Lisa Naalsund Explained

Lisa Naalsund
Fullname:Lisa Fjeldstad Naalsund
Birth Date:1995 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Bergen, Norway[1]
Height:1.69 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Manchester United
Clubnumber:16
Youthyears1:2002–2011
Youthclubs1:Tertnes[2]
Youthyears2:2012
Youthclubs2:Arna-Bjørnar
Years1:2012–2018
Clubs1:Arna-Bjørnar
Caps1:139
Goals1:33
Years2:2019–2022
Clubs2:Brann
Caps2:77
Goals2:14
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Manchester United
Caps3:18
Goals3:2
Nationalyears1:2010
Nationalteam1:Norway U15
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2011
Nationalteam2:Norway U16
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2011–2012
Nationalteam3:Norway U17
Nationalcaps3:8
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2012–2014
Nationalteam4:Norway U19
Nationalcaps4:29
Nationalgoals4:2
Nationalyears5:2015–2019
Nationalteam5:Norway U23
Nationalcaps5:16
Nationalgoals5:1
Nationalyears6:2021–
Nationalteam6:Norway
Nationalcaps6:22
Nationalgoals6:0
Pcupdate:18 May 2024
Ntupdate:16 July 2024

Lisa Fjeldstad Naalsund (born 11 June 1995) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United of the English Women's Super League and the Norway national team.[3]

Club career

Arna-Bjørnar

Naalsund began playing football at the age of 6 for local club Tertnes. She also played handball until secondary school.[4] Ahead of the 2012 season, she joined Arna-Bjørnar. On 14 April 2012, Naalsund made her senior debut for the club when she started the season opener, a 1–1 draw with Røa IL. She played 67 minutes before being substituted for fellow offseason arrival Vilde Bøe Risa, also making her senior debut.[5] She scored her first senior goal on 9 June 2012 during a 2–0 win over Klepp IL. In her first season with the club, Naalsund played in all 22 Toppserien matches including 18 starts and scored four goals.[6] During her first three seasons, Naalsund played in all but one league match as Arna-Bjørnar finished third in all three seasons, equalling the team's record highest finish position. In seven years, Naalsund was a mainstay of Arna-Bjørnar and made 157 appearances in all competitions.

Sandviken/Brann

Ahead of the 2019 season, Naalsund signed for Sandviken (rebranded Brann in 2022).[7] In 2020, Naalsund made 18 league appearances as she was named to the Toppserien Team of the Year.[8] Having previously recorded a team-record best 4th-place finish the previous three seasons in a row, Sandviken won the 2021 Toppserien league title for the first time. Naalsund was once again named to the team of the season having made 18 appearances and scored five goals.[9] In 2022, the team defended their league title and also won the Norwegian Women's Cup for the first time.

Manchester United

On 24 January 2023, Naalsund signed for English Women's Super League club Manchester United on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[10] Having joined while working through fitness issues, Naalsund had to wait until 19 March 2023 to make her debut, starting in an FA Cup quarter-final against second division team Lewes. She started the game but was substituted off after 25 minutes with a hamstring problem.

International career

Youth

Naalsund first represented Norway at under-15 level in 2010. She continued to progress as a youth international, participating in 2012 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification and attended her first tournament finals stage at the 2013 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship. The following year she was recalled to the squad as Norway hosted the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship.

Senior

In November 2017, Naalsund received her first senior international call-up for Norway for a friendly against Canada but was an unused substitute.[11] [12]

Having yet to be capped, Naalsund was named as an injury replacement for Emilie Haavi for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[13] However, due to squad regulations, Naalsund could not be registered and had to remain a training player ineligible to play in the tournament.[4]

Naalsund made her senior international debut for the Norway on 10 June 2021, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute for Vilde Bøe Risa in a friendly 1–0 loss against Sweden.[14]

On 7 June 2022, Naalsund was named to the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2022.[15] However, she suffered a leg injury during a pre-tournament friendly against New Zealand on 25 June and was replaced by Thea Bjelde.[16]

Career statistics

Club

[17] [6]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arna-Bjørnar2012Toppserien22440264
201321130241
201422620246
201510410114
201621721238
201721430244
201822731258
Total13933182000015735
Brann2019Toppserien22523248
202018331214
202118550235
20221915040281
Total771415400409618
Manchester United2022–23WSL10100020
2023–24172414121275
Total182514121295
Career total23449387416128258

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Norway202130
202260
202350
202480
Total220

Honours

Sandviken/Brann

2021, 2022

2022

Manchester United

2023–24;[18] runner-up: 2022–23[19]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lisa Naalsund. World Football . 16 September 2021.
  2. News: Uttak, talentleir fotball. 26 May 2010. Bergens Tidende. 46. no.
  3. Web site: Lisa Naalsund. Playmaker Stats . 16 September 2021.
  4. Web site: Larsen . Alexander . Lisa Naalsund: Drømmen om utlandet og landslagsspill . Norske Fotballkvinner . no . 5 October 2020.
  5. Web site: Røa - Arna-Bjørnar - 14.04.2012 15.00 . Norges Fotballforbund . no.
  6. Web site: Lisa Naalsund - Soccerway . Soccerway.
  7. Web site: Sandviken henter tre nye spillere fra byrival Arna-Bjørnar . www.aftenposten.no . no . 20 December 2018.
  8. Web site: Emilie Haavi kåres til Årets spiller av NTB og OBOS . Toppserien . no . 17 December 2020.
  9. Web site: Årets lag i Toppserien 2021 . Norske Fotballkvinner . no . 15 November 2021.
  10. Web site: 24 January 2023 . United Women sign Lisa Naalsund . 28 January 2023 . www.manutd.com.
  11. Web site: Christensen . Stine . Tatt ut til sin første landskamp . Bergensavisen . no . 10 November 2017.
  12. Web site: Canada vs. Norway - 28 November 2017 - Soccerway . uk.soccerway.com.
  13. Web site: No har nesten halvparten av VM-spelarane vore i Arna-Bjørnar . www.aftenposten.no . no . 21 June 2019.
  14. Web site: Sweden vs Norway. Global Sports Archive . 16 September 2021.
  15. Web site: Se Norges EM-tropp . Norges Fotballforbund . no.
  16. Web site: Lisa Naalsund mister EM etter strekkskade . Norges Fotballforbund . no.
  17. Web site: Lisa Naalsund - Profil . Norges Fotballforbund . no.
  18. Web site: Sanders . Emma . 12 May 2024 . Women's FA Cup final: Manchester United beat Tottenham to win first major trophy . 12 May 2024 . BBC Sport .
  19. News: Wrack . Suzanne . 14 May 2023 . Chelsea claim FA Cup hat-trick after Sam Kerr sees off Manchester United . The Guardian . 29 November 2023 . 0261-3077.