Freddie Ljungberg Joins US Soccer Team Seattle Sounders FC
First it was David Beckham, international soccer superstar, who signed a deal to play professional soccer here in the US with the LA Galaxy and now Freddie Ljungberg, also an international soccer star, has followed suit and signed a deal to play professional soccer here in the US with the new MLS team Seattle Sounders FC. Here are a few pics of Freddie making his debut to the world as the newest member of the Seattle Sounders team in a press conference earlier today:
Freddie Ljungberg has become the latest big name player to head to the United States to play in Major League Soccer, signing for Seattle Sounders on Tuesday. The former Swedish captain forged his reputation with Arsenal in the Premier League and crossed London to play for West Ham. After terminating his contact with the Hammers in the summer, the 31-year-old midfielder has been weighing up a number of offers before opting to join the likes of David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy) in the MLS. He told a news confernce at Seattle’s stadium, Qwest Field that he wanted to play in America while still at his best. “For me personally, I’m coming here because I want to play football and I see this as a great experience and I want to make it a better league and develop it,” he told the Associated Press. “I felt if I was going to do this as a sincere thing, I should go now. I shouldn’t go in three years when I’m past my peak.” Ljungberg, who has played in two World Cups, has signed a two-year deal at Seattle, reported to be worth $5 million per year. The Sounders are owned by Joe Roth and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, as well as a number of minority owners including comedian Drew Carey. More than 17,000 season tickets have been sold for the 2009 season, which already puts the Sounders second in the MLS when they join as the 15th team. Ljungberg joins former Tottenham and Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Kasey Keller — a Seattle native — as well as midfielder Sanna Nyassi and striker Sebastien Le Toux as the only players on the club’s squad ahead of the draft on November 26.
Woot! This is amazing news for US soccer fans … all 5 of them. Hee hee. But seriously, I think it’s awesome that US teams are starting to woo major soccer talent from countries where the game is so competitive to help breathe life into the sport here in the US. I’m sure that Americans will welcome Freddie with open arms. Oh and lest you think that the Fredster is merely trying to become the “next David Beckham“, I should remind y’all that Freddie was the hawt soccer star that was posing in his undies well before David Beckham ever stripped down for Armani Underwear. Freddie, you may or may not know, was very famously the face (and bulge) of Calvin Klein Underwear a couple of years ago. After the jump, check out some of his hot work …
WOOOOT! Now we Americans have TWO hawt soccer studs to worship on the fields of play. I can’t wait until Ljungberg meets Beckham on the soccer pitch! Love it! I don’t even like soccer and I’m really geeked by this news! Can all US soccer teams have at least one hot underwear model/professional soccer team member on their teams? We can add Cristiano Ronaldo to the mix :)
[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]
Tags: Karl Fredrik 'Freddie' Ljungberg, Seattle Sounders FC
RSS
Feedburner
October 28th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I <3 Freddie Ljungberg! He’s my most favorite soccer player and I’ve been drooling after him for years. Woot! Time to move to Seattle!
October 28th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Haha, he’s really what makes me proud to be Swedish (AAA) hahah!
October 28th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
His name might be of no consequence to me but I will welcome any man who looks like that with open arms:)!!
October 28th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
What are these footballers smoking? I thought it was the worst decision for Beckham to come to the States, because really, no American cares about soccer. Now another one is coming over? Best of luck to him…I had no idea Seattle had a soccer team.
October 28th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
he is gorgeous!! i heart him. kinda sucky that he’s leaving european football tho. =(
October 28th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
That hot pic on the bottom is the one i’ve had stuck to my work agenda for YEARS…. he gives me a bit of inspiration when I get bored…. whoooooooo yeah baby…. umm hmmm
October 28th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Lol Nimbus I agree…When I was at school I had that bottom picture of him on the front of my Health & Phys Ed book…Inspiration indeed.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
[...] Freddie Ljunberg Joins US Soccer Team – Pink Is The New Blog [...]
October 28th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
[...] Freddie Ljunberg Joins US Soccer Team – Pink Is The New Blog [...]
October 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
[...] Keira Knightley and Guillaume Canet filming ‘Last Night’ in New York City’s meat packing district.Freddie Ljunberg Joins US Soccer Team – Pink Is The New BlogBelly Baring Whitney Port Lives A Bicoastal Life – Pop SugarHayden [...]
October 28th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Actually, there are more than a few people who care about MLS soccer in America. If you go to a game, the stadium is packed and energetic! Not near a European football match, but not a bad energy at all. The popularity has risen, and though part in thanks (or no thanks?) to Beckham, more and more people are watching, ;)
Go Houston Dynamo…!
October 28th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Wowza! I grew up with the Sounders back in the day – I def would have paid more attention with this guy on the field.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
This guy is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY MORE HANDSOME than David Beckham!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 28th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
[...] … and end his days an American hero. But, the point of all this is, I do see some inroads to a win opening for McCain in the end game. Here is how RealClearPolitics.com calls the election if it were today. I think this is a very liberal estimate, based on poll of poll averages. While I do think … Freddie Ljungberg Joins US Soccer Team Seattle Sounders FC [...]
October 29th, 2008 at 5:05 am
He’s pretty effing hot, I’ll take 1!!!
October 29th, 2008 at 6:28 am
MLS fans do exist and we are excited to have all this attention and fresh legs! Some of us have had season tickets for years now and love to stand up for our team. If these hotties are what gets you to games, that is great – once you go you will realize that the atmosphere and speed of the game is hands down better than helmet-ball or bore-ball.
Vamos United!!
October 29th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Freddie is HOT! I’ll be attending Sounders FC games for sure now – imagine a game with Becks and Freddie on the same pitch! Heja Sverige!!