Fredrik Ljungberg
Fredrik Ljungberg ( 2006)
, Also called Karl Fredrik Ljungberg Freddie Ljungberg ( born April 16, 1977 in Vittsjö ) is a former Swedish football player.
Playing career
Fredrik Ljungberg was born in 1977 in the Swedish Vittsjö. In 1982 he moved to with his parents and younger brother to Halmstad. Since that time, he played for the youth teams Halmstad BK. His first coach was Olle Ericsson. The former professional football player and head coach of Halmstad accompanied him until Ljungberg was 14 years old. Ericsson was very impressed by the young football player and his way of playing passports. In his youth, Ljungberg skipped some youth teams and has played with 14 in the junior team of the club.
Ljungberg also had a great talent to play handball. He might even be able to play for the national team, but opted for football.
On 23 October 1994 he made his debut in Allsvenskan. Only a year later he was already a regular in the team. This year, he also scored his first goal as a professional and won with the team the Swedish Cup. In 1997 he became Swedish champion.
1998 signed Ljungberg a contract at Arsenal. The transfer fee was £ 3 million and was thus, of a Swedish player until then the most expensive transfer. It was observed more than a year of Scouts of the Association of London. After a match against England Arsène Wenger approved the transfer, even though he had not seen the game.
In July 2007, Ljungberg joined West Ham United. On 6 August 2008 West Ham broke the contract on the Swedish national team.
End of October 2008 announced the American franchise Seattle Sounders FC of the player's commitment. He received a doped with five million U.S. dollars, two-year contract. He can play both as a left and as a right midfielder. In Seattle, he often stood in central midfield on the court. Previously he also played sometimes as a hanging tip. At the end of the 2009 season he was appointed to the MLS Best XI.
On 30 July 2010, the Swedish ex-national players moved on to league rivals Chicago Fire SC. His first game he did against Los Angeles Galaxy, where he came off the bench.
On 27 December 2010 he returned to Europe and completed a one-week trial with Celtic. On December 30, the move to Glasgow was announced. 9 January 2011 he made his debut in the jersey of the Bhoys. In the Scottish Cup game against Berwick Rangers he came on in the 60th minute. In September 2011, Ljungberg has signed a contract with Shimizu S-Pulse of the Japanese J. League, which he broke up again in February, 2012.
In August 2012, Ljungberg announced the end of his active professional career.
National
In his early days in Sweden, he played twelve games for Sweden's U-21 team.
In the Swedish A-National team he gave his debut on 24 January 1998. After Olof Mellberg had resigned his position as captain of the Swedish national team on August 7, 2006 Fredrik Ljungberg was appointed as the new captain. After Euro 2008, he finished his career in the Swedish national team. The last game in the jersey of Sweden, he played on 18 June 2008 against Russia.
Achievements
- Swedish Champion: 1997
- Swedish Cup winner: 1995
- English Champion: 2002, 2004
- FA Cup Winners: 2002, 2004, 2005
- Winners of the FA Community Shield: 1999, 2002, 2004
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: 2009
Awards
Ljungberg was elected in his home country for football Player of the Year in 2002 and 2006. He was voted the best player of the Premier League 2002.
In 2000 he was elected to Sweden for best dressed man. He is also known as underwear model for Calvin Klein.