Elena Sadiku Explained

Elena Sadiku
Birth Date:6 November 1993
Birth Place:Bocholt, Germany
Height:1.70 m
Currentclub:Celtic (head coach)
Youthclubs1:LdB Malmö
Years1:2010–2011
Clubs1:LdB Malmö
Caps1:13
Goals1:1
Years2:2012–2013
Clubs2:Kristianstad
Caps2:28
Goals2:1
Years3:2014–2016
Clubs3:Eskilstuna United
Caps3:16
Goals3:5
Years4:2017
Clubs4:Hammarby
Caps4:6
Goals4:1
Nationalyears1:2011–2012
Nationalteam1:Sweden U19
Nationalcaps1:14
Nationalgoals1:2
Manageryears1:2018–2019
Managerclubs1:Beijing BG Phoenix (assistant)
Manageryears2:2019–2021
Managerclubs2:Rosengård (assistant)
Manageryears3:2021
Managerclubs3:Fortuna Hjørring (assistant)
Manageryears4:2021–2022
Manageryears5:2023–2024
Managerclubs5:Everton U21
Manageryears6:2024–
Managerclubs6:Celtic

Elena Sadiku (born 6 November 1993) is a Swedish football manager and former player who is the head coach of Scottish club Celtic.

Playing career

She was an Under-19 international.[1]

She started her career with LdB Malmö,[2] before moving to Kristianstad and Eskilstuna United.

Sadiku suffered a knee injury in July 2014. She scored a hat-trick in her comeback game a year later, only to suffer another serious knee injury a few days later. She was unable to play in 2016 and after suffering from depression, left Eskilstuna at the end of the season.[3] Shortly afterwards, newly-promoted Hammarby announced that they had signed Sadiku and were hoping she could overcome her injuries and recapture her best form.[4] She played 6 games for Hammarby in 2017, scoring once, before retiring due to recurring problems with injuries.[5]

Coaching career

In February 2018 Sadiku accepted a coaching role with Chinese Super League club Beijing BG Phoenix.[6]

She later managed Eskilstuna United.[7] [8]

In January 2024 she became Head Coach of Scottish club Celtic, the first woman to hold that role.[9] She led Celtic to their first Scottish Women's Premier League title, clinching the trophy thanks to superior goal difference ahead of Glasgow rivals Rangers on the last day of the season on 19 May 2024.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UEFA Women's Champions League. UEFA.com.
  2. http://www.expressen.se/sport/sanktan/skane/1.2533504/ldb-fc-malmo-spelarnas-basta-tips LdB FC Malmö-spelarnas bästa tips
  3. News: Redebo. Susanne. Elena Sadiku om sin tuffa tid: "Hemskaste jag varit med om". 29 December 2016. Ekuriren. 30 November 2016. Swedish.
  4. News: Liljedahl. Carl-Johan. Sadiku till Hammarby. 29 December 2016. Kristianstadbladet. 9 December 2016. Swedish.
  5. News: Norberg. Simon. Tidigare Hammarbyspelaren flyttar till Kina. 13 February 2018. Aftonbladet. 7 February 2018. Swedish.
  6. News: Tidigare Hammarbyspelaren flyttar till Kina. 17 February 2018. Aftonbladet. 7 February 2018. Swedish.
  7. http://lajme.shqiperia.com/lajme/artikull/iden/1046928500/titulli/Sadiku-kampione-e-Suedise Sadiku kampione e Suedise
  8. Web site: 4 October 2021 . Elena Sadiku återvänder till Eskilstuna som tränare . www.aftonbladet.se . sv.
  9. Web site: Sadiku becomes Celtic's first female head coach. www.bbc.co.uk.
  10. Web site: Celtic leave it late to spark SWPL title bedlam. BBC Sport. 2024-05-19.