Kristine Bjørdal Leine Explained

Kristine Bjørdal Leine
Fullname:Kristine Bjørdal Leine
Birth Date:1996 8, df=yes
Birth Place:Norway
Position:Centre back
Currentclub:Rosenborg
Clubnumber:2
Youthclubs1:Fortuna Ålesund
Years1:2011–2015
Clubs1:Fortuna Ålesund
Years2:2015–2019
Clubs2:Røa
Caps2:84
Goals2:2
Years3:2019–2021
Clubs3:Reading
Caps3:29
Goals3:1
Years4:2021–
Clubs4:Rosenborg
Caps4:29
Goals4:0
Nationalteam1:Norway U16
Nationalyears1:2012
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalteam2:Norway U17
Nationalyears2:2013
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalteam3:Norway U19
Nationalyears3:2014–2015
Nationalcaps3:11
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalteam4:Norway U23
Nationalyears4:2016–2020
Nationalcaps4:13
Nationalgoals4:2
Nationalteam5:Norway
Nationalyears5:2017–
Nationalcaps5:12
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:8 October 2022
Nationalteam-Update:8 October 2022

Kristine Bjørdal Leine (born 6 August 1996) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Rosenborg and the Norway national team.

Career

Club

On 20 July 2019, Reading announced the signing of Leine.[1]

In October 2011, at the age of 15, she played her first game for Norwegian club Fortuna Ålesund, for whom she played in second division (1. Divisjon) and Norwegian Championship games until the 2014/15 season. She then moved to first division club Røa IL. During her time there, she made her debut for the national team on November 28, 2017 in the game against Canada.

In addition to her work as a soccer player, she began training as a nurse. The fact that she initially did not get any time off from her school in 2018 to go to the national team's World Cup qualifiers caused a stir in the media. Her teammates Maren Mjelde and Maria Thorisdottir then criticized the fact that many female soccer players find it difficult to combine their education and sport.[2]  She finally dropped out of her training later due to the incompatibility with her sporting career.[3]

Finally, in May 2019, she was not called up to the national team squad for the World Cup in France. This was seen as a surprising decision by coach Martin Sjögren. In June 2019 it was announced that she was leaving Røa IL for English Premier League club Reading.[4]  There she played eleven games in the season that was prematurely canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After two seasons with the English club, it was announced in May 2021 that she would join Rosenborg BK Kvinner.

In 2021/22 UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying, she lost with Rosenborg to Levante UD in the first-round final, which they lost 4-3 after extra time, meaning they missed the inaugural group stage. They also lost to a Spanish representative, this time Real Madrid, in qualifying for the 2022/23 UEFA Women's Champions League group stage.

Career statistics

Club

As of 19 May 2021.[5]

ClubSeasonLeagueLeague CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Røa2015Toppserien11000110
201620100201
201722100221
201822000220
2019900090
Total84200842
Reading2019-20FA WSL11151162
2020-2118030210
Total29181372
Career total1133811214

International

As of 16 July 2021.

National teamYearAppsGoals
Norway201710
201850
201940
202110

Honours

International

Algarve Cup

2019

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Norwegian international Leine joins Royals Women. www.readingfc.co.uk. 2019-07-20. 21 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190621173127/https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2019/june/norwegian-international-leine-joins-royals-women/. live.
  2. Web site: Agledal . Henrik Halvorsen . 2018-08-23 . Mjelde og Thorisdottir reagerer på skolens landslagsnekt . 2023-05-06 . NRK . nb-NO . 6 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230506064224/https://www.nrk.no/sport/mjelde-og-thorisdottir-reagerer-pa-skolens-landslagsnekt-1.14178332 . live .
  3. Web site: 2018-11-01 . Landslags-Leine ga opp å bli sykepleier: – Det kom mange tårer . 2023-05-06 . www.vg.no . nb . 28 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128041951/https://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/i/ddeEQo/landslags-leine-ga-opp-aa-bli-sykepleier-det-kom-mange-taarer . live .
  4. Web site: Jørnholt . Malin . 2019-06-21 . Vraket til VM – klar for engelsk toppklubb . 2023-05-06 . NRK . nb-NO . 6 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230506064229/https://www.nrk.no/sport/vraket-til-vm-_-klar-for-engelsk-toppklubb-1.14597603 . live .
  5. Web site: Norway - K. Leine - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. 2021-01-29. int.soccerway.com. 26 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210426195036/https://int.soccerway.com/players/kristine-leine/264283/. live.