Axel Sjöberg facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 March 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
| Height | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–1997 | Helenelunds IK | ||
| 1997–2009 | Djurgårdens IF | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2014 | Marquette Golden Eagles | 63 | (11) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010 | Sollentuna United FF | 20 | (3) |
| 2012–2013 | Thunder Bay Chill | 29 | (6) |
| 2015–2019 | Colorado Rapids | 88 | (3) |
| 2020 | Columbus Crew SC | 0 | (0) |
| 2020 | → San Antonio FC (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2020 | D.C. United | 2 | (0) |
| 2021 | San Antonio FC | 15 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 October 2021 | |||
Axel Sjöberg is a former professional footballer from Sweden. He was born on March 8, 1991. Axel played as a centre-back, which is a defensive position in football. He is known for his time playing in the MLS in the United States.
Contents
His Football Journey
Starting Out in Sweden
Axel Sjöberg started playing football at a very young age. When he was just four years old, he joined a club called Helenelunds IK in his hometown. Two years later, in 1997, he moved to the youth academy of Djurgårdens IF. This club is a well-known team in Sweden's top football league, the Allsvenskan.
Axel stayed with Djurgårdens IF until 2009. In 2010, he signed with Sollentuna United FF, a team in a lower Swedish league called Division 2. During that season, Axel scored three goals. He helped his team finish second in the league. He was even named the club's Player of the Year for his great performance.
Playing College Soccer in the U.S.
In 2011, Axel decided to play college soccer in the United States. He joined the Marquette Golden Eagles team at Marquette University. He played for them for four years. During his time there, Axel played in 63 matches and scored 11 goals. He also helped his teammates score 9 times.
From his second year onwards, Axel played every minute of every match. He received many awards for his strong play. He was even named one of the top 10 defenders in college soccer by a sports website.
Semi-Professional Experience
While playing college soccer, Axel also played semi-professional football. In 2012 and 2013, he played for the Thunder Bay Chill. This team was part of the Premier Development League, which is a lower league in the United States soccer league system. He joined the team with two of his Marquette teammates.
In 2012, he played in 15 matches and scored two goals. The next year, he played in 14 matches and scored four goals. He helped the Thunder Bay Chill win their division in 2012. In 2013, they reached the league final but lost. Axel was named the club's Defender of the Year in both seasons.
Becoming a Professional Player
Joining Major League Soccer
After college, Axel Sjöberg tried out for professional teams. In 2014, he had trials with teams in Sweden and the Czech Republic. He was even offered a contract by a Czech team after scoring two goals in three matches with their reserve squad.
In January 2015, Axel was invited to the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. This is where professional teams in the MLS pick new players. Experts thought he would be one of the first players chosen. One analyst even said he was the most ready defender for the MLS.
The Colorado Rapids chose Axel as the 14th overall pick in the draft. They traded with another team to get him.
Playing for Colorado Rapids
Axel made his professional debut for the Colorado Rapids on March 7, 2015. This was the first match of the 2015 season. He started the game, which ended in a 0–0 draw. His coach praised him for helping the defense stay strong.
Axel scored his first professional goal on May 21, 2016. It was the winning goal in a 1–0 victory against the Seattle Sounders FC. This win helped the Colorado Rapids move to the top of the MLS standings.
During the 2016 Major League Soccer season, Axel was a key player for the Rapids. In his first 11 starts, the team only allowed seven goals. This made him a strong candidate for the MLS Defender of the Year award. He was also considered for the 2016 MLS All-Star Game roster. Even though he wasn't chosen for the All-Star team, many thought he should have been.
In 2017, Axel started the season strong but then got a hamstring injury. He returned to play on May 21, 2017. After the 2019 season, Axel left the Colorado Rapids.
Other Teams
On December 4, 2019, Axel was picked up by Columbus Crew SC. In March 2020, he was loaned to USL Championship club San Antonio FC for the season.
Later in 2020, D.C. United acquired Axel from Columbus Crew. He made his debut for D.C. United on August 29, 2020. He was released by the team in November 2020.
On January 21, 2021, Axel re-joined San Antonio FC.
Retirement
On April 24, 2022, Axel Sjöberg announced that he was retiring from professional football. He shared this news on his Instagram page.
Achievements
Individual Awards
- MLS Best XI: 2016 (This award recognizes the best players in the MLS for that season.)
See also
In Spanish: Axel Sjöberg para niños
