Legend Ljungberg quits Sweden women's team
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Article summary
Umeå IK forward Hanna Ljungberg will not form part of the Sweden team at UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ after deciding to retire from international football with 130 caps and 72 goals following years of injury problems.
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Club priority
The 29-year-old forward helped Sweden progress to next summer's finals in Finland but has been restricted in recent seasons by a succession of injuries, most recently a hamstring problem that ruled her out of the Olympics. After winning 130 caps and scoring 72 international goals she has decided to concentrate on club football, signing a new one-year deal at Umeå IK.
New focus
"After 13 years of playing both for the national team and the club team, I feel my body today feels better if I focus only on continued success with Umeå," said Ljungberg, whose club have already won the 2008 Swedish title and face Arsenal LFC in the UEFA Women's Cup quarter-finals on 6 and 12 November as they attempt to lift the trophy for the third time.
World Cup final
Ljungberg made her senior international debut in February 1996, aged 17, and played in that year's Olympics, going on to help Sweden to the finals of the 2001 UEFA European Women's Championship and the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup. In all, she played at the European Championship finals, the World Cup and the Olympics three times each.
Dennerby tribute
"The Swedish national team has a lot to thank Hanna Ljungberg for," Sweden coach Thomas Dennerby said. "I have the greatest respect and understanding for Hanna's decision, even if we had hoped that she would play one more year." Dennerby's side qualified for next summer's finals in Finland with eight wins and 31 unanswered goals and will be among the top seeds for the draw on 18 November in Helsinki.
To read an exclusive interview with Ljungberg speaking about her international career, click here.
