Freddie Ljungberg facts for kids
Ljungberg playing in the Match Against Poverty in 2014
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Karl Fredrik Ljungberg | ||
| Date of birth | 16 April 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Vittsjö, Sweden | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1982–1994 | Halmstad | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1994–1998 | Halmstad | 79 | (10) |
| 1998–2007 | Arsenal | 216 | (46) |
| 2007–2008 | West Ham United | 25 | (2) |
| 2009–2010 | Seattle Sounders FC | 37 | (2) |
| 2010 | Chicago Fire | 15 | (2) |
| 2011 | Celtic | 7 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 8 | (0) |
| 2014 | Mumbai City | 4 | (0) |
| Total | 391 | (62) | |
| International career | |||
| 1993 | Sweden U16 | 4 | (2) |
| 1994 | Sweden U18 | 8 | (1) |
| 1995–1998 | Sweden U21 | 12 | (5) |
| 1998–2008 | Sweden | 75 | (14) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2016–2017 | Arsenal U15 | ||
| 2018–2019 | Arsenal U23 | ||
| 2019 | Arsenal (caretaker) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Karl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg (born 16 April 1977) is a famous Swedish former footballer. He played as a winger, which is a player who runs down the sides of the field.
Freddie spent most of his career at Arsenal, a top English club. There, he won many important titles, including two Premier League trophies and three FA Cups. He even scored goals in two FA Cup finals!
After leaving Arsenal in 2007, he played for several other teams around the world. He also played for the Swedish national team for ten years. He played in major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro. Freddie was even the captain of Sweden's team from 2006 until he retired from international football in 2008. Later in his career, he became a football manager and coach.
Contents
Early Life and Football Dreams
Freddie Ljungberg was born in Vittsjö, Sweden, on 16 April 1977. When he was five, his family moved to Halmstad. Young Freddie wasn't happy about moving at first.
His parents took him to Halmstads BK, a local football club. He joined the youth team there. His coach, Olle Eriksson, quickly saw that Freddie was very talented. He also noticed that Freddie was a team player, always passing the ball to his friends so they could score.
Freddie also enjoyed playing ice hockey and handball. He was even good enough to be called up to the national under-15 handball team! But in the end, he decided to focus all his energy on football. He studied well in school too, but later chose to leave university to fully commit to his football career.
Club Career Highlights
Starting at Halmstad
Freddie was very determined from a young age. At 12, he convinced Halmstads BK to let him play with older players. By 14, he joined the junior team. Just three years later, he moved up to the senior team.
He made his first professional appearance on 23 October 1994. In 1995, he scored his first goal. That same year, Halmstad won the Svenska Cupen, a Swedish football cup. In 1997, Halmstad won the Allsvenskan, which is Sweden's top football league. Freddie scored and assisted many goals that season. He played 139 games for Halmstad, scoring 16 goals. His great performances caught the eye of big clubs like Barcelona and Arsenal.
Becoming an Arsenal Star
In 1998, Arsenal signed Freddie Ljungberg for £3 million. Arsenal's manager, Arsène Wenger, was so impressed by Freddie's performance for Sweden against England that he decided to sign him.
Freddie quickly showed his talent. He scored in his very first game for Arsenal on 20 September, coming on as a substitute against Manchester United. Arsenal won that match 3–0.
One of Freddie's best periods was in the 2001–02 season. Arsenal won both the Premier League and the FA Cup that year, achieving a "double". Freddie scored many important goals, including a fantastic goal in the 2–0 FA Cup Final win against Chelsea. He scored 17 goals in all competitions that season. He was also the first player in 40 years to score in two FA Cup finals in a row!
In the 2002–03 season, Freddie helped Arsenal reach another FA Cup final. He scored the winning goal in the semi-final. Arsenal then beat Southampton in the final, with Freddie playing a key role. He also scored his first "hat-trick" (three goals in one game) for Arsenal against Sunderland.
In the 2003–04 season, Freddie was part of Arsenal's famous "Invincibles" team. They went the entire Premier League season without losing a single game! He played in 30 league matches that season. He also scored the winning goal against rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Freddie was known for playing as a winger on either side of the midfield. He was a regular starter for Arsenal and played a big part in their success. Despite dealing with injuries and migraines, he was a vital player. In 2006, he played in the Champions League Final against Barcelona, which Arsenal lost 2–1. His last game for Arsenal was on 21 April 2007, when he got injured against Tottenham Hotspur.
In 2008, Arsenal fans voted Freddie Ljungberg as one of the club's greatest 50 players.
Moving to West Ham United
On 23 July 2007, Freddie joined West Ham United, another London club. He signed a four-year contract. He made his debut on 11 August, even captaining the team. He scored his first goal for West Ham in February 2008.
An injury to his ribs ended his season early. In June 2008, Freddie decided to retire from the Swedish national team to focus on his club career. Soon after, he agreed to leave West Ham after just one year.
Time Away from Football
After leaving West Ham, many people wondered what Freddie would do next. There were rumors he might join clubs in Italy or even become a furniture designer! He took some time off to consider his future.
Playing in the USA: Seattle Sounders FC
On 28 October 2008, Freddie signed with Seattle Sounders FC, a new team in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. He became a "designated player," meaning he was one of the team's highest-paid stars.
He had hip surgery in December 2008 but recovered quickly. Freddie made his debut for Seattle on 28 March 2009. The next week, he scored his first MLS goal against Toronto FC. He quickly became a popular player in the MLS.
In July 2009, Freddie was chosen to start for the MLS All-Star team. He received the most votes from fans, showing how popular he was. He was also made captain of the All-Star team. Later that year, he won the U.S. Open Cup with Seattle.
Short Stays in Chicago, Scotland, and Japan
On 30 July 2010, Freddie was traded to Chicago Fire, another MLS club. He played 15 games for them before announcing he would leave at the end of the 2010 season.
In December 2010, Freddie joined Celtic, a Scottish club, after a successful trial. He made his debut for Celtic in January 2011. In September 2011, he signed with Shimizu S-Pulse, a Japanese team. He left the club in February 2012.
Retirement and Comeback
On 24 August 2012, Freddie Ljungberg officially announced his retirement from football.
However, on 25 July 2014, he announced a comeback to help launch the Indian Super League. He signed with Mumbai City as their star player. But due to ongoing back problems, he only played four games before ending his contract and returning to London.
International Career for Sweden
Youth Teams
Freddie started playing for Sweden's national youth teams in 1996. His coach, Lars Lagerbäck, initially thought Freddie was too small to become an international player. But Freddie quickly proved him wrong by scoring two goals in his first match for the Sweden Under-21 team!
Senior Team Debut
Freddie made his first appearance for the senior Swedish national team on 24 January 1998. He scored his first goal for Sweden against Denmark, helping his team win 3–0.
Major Tournaments
Freddie played for Sweden in several big tournaments:
- UEFA Euro 2000: He played in all three group games, but Sweden was eliminated early.
- 2002 FIFA World Cup: Before the tournament, Freddie had a small argument with a teammate during practice, which made headlines. Despite a hip injury, he played in games against England and Nigeria. Sweden reached the knockout stage but lost to Senegal.
- UEFA Euro 2004: Freddie scored Sweden's first goal in a 5–0 win against Bulgaria. Sweden reached the quarter-finals but lost to the Netherlands in a penalty shootout.
- 2006 FIFA World Cup: Freddie had an injured foot but insisted on playing. He scored a crucial goal in the 89th minute against Paraguay, giving Sweden a 1–0 victory. Sweden advanced to the next round but lost to Germany. For his performance, he received the Guldbollen award, given to Sweden's best male footballer.
- UEFA Euro 2008: Freddie was the captain of Sweden for this tournament. He played with fractured ribs, showing his dedication. Sweden was eliminated in the group stage.
Retirement from International Football
On 27 June 2008, Freddie announced he was retiring from the Swedish national team. He had played 75 games for Sweden and scored 14 goals.
Coaching Career
Returning to Arsenal
In May 2013, Arsenal announced that Freddie would become an ambassador for the club. This role helped promote Arsenal around the world.
In July 2016, he officially joined the Arsenal Academy as a coach for the under-15 team.
Coaching at VfL Wolfsburg
In February 2017, Freddie became an assistant coach for VfL Wolfsburg in Germany. He worked there for six months before the coaching staff was changed.
Back to Arsenal's Senior Team
In June 2018, Freddie returned to Arsenal as the under-23 coach. A year later, in June 2019, he was promoted to the first-team coaching staff.
On 29 November 2019, Freddie was made the interim head coach of Arsenal after the previous manager left. His first game as interim coach was a 2–2 draw against Norwich City. He got his first and only win as interim coach by beating West Ham United 3-1. When Mikel Arteta became the new head coach, Freddie stayed on as an assistant. He left Arsenal in August 2020 to gain more experience in management.
Outside Football
Endorsements and Modeling
Freddie Ljungberg also gained attention for his work as a male model. He was sponsored by big brands like Nike and Calvin Klein. He appeared in many commercials, including Nike's "Secret Tournament" campaign before the 2002 World Cup, alongside other famous footballers.
Personal Life
Freddie Ljungberg married Natalie Foster on 9 June 2014. They have two children together.
Nicknames
In England, Freddie became known as "Freddie." In Sweden, people usually call him by his birth name, Fredrik. His teammates in the Swedish national team sometimes called him "Ljungan." Early in his Arsenal career, he was also nicknamed "Kid Vicious" because of his punk hairstyle.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Halmstad | 1994 | Allsvenskan | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 1995 | Allsvenskan | 16 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | ||||
| 1996 | Allsvenskan | 20 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 0 | — | 23 | 2 | ||||
| 1997 | Allsvenskan | 24 | 5 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | 28 | 6 | ||||
| 1998 | Allsvenskan | 18 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | 20 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 79 | 10 | — | — | 13 | 1 | — | 92 | 11 | |||||
| Arsenal | 1998–99 | Premier League | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Premier League | 26 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | 14 | 2 | — | 42 | 8 | |||
| 2000–01 | Premier League | 30 | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | 13 | 2 | — | 48 | 9 | |||
| 2001–02 | Premier League | 25 | 12 | 5 | 2 | — | 9 | 3 | — | 39 | 17 | |||
| 2002–03 | Premier League | 20 | 6 | 4 | 1 | — | 8 | 2 | — | 32 | 9 | |||
| 2003–04 | Premier League | 30 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 9 | 2 | — | 43 | 10 | |||
| 2004–05 | Premier League | 26 | 10 | 6 | 2 | — | 6 | 2 | — | 38 | 14 | |||
| 2005–06 | Premier League | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | — | 36 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 18 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | — | 26 | 2 | |||
| Total | 216 | 46 | 33 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 73 | 15 | — | 325 | 72 | |||
| West Ham United | 2007–08 | Premier League | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 2 | ||
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2009 | Major League Soccer | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 2 | ||
| 2010 | Major League Soccer | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 2 | ||||
| Chicago Fire | 2010 | Major League Soccer | 15 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 2 | ||||
| Celtic | 2010–11 | Scottish Premier League | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 2011 | J.League | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Mumbai City | 2014 | Indian Super League | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 391 | 62 | 36 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 86 | 16 | — | 520 | 89 | |||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 1998 | 6 | 1 |
| 1999 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 10 | 4 | |
| 2005 | 7 | 5 | |
| 2006 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 75 | 14 | |
- Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ljungberg goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 May 1998 | Malmö Stadion, Malmö, Sweden | 3 |  Denmark |
1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 31 March 1999 | Stadion Śląski, Chorzów, Poland | 8 |  Poland |
1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying | |
| 3 | 7 June 2003 | Stadio Serravalle, Serravalle, San Marino | 37 |  San Marino |
3–0 | 6–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying | |
| 4 | 14 June 2004 | Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal | 41 |  Bulgaria |
1–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 | |
| 5 | 4 September 2004 | Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta | 46 |  Malta |
4–0 | 7–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 6 | 6–0 | |||||||
| 7 | 9 October 2004 | Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden | 48 |  Hungary |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 8 | 9 February 2005 | Stade de France, Paris, France | 50 |  France |
1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly | |
| 9 | 26 March 2005 | Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria | 51 | Bulgaria |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 10 | 3–0 | |||||||
| 11 | 4 June 2005 | Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden | 52 | Malta |
5–0 | 6–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 12 | 3 September 2005 | Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden | 53 | Bulgaria |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 13 | 15 June 2006 | Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany | 59 |  Paraguay |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | |
| 14 | 13 October 2007 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein | 68 |  Liechtenstein |
1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
Managerial statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Arsenal U-23 |  |
1 July 2018 | 30 June 2019 | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 46.15 | |
| Arsenal (interim) | |
29 November 2019 | 21 December 2019 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 16.67 | |
| Total | 32 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 40.63 | ||||
Honours and Awards
Freddie Ljungberg won many trophies and awards during his career:
Halmstad
- Allsvenskan: 1997 (Swedish League Title)
Arsenal
- Premier League: 2001–02, 2003–04 (English League Titles)
- FA Cup: 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05 (English Cup Titles)
- FA Charity Shield: 1999
Seattle Sounders FC
- U.S. Open Cup: 2009 (American Cup Title)
Individual Awards
- Premier League Player of the Season: 2001–02
- Premier League Player of the Month: April 2002
- ESM Team of the Year: 2001–02
- Guldbollen: 2002, 2006 (Award for Sweden's best male footballer)
- Swedish Midfielder of the Year: 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
- MLS Best XI: 2009 (Best team in Major League Soccer)
- MLS Player of the Month: October 2009
Images for kids
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Ljungberg in a model shoot for a Swedish men's magazine Café.
-
Ljungberg (front, second from left) lining up for Seattle Sounders FC in August 2009 ahead of a friendly against Barcelona
See also
In Spanish: Fredrik Ljungberg para niños
