(Me and Freddie after the game @ FC Dallas this season)
The rumors have been going strong for over a week now, and while it seems a move/trade to be reunited with former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry in New York appears unlikely, what is likely is Freddie Ljungberg's career as a Seattle Sounder is over.
The timeline began in October of 2008, when the Swedish midfielder was unveiled to Sounder fans as the franchise's first designated player signing. He spoke of being in America for the right reasons, to win games and help develop the game, hoping to avoid the tag other big name players had received in America of just playing for one last big payday.
Ljungberg's first season went well for the most part. Despite throwing a few tantrums, directly complaining on and off the field about the league's poor level of officiating, and suffering through a string of injuries, FL10 contributed 13 assists and 2 goals for the rave green. Seattle sold out every home game, made the playoffs, won the US Open Cup, and even qualified for the Champions League in its first season.
Life was good.
As all Sounder fans know, season two has been a bumpy road. Freddie still hates the officials and has dealt with injuries, but the results haven't come. While advancing to the semifinals in the Open Cup, Seattle is approaching the point of no return in regards to playoff qualification, and faces a tough tie vs Metapan of El Salvador in the Champions League qualification round. It seemed to me a few games ago that Freddie seemed less and less interested. He'd still put in a moment here and there, but it became obvious his mind was elsewhere. News came of an "ankle injury" that kept him from playing, and later on even traveling with the team on their trip to DC.
Then, the rumor mill kicked into high gear.
Word on the street was a trade to New York with Juan Pablo Angel coming the other way, then it was an outright release which would allow Ljungberg to sign with New York and give Seattle needed cap space to make improvements to salvage its season. This now all seems unlikely, and a trip back to Europe is more and more obvious. The reason for this, in my opinion, is the physical nature of MLS. While officials should protect the name players more, Ljungberg's constant whinging has eroded any chance he had of getting preferential treatment. His size and speed lead him to getting hacked more, and with that come injuries and a reputation of going down easy.
The bottom line is this: Freddie Ljungberg's time in MLS had its ups and downs, and can neither be deemed a boom or bust. The moments of brilliance are equal with the injuries, petulance, and late game fading. I am glad he was here for a season and a half, but am glad to have the cap space to help the team in the long run.
As a personal not, Freddie was kind enough to take the above picture with me after the FC Dallas game at Pizza Hut Park this year, and sign my jersey. The jersey will be framed and given a prominent place in my house one day, just as he should have a (albeit small) place in the early history of the MLS version of the Seattle Sounders.
Until next time...
GO SOUNDERS!
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