Sounders FC after Swedish 'Heartthrob?'

October 14, 9:57 AMSeattle Soccer ExaminerDavid Falk

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Seattle Soccer Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

We were passed along a rumor recently that Sounders FC are looking into bringing Swedish National Team Player, former Arsenal great and male model Freddie Ljungberg to Seattle as a possible designated player.

Are you interested? Should Sounders FC be?

Ljungberg was paid a hefty £6 million by West Ham to 'go away' this August. The club did it as a money-saving move after it was clear to them that Freddie was not going to be in their future plans.

Does this mean that Ljungberg is 'washed up?' Clubs such as Roma have remained interested, but so far he's not caught on with anyone despite being 'on a free' in which the club that signs him would not owe a transfer fee. 

In his prime Freddie was adored by fans at Arsenal, and was named by the supporters there to the Gunners all-time starting eleven. Freddie has been a sensation off of the pitch with his striking looks and penchant to share most of his physique with the world via underwear modeling.

If this sounds even remotely like another west coast designated player, you're on to one reason why Sounders FC might want Ljungberg. While not as popular around the world as David Bechkam, none the less Freddie has a similar rock star persona that would sell jerseys abroad and tickets on world tours.

Ljungberg was a winger with Arsenal, and Sounders FC might be covered in that area with Sanna Nyassi, Sebastien Le Toux and possibly Josh Gardner. Maybe move Ljungberg to the middle? But can he still play, and is he healthy? We can't know the answer to those questions, but if he is healthy then I don't doubt that he could adjust to several different midfield roles in MLS.

Would Seattle get enough 'bang for its buck' with Freddie as the DP? Well, he's certainly marketable and has world recognition. His 'face' seems to translate well across cultural lines. Then we get back to the 'on a free' part. It might be the most tempting reason to try Ljungberg. He'd just require a salary, likely enhanced with endorsement deals. Sounders FC could sign him walking in the front door and owe nothing to another club.

While we've said in the past that an attacking creative midfielder in the vein of Argentine Guillermo Schelotto would be ideal, it is time to wonder if this Swede might just be offering enough of that to get Seattle to bite.

Ljungberg will turn 32 next April.

See what GoSounders.com has to say about Ljungberg.