo da Nora Park, Ferreiras, Portugal1–04–12012 Algarve Cup
4231 March 2012Malmö Stadion, Malmö, Sweden2–03–1Friendly
4326 May 2012Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy, Scotland1–04–1Friendly
4426 May 2012Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy, Scotland2–04–1Friendly
4516 June 2012Örjans Vall, Halmstad, Sweden1–21–32012 Sweden Invitational
4625 July 2012City of Coventry Stadium, Coventry, England3–04–12012 Summer Olympics
4725 July 2012City of Coventry Stadium, Coventry, England4–14–12012 Summer Olympics
4815 September 2012Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden1–12–1Friendly
498 March 2013Municipal Stadium, Albufeira, Portugal3–06–12013 Algarve Cup
506 April 2013Myresjöhus Arena, Växjö, Sweden1–02–0Friendly
516 April 2013Myresjöhus Arena, Växjö, Sweden2–02–0Friendly
521 June 2013Linköping Arena, Linköping, Sweden1–12–1Friendly
534 July 2013Skarsjövallen, Ljungskile, Sweden2–14–1Friendly
544 July 2013Skarsjövallen, Ljungskile, Sweden4–14–1Friendly
5513 July 2013Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden4–05–0UEFA Women's Euro 2013
5613 July 2013Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden5–05–0UEFA Women's Euro 2013
5716 July 2013Örjans Vall, Halmstad, Sweden2–03–1UEFA Women's Euro 2013
5821 July 2013Örjans Vall, Halmstad, Sweden3–04–0UEFA Women's Euro 2013
5921 July 2013Örjans Vall, Halmstad, Sweden4–04–0UEFA Women's Euro 2013
6021 September 2013Swedbank Stadion, Malmö, Sweden1–02–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
6126 October 2013Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia & Herzegovina1–01–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
6231 October 2013Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden1–05–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
6331 October 2013Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden4–05–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
647 March 2014Estádio Municipal, Albufeira, Portugal1–01–02014 Algarve Cup
655 April 2014Shamrock Park, Portadown, Northern Ireland2–04–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
6619 June 2014Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands3–05–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
6719 June 2014Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands4–05–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
6821 August 2014Stadion Kazimierza Deyny, Starogard Gdański, Poland1–04–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
6921 August 2014Stadion Kazimierza Deyny, Starogard Gdański, Poland3–04–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
7013 September 2014Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden2–03–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
7113 September 2014Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden3–03–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
7217 September 2014Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden2–02–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
7329 October 2014Behrn Arena, Örebro, Sweden1–01–2Friendly
7413 January 2015La Manga, Spain3–23–2Friendly
7512 February 2015Eerikkilä Areena, Tammela, Finland1–03–0Friendly
769 March 2015Estádio Municipal, Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal2–03–02015 Algarve Cup
775 April 2015Tunavallen, Eskilstuna, Sweden1–21–3Friendly
788 April 2015Tele2 Arena, Stockholm, Sweden1–03–3Friendly
798 April 2015Tele2 Arena, Stockholm, Sweden2–23–3Friendly
8030 May 2015York Stadium, Toronto, Canada1–12–1Friendly
8117 September 2015CSR Orhei, Orhei, Moldova2–03–0UEFA [Women's Euro 2017 qualifying Group 4|UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying]
8226 January 2016Prioritet Serneke Arena, Gothenburg, Sweden4–06–0Friendly
832 June 2016Stadion ŁKS, Łódź, Poland2–04–0UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying
8421 July 2016Guldfågeln Arena, Kalmar, Sweden1–03–0Friendly
856 August 2016Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil1–51–52016 Summer Olympics
861 March 2017Albufeira Municipal Stadium, Albufeira, Portugal1–01–02017 Algarve Cup
8721 July 2017De Adelaarshorst, Deventer, Netherlands1–02–0UEFA Women's Euro 2017
8825 July 2017De Vijverberg, Doetinchem, Netherlands1–12–3UEFA Women's Euro 2017

Honours

Image:Lottadiamant.jpg|thumb|right|Receiving Diamantbollen in November 2006
Image:Sweden - Denmark, 8 April 2015.jpg|thumb|right|Schelin receiving an award from SvFF President Karl-Erik Nilsson in April 2015, for breaking Sweden's international scoring record. Therese Sjögran got an award for her 200 caps.
Lyon
FC Rosengård
Sweden
Sweden U17
  • Nordic Cup runner-up: 2001
Individual