Patrik Andersson the face of Stockholm final

A 2001 UEFA Champions League winner with Bayern München, Patrik Andersson has been chosen as the ambassador for the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League final in Solna.

Born in Borgeby – just over the water from Copenhagen, and 500km from the Swedish capital – Andersson made his name with local club Malmö but knows Stockholm well from his time with the national team, for whom he scored four goals in 96 senior appearances from 1992–2002.

Now 45, Andersson played at two FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships with the Blågult, yet was also famous as a defender for Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayern and Barcelona.

During his two-season stay in Munich he won two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup – to match the one he lifted with Gladbach – and the 2000/01 UEFA Champions League. He retired in 2005 after landing his first Swedish championship during a valedictory spell with Malmö.

Andersson will help conduct the UEFA Europa League group stage draw at 13:00CET on Friday along with former goalkeeper Andrés Palop, a two-time UEFA Cup winner with holders Sevilla.