'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Organisers IMG-Reliance have confirmed that former Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg has been roped in as one of marquee foreigners for the inaugural season of the Indian Super League (ISL).
“Even though I am retired, when this opportunity came up I was really excited to be involved. Indian football is such a growing market and this is a great opportunity for me to take my knowledge of the English Premier League over to India to help launch the league,” Ljungberg was quoted saying in an official press release.
The former Swedish International won 75 caps for his country and played in two World Cups and European Championships. He is best known for his nine year career at Arsenal where he scored 72 goals, won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups.
In 2002 Freddie was named the Barclaycard Player of the Season and in 2003 he became the third player to score in two successive FA Cup finals. He was part of the ‘The Invincibles’ squad that went an entire season unbeaten in 2003-04.
On leaving Arsenal in 2007, Freddie moved to West Ham United and later to Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire in the USA. He retired from football in 2012.
The 37-year-old also wrote about his move to India on his official Twitter account (@freddie).
Jeff Slack, Senior Vice President (Global Football – IMG) commented, “It is a moment of great joy for us at the Indian Super League to have Freddie Ljungberg as a marquee player. We are all elated and are confident that Freddie's inclusion will be a landmark achievement for the team he will be eventually picked up by. We are sure that his unmatchable track record and top flight experience, will take the League to a completely different level."
Buy the new Arsenal 2014/15 kit here
