Why did Fredrik Ljungberg sign with the Seattle Sounders FC?
RENTON, WASH. – The Seattle Sounders FC has signed midfielder Freddie Ljungberg to a multi-year contract, the team announced today. Ljungberg starred for 10 seasons in the English Premier League and served as captain of Sweden during this past summer’s European Championships. Freddie LjungbergLjungberg, 31, becomes the seventh Designated Player in Major League Soccer. The Designated Player rule, adopted prior to the 2007 season, allows teams to sign a player that would not count against the salary cap. Ljungberg (pronounced LOON-berg) was a free agent, having last played for England’s West Ham United in 2007-08. Representing Ljungberg is CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency. “We looked far and wide for a designated player who would represent the spirit of our team,” said Sounders FC majority owner Joe Roth. “In Freddie Ljungberg, we found it. A proven international star at Arsenal and captain of the Swedish National Team, Freddie is the exciting, creative force we need and
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington, that participates in Major League Soccer. The team was established in November 2007 as an MLS expansion team. The following year fans chose the Sounders name for the team through an online poll. They are the third Seattle soccer team to share the heritage of the Sounders name. The Sounders FC majority owner is Hollywood producer Joe Roth, and minority owners are Adrian Hanauer, Paul Allen, and comedian Drew Carey. Two time MLS Cup winner Sigi Schmid is the team’s head coach. Sounders FC home matches are played at Qwest Field. Along with many organized supporter groups, a 52-member marching band called the Sound Wave supports the team at each home game. Seattle Sounders FC played their first game on March 19, 2009, to a sold out crowd of 32,523, defeating the New York Red Bulls 3-0. Before teams in Major League Soccer had played their first match and before the selection of the first cities MLS tea
