|
Freddie Ljungberg has been named as winner of the
Guldbollen ("Golden Ball") for 2002. This is the Swedish
player of the year award, established in 1946, and awarded by the Aftonbladet paper. Freddie also won the midfielder of the year award, and just pipped striker of the year Henrik Larssen to the overall award in the voting. this page has a picture of Freddie
with the award. See also Fox Sports for a report in English.
Freddie won't be celebrating by starring in Sweden's friendly
next week. A knee injury picked up in a clash with Ledley King on Saturday has ruled him out of the match aaginst the Czech Republic. See BBC Sport.
Previous winners of the Guldbollen include Stefan Schwarz who won it in 1999 (after he'd left Arsenal) and Anders Limpar who won it as a Gunner in 1991.
Anders announced his retirement today. His last match was for Brommapojkarna, a 1-1 draw with Atvidabergon on the last day of the Swedish season.
Highlights of Anders' career include being in the squad which came 3rd in the World Cup in 1994, and playing for Arsenal.
The moments that stand out for me are the goal from the halfway line against Liverpool (before and far better than Beckham's more
talked-about effort) and a "clothesline" assault on Mark Pembridge. I remember thinking how outrageous Limpar's sending off was at the time, till I got home from the game and
saw on the TV coverage what Anders had done with his arm on my blind side. Plus loads of scintillating wing play, of course!
He left Arsenal to go to Everton, where he was instrumental
in the FA Cup semi-final thrashing of Tottenham, the year that
the Toffees beat Man Utd in the final.
I have to admit that this news came as something of a surprise to me. Anders previously announed his retirement in March of last year.
| 
