Marta and Røddik raise Rosengård ante
Monday, July 21, 2014
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"The team share my dream – to win everything," said Marta after she and Denmark skipper Line Røddik joined ambitious Swedish league leaders FC Rosengård.
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Swedish champions FC Rosengård presented a new recruit on Monday, the arrival providing a statement of intent to their rivals at home and abroad. "The team share my dream – to win everything," summed up the new arrival, five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta.
Reigning Swedish champions and top of the table at the midway point of the current Damallsvenskan, Rosengård's signings are forcing people to sit up and take notice, with many considering them challengers for the 2014/15 UEFA Women's Champions League. Having already established a strong squad, the club have added the final pieces of the jigsaw this summer, firstly with the capture of Denmark captain Line Røddik and now the Brazilian, who has signed a six-month contract with the option of a further year.
"I'm thrilled to be able to continue playing in Sweden. FCR has a strong squad. We'll do everything to become the best in Europe," said Marta, who scored twice in the UEFA Women's Champions League final last season for runners-up Tyresö FF.
Their financial situation meant Tyresö were forced to withdraw from the Swedish league this season and release their players, allowing the champions to strengthen with Marta and Røddik, also formerly of the Stockholm-based club. "I like the fact that FC Rosengård have a long-term plan, and that they have high ambitions of being at the top domestically and internationally," said the Denmark defender.
In last year's UEFA Women’s Champions League, Rosengård (under the name FC Malmö) exited at the round of 16 stage against eventual champions VfL Wolfsburg, but the club will be hoping their new signings – along with current stars such as Germany's Anja Mittag – can help them kick on to the next level.
The new era for Rosengård starts on 30 July, with a Swedish league fixture at Umeå IK, the club where Marta won four Swedish league titles between 2005 and 2008 as well as the UEFA Women's Cup in 2004. Her new side will be hoping for similar levels of success in the years to come.