Lina Nilsson

Nilsson began her career with smaller teams in her native Skåne County, before she arrived at local Damallsvenskan club Malmö FF Dam in 2006. She had already been training once a week with Malmö while playing for Sjöbo IF in the lower leagues.

Consistent right-back Nilsson was one of four players to collect winner's medals from each of the club's championship wins in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014. In August 2015, team captain Lina Nilsson signed a two-year contract extension with the club, now known as FC Rosengård.

As a member of the Sweden under-19 team, Nilsson played in three matches at the 2006 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Switzerland. She made her senior debut in July 2009, as a 55th-minute substitute for Anna Paulson in a 2–0 friendly win over China at Stadsparksvallen, Jönköping. She almost marked her debut with a goal, but her shot hit the crossbar. National coach Thomas Dennerby selected Nilsson for UEFA Women's Euro 2009, where she appeared in three matches. She retained her squad place for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany, but Annica Svensson was installed as the first-choice right-back. Nilsson did not feature until the quarter-final, where she was a late substitute in Sweden's 3–1 win over Australia. Sweden's third-place finish at the World Cup ensured qualification for the 2012 London Olympics. Nilsson started two of Sweden's Group F games and was a substitute in the other one. Her two yellow cards meant she was suspended for the quarter-final and Annica Svensson played in the 2–1 defeat by France at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Incoming national coach Pia Sundhage retained Nilsson and selected her in the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013, which Sweden hosted. After recovering from a foot injury, Nilsson played in two of Sweden's three Group A matches. Sundhage selected youngster Jessica Samuelsson at right-back for the knockout matches against Iceland and Germany. In April 2014, Nilsson scored her first international goal, on the occasion of her 50th cap.…

While naming his national team in 2009, coach Thomas Dennerby said of newly included Nilsson: "Lina is an attacking full-back who dares to go forward without neglecting her defensive duties." A Sveriges Radio preview of UEFA Women's Euro 2013 described Nilsson as more attacking and technical than her right-back rival Jessica Samuelsson, who was said to be more solid defensively. When handing Nilsson the FC Rosengård captaincy in 2015, coach Markus Tilly praised her on-pitch communication skills.

Club

LdB FC Malmö / Rosengård Damallsvenskan (4): 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 Svenska Supercupen (3): 2011, 2012, 2015

International

Sweden FIFA Women's World Cup Third place: 2011