Sara Olai
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sara Astrid Ulrika Olai | ||
| Date of birth | July 9, 1999 | ||
| 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
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
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. 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
Olai has played with the Sweden U17 and Sweden U19 teams.[15]
Personal life
Olai is in a relationship with Finnish footballer Rasmus Schüller.[25]
References
- ^ Knekta, Jonathan (24 June 2020). "Unga Uppsala vill bli bäst i stan" [Young Uppsala wants to be the best in town]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish).
- ^ a b "Motalatjej upp i LFC:s A-trupp" [Motala girl in LFC's A-team]. Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish). 28 October 2016.
- ^ a b Appelquist, Peter (11 January 2023). "Välkommen till BP, Sara Olai!" [Welcome to BP, Sara Olai!]. IF Brommapojkarna (in Swedish).
- ^ Mildaeus, Peter (16 September 2015). "Blackstenius skadad när LFC vann" [Blackstenius injured when LFC won]. Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish).
- ^ Stråhle, Ulf (23 December 2017). "IFK värvar talang från Motala" [IFK recruits talent from Motala]. Östgöta Correspondenten (in Swedish).
- ^ Rosander, Fredrik (24 January 2018). "Snabbt klubbyte för IFK-förvärvet" [Quick club change for IFK acquisition]. Norrköpings Tidningar (in Swedish).
- ^ 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).
- ^ Bollius, Jens. "Olai till Ljusdal i elitettan" [Olai to Ljusdal in the elite group]. Motala & Vadstena Newspaper (in Swedish).
- ^ 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).
- ^ Meisels, Daniel (13 November 2019). "Uppsalahjälten blev årets back" [The Uppsala hero was the defender of the year]. Upsala Nya Tidning (in Swedish).
- ^ 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).
- ^ "Olai med historiskt mål i Uppsalas seger" [Olai with historic goal in Uppsala's victory]. Smålandsposten (in Swedish). 27 June 2020.
- ^ 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).
- ^ Stjernling, Malin (28 November 2020). "Kapocs & Olai lämnar IK Uppsala Fotboll" [Kapocs & Olai leave IK Uppsala Football]. IK Uppsala Fotboll (in Swedish).
- ^ a b "Sara Olai till Djurgården" [Sara Olai to Djurgården]. Djurgårdens IF (in Swedish). 1 December 2020.
- ^ Soderlund, Robin (17 April 2021). "Nyförvärvet utvisad matchvinnare för Djurgården" [New acquisition sent off match winner for Djurgården]. Sveriges Television (in Swedish).
- ^ 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).
- ^ "DIF och Sara Olai går skilda vägar" [DIF and Sara Olai go their separate ways]. Djurgårdens IF (in Swedish). 6 January 2023.
- ^ 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).
- ^ 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).
- ^ 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).
- ^ Appelquist, Peter (7 February 2025). "Dam: Sara Olai förlänger inte med BP" [Women: Sara Olai does not extend with BP]. IF Brommapojkarna (in Swedish).
- ^ "Halifax Tides FC Signs Swedish Midfielder Sara Olai". Halifax Tides FC. 15 March 2025.
- ^ 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).
- ^ 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).