Cary, N.C. (Oct. 30, 2017)- NC Courage player and Norwegian International Nora Holstad announced her retirement from professional soccer, the club announced today.
“I want to thank the NC Courage and their loyal fans for letting me be a part of their family for the past couple of months,” said Holstad. “Thanks for giving me this experience and one last adventure before ending an amazing journey with the sport I love. The Courage organization has treated me as a part of their family from day one and my teammates have welcomed me with open hearts. I wish the club, the fans and the team all the best for the future, stay the COuRsE and keep playing and living with Courage. Thank you.”
Holstad signed with the Courage on July 26, 2017, adding leadership and experience to the roster. The midfielder played in two games for the team and totaled 89 minutes this season.
The 30-year-old came to the NWSL after competing for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga since 2014. She appeared in 63 games for Bayern in four seasons, helping the team log nine clean sheets with her on the pitch in their 2016-17 campaign.
Before joining Munich in 2014, Holstad played for a number of Scandinavian teams including FK Larvik, Kolbotn, Linköpings FC, and Arna-Bjørnar. She easily fit in to the NC Courage’s winning mentality, as she has lifted the Bundesliga trophy with Bayern Munich in 2015 and 2016, the Norwegian Women’s Cup with Kolbotn Fotball in 2007, and the Toppserien league trophy also with Kolbotn Fotball in 2006.
She also holds international experience, as she has competed for the Norwegian Women’s National Team since 2011. Most recently, Holstad competed with her home country during the UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 this summer.
“Nora is a fabulous professional, and we wish her all the best in her retirement,” said NC Courage head coach Paul Riley. “She has enjoyed a tremendous career, and it’s been a privilege to have her knowledge, leadership and talent in Courage country. For sure she will be a huge success in her next life move”
The North Carolina Football Club would like to congratulate Nora on an outstanding international and club soccer career, and thank her for her contributions to the NC Courage in the 2017 season. We wish her the absolute best in future endeavors as she continues her journey.
About North Carolina Courage
The North Carolina Courage is a Division I professional women’s soccer team that plays in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The NC Courage, the reigning NWSL Shield Winners, plays its home games at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC. For more information, please visit www.www.nccourage.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
