Jackie Groenen is a Dutch footballer and former judoka who plays as a midfielder for FA WSL club Manchester United and the Netherlands women’s national football team. She previously played for German clubs SGS Essen, FCR 2001 Duisburg, and FFC Frankfurt, as well as for Chelsea in the English FA WSL.
Jackie Groenen was born on December 17, 1994, in the Netherlands but grew up just over the Belgian border in Poppel. In 2014, FIFA ruled her ineligible to switch allegiances to Belgium, as she did not hold a Belgian passport when she played for the Netherlands at youth level.
Jackie Groenen and her sister began playing football at Goirlese Sportvereniging Blauw-Wit. After VV Riel and Wilhelmina Boys, they moved to SV Rood-Wit Veldhoven. The sisters continued their football career in the Frauen-Bundesliga and became players for SGS Essen. Jackie Groenen made her debut for SGS Essen in the DFB-Pokal Cup on 30 January 2011 against Turbine Potsdam.
Jackie Groenen played in SGS Essen only 6 matches in 2011, before signing with FCR 2001 Duisburg. During the 2011–2014 seasons, she played 32 matches and scored 4 goals.
In 2014, Jackie Groenen signed with Chelsea. She played one season at the team, registering 20 matches and scoring 2 goals. In 2015–2019, she returned to Germany, where played in FFC Frankfurt. She played 79 matches and scored 13 goals.
In 2019, Jackie Groenen signed with Manchester United. In doing so, she became the team’s first overseas signing with the team having formed a year earlier consisting of all British players. Jackie Groenen made her debut for Manchester United against Manchester City in the FA WSL on 7 September 2019, a 1–0 loss in the inaugural Manchester derby.
Jackie Groenen photos
