Maria Thorisdottir Explained

Maria Thorisdottir
Birth Date:5 June 1993
Birth Place:Stavanger, Norway[1]
Height:1.70 m
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Brighton & Hove Albion
Clubnumber:2
Youthclubs1:Klepp
Years1:2010–2017
Clubs1:Klepp
Caps1:71
Goals1:8
Years2:2012
Clubs2:Klepp II
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2017–2021
Clubs3:Chelsea
Caps3:22
Goals3:1
Years4:2021–2023
Caps4:31
Goals4:1
Years5:2023–
Caps5:26
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2008
Nationalteam1:Norway U15
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2008–2009
Nationalteam2:Norway U16
Nationalcaps2:16
Nationalgoals2:6
Nationalyears3:2009–2010
Nationalcaps3:8
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2010–2011
Nationalcaps4:17
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2012
Nationalteam5:Norway U20
Nationalcaps5:5
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2015
Nationalteam6:Norway U23
Nationalcaps6:3
Nationalgoals6:0
Nationalyears7:2015–
Nationalteam7:Norway
Nationalcaps7:71
Nationalgoals7:3
Club-Update:8 November 2024
Nationalteam-Update:16 July 2024

Maria Thorisdottir (is|Maria Þórisdóttir; born 5 June 1993) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Brighton & Hove Albion of the English Women's Super League and the Norway national team.[2] Prior to fully focusing on football, she also played handball in the Eliteserien for Sola and Stabæk.[3] [4]

Club career

Klepp

Thorisdottir began her career at Norwegian first division team Klepp IL. Originally a midfielder or striker within the Klepp youth system, she first transitioned to centre-back while with the youth national team.[4] She made her senior debut as a 66th-minute substitute on 5 April 2010 in a 0–0 draw with Amazon Grimstad.[5] She scored her first goal for the club on 29 August 2010, a 90th-minute consolation goal in a 3–1 defeat to Arna-Bjørnar.[6]

In September 2012 Thorisdottir decided to retire from football due to injury, most notably citing her struggle with patellar tendinitis.[7] During this spell she began playing handball, signing for Stabæk in June 2013.[8]

In 2014, Thorisdottir made the decision to return to football and began training with Klepp again. Two years since her last appearance she made her comeback on 6 August 2014, starting in a 1–0 Norwegian Cup victory over Arna-Bjørnar.[9] In August 2015 Thorisdottir was sidelined again, this time with a torn ankle ligament. Close to a return, Thorisdottir suffered a further setback when doctors picked up a rare and complicated issue with the foot that would be "potentially career-threatening" if left untreated.[10] She underwent surgery in November 2015, keeping her out for the 2016 season.[7] [11]

A perpetual mid-table team during her tenure, Klepp earned their highest finish position in 12 seasons when Thorisdottir returned in 2017, ending the season in fourth-place in her final season with the club.[12]

Chelsea

In September 2017, Thorisdottir left Klepp to sign a two-year contract with English FA WSL team Chelsea.[13] She made her first appearance for the club on 24 September 2017 in a 6–0 WSL win over Bristol City. In her first season with the club Thorisdottir made 10 league appearances as Chelsea won the 2017–18 FA WSL title.[14] She also made three appearances in the FA Cup including as a substitute in the final as Chelsea beat Arsenal 3–1.[15]

In her second season at Chelsea, Thorisdottir scored her first goal for the club on 12 September 2018 in a UEFA Champions League Round of 32 5–0 victory over SFK 2000 Sarajevo.[16] In October 2018, she suffered a concussion during a game which kept her out until May 2019.[17] In June 2019, she renewed her contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2021.[18] [19]

Manchester United

On 22 January 2021, Thorisdottir signed for Manchester United from Chelsea on a two-and-a-half-year contract with an option to extend for a further year.[20] [21] Two weeks later, she made her debut in a 2–0 league defeat to Reading.[22]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 30 August 2023, Brighton & Hove Albion announced the signing of Thorisdottir.[23]

International career

Youth

Thorisdottir went through all Norwegian junior teams beginning in 2008 at under-15 level. She was part of the under-17 team during 2009 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification and was called up to the finals in Nyon, Switzerland where Norway finished in fourth place.[24] A year later, she was again part of the under-17s as Norway proceeded to the second round of 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification before losing out to Germany.

At under-19 level Thorisdottir was part of the team at the 2011 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship, reaching the tournament final before losing 8–1 to Germany.[25] The tournament also acted as qualification for the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, only the second time Norway had qualified. Thorisdottir was part of the squad in Japan, making three appearances as Norway reached the quarter-finals before meeting Germany again and losing 4–0.[26] Following the tournament, Thorisdottir announced her retirement from football due to injuries.[7] Having reignited her club career with Klepp, she made a return to international football three years later, receiving a call-up to the under-23 team for the La Manga U23 invitational against Japan and the United States in February 2015.[27]

Senior

On 16 February 2015, Thorisdottir was called-up to the senior team for the first time as part of the 2015 Algarve Cup squad.[28] On 6 March 2015, just four days after appearing for the under-23 team in La Manga, Thorisdottir made her senior international debut starting in a 1–0 victory over Iceland.[29] She had earlier been approached to play for Iceland but turned it down in the hope of making the Norwegian team.[30] [31] Despite this she described how special it was to debut against the country of her father's birth that she visited every summer to stay with her grandparents.[32]

On 14 May 2015, she was named to the squad for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[33] After sitting out the opening group game, she made her World Cup debut in a 1–1 draw with Germany.[34] Norway progressed from the group stage before being eliminated by England in the Round of 16.[35] Despite missing the entire qualification campaign with injuries, Thorisdottir was named in the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2017.[36] Having at least reached the semi-finals in the past four editions, Norway surprisingly crashed out bottom of the group having lost all three games, the first time they had failed to pick up any points at the tournament.[37] Thorisdottir played the full 90 minutes in group games against both eventual finalist Denmark and Netherlands. In January 2018, she scored her first senior international goal in a 3–0 friendly win over Scotland.[38] Having stayed fit enough to start all 8 of Norway's 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification matches in which the team topped a group including the Netherlands, Thorisdottir was named to the final tournament squad in May 2019.[39] She played every minute of all five of Norway's games in France before they were once again eliminated by England, this time at the quarter-final stage.[40] [41]

Thorisdottir was part of the squad that was called up to the UEFA Women's Euro 2022.[42]

Personal life

Thorisdottir was born in Norway to a Norwegian mother and an Icelandic father, Þórir Hergeirsson,[43] appointed coach of the Norway women's national handball team in 2009.[27] [44] Her father's extended family lives in Iceland.[32]

During her childhood, she was part of a juggling group and performed with different companies.[45]

Thorisdottir got a golden retriever called Theo in 2015 and has regularly commented on the positive impact owning a dog has had on her mental health, especially during the two-year spell she had battling frequent injuries.[46] [47]

Career statistics

Club

[48] [49]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2010Toppserien17100——171
201114410——154
20127100——71
20130000——00
20145010——60
201514121——162
20160000——00
201714130——171
Total71871——789
Chelsea2017–18FA WSL100304070240
2018–1950003021101
2019–20510030—81
2020–212000201050
Total22130120101472
Manchester United2020–21WSL602000—80
2021–222012050—271
2022–23501040—100
Total3115090—451
Brighton & Hove Albion2023–24WSL2002040—260
2024–25600000—60
Total2602040—320
Career total1501017125010120212

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Norway201580
201600
2017120
2018111
2019101
202050
202181
2022100
202330
202440
Total713

Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Thorisdottir goal.

List of international goals scored by Maria Thorisdottir
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1La Manga Stadium, La Manga, Spain3–03–0Friendly
2Borisov Arena, Barysaw, Belarus3–17–1Euro 2022 qualifying
3Arena Kombëtare, Tirana, Albania3–07–02023 World Cup qualification

Honours

Chelsea

2017–18, 2019–20

2018

2020

2020

Manchester United

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: European Handball Federation - Maria Thorisdottir . history.eurohandball.com . 16 January 2021 . 2 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702043051/http://history.eurohandball.com/ech/women/2014/player/556183/MariaThorisdottir . live .
  2. News: Anton Ingi Leifsson . "70% af jörðinni er þakið vatni, restin er María Þórisdóttir" . 9 June 2019 . . 9 June 2019 . is . 1 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190701234509/https://www.visir.is/g/2019190608917/-70-af-jordinni-er-thakid-vatni-restin-er-maria-thorisdottir- . live .
  3. News: Øyvind Knoph Askeland . Håndball-sjefens datter med i VM-troppen: Thorisdottir: – Går aldri tilbake til håndballen . 9 June 2019 . . 13 May 2015 . no . 9 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609163045/https://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/i/RLGWW/haandball-sjefens-datter-med-i-vm-troppen-thorisdottir-gaar-aldri-tilbake-til-haandballen . live .
  4. News: Stelpa frá Selfossi í norska landsliðinu í fótbolta . 9 June 2019 . . 1 July 2008 . is . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609155023/https://www.arborg.is/stelpa-fra-selfossi-i-norska-landslidinu-i-fotbolta/ . 9 June 2019 . dead.
  5. Web site: Fotballforbund . Norges . Klepp - Amazon Grimstad - 05.04.2010 15.00 . fotball.no - Norges Fotballforbund . no . 16 January 2021 . 2 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702042101/https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/kamp/?fiksId=3350845 . live .
  6. Web site: Fotballforbund . Norges . Klepp - Arna-Bjørnar - 29.08.2010 15.00 . fotball.no - Norges Fotballforbund . no . 16 January 2021 . 2 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702042100/https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/kamp/?fiksId=3350926 . live .
  7. Web site: Larsen . Eirin . Karrieren kan være over for Maria Thorisdottir . NRK . no . 23 March 2016 . 16 January 2021 . 13 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220213130229/https://www.nrk.no/rogaland/karrieren-kan-vaere-over-for-maria-thorisdottir-1.12869070 . live .
  8. Web site: Gulbrandsen . Ragnhild . Henter landslagssjefens datter . www.budstikka.no . no . 12 June 2013 . 16 January 2021 . 13 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220213130236/https://www.budstikka.no/haandball/henter-landslagssjefens-datter/480763!/ . dead .
  9. Web site: Fotballforbund . Norges . Klepp - Arna-Bjørnar - 06.08.2014 18.00 . fotball.no - Norges Fotballforbund . no . 16 January 2021 . 12 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012163927/https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/kamp/?fiksId=6083099 . live .
  10. Web site: Maria Thorisdottir talks about her love for football and willingness to fight for her place on the pitch . VAVEL . 24 September 2018 . 16 January 2021 . 19 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419071644/https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2017/03/03/womens-football/761245-maria-thorisdottir-talks-about-her-love-for-football-and-willingness-to-fight-for-her-place-on-the-pitch.html . live .
  11. Web site: Thorisdottir operert . NRK . no . 13 November 2015 . 16 January 2021 . 13 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220213130248/https://www.nrk.no/sport/thorisdottir-operert--1.12651913 . live .
  12. Web site: Klepp med imponerende seier – jakter beste plassering på 12 år . www.aftenposten.no . 8 October 2017 . no . 16 January 2021 . 12 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012165426/https://www.aftenposten.no/sport/fotball/i/AdEyjz/klepp-med-imponerende-seier-jakter-beste-plassering-paa-12-aar . live .
  13. News: Chelsea sign defender Thorisdottir . BBC Sport . 16 January 2021 . 2 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702042058/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41178716 . live .
  14. Web site: Brookes . Chris . Why Emma Hayes' Chelsea are best FA WSL team in history . SheKicks . 18 May 2018 . 16 January 2021 . 17 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517133757/https://shekicks.net/comment-emma-hayes-chelsea-are-best-fa-wsl-team-in-history/ . live .
  15. News: Arsenal Women 1-3 Chelsea Ladies . BBC Sport . 16 January 2021 . 13 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210113235456/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43951535 . live .
  16. Web site: Sarajevo-Chelsea UEFA Women's Champions League . UEFA.com . 16 January 2021 . 12 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012163923/https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/match/2025459--sarajevo-vs-chelsea/?referrer=/womenschampionsleague/season=2019/matches/round=2001002/match=2025459/index . live .
  17. News: Fyrsti leikur Maríu í hálft ár . 9 June 2019 . . 8 May 2019 . is . 9 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609155024/https://www.mbl.is/sport/enski/2019/05/08/fyrsti_leikur_mariu_i_halft_ar/ . live .
  18. News: Ívan Guðjón Baldursson . María Þórisdóttir framlengir við Chelsea . 9 June 2019 . . 15 February 2019 . is . 9 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609155026/https://www.fotbolti.net/news/15-02-2019/maria-thorisdottir-framlengir-vid-chelsea . live .
  19. News: Maria Thorisdottir: Chelsea Women defender signs new deal to 2021 . 9 June 2019 . . 15 February 2019 . 9 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609155025/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47253630 . live .
  20. News: Man Utd sign Thorisdottir from Chelsea . BBC Sport . 22 January 2021 . 8 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230108101021/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55763950 . live .
  21. Web site: United Women sign Maria Thorisdottir . www.manutd.com . 22 January 2021 . 22 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122100728/https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-women-complete-the-signing-of-maria-thorisdottir . live .
  22. News: Manchester United Women 0–2 Reading Women: Royals stun title-chasing United . 27 March 2021 . BBC Sport . 7 February 2021 . 14 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210214055430/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55875648 . live .
  23. Web site: Thorisdóttir signs for Albion from Manchester United . www.brightonandhovealbion.com . 30 August 2023 . 30 August 2023 . 30 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230830171538/https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/3660194/thorisdottir-signs-for-albion-from-manchester-united/ . live .
  24. Web site: European Women U-17 Championship 2008–09 . Rsssf.com . 17 September 2010 . 3 June 2015 . 13 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220713070355/https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eur-women-u17-09.html . live .
  25. Web site: Women's Under-19 2011 – Norway-Germany – . 11 June 2011 . Uefa.com . 3 June 2015 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030134023/https://www.uefa.com/womensunder19/matches/season=2011/round=2000097/match=2008046/postmatch/report/index.html . live .
  26. Web site: FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012 – Overview . FIFA.com . 3 June 2015 . 27 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240127222740/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/womens/u20womensworldcup/japan2012/match-center . live .
  27. News: Opsal . Signe . Fossum . Øystein . 6 March 2015 . Islandske Maria Thorisdottir (22) debuterte mot Island . . . 3 June 2015 . no . 10 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170110161801/https://www.nrk.no/sport/islandske-maria-thorisdottir-_22_-debuterte-mot-island-1.12246206 . live .
  28. Web site: A-landslagstropp til Algarve Cup – fotball.no – Norges Fotballforbund . https://archive.today/20150309154021/http://www.fotball.no/Landslag_og_toppfotball/Landslag/A-kvinner/2015/Landslagstropp-til-Algarve-Cup/ . dead . 9 March 2015 . Fotball.no . 3 June 2015.
  29. News: María byrjar gegn Íslandi . 9 June 2019 . . 6 March 2015 . is . 9 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609155023/https://www.mbl.is/sport/efstadeild/2015/03/06/maria_byrjar_gegn_islandi_2/ . live .
  30. News: Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson . Ísland eða Noregur? María Þórsdóttir í sérstakri stöðu í kvöld . 9 June 2019 . . 23 January 2018 . is . 9 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609162042/https://www.visir.is/g/2018180129598 . live .
  31. News: Ingvi Þór Sæmundsson . Maríu Þórisdóttur bauðst að spila fyrir Ísland . 9 June 2019 . . 28 December 2016 . is . 9 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609155025/https://www.visir.is/g/2016161228955 . live .
  32. News: Gunnar Birgisson . María: Mjög sérstakt að spila við Ísland . 9 June 2019 . . is . 9 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609160535/https://www.ruv.is/frett/maria-mjog-serstakt-ad-spila-vid-island . live .
  33. Web site: Her er Norges VM-tropp – fotball.no – Norges Fotballforbund . https://archive.today/20150514134227/http://www.fotball.no/Landslag_og_toppfotball/Landslag/A-kvinner/2015/Disse-spillerne-er-klare-for-Canada-VM/ . dead . 14 May 2015 . Fotball.no . 3 June 2015.
  34. News: Germany Women 1-1 Norway Women . BBC Sport . 16 January 2021 . 5 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190805215801/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33044325 . live .
  35. Web site: Association . The Football . Bronze stunner seals place in World Cup quarter final . www.thefa.com . 16 January 2021 . 20 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420225916/https://www.thefa.com/news/2015/jun/22/world-cup-canada-ottawa-second-round-norway-match-report . live .
  36. Web site: Her er Norges EM-tropp. 28 June 2017. fotball.no. 16 January 2021. 11 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201011024317/https://www.fotball.no/landslag/norge-a-kvinner/2017/her-er-norges-em-tropp/. live.
  37. Web site: Euro 2017: Holland beat Belgium to qualify as Norway crash out to Denmark . the Guardian . 24 July 2017 . 16 January 2021 . 27 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240127222737/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/24/euro-2017-holland-belgium-women-norway-denmark-report . live .
  38. News: Scotland women lose friendly to Norway . BBC Sport . 16 January 2021 . 20 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220520144042/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42755155 . live .
  39. Web site: Her er Norges VM-tropp . no . Christer . Madsen . . 2 May 2019 . 16 January 2021 . 2 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190502144429/https://www.fotball.no/landslag/norge-a-kvinner/2019/her-er-norges-vm-tropp/ . live .
  40. News: Ruthless England beat Norway to reach semis . BBC Sport . 16 January 2021 . 13 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210113225858/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48766811 . live .
  41. Web site: FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 – Norway . https://web.archive.org/web/20190321030245/https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/teams/team/1882882/ . dead . 21 March 2019 . FIFA.com . 13 June 2019.
  42. Web site: Se Norges EM-tropp . Norges Fotballforbund . no.
  43. News: Hafliði Breiðfjörð . Íslensk stúlka í landsliði Noregs – Skemmtilegt að vera íslensk . 9 June 2019 . . 1 July 2008 . is . 27 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240127222646/https://www.fotbolti.net/fullStory.php?id=63429 . live .
  44. News: Eiríkur Stefán Ásgeirsson . Dóttir Þóris: Þetta verður sérstakur leikur fyrir fjölskylduna . 9 June 2019 . . 6 December 2011 . is . 9 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609155021/https://www.visir.is/g/2011111209331 . live .
  45. Web site: Getting to know Chelsea Women: Maria Thorisdottir . 21 May 2020 . 9 April 2020 . 27 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240127222714/https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/getting-to-know-chelsea-women--maria-thorisdottir1 . live .
  46. Web site: Da det meste var mørkt, møtte hun Theo. Han kom inn og endret alt for Maria Thorisdottir. . www.aftenposten.no . 15 June 2019 . no . 16 January 2021 . 13 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210413174527/https://www.aftenposten.no/sport/fotball/i/rA90M3/da-det-meste-var-moerkt-moette-hun-theo-han-kom-inn-og-endret-alt-for . live .
  47. Web site: O'Meara . Kim . Maria Thorisdottir: My Dog's the Best Therapist . 25 April 2022 . 16 January 2021 . 19 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210119122122/https://www.k9magazine.com/maria-thorisdottir/ . live .
  48. Web site: Maria Thorisdottir Profil . 16 May 2022 . Norges Fotballforbund . no . 27 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220527134159/https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/person/profil/?fiksId=3161407 . live .
  49. Web site: M. Thorisdottir – Soccerway profile . soccerway.com . 16 May 2022 . 26 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220626014854/https://int.soccerway.com/players/maria-thorisdottir/127824/ . live .

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