Roger Ljung
Encyclopedia
Roger Ljung is a retired Swedish
footballer who played as a left defender.
In a 10-year professional career, he played, other than in his country, in Switzerland
, Austria
, Turkey
and Germany
, representing six differents teams, namely Malmö
and Admira Wacker
.
A Swedish international
on nearly 60 occasions, Ljung represented the country in two World Cups
- helping to a third-place finish in 1994
- and one European Championship
.
, Scania
, Ljung started his football career at the age of six, with lowly Lunds BK
. In 1985, he was purchased by Allsvenskan
outfit Malmö FF
, being mostly used as a substitute in his early years, and being on the roster as the club won five national championships in a row, with the player contributing regularly in the 1987 and 1988 editions.
In the summer of 1989, Ljung transferred to BSC Young Boys
in Switzerland
, moving in the following season to another club in the Swiss Super League
, FC Zürich. He enjoyed his best individual years in Austria
with FC Admira Wacker
, scoring 26 Bundesliga goals in 67 games in his first two years combined, albeit without team silverware.
In 1994, after some months in Turkey
with Galatasaray SK
, Ljung transferred to MSV Duisburg
in Germany
. After appearing in less of half of the games during the season and also suffering relegation from the Bundesliga
, he decided to retire from football at only 29.
, scoring four goals. He was picked for the squad that appeared in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
, playing only once in an eventual group stage exit.
Ljung was also selected for the team in UEFA Euro 1992, played on home soil. His contribution to the final third-place was again minimal, as he only featured in the 2–3 semifinal loss against Germany
.
In the 1994 World Cup
in the United States
, Ljung opened the national team's scoring account in a 2–2 group stage draw against Cameroon
. This time, he was an undisputed starter for the side - playing in six of seven games - whom eventually finished third.
Ljung also participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
, with Sweden ousting in the quarterfinals
.
. He started his own agency in Lomma, Roger Ljung Promotion AB, being at the time one of only three licensed agents in the country; newspaper
Aftonbladet
considered him to be Sweden's most successful agent.
Ljung's most notable client was Fredrik Ljungberg
, who played several years in the Premier League. He brokered his deal with Arsenal
for a £
3 million transfer fee, and the pair parted ways in December 2006 when the player signed with mega-agency Creative Artists.
Other players Ljung worked for included Marcus Allbäck
, Patrik Andersson, Erik Edman
, Andreas Isaksson
, Kim Källström
, and Teddy Lucic
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
footballer who played as a left defender.
In a 10-year professional career, he played, other than in his country, in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, representing six differents teams, namely Malmö
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
and Admira Wacker
FC Admira Wacker Mödling
FC Admira Wacker Mödling is an Austrian football club from Mödling. The club was originally formed in 1905 as SK Admira Vienna in the Austrian capital...
.
A Swedish international
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
on nearly 60 occasions, Ljung represented the country in two World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
- helping to a third-place finish in 1994
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
- and one European Championship
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
.
Club career
Born in LommaLomma
Lomma is a locality and the seat of Lomma Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 8,820 inhabitants in 2005. Of the Scanian towns that never acquired town privileges before abolished in Sweden in 1971, Staffanstorp is the sixth largest.-History:...
, Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
, Ljung started his football career at the age of six, with lowly Lunds BK
Lunds BK
Lunds BK is a football club from Lund, Sweden founded in 1919. The club currently plays in Division 1 Södra and at the same time time also plays in the Tipselit....
. In 1985, he was purchased by Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
outfit Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
, being mostly used as a substitute in his early years, and being on the roster as the club won five national championships in a row, with the player contributing regularly in the 1987 and 1988 editions.
In the summer of 1989, Ljung transferred to BSC Young Boys
BSC Young Boys
Berner Sport Club Young Boys 1898 is a Swiss sporting club based in the capital city of Bern. The name is often abbreviated to YB . Abroad, YB is often referred to as Young Boys Bern. The club's colors are yellow and black....
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, moving in the following season to another club in the Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
, FC Zürich. He enjoyed his best individual years in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
with FC Admira Wacker
FC Admira Wacker Mödling
FC Admira Wacker Mödling is an Austrian football club from Mödling. The club was originally formed in 1905 as SK Admira Vienna in the Austrian capital...
, scoring 26 Bundesliga goals in 67 games in his first two years combined, albeit without team silverware.
In 1994, after some months in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
with Galatasaray SK
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
, Ljung transferred to MSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg is a German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed "the Zebras" for their traditional striped jerseys, the club was one of the original members of the Bundesliga when it was formed in 1963.-Early years:...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After appearing in less of half of the games during the season and also suffering relegation from the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
, he decided to retire from football at only 29.
International career
Ljung played 59 matches for the Swedish national teamSweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
, scoring four goals. He was picked for the squad that appeared in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
, playing only once in an eventual group stage exit.
Ljung was also selected for the team in UEFA Euro 1992, played on home soil. His contribution to the final third-place was again minimal, as he only featured in the 2–3 semifinal loss against Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
.
In the 1994 World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Ljung opened the national team's scoring account in a 2–2 group stage draw against Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
. This time, he was an undisputed starter for the side - playing in six of seven games - whom eventually finished third.
Ljung also participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, with Sweden ousting in the quarterfinals
Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Final results for the football competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics. The tournament was held from September 17, 1988 to October 1, 1988.-Medal summary:...
.
Post-retirement
After retiring from professional football in 1995, Ljung became a sports agentSports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
. He started his own agency in Lomma, Roger Ljung Promotion AB, being at the time one of only three licensed agents in the country; newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet is a Swedish tabloid founded by Lars Johan Hierta in 1830 during the modernization of Sweden. It is one of the larger daily newspapers in the Nordic countries. Aftonbladet is owned by the Swedish Trade Union Confederation and Norwegian media group Schibsted, and its editorial page...
considered him to be Sweden's most successful agent.
Ljung's most notable client was Fredrik Ljungberg
Fredrik Ljungberg
Karl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg is a Swedish footballer who currently plays as a right winger for Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan. Ljungberg was captain of the Swedish national team until he announced his international retirement after UEFA Euro 2008.Ljungberg was a model for Calvin Klein underwear...
, who played several years in the Premier League. He brokered his deal with Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
for a £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
3 million transfer fee, and the pair parted ways in December 2006 when the player signed with mega-agency Creative Artists.
Other players Ljung worked for included Marcus Allbäck
Marcus Allbäck
Marcus Christian Allbäck , is a Swedish legend and coach, who currently is assistant coach for the Sweden national football team and plays as striker for the Division 1 Södra club Örgryte IS. He is a well-travelled striker known for his sharp finishing ability...
, Patrik Andersson, Erik Edman
Erik Edman
Erik Edman, is a Swedish footballer, currently playing for Helsingborgs IF. He is a left back, but has also established himself as a centre back.-Early career:...
, Andreas Isaksson
Andreas Isaksson
Andreas Isaksson is a Swedish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and for the Swedish national team.-Club career:...
, Kim Källström
Kim Källström
Kim Källström is a left-footed Swedish midfielder playing for the Swedish national team and Olympique Lyonnais.-Early career:Källström's first professional club in Sweden was BK Häcken from Gothenburg but his big breakthrough in Sweden came when he moved to Djurgårdens IF in 2002, where he won the...
, and Teddy Lucic
Teddy Lucic
Teddy Mark Šime Lučić is a Swedish former football defender. His last club was IF Elfsborg.-Early years:Lučić was born on 15 April 1973 in Biskopsgården, Gothenburg to Croatian father, Krešimir, and Finnish mother, Annis. His father Krešimir was also a football player. In 1966, Krešimir moved to...
.