Fredrik Ljungberg

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Fredrik Ljungberg
Personal information
Full name Karl Fredrik Ljungberg
Date of birth April 16, 1977 (1977-04-16) (age 31)
Place of birth    Vittsjö, Sweden
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Winger
Club information
Current club West Ham United
Number 7
Youth clubs
Halmstads BK
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1994–1998
1998–2007
2007–		 Halmstads BK
Arsenal
West Ham United		 079 (10)
216 (46)
025 0(2)   
National team2
1998– Sweden 071 (14)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 07:13, 1 May 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 12:00, 2 June 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Karl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg (IPA: [ˈfreːdrɪk ˈjɵŋˌbærj]) (born 16 April 1977 in Vittsjö, Hässleholm) is a Swedish footballer who currently plays for English club West Ham United.

Ljungberg normally plays as a winger, either on his preferred left side or occasionally on the right. He is the captain of the Swedish national team.

Contents

[edit] Club career

[edit] Early career

Ljungberg joined Halmstad 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 Halmstad 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.

[edit] Arsenal

Ljungberg was signed by Arsenal 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 in their defeat of England 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.

Some of Ljungberg's best form came in the second half of the 2001-02 season, when Arsenal won their second Premiership and FA Cup 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. He endeared himself to Arsenal supporters by having a bright red stripe in his hair. (A popular chant spawned from this to the tune of "I Love You Baby" by Andy Williams: "We love you Freddie, because you've got red hair, we love you Freddie because your everywhere, we love you Freddie, you're Arsenal through and through" Later when he shaved his head this was updated to "We love you Freddie, because you've got no hair").

Ljungberg was the first player to score a goal at an FA Cup final outside England, when he found the net against Liverpool in 2001 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. A year later, against Chelsea, he became the first player to score in consecutive FA Cup finals

Ljungberg, closest to the camera, in a match between Arsenal and Middlesborough, September 2006.
Ljungberg, closest to the camera, in a match between Arsenal and Middlesborough, September 2006.

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 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.[1]

Despite a persistent ankle injury Ljungberg played for Arsenal in the 2-1 defeat by Barcelona in the Champions League Final in Paris on May 17, 2006.

It was speculated in January 2007 that Ljungberg was being forced to leave Arsenal, after bosses became tired of a run of injuries restricting his play. Though it was suggested he could make a move to West Ham, 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.[2][3] However, Ljungberg did indeed leave Arsenal before the end of his contract, making the move to West Ham in 2007.

Ljungberg came back after a long injury in an 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.

[edit] West Ham United

On July 23, 2007, Ljungberg joined West Ham United on a four-year contract for a fee that could rise to £3 million.[4] West Ham United are only the second English professional club of Ljungberg's career. Ljungberg made his West Ham United debut in the 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City on August 11, 2007 a game in which he was also captain. He scored his first league goal for West Ham against Birmingham City on February 9, 2008.[5] His first season with West Ham was ended on 26 April 2008 when Newcastle United defender, Steven Taylor, landed on him breaking one of his ribs.[6]

[edit] International career

Ljungberg represented Sweden at U21 level. He received his first full cap for Sweden on January 24, 1998 against the USA. He has represented his country at Euro 2000, World Cup 2002, Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006, where his 13th goal for Sweden came in the 89th minute of the match against Paraguay.

As of August 8, 2006, Ljungberg is captain of the Swedish national football team, taking over after Olof Mellberg.

[edit] Career statistics

As of May 1, 2008

Club Performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sweden League Svenska Cupen Europe Total
1994 Halmstads Allsvenskan 1 0
1995 16 1
1996 20 2
1997 24 5
1998 18 2
England League FA Cup Europe Total
1998-99 Arsenal Premier League 16 1 5 0 - 21 1
1999-00 26 6 3 0 14 2 43 8
2000-01 30 6 5 1 13 2 48 9
2001-02 25 12 5 2 9 3 39 17
2002-03 20 6 4 1 8 2 32 9
2003-04 30 4 5 4 9 2 44 10
2004-05 26 10 6 2 6 2 38 14
2005-06 25 1 3 0 9 1 37 2
2006-07 18 0 3 1 5 1 26 2
2007-08 West Ham United Premier League 25 2 3 0 - 28 2
Total Sweden 79 10
England 241 48 42 11 73 15 356 74
Career Total 320 58

[edit] Awards

Ljungberg receiving the Guldbollen award, 2006.
Ljungberg receiving the Guldbollen award, 2006.
  • 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 season
  • 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

[edit] 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

[edit] References

  1. ^ Duncan Gardham. Soccer star in health scare over tattoo ink. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
  2. ^ Chris Harris. Wenger - Ljungberg is definitely staying here. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
  3. ^ "Wenger expects Ljungberg to stay" - BBC Sport website
  4. ^ "West Ham swoop to sign Ljungberg", BBC Sport, 2007-07-31. Retrieved on 2008-02-04. 
  5. ^ West Ham 1-1 Birmingham
  6. ^ Ljungberg out for the season

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Olof Mellberg		 Sweden football captain
2006–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Patrik Andersson		 Guldbollen
2002		 Succeeded by
Olof Mellberg
Preceded by
Zlatan Ibrahimović		 Guldbollen
2006		 Succeeded by
Zlatan Ibrahimović
v • d • e
Sweden squad - UEFA Euro 2000
1 Hedman • 2 Nilsson • 3 P. Andersson • 4 Björklund • 5 Lučić • 6 Sundgren • 7 Mild • 8 Gustafsson • 9 Ljungberg • 10 Pettersson • 11 Alexandersson • 12 Kihlstedt • 13 Svensson • 14 Mellberg • 15 D. Andersson • 16 A. Andersson • 17 Mjällby • 18 Osmanovski • 19 K. Andersson • 20 Larsson • 21 Allbäck • 22 Asper • Coach: Lagerbäck & Söderberg
 Flag of Sweden
v • d • e
Sweden squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Hedman • 2 Mellberg • 3 P. Andersson • 4 Mjällby • 5 Michael Svensson • 6 Linderoth • 7 Alexandersson • 8 A. Svensson • 9 Ljungberg • 10 Allbäck • 11 Larsson • 12 Kihlstedt • 13 Antonelius • 14 Edman • 15 Jakobsson • 16 Lučić • 17 Magnus Svensson • 18 Jonson • 19 Farnerud • 20 D. Andersson • 21 Ibrahimović • 22 A. Andersson • 23 Isaksson • Coach: Lagerbäck & Söderberg
 Flag of Sweden
v • d • e
Sweden squad - UEFA Euro 2004
1 Isaksson • 2 Lučić • 3 Mellberg • 4 Mjällby • 5 Edman • 6 Linderoth • 7 Nilsson • 8 Svensson • 9 Ljungberg • 10 Ibrahimović • 11 Larsson • 12 Hedman • 13 Hansson • 14 Östlund • 15 Jakobsson • 16 Källström • 17 Andersson • 18 Jonson • 19 Farnerud • 20 Allbäck • 21 Wilhelmsson • 22 Wahlstedt • 23 Kihlstedt • Coach: Lagerbäck & Söderberg
 Flag of Sweden
v • d • e
Sweden squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Isaksson • 2 Nilsson • 3 Mellberg • 4 Lučić • 5 Edman • 6 Linderoth • 7 Alexandersson • 8 A. Svensson • 9 Ljungberg • 10 Ibrahimović • 11 Larsson • 12 Alvbåge • 13 Hansson • 14 Stenman • 15 K. Svensson • 16 Källström • 17 Elmander • 18 Jonson • 19 Andersson • 20 Allbäck • 21 Wilhelmsson • 22 Rosenberg • 23 Shaaban • Coach: Lagerbäck
 Flag of Sweden
v • d • e
Sweden squad - UEFA Euro 2008
1 Isaksson • 2 Nilsson • 3 Mellberg • 4 Hansson • 5 Stoor • 6 Linderoth • 7 Alexandersson • 8 Svensson • 9 Ljungberg • 10 Ibrahimović • 11 Elmander • 12 Shaaban • 13 Wiland • 14 Majstorović • 15 Granqvist • 16 Källström • 17 H. Larsson • 18 S. Larsson • 19 Andersson • 20 Allbäck • 21 Wilhelmsson • 22 Rosenberg • 23 Dorsin • Coach: Lagerbäck
 Flag of Sweden
v • d • e
West Ham United F.C. – current squad

1 Green • 2 Neill • 3 McCartney • 4 Gabbidon • 5 Ferdinand • 6 Upson • 7 Ljungberg • 8 Parker • 9 Ashton • 10 Bellamy • 11 Etherington • 12 Cole • 14 Paintsil • 16 Noble • 17 Mullins • 18 Spector • 19 Collins • 20 Faubert • 21 Wright • 23 Walker • 25 Zamora • 26 Quashie • 27 Davenport • 29 Bowyer • 30 Tomkins • 32 Dyer • 34 Boa Morte • 35 Štěch • 39 Collison • 40 Sears • Manager: Curbishley


Persondata
NAME Ljungberg, Karl Fredrik
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ljungberg, Fredrik
SHORT DESCRIPTION
DATE OF BIRTH 1977-04-16
PLACE OF BIRTH Vittsjö, Sweden
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH