Marit Fiane Christensen
Encyclopedia
Marit Fiane Christensen is a Norwegian football central back.
She currently plays for Røa
in Norway's Toppserien league. She is member of the Norwegian Women's National Football Team
, having made her debut for the senior team on March 16, 2003, in a match against USA.
. As the women's teams of Halsen and rival club Nanset IF joined into one club, FK Larvik
, Marit Fiane Christensen became one of the key players of the club. Both she and the club made a Toppserien debut in 2000. Marit Fiane Christensen scored one goal, but could not help the club avoid relegation. In 2002, Larvik and Fiane Christensen returned to Toppserien. Even though Larvik survived their second encounter with Toppserien, Fiane Christensen changed team to Asker. The stay in Asker was short, as only one year later Fiane Christensen continued her way east and ended up in Røa, where she still plays today. Marit Fiane Christensen proved to be vital to the club. In her first season in Røa, her team won the Double, both the league and the cup. Over the next years, Røa with Fiane Christensen has won the league and the cup twice each.
She was part of the squad for the European Championships
, in which Norway claimed silver, falling to Germany 3-1 in the championship match. She was also part of the team for the 2003 Women's World Cup, 2007 Women's World Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics
held in Beijing, China.
On October 21, 2008 Marit Fiane Christensen and four other Røa players—Marie Knutsen
, Guro Knutsen
, Lene Mykjåland
and Siri Nordby
—made headlines when they announced in a press release that they would not be returning to the national team due to issues the five had with the national team leadership. While the press statement never mentioned coach Bjarne Berntsen's name, it was assumed that he was instrumental in their decision to retire from the team. The retirement, which came off in many newspapers as a boycott, created widespread media attention.
Somewhat involuntarily, Marit Fiane Christensen became the spokesperson for the five players, especially in a TV-debate with the Norwegian Football Association and coach Bjarne Berntsen. As of January 2009, the issue seemed far from soluble, but with Bjarne Berntsen's retirement and the arrival of a new chief trainer for the national team, Eli Landsem, Christensen was recalled to the side in December 2009 for training matches against China and England in La Manga, Spain in January 2010.
She currently plays for Røa
Røa IL
Røa IL is a Norwegian sports club from Røa in the borough of Vestre Aker, Oslo. It was founded on 11 November 1900, and has sections for football, gymnastics, bandy and cross-country skiing. Football, bandy and nordic skiing has been dominant in Røa. In bandy, the team has twice made it to the...
in Norway's Toppserien league. She is member of the Norwegian Women's National Football Team
Norway women's national football team
The Norway women's national football team represents Norway in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Norway, are former European, World and Olympic champions and thus one of the most successful national teams...
, having made her debut for the senior team on March 16, 2003, in a match against USA.
Club career
She started her career in Halsen IF, a local club in LarvikLarvik
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
. As the women's teams of Halsen and rival club Nanset IF joined into one club, FK Larvik
FK Larvik
FK Larvik is a Norwegian women's football club from Larvik, founded in 1997 through a merger of the women's football sections of Nanset IF and Halsen IF....
, Marit Fiane Christensen became one of the key players of the club. Both she and the club made a Toppserien debut in 2000. Marit Fiane Christensen scored one goal, but could not help the club avoid relegation. In 2002, Larvik and Fiane Christensen returned to Toppserien. Even though Larvik survived their second encounter with Toppserien, Fiane Christensen changed team to Asker. The stay in Asker was short, as only one year later Fiane Christensen continued her way east and ended up in Røa, where she still plays today. Marit Fiane Christensen proved to be vital to the club. In her first season in Røa, her team won the Double, both the league and the cup. Over the next years, Røa with Fiane Christensen has won the league and the cup twice each.
National team
Fiane Christensen also became an important part of the national team. When she played her (currently) last match for the national team, Marit Fiane Chistensen had made 62 appearances, scoring 7 goals. She scored her first goal for Norway on July 24, 2004 in a match against Sweden.She was part of the squad for the European Championships
2005 UEFA Women's Championship
The 2005 UEFA Women's Championship, also referred to as WOMEN'S EURO 2005 , was a football tournament for women held from 5 June to 19 June 2005 in Lancashire, England. The UEFA Women's Championship is a regular tournament involving European national teams from countries affiliated to UEFA, the...
, in which Norway claimed silver, falling to Germany 3-1 in the championship match. She was also part of the team for the 2003 Women's World Cup, 2007 Women's World Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
held in Beijing, China.
On October 21, 2008 Marit Fiane Christensen and four other Røa players—Marie Knutsen
Marie Knutsen
Marie Knutsen is a Norwegian football midfielder.She currently plays for Røa in Norway's Toppserien league. She is also a member of the Norwegian Women's National Football Team.-Club career:...
, Guro Knutsen
Guro Knutsen
Guro Knutsen Mienna is a Norwegian football player who plays for the club Røa IL in the Toppserien and for the Norway women's national football team....
, Lene Mykjåland
Lene Mykjåland
Lene Mykjåland is a Norwegian football striker.She currently plays for Røa. She is also a member of the Norwegian Women's National Football Team, having made her debut for the senior team on March 7, 2007, in a 1–2 loss against Germany.She started her career in Randesund IL, a district club in...
and Siri Nordby
Siri Nordby
Siri Nordby is a Norwegian football defender who plays for Røa in Norway's Toppserien league. She also plays for the Norway women's national football team....
—made headlines when they announced in a press release that they would not be returning to the national team due to issues the five had with the national team leadership. While the press statement never mentioned coach Bjarne Berntsen's name, it was assumed that he was instrumental in their decision to retire from the team. The retirement, which came off in many newspapers as a boycott, created widespread media attention.
Somewhat involuntarily, Marit Fiane Christensen became the spokesperson for the five players, especially in a TV-debate with the Norwegian Football Association and coach Bjarne Berntsen. As of January 2009, the issue seemed far from soluble, but with Bjarne Berntsen's retirement and the arrival of a new chief trainer for the national team, Eli Landsem, Christensen was recalled to the side in December 2009 for training matches against China and England in La Manga, Spain in January 2010.
Personal
Marit Fiane Christensen is a qualified lawyer and works as a legal adviser to NISO, the Norwegian players' organisation. In August 2008 she married Norwegian international speed-skater Øystein Grødum, having met him in 2006.Honors
- RøaRøa ILRøa IL is a Norwegian sports club from Røa in the borough of Vestre Aker, Oslo. It was founded on 11 November 1900, and has sections for football, gymnastics, bandy and cross-country skiing. Football, bandy and nordic skiing has been dominant in Røa. In bandy, the team has twice made it to the...
- League champion 2004Toppserien 2004The 2004 season of the Toppserien, the highest women's football league in Norway, began on 17 April 2004 and ended on 30 October 2004.18 games were played with 3 points given for wins and 1 for draws...
, 2007Toppserien 2007The 2007 season of the Toppserien, the highest women's football league in Norway, began on 21 April 2007 and ended on 3 November 2007.22 games were played with 3 points given for wins and 1 for draws...
, 2008Toppserien 2008The 2008 season of the Toppserien, the highest women's football league in Norway, began on 12 April 2008 and ended on 2 November 2008.... - Cup champion 2004, 2006, 2008
- League champion 2004