One of the fastest men in football

Arsenal's Fredrik Ljungberg celebrates scoring a goal against Lokomotiv Moskva during their Group B Champions League match 10 December, 2003 at Highbury, London. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS

Utility man Freddie Ljungberg is a key player for both his club Arsenal and for Sweden, able as he is to play anywhere in midfield or attack.

With his spikey punk haircuts and ad campaigns for a fashionable underwear company, Ljungberg is instantly recognisable and often in the media spotlight. But as one of the fastest men in football and with his huge work rate, even the earthiest of fans would want him in their side.

Arsenal's Fredrik Ljungberg (R) tries to kick the ball past Inter Milan's Marco Materazzi during their Champions League match 17 September, 2003 at Highbury Stadium, London. AFP PHOTO/ODD ANDERSEN

At Arsenal he won the League and Cup double in 2002 before heading out to the Asian World Cup where a groin strain suffered in a warm up match restricted his appearances.

Sweden were drawn in the so called 'Group of Death' along with England, Nigeria and Argentina. He played in the first two, a draw and a win, but pain kept him out of the famous 1-1 draw that sent Argentina home. He also missed Sweden's golden goal defeat to Senegal in the second round.

A long term hip injury forced him onto the opperation table after the World Cup, but his form for both club and country since has been impeccable.

Top form

He was used in the centre and left of midfield during Sweden's run to direct qualification as winners of Group 8, pushing Latvia into second and Poland into third.

Swedish Fredrik Ljungberg of Arsenal runs past Polish Tomasz Dawidowski during the European Championship Group 4 qualifying soccer match between Sweden and Poland at Raasunda Stadium in Stockholm, Sweden, 11 June 2003. AFP PHOTO/PRESSENS BILD/JESSICA GOW

He formed a highly effective central midfield pairing with Stefan Schwarz in Sweden's easy qualifying campaign for Euro 2000, but the finals were a disappointment for both player and country as Sweden crashed out of the tournament after the first round group phase.

Ljungberg made his league debut at 17 and soon had agents and scouts from some of Europe's leading clubs knocking on his door.

He impressed for the national under-21 side and was one of the stars of the unfancied Halmstad side that surprisingly won the Swedish league title in 1997.

He struggled to break into Arsenal's star studded line up, but lobbed Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel with his first touch for the Gunners in a 3-0 win in September 1998 and has never looked back.

The north Londoners romped to their third title in 2004 with a spectacular unbeaten run to leave Chelsea and Manchester looking at a clean pair of heels.