Magdalena Eriksson made her debut in the A national team against France in 2014. Since then, she has remained in the team for just over ten years and along the way has become a key player.
But everything has an end.
When the defender has felt how her body feels after combining playing with club teams – she belongs to the big German club Bayern Munich – and the national team, she now chooses to prioritize differently.
And then health comes first.
Health first
For this reason, the 32-year-old chooses to end his national team career.
"It's a decision I've thought about for a very long time, and I can honestly say that this is the toughest decision I've made in my career. But I've had to listen to my body and my health, and prioritize it," she tells the Swedish Football Association's website.
“It's really a decision I wish I didn't have to make, but because of how my body is feeling these days, it's a decision I feel I have to make.”
Eriksson won Olympic silver in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016 and repeated the feat in the pandemic-affected Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan, in 2021. She also has two World Cup bronzes from the 2019 championships in France and 2023 in Australia and New Zealand.
"The national team has really meant so much to me over all these years. What we have achieved together in the national team is what I am most proud of in my career and I will remember all the years with so much joy," she says.
“Heavy message”
National team captain Tony Gustavsson:
"It is heavy news that Magdalena is ending her national team career. She has been one of our most important players for a long time, and her professionalism, courage and heart have left a strong mark on the national team," he says.
"But I have great respect for the care she shows about her own body and future, and I am deeply grateful for everything she has contributed to Swedish football and wish her all the best in the future."
Facts: Magdalena Eriksson
TT
Born: September 8, 1993 in Stockholm.
Position: Back.
Club: Bayern Munich.
Previous clubs: Hammarby, Djurgården, Linköping, Chelsea.
International matches: 123 A.
National team achievements: Olympic silver 2016, 2021, World Championship bronze 2019, 2023.
Current: Chooses to end national team career to prioritize health.
