Fredrik Ljungberg

Karl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg () (born 16 April, 1977 in Vittsjö, Hässleholm Municipality) is a Sweden football (soccer)er who currently plays for England club West Ham United F.C..

Ljungberg normally plays as a Midfielder Winger, either on his preferred right side or occasionally on the left. He is the captain of the Sweden national football team.

Biography

Early career

Ljungberg joined Halmstads BK in Sweden as a youth player at the age of five. He played several other sports including ice hockey and handball for which he was called up to the national squad. He made his senior debut for Halmstads on 23 October 1994 in the Swedish First Division against AIK. He went on to make 139 appearances and score 16 goals for the club. He won both the Swedish Cup and League title with the club.

Arsenal career

Ljungberg was signed by Arsenal F.C] in 1998 for £3 million. Arsenal's manager, Arsène Wenger, took the unusual step of authorising the signing of Ljungberg after watching him play for Sweden national football team in their defeat of England national football team on television, without seeing him play live. The match confirmed to Wenger that Ljungberg would cope against English opponents. Ljungberg passed the test without difficulty and made a sensational debut after coming on as a substitute scoring against rival club Manchester United F.C..

Some of Ljungberg's best form came in the second half of the 2001-02 in English football season, when Arsenal won their second FA Premier League and FA Cup The Double. Following a knee injury to Robert Pirès, Ljungberg came in and scored in most of Arsenal's remaining games, including a stunning finish in the FA Cup final against Chelsea F.C.. He endeared himself to Arsenal Supporters by having a bright red stripe in his hair.

Freddie was the first player to score an FA Cup Final goal outside England, in 2001 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, against Liverpool F.C] and, a year later, against Chelsea F.C. he became the first player to score an FA Cup Final goal indoors at the same venue with the roof closed.

He is most comfortable on either wing in midfield, though he can also play centrally in a 4-5-1 formation or as a second striker. Ljungberg became a regular in Arsenal's starting lineup following the departure of Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars in the summer of 2000. He has had to fight with constant injury problems and occasionally severe bouts with migraines; in 2005 a mysterious persistent hip injury led to fears he may have contracted cancer, which were unfounded. It transpired that he was suffering from blood poisoning caused by his large tattoos.

Despite a persistent ankle injury Ljungberg played for Arsenal in the 2-1 defeat by FC Barcelona in the Champions League Final in Paris on May 172006.

It was speculated in January 2007 that Ljungberg was being forced to leave Arsenal FC, after bosses became tired of a run of injuries restricting his play. Though it was suggested he could make a move to West Ham United F.C., later these speculations proved to be untrue. "Ljungberg still has a lot to offer to Arsenal," Arsene Wenger said, on July 13, at a Blackburn Rovers pre-match press-conference, stressing the fact that Ljungberg will stay at Arsenal until the end of his contract in 2009.

Ljungberg came back after a long pending injury in a FA Cup match against Bolton Wanderers, scoring a goal thirteen minutes before the end of extra time, earning Arsenal a place in the fifth-round tie of the FA Cup against Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham career

On 23 July 2007, Ljungberg joined West Ham United F.C. on a four-year contract for a fee that could rise to £3 million. West Ham United are only the second English professional club of Ljungberg's career.

Ljungberg made his West Ham United F.C. debut in the 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City on 11 August 2007 a game in which he was also captain.

International career

Ljungberg represented Sweden at U21 level. He received his first full cap (sport) for Sweden on 24 January1998 against the USA national football team. He has represented his country at 2000 European Football Championship, 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2004 European Football Championship and 2006 FIFA World Cup, where his 13th goal for Sweden came in the 89th minute of the match against Paraguay national football team. As of August 8, 2006, Ljungberg is captain of the Swedish national football team, taking over after Olof Mellberg.

Personal

- He is an underwear model (person) for Calvin Klein.
- He is nicknamed "Freddie" in England and "Ljungan" in the Swedish national football team.
- He has a younger brother called Filip.
- He currently resides in Hampstead, London, and in Halmstad when in Sweden.
- He is a fan of English punk rock, and at school he was nicknamed "Sid", after Sid Vicious.
- He is not related to Hanna Ljungberg in the Sweden women's national football team.

Arsenal career statistics

West Ham career statistics

Awards

- 1998 Swedish FA prizes for "Best Midfielder of the year"
- 1998 Swedish FA prizes for "People's player of the year"
- 1998 Nominated for the Sexiest Men in the World
- 1998 6th in the Swedish handsome men contest
- 2000 Arsenal FC Player of the Month (January and February)
- 2000 Arsenal FC Dreamcast Player of the Season competition came 2nd
- 2000 AFCi Awards "Most Improved Arsenal Player" for the 1999-2000 in English football
- 2000 2nd in AFCi Awards "Arsenal Player of the Season"
- 2002 Winner of Guldbollen, the award for the best Swedish footballer of the year
- 2006 Winner of Guldbollen, the award for the best Swedish footballer of the year

Honours

With Halmstad
- Swedish Cup Winner: 1995
- Swedish League Winner: 1997

With Arsenal:
- Community Shield: 1999
- FA Premier League Winner: 2001-02, 2003-04
- FA Cup: 2002, 2003, 2005