"I never thought about being invincible"
The Big Interview: Freddie Ljungberg
by Josh James
He was always one of Arsenal’s most cosmopolitan stars, and Freddie Ljungberg is soon to embark on a new chapter of a colourful and eclectic career - in India.
The marauding midfielder of the 2002 and 2004 title- winning sides, who was a firm fans’ favourite during nine eventful years at the club, is the latest player to put his name down for the new Indian Super League.
Starting in October, the eight-team Super League has already signed up Luis Garcia and David Trezeguet, as India look to transfer the successful Cricket Twenty20 format to football.
A well travelled and highly marketable footballer (he previously modelled for Calvin Klein), Freddie would appear to be the ideal choice for the nascent league, and the Swede will also be continuing his role as an Arsenal club ambassador, a position he took up last summer.
The Arsenal Magazine caught up with Freddie on the eve of the new season to ask him about his recent movements, but started by reminiscing about his glory days in red and white...
Freddie, let’s go back 16 years to 1998 when you signed for Arsenal. How did the move come about?
It’s a long time ago now! I’d been saying no to a few clubs for quite a while but then I played for the national team against England and the week after, a lot of bids were coming in. I made a decision that I would speak to three clubs, on three successive days. I went to Arsenal first, I liked Arsène and that was it, I signed. I had a meeting with a similar club to Arsenal booked in for the next day, but I didn’t go and see them - I cancelled it because I knew I wanted to join Arsenal. Arsène and I sat down and spoke about football. For me that was the most important thing - having the same vision as the manager. I think that’s quite important as a player.
[..]
You’ve had a very interesting career since leaving Arsenal. Talk us through it.
After West Ham, I felt I needed to do something different. I don’t speak about it often but I did a bit with Calvin Klein and fame got a bit much. I didn’t really trust anyone and I didn’t leave my house because I felt that I couldn’t trust people. So I said to my agent that I wanted to do something different, get away. A lot of people said I was mad when I went to America but I wanted something quiet where people don’t care who you are. So I went to Seattle, which was probably the best move I made in my life. I had great team- mates, it was a great city and the owners wanted me to promote the game. We did a lot of things outside of football. The Swedish princess came over and we did a lot of charity work for hospitals. That was amazing and we won some cups too. That was great.
After that, I missed the passion of football a little bit - that people were angry if you lost, which wasn’t so much the case in America. So I went to Celtic for a while. I’ve never met so many friendly people. Then a team-mate of mine in America knew a manager in Tokyo. I’ve always loved Japan and Tokyo and said I might go back after the World Cup there. They’d just had a tsunami and the whole country was in a bit of shock. They have a different mentality to us - it’s difficult to explain. They called me and asked if I could come so that something positive could happen in the country. I didn’t understand how big a deal it was but he really wanted me to come and help so I went for six months. I had some great times and we played some good football. Then I retired.
And now you’re out of retirement and are going to play in India. Tell us a bit about that.
I’ve been approached a lot of times to come back and play football in different leagues. This is more to promote a totally new league. It’s a bit like what I did when I was in America - and I felt like I grew as a human being there. I hope I will do the same thing when I go to India. It’s a different culture and for me it’s a chance to give something back to football. Our job is to inspire people to play a bit more football and see that we care and that they don’t just have to watch it on the television
You have been able, through football, to see a lot of countries and cultures. Is that something that you’ve always been interested in?
I love meeting new people. When I played at Arsenal and we were in Europe, we weren’t really allowed to leave the hotel, so you didn’t meet anyone or see anything. But whenever I’ve had an opportunity, be it through football or fashion, to see a place where people have a different view of life or come from a different background, it’s something you can learn from. It enriches me and that comes from my parents. They said I could learn from everyone and that I just had to listen.
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There's more at the source. It's a very good read, Freddie is so lovely.
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