On Women’s Football Tour

 My Moments with Legends Volume 31-40 Volume 31: Laura Kalmari The Northern Elegance. The Finnish Flame. Before the spotlights found Scandinavia, Laura Kalmari was already there  running with purpose, scoring with instinct, and carrying Finland forward with quiet determination. She played in an era of fog. Few broadcasts. Few headlines. But Kalmari didn’t wait for recognition. She just played. For Finland. For Malmö. For the early NWSL. She was the kind of forward who didn’t need tricks. She needed timing. And she had it. I never forgot the calm in her movement, the way she opened space with half a shoulder drop, the respect she drew from defenders — not with words, but with goals. You didn’t chase her legacy  you rediscovered it, like a photo you almost forgot you had. And then you realise: without her, Finland doesn’t dream like it does now. Laura Kalmari  the first great Finnish star. And still, the one you measure others against. Volume ...

 Meghan Klingenberg  small body, big impact They said she was too small. So she made herself impossible to ignore. Meghan Klingenberg — all 155 centimeters of fire, flair and fight. Left back with a forward's hunger. Winger's feet. Warrior's heart. “She didn’t walk onto the field. She stormed in — grin first.”   The Energy You Felt Before the Game Even Began She tackled like she was 6 feet tall. Served crosses like a sniper. Pressed like her lungs had no limit. And if the game got gritty? Kling was grittier. But always with spark. Always with swag. A player that made "being tough" look joyful. 2015 World Cup Champion Remember that backline? Klingenberg. Sauerbrunn. Johnston. Krieger. Immovable. She didn’t just hold her ground. She owned it. That block against Gaëtane Thiney? Pure reflex. Pure guts. Pure Kling. Style On and Off the Pitch With tattoos, headbands, and a gaze that said “try me.” She gave the USWNT edge. She gave the NWSL ...

  Een keeperstrainer op het verkeerde moment weg – en hoe nu verder? Vlak voor het EK verliezen de Red Flames hun keeperstrainer Jan Van Steenberghe, die de overstap maakt naar STVV. Hoewel zijn contract liep tot na het toernooi, kreeg hij toestemming om nu al te vertrekken. Dat is bijzonder klein van STVV. Ze hadden dit perfect kunnen regelen na het EK. Een ploeg die zich voorbereidt op het belangrijkste toernooi in jaren verdient rust, geen leegte. De Flames — en vooral de keepsters — blijven nu achter zonder hun vertrouwenspersoon, net nu mentale rust en stabiliteit cruciaal zijn. De federatie probeert het intern op te vangen. En dat is goed. Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir hoeft nu geen revolutie. Ze heeft haar groep. Die moeten het samen doen. Maar na het EK? Dan mag men groter denken. En durven bellen. Mogelijke opvolgers als keeperstrainer (na het EK): ⭐ De droomkandidaat: Hedvig Lindahl Een levende legende. Mentor, leider, voorbeeld. Spreekt de taal van de top én van de mens. Als zi...

 Volume 1-10  here Volume 11-20  here Volume 21: Patrícia Morais Portugal’s Last Line. Always First in Heart. She stood for Portugal when few believed. Before the Euros. Before the big stages. Back when crowds were thin, and faith was thinner. Patrícia Morais stood. And saved. Not just goals — but standards . She showed what it meant to wear that shirt. To give every inch. Every dive. Every shout. Always composed. Always focused. With hands like stone and a heart that never wavered. When I met her, there was no arrogance. Just calm. That keeper calm. The kind you can't teach — only become , over years of reps and heartbreak and belief. She took the photo like she takes crosses: Decisive. No fuss. Solid. Patrícia didn’t ask for attention. She earned respect — from France to Portugal, from Braga to the world. And when the big tournaments finally came, and Portugal walked into the arena, she was ready. Because she'd been ready all along. Patrícia Mora...

  Happy Birthday, Katrine Veje! Elegant on the ball, versatile across the pitch — you’ve worn so many shirts, but always with the same class. From Denmark to Arsenal, Montpellier, Rosengård and back, you’ve brought pace, calm, and vision to every team you've graced. A left foot that whispers and defends with poetry. Wishing you a birthday as graceful and fearless as your game. Tak for fodbolden, Katrine — and keep writing your story with style.

  She wore one shirt her whole career. But she walked into every heart she ever passed. 💛💙 #CharlotteRohlin #OneOfAKind Charlotte Rohlin – One Shirt, One Soul, One Fight ( A tribute to a defender with a golden heart ) She was one of those. The kind of person who would pass you in the hallway eight times a day — and smile, wave, and greet you sweetly every single time. Charlotte Rohlin. Not a superstar in the flashy sense, but in the truest, deepest way — she was a legend. A one-club woman. Linköping was her home. And Sweden? She wore the crest like a shield across her back and a song within her chest. She was already a cornerstone. A calming presence in the storm. She led from the back, spoke with action, and made her mark at the 2011 World Cup. Bronze — a medal that glowed with integrity. And when Olympic dreams hung in the balance, it was her who broke through against Denmark. Yes — goals from a centre-back. But more than that: goals from a leader, fro...

  Tribute to Mónica Jorge – The Mother of the Portuguese Dream In 2010, Portugal were far from being outsiders. They were still underdogs among underdogs, placed in Group C of the Algarve Cup – the group for smaller nations hoping to grow. Finishing first or second didn’t get you a medal. It got you the chance to play a big team. A reward. A dream. In Hotel Montechoro, I stayed with the Norwegian and Portuguese teams. Norway were still a giant. Portugal hadn’t begun to climb yet. But there was one person who already believed. Who already saw it. She was the head coach then. Now, she’s the technical director and a UEFA committee member. Her name: Mónica Jorge . She called her team The Big Family . They weren’t stars. They weren’t famous. But they had fire in their hearts . And she gave them belief. One night, in the hotel bar, the players gathered to watch Porto – Benfica . The match was intense. But suddenly, laughter broke out. A pillow fight erupted. In the middle o...

  Homenagem a Mónica Jorge – A Mãe do Sonho Português Em 2010, Portugal ainda não era um outsider. Era um dos underdogs dos underdogs, colocado no Grupo C da Algarve Cup – o grupo das nações mais pequenas, onde o prémio por terminar em primeiro ou segundo era enfrentar uma potência. Uma recompensa. Um sonho. Fiquei hospedado no Hotel Montechoro, com as seleções de Portugal e da Noruega. A Noruega ainda era uma gigante. Portugal ainda não tinha começado a escalar. Mas havia alguém que já acreditava. Que já via mais longe. Era a treinadora principal na altura. Hoje, é diretora técnica e membro da UEFA. O seu nome: Mónica Jorge . Chamava a sua equipa de The Big Family . Não eram estrelas. Não eram famosas. Mas tinham fogo no coração . E ela deu-lhes fé. Numa noite, no bar do hotel, as jogadoras juntaram-se para ver o jogo Porto – Benfica . O ambiente era tenso… até que, de repente, surgiu o riso. Um combate de almofadas explodiu no meio do bar. O pobre barman rezava pe...

 Ali Krieger in Photos

 Heather O'Reilly  All Heart, All Out Some players glide. Some float. Heather O’Reilly ran through brick walls. She didn’t care about flash. She brought fuel. They called her HAO — short for Heather Ann O’Reilly, but everyone knew it really meant: Hustle. And Overdeliver  The Relentless Wing She wasn’t the most technical. She wasn’t the most famous. But she never, ever stopped. She made defenders tired just by being near them. She chased every lost ball like it mattered. Because to her, it did. “If Heather was on your flank, your day was going to be hell.”     3x Olympic Gold 2004 – as a teenager 2008 2012 🌍 1x World Cup Champion 2015 – finally, deservedly She saw it all. From Mia’s last days to Alex’s first. From Abby to Pinoe and all the names between. And yet — she never made it about herself. A Voice After the Whistle Today, she coaches. She mentors. She still plays now and then (even at Champions League level 😮). And when she talks football,...

  Happy Birthday, Laura Deloose! Reliability has a name  and it’s yours. From the back line of Anderlecht to the heart of the Red Flames, you’ve shown time and again what loyalty, intelligence, and fighting spirit look like. No drama, no spotlight-hunting  just consistency, leadership, and heart. The kind of player every team dreams of. Gelukkige verjaardag, Laura — en bedankt om al die jaren de basis te zijn waarop België kon bouwen.