Freddie Ljungberg Joins New Seattle Team in MLS
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Official: Ljungberg Joins New Seattle Team
Former Arsenal and West Ham winger Freddie Ljungberg will suit up for the Seattle Sounders FC when the new expansion franchise opens up play in MLS next year.
The Seattle Sounders FC, MLS’s newest team, announced their newest signing on Tuesday afternoon. Swedish winger Freddie Ljungberg has joined the expansion club as a Designated Player, becoming the team’s fourth player signed. The Sounders are still without a coach, however.
Ljungberg said that he had been questioned about a move to MLS by many people who thought the 31-year-old should continue to play for one of the high profile clubs in Europe rather than coming to the United States. He admitted that he felt as though he could have stayed in Europe for a few more years.
“[But] I thought it would be a lie to the American fans to come later,” he said on a conference call. “For me, personally, when I get on the pitch I go 100 percent. I want to play well.”
At Arsenal, where Ljungberg spent nine seasons, the flamboyant midfielder compiled several personal honors including the 2002 Barclay’s Premier League Player of the Year. But a summer 2007 transfer to West Ham proved unproductive. He was released by the Hammers in August after scoring only two goals and suffering a rib injury that ended his season in April.After seven months out of action, Ljungberg is now hoping that a move to MLS will help him jumpstart his career and rebuild reputation.
“While I’ve been off I’ve trained every day,” he said. “I’ve trained hard the last month and my body has held up well.”
Moving to a new league will offer Ljungberg a new set of challenges. The travel in MLS can be brutal to players from Europe but Ljungberg thinks that his experience playing in the Champions League with Arsenal and flying to games all over Europe has him well prepared for the grind of the American season. -
all the best! have fun with beckham!
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Originally posted by youyayu:
all the best! have fun with beckham!
hope becks moves to Milan -
Originally posted by sand king:
hope becks moves to Milanaiya.. mls season start he also will move back..
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Originally posted by youyayu:
aiya.. mls season start he also will move back..
oh yar... becks ar becks... when are you gona retire haha! -
go usa the pay good ah i think so many former stars go..
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Originally posted by Jacksngthepilot:
go usa the pay good ah i think so many former stars go..
I thought most of them want to go Spain, cus the tax there is lesser ? -
i still can remember the red hair
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haha, usa got great clubs to grab hot chick leh!
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Originally posted by gunner77:
i still can remember the red hair
It looks more like pink... lol -
the MLS is pretty exciting.. me being in Toronto, i've been to a few of the Toronto FC's MLS games. No big name stars here besides Becks but they do play pretty good football.