Kristine Bjørdal Leine

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.

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. She finally dropped out of her training later due to the incompatibility with her sporting career.

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. 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.

International As of 16 July 2021. National teamYearAppsGoalsNorway201710201850201940202110

Honours

International Algarve Cup: 2019