Freddie Ljungberg | MLSsoccer.com

• Selected to Best XI and MLS All-Star Team and finalist for Newcomer of the Year in first season
• Led MLS with five game-winning assists
• Ranked No. 11 on Arsenal’s all-time top 50 players
• Winner of two English Premier League Championships and three FA Cups and 2006 UEFA Champions League runners-up
• Appeared in 328 matches for Arsenal from 1998-2007, scoring 72 goals
• Sweden’s Player of the Year in 2002 and 2006
• Awarded 2002 FA Premier League Player of the Year
• Coach Sigi Schmid: “Freddie has the ability to do special things on the field at special times.”

MLS Experience
2009: Selected to MLS Best XI and was a finalist for Newcomer of the Year in first season. Started and played full 90 minutes for MLS All-Stars in 1-1 loss to Everton (7/29). Started 21 of 22 regular season appearances for Seattle. Played all 210 minutes in both playoff games vs. HOU (10/29, 11/8). Had two goals and nine assists. Five game-winning assists was first in league. Six of his corner kicks led to goals. Despite missing eight games, he led MLS in fouls suffered (67). Missed opening game vs. NY (3/19) recovering from hip surgery. Scored first MLS goal, the game-winner, in first MLS start in 2-0 win at TOR (4/4). Scored second goal in 2-1 win vs. SJ (6/13). Recorded two assists in playoff-clinching win at KC (10/17) and was named Player of the Week. Had second straight two-assist game in 2-1 win vs. DAL (10/24) to clinch October Player of the Month.

Other Professional Experience
2007-08: Signed by West Ham United of the English Premier League. Appeared in 25 league matches, finishing with two goals. Scored first goal for club in February against Birmingham, and soon followed with another at Sunderland. Sustained a season-ending hamstring injury against Newcastle in April.

1998-2007: Starred nine seasons for London’s Arsenal, one of England’s Big Four. Played prominent role in Gunners’ run of two EPL and three FA Cup championships between 1999-05, including 2002 league and cup double and 2003-04 unbeaten league campaign of “The Invincibles.” During his first seven seasons in North London, the club won two EPL trophies and was runner-up five times. Arsenal was runner-up to Barcelona in the 2006 UEFA Champions League final. The club never finished lower than fourth in the Premiership during his tenure. Spotted by Arsène Wenger during international competition between Sweden and England and soon after signed for £3 million. Debuted by coming on as substitute 9/20/98 and scoring in 3-0 win over Manchester United. Appeared in 328 matches for Arsenal from 1998-07, scoring 72 goals. His season high was 17 in 2001-02 in all competitions, with his 12 in league play ranking ninth in EPL. Also scored in 2002 FA Cup final win, 2-0 over Chelsea, becoming first player to score in consecutive FA Cup finals. Along with Arsenal winning EPL, Ljungberg was named Sweden’s Player of the Year. Gunners won EPL without a loss (26-0-12) in 2004 and eventually set an English record by going undefeated over 49 matches. Helped Arsenal reclaim FA Cup in 2005, converting vital penalty in tiebreaker against Man United and scoring 14 times in all competitions. Named Sweden’s Footballer of the Year for a second time in 2006, when Arsenal advanced to Champions League Final for first time and Sweden reached World Cup finals and advanced to second round.

1994-98: Debuted for BK Halmstad senior team at the age of 17. Halmstad won Sweden’s first division, the Allsvenskan, in 1997 and the Swedish Cup in 1995. Made 139 appearances over five seasons, scoring 16 goals.

Personal
Born in Vittsjö, in the southern part of Sweden. A talented handball player, was called to the national handball squad at the age of 13. A fashion icon is known for dyeing and styling his hair. Modeled for Calvin Klein underwear. Voted best-dressed man in Sweden in 2002.