Marta to move on from Umeå
Wednesday 7 January 2009
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Marta spent five years in Sweden (©Getty Images)
Reigning FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Marta is to leave Umeå IK after the club announced the end of negotiations for a new contract and she could be following Johanna Frisk, who has left the UEFA Women's Cup semi-finalists for Los Angeles Sol.
Scoring feats
The 22-year-old Brazil forward was yet to accept the offer of a new deal at the Swedish club for 2009, having been provisionally drafted by LA Sol in the new American Women's Professional Soccer league which launches in March, a club for who defender Frisk today announced she had joined from Umeå on a three-year contract. Marta moved to Umeå in 2004 and immediately helped them retain the UEFA Women's Cup but her four goals in November's 6-0 defeat of Arsenal LFC that earned a place in this spring's semi-finals against Russia's Zvezda-2005 was to prove her last appearance. She had already helped them to a fourth straight Damallsvenskan title and a berth in next season's inaugural UEFA Women's Champions League.
Umeå statement
"The discussion regarding Marta's being, or not being, with Umeå for the coming season has ended on our part," the club said in a statement. "Umeå and Swedish women's football are losing their brightest shining star." Marta has been shortlisted for a third straight FIFA award, which will be announced on Monday when her future could also be resolved. Umeå are also searching for a new coach after Andrée Jeglertz took the helm at men's club Djurgårdens IF.
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