There are few superlatives in any language that would do the achievements of Charlotta Eva Schelin justice. A giant of the women’s game, her goal scoring prowess, grit in the face of injury, and off-field charm and grace serve as an inspiration to all soccer players regardless of gender.
Early Years
Born on Feb. 27, 1984 in a suburb of Stockholm, she grew up outside Gothenburg on Sweden’s west coast. Her older sister Camilla first inspired her to play soccer; together they played for local clubs Hällesåkers IF and Mölnlycke IF. Against her doctor’s orders, she continued to play after being diagnosed with a spine condition, undergoing intensive conditioning to build up her strength.
Professional Career
Domestic Fame
In 2001, at 17 years old, Lotte made her senior Damallsvenskan debut for local women’s league club Göteborg FC. After a relatively quiet first season where she scored eight goals, an injury kept her on the sidelines until the 2003-04 season.
Over the next five years, Lotte’s career exploded. She averaged a whopping 0.92 goals per game, and was awarded a host of accolades and awards including: Breakthrough Player of the Year (2004), Forward of the Year, Göteborg FC Team MVP, a Diamantbollen award (all four in 2006). Göteborg won the Damallsvenskan title in 2006, and she was the top scorer in that year and 2007.
A Move Abroad
During the 2008 Summer Olympics there were rumors linking Schelin to the U.S.-based Women’s Professional League, but to everyone’s surprise she instead announced a move to Olympique Lyonnais in the French Féminine D1. Having missed a number of months due to a thigh injury, and plagued by other ailments, her start at Lyon was less than auspicious. But she quickly regained her fitness and form and helped the club win the league title.
Over the next eight seasons at Lyon Schelin would repeat this cycle of injury, recovery and excellence. Lyon would win seven more consecutive league titles, as well as five league Cups and three UEFA Champions League trophies. When she announced her departure at the conclusion of the 2016 season, she had scored 225 goals in 225 games and was the top scorer in the Féminine D1 in 2013 and 2015.
Back to Sweden
Schelin’s return to the Damallsvenskan was not to her previous club, but FC Rosengård of Malmö, who had qualified for the Champions League. The injuries accrued over her previous fifteen years of club and international duty would significantly impact her availability. They did not, however, reduce her efficiency, as she scored 14 times over 21 games for the club in two seasons. Following another injury in 2017, she announced her retirement.
International Career
Schelin first donned Sweden’s yellow and blue playing for the U-16s. A number of appearances for the U-18 and U-21 squads followed before her senior debut in 2004, a few days after she turned 20. Until her retirement after the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 Schelin earned 175 caps and scored 88 goals, Sweden’s all-time women’s leader. Sadly, she never won an international trophy, but has spoken how proud she is of her silver medal from the 2016 Olympic Games.
