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Sara Olai

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Sara Olai
Personal information
Full name Sara Astrid Ulrika Olai
Date of birth (1999-07-09) July 9, 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Motala, Sweden
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Halifax Tides FC
Number 6
Youth career
Borens IK
2015–2016 Linköping FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Borens IK B 12 (0)
2013–2014 Borens IK 6 (1)
2015–2017 Linköping FC 3 (0)
2018 Ljusdals IF 22 (2)
2019–2020 IK Uppsala 48 (10)
2021–2022 Djurgårdens IF 46 (5)
2023–2024 IF Brommapojkarna 50 (7)
2025– Halifax Tides FC 1 (0)
International career‡
2015–2016 Sweden U17 5 (0)
2016 Sweden U19 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 26, 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of February 25, 2025

Sara Astrid Ulrika Olai (born July 9, 1999) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays for Canadian club Halifax Tides FC in the Northern Super League.

Early life

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Olai was born in Motala, Sweden and began playing youth football with Borens IK.[1] In 2015, she joined the youth system of Linköping FC.[2]

Club career

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Olai began her senior career with Borens IK in the lower Swedish divisions. She made her debut with the first team at age 14 in the Svenska Cupen.[3]

In 2015, she debuted with the Linköping FC first team in cup matches, while playing primarily with the youth side.[4] In April 2016, she made her Damallsvenskan debut against Kristianstads.[2]

In December 2017, it was announced that she signed with Norrköping for the 2018 season,[5] however a month later she instead changed clubs[6] and joined Ljusdals IF in the second tier Elitettan.[7][8] After one season, she departed the club.[9]

In 2019, she signed with IK Uppsala in the Elitettan.[citation needed] At the end of the 2019 season, she was named the league's Defender of the Year and also helped the club earn promotion to the first tier for the following season.[10][11] On June 27, 2020, she scored the club's first ever goal in the first tier Damallsvenskan, in a 3-2 victory over Djurgårdens.[12][13] Following the 2020 season, she departed the club, after the club was relegated back to the second tier for 2021.[14]

In December 2020, she signed a two-year contract with Djurgårdens for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.[15] On 17 April 2021, she scored her first goal for the club, as well as being sent off with a red card later in the match, in a 1-0 victory over KIF Örebro.[16][17] After the 2022 season, she departed the club.[18]

In January 2023, she signed with Brommapojkarna.[3] In January 2024, despite interest from clubs in Italy and other parts of Europe, she extended her contract with the club for another season.[19][20] Following the expiration of her contract at the end of 2024, the two sides attempted to negotiate an extension, before ultimately deciding to part ways.[21][22]

In March 2025, Olai signed with Canadian club Halifax Tides FC in the Northern Super League.[23][24]

International career

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Olai has played with the Sweden U17 and Sweden U19 teams.[15]

Personal life

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Olai is in a relationship with Finnish footballer Rasmus Schüller.[25]

References

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  1. ^ Knekta, Jonathan (24 June 2020). "Unga Uppsala vill bli bäst i stan" [Young Uppsala wants to be the best in town]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish).
  2. ^ a b Appelquist, Peter (11 January 2023). "Välkommen till BP, Sara Olai!" [Welcome to BP, Sara Olai!]. IF Brommapojkarna (in Swedish).
  3. ^ Mildaeus, Peter (16 September 2015). "Blackstenius skadad när LFC vann" [Blackstenius injured when LFC won]. Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish).
  4. ^ Stråhle, Ulf (23 December 2017). "IFK värvar talang från Motala" [IFK recruits talent from Motala]. Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish).
  5. ^ Rosander, Fredrik (24 January 2018). "Snabbt klubbyte för IFK-förvärvet" [Quick club change for IFK acquisition]. Norrköpings Tidningar (in Swedish).
  6. ^ Axman, Peter (22 January 2018). "Ljusdal värvar ung mittfältare från mästarlaget Linköping: "Allt känns jätteproffsigt här"" [Ljusdal signs young midfielder from champion team Linköping: "Everything feels very professional here"]. Hudiksvalls Tidning (in Swedish).
  7. ^ Bollius, Jens. "Olai till Ljusdal i elitettan" [Olai to Ljusdal in the elite group]. Motala & Vadstena Newspaper (in Swedish).
  8. ^ Axman, Peter (6 December 2018). "Nyförvärven på väg bort från Ljusdal – men klubbchefen optimist: "Tror vi får en spännande mix i truppen"" [New signings on their way out of Ljusdal – but the club manager is optimistic: "I think we'll get an exciting mix in the squad"]. Ljusnan (in Swedish).
  9. ^ Meisels, Daniel (13 November 2019). "Uppsalahjälten blev årets back" [The Uppsala hero was the defender of the year]. Upsala Nya Tidning (in Swedish).
  10. ^ Nyenger, Marcus (13 November 2019). "Motalatjejen årets back i elitettan" [Motalata girl this year's defender in the elite group]. Motala & Vadstena Tidning (in Swedish).
  11. ^ "Olai med historiskt mål i Uppsalas seger" [Olai with historic goal in Uppsala's victory]. Smålandsposten (in Swedish). 27 June 2020.
  12. ^ Augustsson, Thomas (2 December 2020). "Fortsatt spel i allsvenskan för Sara Olai" [Continued play in the Allsvenskan for Sara Olai]. Motala & Vadstena Newspaper (in Swedish).
  13. ^ Stjernling, Malin (28 November 2020). "Kapocs & Olai lämnar IK Uppsala Fotboll" [Kapocs & Olai leave IK Uppsala Football]. IK Uppsala Fotboll (in Swedish).
  14. ^ a b "Sara Olai till Djurgården" [Sara Olai to Djurgården]. Djurgårdens IF (in Swedish). 1 December 2020.
  15. ^ Soderlund, Robin (17 April 2021). "Nyförvärvet utvisad matchvinnare för Djurgården" [New acquisition sent off match winner for Djurgården]. Sveriges Television (in Swedish).
  16. ^ Nilsson, Claes (17 April 2021). "Motalatjejens udda premiär – målskytt och utvisad" [The Motalat girl's odd debut - goalscorer and sent off]. Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish).
  17. ^ "DIF och Sara Olai går skilda vägar" [DIF and Sara Olai go their separate ways]. Djurgårdens IF (in Swedish). 6 January 2023.
  18. ^ Lindvall, Ella (3 February 2024). "Olai ryktades utomlands - men valde BP: "Känns jättebra att vara kvar"" [Olai was rumored to be abroad - but chose BP: "Feels great to be here"]. Fotboll Skanalen (in Swedish).
  19. ^ von Knorring, Martin; Lindvall, Ella. "Bekräftat: Olai förlänger med BP - Schüller stannar i Djurgården" [Confirmed: Olai extends with BP - Schüller stays in Djurgården]. Fotboll Skanalen (in Swedish).
  20. ^ Bollius, Jens (16 February 2025). "Motalatjejen lämnar BP: "Gärna haft Sara kvar i vår trupp"" [The Motalat girl leaves BP: "I would have liked to have Sara remain in our squad"]. Motala & Vadstena Newspaper (in Swedish).
  21. ^ Appelquist, Peter (7 February 2025). "Dam: Sara Olai förlänger inte med BP" [Women: Sara Olai does not extend with BP]. IF Brommapojkarna (in Swedish).
  22. ^ "Halifax Tides FC Signs Swedish Midfielder Sara Olai". Halifax Tides FC. 15 March 2025.
  23. ^ Bollius, Jens (15 March 2025). "Motalatjejen spelar i Kanadas nya liga – "annan miljö"" [The Motalat girl plays in Canada's new league - "different environment"]. Motala & Vadstena Newspaper (in Swedish).
  24. ^ Mörk, Elias (15 July 2023). "Djupintervju med Rasmus Schüller: "Det har nog varit min bästa tid i karriären"" [In-depth interview with Rasmus Schüller: "It's probably been the best time in my career"]. Svenska Fans (in Swedish).
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