Pernille Harder

Pernille Harder is a Danish professional footballer, born on November 15, 1992, in Ikast, Denmark. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest female footballers of all time. Harder began her professional career with IK Skovbakken before moving to Linköpings FC in 2012, where she won multiple titles, including two Damallsvenskan titles.

Harder is known for her incredible speed, strength, goal-scoring ability, and versatility. She has won numerous individual awards, including the UEFA Women's Player of the Year in 2018 and 2020, and holds multiple records, such as the highest number of goals in a single Damallsvenskan season.

Off the field, Harder is also recognized for her advocacy in LGBTQ+ rights, inspiring millions worldwide.

IK Skovbakken

• Youth and Early Career: Harder was born and raised in Ikast, Denmark, and joined IK Skovbakken's youth academy. She made her first-team debut for Skovbakken in 2007.

Linköpings FC

• Early Success: Harder signed with Linköpings FC in 2012. Under the guidance of Martin Sjögren, she developed into one of the world's best forwards, winning two Damallsvenskan titles and her first UEFA Women's Player of the Year in 2015.

VfL Wolfsburg

• Record-breaking Transfer: In 2017, Harder transferred to VfL Wolfsburg for what was then a record fee. Over the next four years, she became the club's top scorer and won numerous titles, including four Frauen-Bundesliga trophies. 
  Individual Awards: At Wolfsburg, Harder won two of her UEFA Women's Player of the Year awards.

Chelsea

• New Challenges: Harder joined Chelsea in 2020, seeking new challenges in the Women's Super League. During her time at Chelsea, she added an WSL title to her collection and continued to break records.

Denmark National Team

• Debut: Made her debut for Denmark in 2009.

Achievements:

• UEFA Women's Euro: Runner-up in 2017.
• Algarve Cup: Winner in 2019.
• Harder is Denmark's all-time top scorer and has the most appearances for the national team.

• Position: Primarily a forward, but also excels as an attacking midfielder.
• Skills: Known for her incredible speed, strength, decision making, and goal-scoring prowess. Harder is celebrated for her versatility, accurate shots, and playmaking ability.

• Family: Harder is in a relationship with fellow footballer Magdalena Eriksson.
• Advocacy: Harder is an avid advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has used her platform to promote equality in sports.

• Pernille Harder is celebrated not only for her extraordinary talent and numerous records but also for her advocacy for equality and representation within professional football. Her impact on the sport and her status as an icon extend beyond the pitch, inspiring millions of fans around the world.

Most Goals in a Damallsvenskan Season:

• 23 goals in 2012

Most Goals in Frauen-Bundesliga:

• 27 goals in 2017–18

Most Appearances and Goals for Denmark:

• Most capped player and top scorer

Books

• Hayes, E. (2021) Pernille Harder: The Biography. London: Orion Publishing Group.
• Riis, L. (2020) Pernille Harder: The Rise of a Winner. Copenhagen: Politikens Forlag.

Websites

• FIFA: Information about Pernille Harder’s international career and achievements. Available at: https://www.fifa.com
• Chelsea: Details about Harder’s career at Chelsea. Available at: https://www.chelseafc.com
• VfL Wolfsburg: Official site with updates on Harder’s performance and records at VfL Wolfsburg. Available at: https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de
• UEFA: Updates and records of Harder in UEFA competitions. Available at: https://www.uefa.com

Articles

• Guardian: Pernille Harder: Career in numbers. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/pernille-harder
• BBC Sport: Pernille Harder’s career highlights and records. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54027170

Interviews and Documentaries

• Harder (2020): Directed by Anthony Wonke. This documentary provides a detailed look at Harder’s life and career, featuring interviews with her family, friends, and colleagues.
• ESPN Interviews: Various interviews and features on Pernille Harder, covering different aspects of her career. Available at: https://www.espn.com