Is Freddie Ljungberg The Man To Raise Major League Soccer’s Profile?

There were flashbulbs and shiny white corporate grins and glistening company logos. The head of Vulcan Sports and Entertainment spoke confidently about dreams coming true, shaking the epicentre of North American soccer and sold-out stadiums. Famous US showbiz blogs began frantically digging around for semi-nude pictures of the MLS’ newest star player modelling Calvin Klein boxer shorts. The red carpet was rolled out. And in the brief history of Seattle Sounders FC it was described as a ‘momentous day.’

All this for a 31-year old former Swedish international who was released by West Ham United, no longer deemed good enough.

Freddie Ljungberg became Major League Soccer’s latest designated player this week when he agreed a two year contract worth $2.5 million a season in order to play for Sounders FC.

The deal makes him the third highest paid player in the MLS behind only Cuauhtemoc Blanco and David Beckham. It is thought that with added bonuses he will earn upwards of $3.5 million a season for his efforts in Seattle. The transfer certainly made headlines in the United States. Seattle Sounders FC are a new MLS ‘franchise’ and will be making their debut season in 2009. As such, for them the high-profile signing of Ljungberg represents something of a coup. At Ljungberg’s unveiling, majority shareholder Joe Roth was keen to stress the importance of the signing and his ambitions for the Sounders going into their first MLS campaign.

“We’re in the right city, with the right ownership, with the right general manager, with the right goalie, and now what we have is a great European soccer player, who is going to shore up the centre of our team.

It’s been my promise to the people of Seattle that we wouldn’t come across as a struggling expansion team. Our goal is to come out with an expansion team that makes the play-offs. We looked far and wide for a designated player who would represent the spirit of our team. In Freddie Ljungberg, we found it. We are sure the Seattle fans are in for a great treat.”

Reaction within the MLS, from supporters and authorities alike, was positive. MLS Commissioner Don Garber described Ljungberg as a ‘world class player’ and Sounders’ fans posting on the Emerald City Supporters messageboard were generally delighted. ‘The Super Swede is here!’ commented one, basking in glee.

Amidst the fanfare, the glitz and the glamour however came legitimate questions about just what sort of impact Ljungberg, injury-prone in his final season in England at West Ham, can make in the MLS. Towards the end of his time at Arsenal the Swede suffered from persistent ankle and hip problems and at West Ham he made just twenty-two starts before having his contract terminated. On the subject of criticism from certain quarters that Ljungberg is simply heading to the MLS to wind down his career and collect a lucrative paycheck, Roth had this to say. “I think the mixed reaction in the English press is a great victory. They probably had a mixed reaction to the end of World War 2!” Take that, English media!

At 31, Ljungberg is still relatively young (Beckham joined LA Galaxy at thirty-two) but it remains to be seen whether the Swede can remain free of injury problems long enough to establish himself as the star player his reputation carries in the States. The press conference made reference to the fact that he will play as a centre midfielder for the Sounders rather than down the flanks as he was often employed at Arsenal.

Can he stay fit long enough to be the driving force behind Seattle Sounders’ ambitions of making the playoffs? In a league that is still finding its feet somewhat will Ljungberg, capped 71 times for his country, turn out to be by far one of its best players? And if so would that be more a testament to his quality, or an indictment on just how weak the MLS really is?

Is he the man to further raise the MLS’ profile? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Freddie Ljungberg, Major League Soccer, Seattle Sounders FC