Katrine Pedersen
Katrine Søndergaard Pedersen | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 13, 1977 Denmark |
| Occupation(s) | Football coach, former footballer, teacher |
| Years active | 1994–2014 (player), 2015–present (coach) |
| Known for | Captain of Denmark women's national team, most capped Danish female player |
Katrine Søndergaard Pedersen (born 13 April 1977) is a retired Danish footballer who currently leads Canadian Northern Super League team Ottawa Rapid FC as head coach.
She served as captain of the Denmark women's national team, achieving a national milestone with 210 international appearances, and has been inducted into the Danish Football Hall of Fame.
Club career
Pedersen concluded her playing career at Norwegian club Stabæk Fotball after the club absorbed the financially troubled Asker FK in 2008.
Her professional journey was predominantly international. During the 2002–03 season, she represented English side Fulham Ladies, securing a domestic treble. When Fulham returned to semi-professional status, she transitioned to Norway’s Toppserien league, joining IF Fløya based in Tromsø. The 2006 season saw her competing in Sweden's Damallsvenskan with Djurgården/Älvsjö. She then returned to Norway to play for Oslo’s Asker SK during 2007 and 2008.
In late 2014, Pedersen signed with Australian outfit Adelaide United.
International career
Making her international debut in September 1994 with a 1–0 victory against the Netherlands, Pedersen went on to participate in the 2005 UEFA Women's Championship and led Denmark as captain at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007 held in China. Her World Cup experience also includes tournaments in 1995 and 1999, along with appearances at UEFA Women's Championships in 1997, 2001, and 2009.
By the time of the UEFA Women's Euro 2013, she held the distinction of being Europe’s most capped active player with 203 appearances. She was honored as Danish women's player of the year in 2007, 2011, and again in 2013. In November 2013, Pedersen announced her pregnancy alongside her retirement from international football, concluding her career with a record-setting 210 caps—surpassing Peter Schmeichel by 81 and narrowly trailing Birgit Prinz’s European record by four.
Coaching career
In August 2015, Pedersen took on the role of assistant coach for Denmark’s women’s national team. She was appointed head coach of AGF Fodbold (women) competing in the Danish Women's League starting summer 2021 following her December 2020 hiring.
In October 2024, she was named as the first-ever head coach of Ottawa Rapid FC, ahead of the Canadian Northern Super League’s inaugural season in 2025.
As of October 2024, Pedersen is one of four Danish women to hold a UEFA Pro Coaching Licence.
Personal life
Pedersen is employed as a teacher and football coach at a secondary school located in Oslo, Norway. Her autobiography titled Katrine was released in Denmark in May 2011. She is partnered with former footballer Maiken Pape.