Sara Thunebro

2.1. Early Career

Thunebro began her football journey at the age of six, developing her skills within the youth club IK Viljan. Her initial professional engagement was with Gideonsbergs IF, where she played from 1997 to 1998, marking her debut in the senior game.

2.2. Djurgårdens IF

After her time with Gideonsbergs IF, Sara Thunebro joined Djurgårdens IF in 1999. This period marked a highly successful phase of her career, as she contributed significantly to Djurgården's dominance in Swedish women's football. During her tenure, including the years between 2003 and 2006 when the team was known as Djurgården/Älvsjö, Djurgårdens IF secured the Swedish Championship, the Damallsvenskan title, in both 2003 and 2004. The club also achieved success in the Swedish Cup, winning it three times: in the 1999-2000 season, and consecutively in 2004 and 2005. Her performances during this period earned her recognition as the best defender in Sweden on two occasions. In 2005, Djurgården reached the final of the UEFA Women's Cup (now known as the UEFA Women's Champions League), but ultimately suffered a defeat to Turbine Potsdam.

2.3. 1. FFC Frankfurt

In 2009, following her success in Sweden, Sara Thunebro moved to Germany to join 1. FFC Frankfurt, a prominent club in the Frauen-Bundesliga. She played a crucial role in the team's defense and extended her contract with the club for an additional two years in April 2011. During her time in Germany, Thunebro added another significant club honour to her name, winning the DFB-Pokal in 2011.

2.4. Later Club Career and Retirement

After playing only three matches in the first half of the 2012-2013 season with FFC Frankfurt, Thunebro departed the German club in March 2013. She returned to Sweden, joining Tyresö FF with the aim of gaining more match practice in preparation for the UEFA Women's Euro 2013 tournament, which was to be held in her home country. Her time at Tyresö FF lasted one season.

In December 2013, Thunebro made another move, this time to the newly promoted Damallsvenskan club Eskilstuna United DFF. She cited the desire to be closer to her family as a primary reason for this transfer. She played for Eskilstuna United DFF from 2014 until the end of the 2015 season. In her final professional season, Eskilstuna United DFF achieved a notable feat by finishing as runners-up in the 2015 Damallsvenskan, behind FC Rosengård. Following the conclusion of the 2015 season, Sara Thunebro announced her difficult decision to retire from playing professional football. Viktor Eriksson, her coach at Eskilstuna United DFF, expressed gratitude for her role in establishing the club in the top league and considered it an honor to have worked with her for two years.

3.1. Youth and U-23 National Teams

Thunebro's international journey began with Sweden's youth national teams. She made 10 appearances for the Sweden U17 squad and 8 appearances for the Sweden U19 squad between 1997 and 1998. Her development continued with the Swedish U-23 national team, for which she earned 32 caps. She was also part of the Sweden U19 team that reached the semi-finals of the 1998 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship.

3.2. Senior National Team Debut and Major Tournaments

Sara Thunebro made her debut for the senior Swedish women's national team on January 30, 2004, in a Four Nations Tournament match against the United States in Shenzhen, China. Sweden lost the match 0-3. Initially on the fringes of the squad, she was notably omitted from the selection for UEFA Women's Euro 2005.

Her first major tournament appearance was at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, where she played in group stage matches against Nigeria and North Korea, though Sweden was eliminated at this stage. By the time of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Thunebro had established herself as a regular starter, helping Sweden reach the quarter-finals.

By 2009, Thunebro had become an integral part of a strong Swedish team that achieved victories against formidable opponents like Germany, Brazil, and the United States. She remarked on her progress, stating, "Each year I've taken small steps forward... I feel in great form now, but I haven't reached my peak yet." At UEFA Women's Euro 2009 in Finland, Sweden again reached the quarter-finals but were eliminated by Norway.

At the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany, Thunebro played a pivotal role as Sweden secured a bronze medal, after being defeated by eventual champions Japan in the semi-final. This third-place finish also ensured Sweden's qualification for the 2012 Olympic football tournament in London, where Sweden reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by France. On March 6, 2013, Thunebro reached the milestone of 100 international caps in an Algarve Cup match against China, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw. Sweden won the 2009 Algarve Cup.

Despite previously indicating her intention to retire from international football after the UEFA Women's Euro 2013 tournament, Thunebro was selected by national coach Pia Sundhage for Sweden's 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification campaign. She participated in the UEFA Women's Euro 2013 hosted in Sweden, where the national team reached the semi-finals. In May 2015, Thunebro, alongside Eskilstuna teammates Olivia Schough and Malin Diaz, was confirmed in Sundhage's squad for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. Her playing time at this tournament was limited to just 15 minutes as a substitute in a group stage match against Australia, and Sweden was eliminated in the Round of 16 after losing to Germany.

Her final international appearance was at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. After Sweden's second-round elimination from the tournament, Thunebro announced her retirement from international football. She felt that she no longer had the full confidence of coach Sundhage and did not wish to remain on the substitute's bench simply to complete the squad numbers.

3.3. International Retirement

Following Sweden's elimination from the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Sara Thunebro made the decision to retire from international football. Her playing time in the tournament had been minimal, only 15 minutes across four matches, and she felt that she no longer held the full confidence of coach Pia Sundhage. Unwilling to remain on the substitute's bench merely to fill squad numbers, she chose to conclude her career with the national team.

5.1. Club Honours

Djurgården/Älvsjö

• Damallsvenskan (2): 2003, 2004
• Svenska Cupen (3): 1999-2000, 2004, 2005

FFC Frankfurt

• DFB-Pokal (1): 2011

5.2. International Honours

Sweden

• FIFA Women's World Cup:
  • Third place: 2011
  • Group stage: 2007
  • Round of 16: 2015
• Olympic Football Tournament:
  • Fourth place: 2004 Athens
  • Quarter-final: 2008 Beijing, 2012 London
• UEFA Women's Championship:
  • Semi-finals: 2013
  • Quarter-final: 2009
• Algarve Cup:
  • Winner: 2009

  Sweden U19

  • UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship: Semi-Finalists 1998

5.3. Individual Honours

• Swedish Defender of the Year: 2008, 2009