Theresa Eslund

Theresa Eslund (née Nielsen; born 20 July 1986) is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a defender for Brøndby IF in the Danish A-Liga and the Danish national team. She is currently the Brøndby IF Head of Player Development.^[2]

Theresa Eslund

Eslund in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Theresa Eslund
Birth name	Theresa Nielsen[1]
Date of birth	(1986-07-20) 20 July 1986 (age 39)
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s)	Right back
Youth career
	Rikken
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
0000–2002	Hvidovre IF
2003–2008	Ballerup-Skovlunde
2009–2017	Brøndby IF	87	(13)
2017	Vålerenga	22	(2)
2018–2019	Reign FC	41	(1)
2018–2019	→ Melbourne City (loan)	12	(0)
2020–2021	Brøndby IF	22	(2)
International career
2002–2003	Denmark U-17	15	(3)
2006	Denmark U-21	4	(0)
2009	Denmark U-23	2	(1)
2008–2020	Denmark	133	(5)
Medal record Women's football Representing  Denmark UEFA Women's Championship 2017 Netherlands Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Eslund previously played for Reign FC of the American National Women's Soccer League, Melbourne City of the Australian W-League, and Vålerenga in Norway's Toppserien. She was named Danish Women's Footballer of the Year in 2012. Eslund announced her player retirement in 2021, after more than 20 years as a footballer.^[3]

Early life

Raised in Valby, Eslund began playing football at age six on a team known as Rikken.^[4][5]

Club career

Brøndby IF, 2009–2016

In 2012, Eslund was named Danish Women's Footballer of the Year after helping Brøndby IF to a league and cup double.^[6]

Vålerenga, 2017

In January 2017, Eslund signed with Norwegian club, Vålerenga in Oslo, marking her first time playing for a foreign club.^[7] Eslund made 22 appearances for Vålerenga and scored two goals during the 2017 season.^[8] She scored her first goal for Vålerenga in the 47th minute of a match against Kolbotn resulting in a 2–0 win.^[9] The club finished in seventh place with a 10–8–4 record.^[10] Eslund was named one of the top 200 players in the world for 2017 by The Offside Rule, a podcast by The Guardian.^[11]

Reign FC, 2018–2019

Eslund signed with American side Reign FC ahead of the 2018 National Women's Soccer League season in January 2018.^[12][13] She made her debut for Seattle as a starting defender during the home opener — a 2–1 win over the Washington Spirit on 24 March.^[14]

Return to Brøndby IF

Eslund returned to Brøndby IF on a two-year contract in 2020, were the team ended up at second place in the league.^[15]

International career

Nielsen during the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 semi-final against Austria.

At age 17, Eslund competed with the Denmark's under-17 national team at the 2003 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival. She scored in the final as Denmark beat Switzerland on penalties after a 1–1 draw at Stade Sébastien Charléty in Paris.^[16]

Eslund made her senior international debut for Denmark in March 2008, during the team's 1–0 win over Germany at the 2008 Algarve Cup.^[17]

She was called up to Kenneth Heiner-Møller's squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013^[18] and she was also part of Danish squad, who received silver at the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 in Netherlands.^[19]

Honours

Brøndby IF

• Elitedivisionen: Winner 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 ^[8]
• Danish Women's Cup: Winner 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017^[8]

Denmark

• UEFA Women's Euro 2017 runners-up

Individual

• UEFA Women's Euro 2017 Best XI^[20]
• Toppserien Defender of the Year: 2017^[21]

Personal

Formerly known as Theresa Nielsen, Eslund began using her married name in 2020.^[22]