Axel Sjöberg facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 March 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
| Height | 2.01m | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–1997 | Helenelunds IK | ||
| 1997–2009 | Djurgårdens IF | ||
| 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) |
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Axel Sjöberg (born March 8, 1991) is a Swedish former footballer. He played as a centre-back, which is a defensive position in football.
Contents
Axel Sjöberg's Football Journey
Starting Young
Axel Sjöberg began playing football at a very young age. He joined Helenelunds IK in his hometown when he was just four years old. At age six, 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 Division 2. During that season, Axel scored three goals. He helped his team finish second in the league. Axel was even named the club's Player of the Year for his great performance.
College and Semi-Professional Play
In 2011, Axel Sjöberg decided to play college soccer in the United States. He joined the Marquette Golden Eagles at Marquette University. Over four years, Axel played in 63 matches, starting every one of them. He scored eleven goals and made nine assists. From his second year onwards, he played every minute of every game. He earned many awards, including being named one of the top 10 defenders in college soccer.
While in college, Axel also played semi-professional football. For the 2012 and 2013 seasons, he played for the Thunder Bay Chill. This team was part of the Premier Development League, which is the fourth level of football in the United States. He joined the Chill after they played a friendly match against Marquette.
In 2012, Axel played in 15 matches and scored two goals. The next season, he played in 14 matches and scored four goals. He helped the Thunder Bay Chill win their division in 2012. In 2013, the Chill won the regular season championship but lost in the final match. Axel was recognized as the club's Defender of the Year for both seasons.
Becoming a Professional Player
First Steps as a Pro
After college, Axel tried out for professional teams. In July 2014, he had a trial with GAIS in Sweden. He also tried out for SK Sigma Olomouc in the Czech Republic. He played well with their reserve team and was offered a contract.
Playing for Colorado Rapids
In January 2015, Axel was invited to the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. This is where teams from Major League Soccer (MLS), the top league in the U.S. and Canada, pick new players. Experts thought he could be picked early. The Colorado Rapids chose him as the 14th overall pick.
Axel made his professional debut for the Rapids on March 7, 2015. This was the first match of the 2015 MLS season. He started the game and helped his team keep a clean sheet (no goals scored against them). The coach, Pablo Mastroeni, said Axel was ready to help the team right away.
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 very strong defender. In his first 11 starts, the Rapids only let in seven goals. Because of his strong play, some people thought he might win the MLS Defender of the Year award or be chosen for the 2016 MLS All-Star Game. While he wasn't an All-Star, he was a key player for the best defense in the league that season.
In 2017, Axel started the season well but then got a hamstring injury. He returned to play on May 21, 2017. After the 2019 season, Axel left the Colorado Rapids.
Moving to Other Teams
On December 4, 2019, Axel was picked up by Columbus Crew SC. In March 2020, he was loaned to San Antonio FC, a team in the USL Championship.
Later in 2020, D.C. United acquired Axel from Columbus Crew. He made his debut for D.C. United on August 29, 2020. He left D.C. United in November 2020.
On January 21, 2021, Axel Sjöberg rejoined San Antonio FC.
Retirement
On April 24, 2022, Axel Sjöberg announced on his social media that he had decided to retire from playing professional football.
Honours
Individual Awards
- MLS Best XI: 2016 (This award means he was chosen as one of the best 11 players in the MLS for that year!)
Images for kids
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Axel Sjöberg in his football kit.
See also
In Spanish: Axel Sjöberg para niños
